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Here's what I can never get past about Kent State. Of the four most well-known Kent State alumni in the NFL in recent years, three are doing wildly different things than they did at Kent. As Buffalo fans we all remember Turner Gill taking over for Jim Hohfer and moving Trevor Scott, James Starks, and Naaman Roosevelt into positions where they would become all conference standouts and, ultimately, NFL players.
Let's consider the four former Golden Flashes I alluded to above:
James Harrison - Undrafted signee of the Steelers, NFL Europa alumnus, Longtime cog of the 00's Steeler Defense. Fine. Doesn't really fit my thesis, but I won't ignore him.
Josh Cribbs - Feature weapon for the Golden Flashes in the early 2000s who can actually be talked about in the same sentence as great college QBs Pat White and Vince Young. Now of course he's enjoyed a much stronger NFL career than those two, but did he ever even take a snap under center? In an era when the MAC was pumping out NFL QBs, Bruce Gradkowski became a signal caller in the world's highest league, while the greatest offensive weapon in Kent's history was relegated to a KR role who grew over his career into a WR, too.
Julian Edelman - Actually broke some of Cribbs' records while in Kent, but is now a GRITTY Wes Welker-understudy-cum-Danny Amendola-understudy for the-AH GREATRIOTS of Boston. I have nothing more to say about that.
Antonio Gates - Now maybe I've typed this lengthy intro to a bloated list of twitter feeds just to force a non-existent issue, but Antonio Gates is a future HOF tight end. Who didn't play tight end in college. Because he was busy playing roundball for the Kent State basketball team. And he was darn good, too; that was the team that made the Sweet Sixteen. Nowadays, a hoops star moving to the tight end position in football isn't too surprising, but let's remember that Gates created that mold.
I'm throwing shade at Kent here for two reasons: One, they had four NFL quality players, one of whom is a future Hall of Famer, on campus and only one was used in the same role he ultimately succeeded in at the highest level. Good work, Kent State coaching staffs. Two, these four are some of the most successful Kent athletes and only one was able to succeed at the highest level at their chosen position. Good work, former Kent State athletes.
Kent State also gave us Jack Lambert (great), Lou Holtz (good until about 20 years ago, now a lesson in the destructive capabilities of a lisp), and Nick Saban (the actual human representation of the Borg).
Anyway. On to Twitter for this week's opponent; the Kent State Golden Flashes.
First the general MAC folks always worth a follow:
Hustle Belt - @sbnation's Mid-American Conference blog and #1 grit liquidator. Cheerfully operated by Bryan M. Vance (@BryanMVance) 'n friends.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>NIU (7-0) ranked No. 18 in the first official <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BCSRankings&src=hash">#BCSRankings</a> of the 2013 season. <a href="http://t.co/tCtyGIVA3j">http://t.co/tCtyGIVA3j</a></p>— Hustle Belt (@HustleBelt) <a href="https://twitter.com/HustleBelt/statuses/392089055682240512">October 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Matt Sussman, Former Managing Editor, Hustle Belt - I write the puns that make the whole world cringe. @baseballpro and @HustleBelt. You should try curling
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>TV show pitch: Calvin Johnson Just Catching Objects in A Swarm of Bees</p>— Matt Sussman (@suss2hyphens) <a href="https://twitter.com/suss2hyphens/statuses/392013600929243138">October 20, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Bryan Vance, New Managing Editor at Hustle Belt - Beard Aficionado. El Capitan @HustleBelt home of all things #MACtion. Ohio Football guy for @WOUBSports, & producer of @SportsBeatWOUB
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Jesse Palmer's mustache looks like mine from 8th grade. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23RealMenGrowBeards&src=hash">#RealMenGrowBeards</a></p>— Bryan M. Vance (@BryanMVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanMVance/statuses/392086216671522816">October 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Please note that Hustle Belt went from a BG fan to a Ohio fan. Thank goodness we have BullRun
Other Fan Websites: @VanDelaySports; @TheMacDaily; @macreportonline - None of these three have updated in a while. Maybe they've been elbowed out by SBNation
From the Conference Office:
MAC Sports - This is the Official Twitter home of the Mid-American Conference. Bringing you #MACtion 365 days a year!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>MAC Football Final Score: Buffalo 32, UMass 3 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MACtion&src=hash">#MACtion</a></p>— MAC Sports (@MACSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/MACSports/statuses/391712624443813888">October 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Ken Mather - Assistant Commissioner/Media & Public Relations, Mid-American Conference.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Northern Illinois (7-0) ranked No. 18 in the BCS Standings released tonight! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MACtion&src=hash">#MACtion</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PrideInThePack&src=hash">#PrideInThePack</a></p>— Ken Mather (@KenMather_MAC) <a href="https://twitter.com/KenMather_MAC/statuses/392087976215187456">October 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Jeremy Guy - Looking for some #MACtion? You have come to the right place! Director of Comunications for the Mid-American Conference. #CLE Born & Raised. (Tweets are my own)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>I don't want to overreact but... We might lose by 40 today. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Browns&src=hash">#Browns</a></p>— Jeremy Guy (@JGuyMAC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JGuyMAC/statuses/392031062676631552">October 20, 2013</a></blockquote>
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A must-follow
FakeGuyMAC - I am just a guy who works for the MAC. Parody. Unlike the MAC, which should be taken seriously at all times.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>RT<a href="https://twitter.com/HustleBelt">@HustleBelt</a>: According to ESPN3 this is Kent @ So Ala // That's weird, this is what it looks like for me... <a href="http://t.co/ghTwPNOM1P">pic.twitter.com/ghTwPNOM1P</a></p>— FakeGuyMAC (@FakeGuyMAC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FakeGuyMAC/statuses/391665586125537280">October 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
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From Kent:
Athletics & the Football Team:
Kent State Athletics - Keep up with the latest in Kent State Athletics. #GoFlashes!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kent State Drops 3-1 Decision to Toledo in ‘Dig for the Cure’ Match <a href="http://t.co/yqHZVAfRIs">http://t.co/yqHZVAfRIs</a></p>— Kent State Athletics (@KSUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSUAthletics/statuses/391752855566028800">October 20, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Kent State Football - Official Twitter Account for the Kent State Golden Flashes Football Program. #Showtime #RingTheBell #GoFlashes
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The 2015 and 2018 seasons will feature early September matchups at Illinois</p>— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/KentStFootball/statuses/390536241583640576">October 16, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Joel Nielsen (@KSUFlaashesAD) - Athletic Director at Kent State University
Paul Haynes - Christian- Husband- Father- Mentor- Building Men- Head Football Coach- Kent State University
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Very sad day for Kent State football family! Great football coach Don James passed today! Mentor to a lot of young men here and at UW!</p>— Paul Haynes (@Coach_Haynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Haynes/statuses/392078250228588544">October 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Ben Needham (@CoachBenNeedham) - LB Coach at Kent State University.
