Coming off a record 11-win season, Kent State football’s next journey begins Thursday, Aug. 29, hosting Liberty University at 6 p.m. inside Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes return five All-Mid-American Conference players from a team that went 8-0 in league play and made its first bowl appearance in 40 years.
Thursday marks the debut of head coach Paul Haynes, who was a standout defensive back for the Golden Flashes from 1987-91. Also a former assistant coach at Kent State (1999-2000), Haynes was most recently the defensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2012.
Kent State has won eight straight games at Dix Stadium, dating back to the midpoint of the 2011 season. The Golden Flashes also carry over a 10-game regular season winning streak from 2012.
Liberty finished 6-5 in their 2012 campaign, during Turner Gill’s first season as head coach. In four seasons as head coach at Buffalo, Gill’s teams went 3-1 against the Golden Flashes and won the Buffalo Bulls’ only MAC championship in program history in 2008.
Dix Stadium gates open at 4:30 p.m., when happy hour begins with discounted prices on food and drinks until 5:30 p.m. Pregame festivities will include a giant American flag stretched over the field as St. Patrick School students sing the national anthem. Fans will then witness a 1,500 balloon launch, a five-plane flyover by Kent State's Aeronautics Program and fireworks. The game ball will then be presented by three skydivers.
Inflatables, caricature artists and more will be located behind the South End Zone from 4:30-6:30 p.m. In an effort to set a single-game attendance record at Dix Stadium, AMETEK will bring fans the largest fireworks display in Portage County history after the game. Single-game and season tickets can be ordered through www.KentStateSports.com or by calling 330-672-2244.