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The Kent State Golden Flashes (0-3, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) hit the road to Charlottesville September 27, 2014 seeking its first win of the season against the University of Virginia Cavaliers (2-2). Ohio State pummeled the Flashes 66-0 in a lopsided victory on September 13, 2014.
Saturday’s game will be the first meet between the Golden Flashes and the Cavaliers. Kent State is 11-24 against six teams currently in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Nine of those victories came against Louisville. The Golden Flashes' only victory over an opponent that was actively in the ACC came in 1971 at North Carolina State.
Kent State had a bye last week. "Virginia is a very talented football team," said Coach Paul Haynes. "They’ve had a very tough schedule, playing 3 out of 4 ranked opponents and playing them well. So we’ll have a huge challenge this week, but our guys have a great attitude, we went back to a good worth ethic and our guys are looking forward to an ACC opponent."
"The offensive line has been in a work in progress," admits Coach Haynes,"we’re looking forward to get into MAC play. We’re a young football team."
Coach Haynes believe the Virginia game will help the Golden Flashes prepare for MAC play. "You play 4 games, just to refocus on what you do well and what you do not do well, you can go back and hit the fundamentals again, and get healthy," added Coach Haynes.
"As you asked about Kent State, they're a team that's hungry for a victory, said Virginia Coach Mike London. "That is the thing you can never overlook the fact that teams want to taste success, and we want to taste it as well." Virginia returned home this week after a 41-33 loss to Brigham Young University.
The Golden Flashes are playing in Virginia for the third time in program history and for the first time since Nov. 11, 2006, a 23-0 loss at Virginia Tech. Kent State also played at Virginia Tech on Oct. 23, 1976, a 42-14 loss.Kent State's running backs coach Don Treadwell worked for two years under current University of Virginia's associate head coach for offense Tom O'Brien.