1972 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

1972 Kent State Golden Flashes football
MAC champion
Tangerine Bowl, L 18–21 vs. Tampa
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	6–5–1 (4–1 MAC)
Head coach	Don James (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Dick Scesniak (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Dennis Fitzgerald (2nd season)
Home stadium	Dix Stadium

1972 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Kent State $	4	–	1	–	0			6	–	5	–	1
Bowling Green	3	–	1	–	1			6	–	3	–	1
Western Michigan	2	–	2	–	1			7	–	3	–	1
Miami (OH)	2	–	3	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Toledo	2	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Ohio	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion

The 1972 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represented Kent State University in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The Golden Flashes offense scored 191 points while the defense allowed 196 points. Led by head coach Don James, the Golden Flashes participated in the Tangerine Bowl. Future college head coaches Nick Saban (Alabama) and Gary Pinkel (Missouri) played on the team, along with future Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	at Akron*	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH (Wagon Wheel)	T 13–13	25,121
September 16	at Louisville*	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	L 0–34
September 23	Ohio	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	W 37–14
September 30	San Diego State*	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	L 0–14	5,421	[1]
October 7	Western Michigan	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	L 12–13
October 14	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH (rivalry)	W 14–10
October 21	Xavier*	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	W 26–16	15,487	[2]
October 28	at Northern Illinois*	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	L 7–28
November 4	at Marshall*	Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV	W 16–14
November 11	at Miami (OH)	Miami Field Oxford, OH	W 21–10
November 18	Toledo	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	W 27–9
December 29	vs. Tampa	Tangerine Bowl Orlando, FL (Tangerine Bowl)	L 18–21	20,062
*Non-conference game

Kent State players in the NFL

• Linebacker Jack Lambert went on to a career in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[3] Running Back Larry Poole also played a number of years in the NFL with Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Houston.

References

1. "San Diego 14, Kent State 0". News-Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. October 1, 1972. p. 6-E. Retrieved March 16, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Kent wins, Matsko has big game". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 22, 1972. Retrieved January 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Jack Lambert". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2012.