Golden Flashes Fball - News, Scores, and Stats for the Kent State Golden Flashes powered by StatSheet.com. See stattweets.com/usage for more features.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Recap: Kent State Beaten by South Alabama, 38-21 <a href="http://t.co/I63RdOFari">http://t.co/I63RdOFari</a></p>— Golden Flashes Fball (@KentStateFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/KentStateFB/statuses/391768343608590337">October 20, 2013</a></blockquote>
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The Krew - The official Twitter of the Kent State Student Section. Go Flashes!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Half an hour until <a href="https://twitter.com/KentStSoccer">@KentStSoccer</a> kicks off! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GoFlashes&src=hash">#GoFlashes</a></p>— The Krew (@KSUKrew) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSUKrew/statuses/391964193521287168">October 20, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Dri Archer (@Dri_Archer1) - OFFICIAL TWITTER of Kent State All-American Rb/Wr #1Dri Archer #GUMP #ComebackKings
Media & Bloggers:
cleveland.com Sports (@cdotcomsports) - Cleveland sports news from The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com
KentWired (@kentwired) - A collaboration of independent student media at Kent State University
Nick Shook (@NickShookDKS) - The official account of the Daily Kent Stater's sports editor and columnist. Host of Sports with Shook on @BSRKent. I also write for @TheBurrMagazine. STVM10
TV2 Sports - The Sports Team @TV2KSU has your coverage for Kent State Athletics and High School Sports around the Portage Trail Conference #kwsports #ptcsports
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Former Kent State head football coach, Don James, has passed away from the effects of pancreatic cancer.</p>— TV2 Sports (@tv2ksusports) <a href="https://twitter.com/tv2ksusports/statuses/392038427035570176">October 20, 2013</a></blockquote>
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92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) - For Clevelanders who live & breathe sports - the place to get the best insight & most in-depth coverage. Official home of the Cleveland @Browns
David Carducci - Director of New Media for Kent State University Athletics
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Some cracks in KSU's kickoff coverage in the last two weeks. A 67-yard return by T.J. Glover sets up an easy Kndall Houston touchdown run</p>— David Carducci (@CarducciKSU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarducciKSU/statuses/391680355658235904">October 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Other:
Kent State Alumni (@KSUAlumni) - Official Twitter Account for the Kent State University Alumni Association. We're here to keep current and future KSU alumni connected one tweet at a time!
Black Squirrel Radio (@BSRKent) - blacksquirrelradio.com, Kent State's student-run radio, streaming the best urban, rock, and local 24/7
There's something about the MAC and squirrels.
Kent State Bass Team (@fishKSU) - Kent State University Bass Fishing Team! #think #big #fish
Kent State Problems (@KentStateProbs)
Kent State Happening (@KentStHappening) - What's going on KSU?! Kent State is Happening
Kent State Bands (@KentStateBands) - The official twitter account of the KENT STATE UNIVERSITY BANDS: Wind Ensemble, Marching Golden Flashes, Jazz Bands, Concert Band, and Communiversity Band
Communiversity.
Kent State Ultimate (@KentUltimate) - You don't have to play ultimate, you don't have to like ultimate, you don't even have to know what ultimate is. Follow us for ultimate news and words of wisdom.
I wonder how well the ultimate hippies get along with the bass fishermen
KSU Confessions (@KSU_Confessions) - *In no way associated with Kent State University* Share all your experiences you've had at KSU! 100% anonymous! #KSU
Ultimately a disappointing twitter crop from Kent State. They don't have a blog that I know about, other than the small message board community on CSNbbs, and the Kent beat writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer doesn't have a twitter account. Lots of Greek life twitter accounts that I spared you guys from. I hit the bottom of all twitter search results for "Kent State" in only about 20 minutes. But the squirrel thing continues. I don't understand.