1977 Kent State Golden Flashes football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1977
| team = Kent State Golden Flashes
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Mid-American Conference
| short_conf = MAC
| record = 6–5
| conf_record = 5–4
| head_coach = Dennis Fitzgerald
| hc_year = 3rd
| off_coach = Ron Blackledge
| oc_year = 1st
| off_scheme =
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Dix Stadium
}}
{{1977 Mid-American Conference football standings}}
The 1977 Kent State Golden Flashes football team was an American football team that represented Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their third and final season under head coach Dennis Fitzgerald, the Golden Flashes compiled a 6–5 record (5–4 against MAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the MAC, and were outscored by all opponents by a combined total of 241 to 200.{{cite web|title=2016 Kent State Football Record Book|publisher=Kent State University|page=D7|accessdate=October 4, 2016|url=http://kentstatesports.com/documents/2016/9/2/FALL_ASRB_football_2016.pdf}}{{cite web|title=1977 Kent State Golden Flashes Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=October 4, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1977-schedule.html}}
The team's statistical leaders included Tom Roper with 630 rushing yards, Mike Whalen with 534 passing yards, and Kim Featsent with 549 receiving yards.2016 Record Book, p. D17-D19.{{cite web|title=1977 Kent State Golden Flashes Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=October 4, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1977.html}} Five Kent State players were selected as first-team All-MAC players: wide receiver Kim Featsent, offensive tackle Tom Jesko, linebacker Jack Lazor, placekicker Paul Marchese, and defensive lineman Mike Zele.2016 Kent State Football Record Book, p. D42.
Dennis Fitzgerald resigned as Kent State's head coach in March 1978 to accept a position as an assistant coach at Syracuse. In three years as Kent State's head coach, he compiled an 18–16 record.{{cite news|title=Kent State Names Blackledge|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=April 5, 1978|page=B3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6910083/kent_state_names_blackledge/}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1977
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 10
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Illinois State
| site_stadium = Dix Stadium
| site_cityst = Kent, OH
| score = 33–14
| attend = 7,796
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-kent-state-trounces-ill/171136014/|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|title=Kent State trounces Illinois State, 33–14|date=September 11, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 17
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Colorado
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Folsom Field
| site_cityst = Boulder, CO
| score = 0–42
| attend = 46,164
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mercury-cu-rips-kent-state/171173635/|work=The Mercury|title=CU rips Kent State|date=September 18, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| w/l = w
| opponent = Ball State
| site_stadium = Dix Stadium
| site_cityst = Kent, OH
| score = 13–12
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/troy-daily-news-flashes-edge-ball-state/171177699/|work=Troy Daily News|title=Flashes edge Ball State|date=September 25, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 1
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Ohio
| site_stadium = Peden Stadium
| site_cityst = Athens, OH
| score = 44–23
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-kent-state-downs-ohio/171206941/|work=The Lima News|title=Kent State downs Ohio|date=October 2, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 8
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Western Michigan
| site_stadium = Waldo Stadium
| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI
| score = 20–16
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-westerns-mac-title-h/171207095/|work=Detroit Free Press|title=Kent State downs OhWestern's MAC title hopes fizzle in 20–16 loss to unbeaten Kent St.io|date=October 9, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| w/l = l
| opponent = Bowling Green
| site_stadium = Dix Stadium
| site_cityst = Kent, OH
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 10–14
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-kent-state-loses-1/171205625/|work=Springfield News-Sun|title=Kent State loses, 14–10, to Falcons|date=October 16, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 22
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Eastern Michigan
| site_stadium = Rynearson Stadium
| site_cityst = Ypsilanti, MI
| score = 29–13
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-home-still-swee/171206461/|work=The Akron Beacon Journal|title=Home still sweet for KSU coach|date=October 23, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 29
| w/l = l
| opponent = Northern Illinois
| site_stadium = Dix Stadium
| site_cityst = Kent, OH
| score = 18–21
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-northern-illinois/171207268/|work=The Indianapolis Star|title=Northern Illinois nicks Kent State|date=October 30, 1977|accessdate=April 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 5
| w/l = l
| opponent = Central Michigan
| site_stadium = Dix Stadium
| site_cityst = Kent, OH
| score = 10–49
| attend =
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-cmu-keeps-mac-hopes-ali/171177009/|newspaper=The Saginaw News|title=CMU keeps MAC hopes alive, blasts Kent St.|date=November 6, 1977|accessdate=April 26, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| w/l = l
| opponent = Miami (OH)
| site_stadium = Dix Stadium
| site_cityst = Kent, OH
| score = 0–25
| attend = 5,421
| source = {{cite news|title=Kent falls; only foes give 'toot'|newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal|author=John Seaburn|date=November 13, 1977|pages=D1, D6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92552856/kent-falls-only-foes-give-toot/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Toledo
| site_stadium = Glass Bowl
| site_cityst = Toledo, OH
| score = 23–12
| attend = 6,782
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-flashes-flash-b/171207465/|newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal|title=Flashes flash big smiles after victory over Toledo|date=November 20, 1977|accessdate=April 26, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kent State Golden Flashes football navbox}}
Category:Kent State Golden Flashes football seasons
Kent State Golden Flashes football
{{collegefootball-1977-season-stub}}