It Was Time For Doug Martin To Go

Before the season, my expectations were high for Kent State. They returned 20 starters from an already capable defense. They were the darkest of steeds in the MAC East, when uncertainty reigned over Ohio's offense and Temple's quarterback situation. Bowling Green and Buffalo were set for regression, and it turned out to instead be Miami's surprise year.

But I also figured it was a make-or-break year for head football coach Doug Martin. With no winning record, he would probably be dunzo. And this sentiment finally coagulated with that 38-3 loss to WMU, which was abhorrently painful in every sense of the word. Kent State is now 4-7 and will see no bowl game, no divisional crown, and no championship game.

Since the winning season isn't in store for Martin in his seventh year of trying ... yeah, that's about right for him to resign and give someone else a chance.

The other side of this is that, perhaps, the team is so young that they could've made another run. But with seven years of coaching the same football team, usually you get enough cracks to break through for a winning record and at least a dumpy bowl game. But Martin's contract would've given him a one-year renewal had they finished 5-3 in the conference. Right now they're 3-4 with a finale against OHIO.

We'll talk more about Kent State's season in a retrospective sense, but even Martin himself would probably tell you that he had plenty of chances and the athletic department was mighty patient with him. And had he not resigned, the patience would've run out.

As for Martin's future ... if I'm a mid-major school or a bottom-tier power conference team, I give him a hard look as a defensive coordinator. Because it goes without saying that he understands that.