Backups to play more; regulars to rest for MAC
KENT: The Ohio State University.
Ranked No. 3 nationally, Ohio State University.
The highest ranked opponent Kent State has ever faced, Ohio State University.
The reality that smacked struggling Kent State in the face is after a disappointing Mid-American Conference loss a 20-13 loss Saturday to Miami awaits undefeated Buckeyes at noon Saturday.
And the game will be played at the 102,329-seat Horseshoe in Columbus.
''You get exposed in every game,'' Kent State coach Doug Martin said at his weekly news conference Monday. ''But especially when you play the No. 3 team in the country. This game here, you're going to have to play your heart out just to keep this thing close.''
Perhaps more important for the Golden Flashes than going against all odds by playing for a win is simply getting out of Columbus healthy.
That's why Martin and his staff already have decided that Kent State's backups will get most of the action this weekend.
''We'll play (backup quarterback Anthony) Magazu in this game for sure,'' Martin said. Junior starter Julian Edelman ''has taken some shots the last couple of weeks, and we need to freshen him up for this upcoming (MAC) stretch. So when we go with the second group, that entire second group is going in.''
Martin doesn't mean after the first half or if the game potentially gets out of hand. He means much sooner.
''By the third or fourth series we'll go ahead and rotate those guys in,'' he said. ''Definitely by the time the second quarter begins we'll have those guys in.''
It's not that Martin is conceding a loss. He simply is being realistic about the more important course for this ailing team right now: throwing everything KSU has at the big boys of the Big Ten or resting regulars in hopes for a much-needed strong finish in conference play.
''If we go out and Ohio State plays (its) best game and we play our best game, they're probably going to win,'' Martin said. ''But that's why you play the game; you never know what might happen. If we catch them on a day when they don't play their best game and we play really well, then that's when special things happen.''
But dreaming about an Appalachian State-like upset isn't on the minds of the Flashes.
''Defensively, (Ohio State) has been stellar from the beginning this season,'' Martin said. ''Offensively, they've gotten a lot better than they were at the beginning of the year, particularly (wide receivers Brian) Robiskie and (Ray) Small.
''I think they've also found what their quarterback is comfortable doing stretching the field and throwing deep a little more than they had been. They're starting to hit their stride offensively.''
KENT: The Ohio State University.
Ranked No. 3 nationally, Ohio State University.
The highest ranked opponent Kent State has ever faced, Ohio State University.
The reality that smacked struggling Kent State in the face is after a disappointing Mid-American Conference loss a 20-13 loss Saturday to Miami awaits undefeated Buckeyes at noon Saturday.
And the game will be played at the 102,329-seat Horseshoe in Columbus.
''You get exposed in every game,'' Kent State coach Doug Martin said at his weekly news conference Monday. ''But especially when you play the No. 3 team in the country. This game here, you're going to have to play your heart out just to keep this thing close.''
Perhaps more important for the Golden Flashes than going against all odds by playing for a win is simply getting out of Columbus healthy.
That's why Martin and his staff already have decided that Kent State's backups will get most of the action this weekend.
''We'll play (backup quarterback Anthony) Magazu in this game for sure,'' Martin said. Junior starter Julian Edelman ''has taken some shots the last couple of weeks, and we need to freshen him up for this upcoming (MAC) stretch. So when we go with the second group, that entire second group is going in.''
Martin doesn't mean after the first half or if the game potentially gets out of hand. He means much sooner.
''By the third or fourth series we'll go ahead and rotate those guys in,'' he said. ''Definitely by the time the second quarter begins we'll have those guys in.''
It's not that Martin is conceding a loss. He simply is being realistic about the more important course for this ailing team right now: throwing everything KSU has at the big boys of the Big Ten or resting regulars in hopes for a much-needed strong finish in conference play.
''If we go out and Ohio State plays (its) best game and we play our best game, they're probably going to win,'' Martin said. ''But that's why you play the game; you never know what might happen. If we catch them on a day when they don't play their best game and we play really well, then that's when special things happen.''
But dreaming about an Appalachian State-like upset isn't on the minds of the Flashes.
''Defensively, (Ohio State) has been stellar from the beginning this season,'' Martin said. ''Offensively, they've gotten a lot better than they were at the beginning of the year, particularly (wide receivers Brian) Robiskie and (Ray) Small.
''I think they've also found what their quarterback is comfortable doing stretching the field and throwing deep a little more than they had been. They're starting to hit their stride offensively.''
