For in-game updates today and all season long (including men's basketball), follow me on twitter @RyanLewisOhio.

Kent State will open the 2011 football season at Alabama, college football's 2009 BCS Champion.

Last week, Akron Beacon Journal writer Stephanie Storm reported Kent State University will pay Purdue University $425,000 to get out of a contract to play next season in order to play Alabama.

Kent State men's basketball will have a minimum of nine televised games this season. The link has a complete list.

Kentstatesports.com provided an extensive background of each player on the KSU roster.

I apologize for the light coverage the past couple of weeks, folks. Lets get back on the horse from this point out, shall we (if you're not comfortable with the horse reference, again I offer my apologies--been listening to Johnny Cash all morning)?

With a new Athletic Director adding emphasis on the football program and the highest expectations for a single season in a long time, this isn't how Head Coach Doug Martin and his staff wanted to open the first month of MAC play.

David Carducci's take.

I'm going to pull a Terry Pluto and number some thoughts from the game.

1. All fall we (the media) listened to Doug Martin and his coaching staff rave about how freshman defensive back Luke Wollet progressed and came into this own--now we know why. Wollet picked off Patrick Nicely deep in Akron territory and returned it for Kent State's first touchdown of the day. His freshman label was evident on that play, however, as he admitted he lined up on the wrong side of the field. It was Brian Lainhart who should have been covering that zone. Speaking of Lainhart, Martin has uttered the words "young Lainhart" when describing Wollet.

Roosevelt Nix sacked Pat Nicely in the end zone and forced a fumble that Luke Batton recovered for a touchdown.

The last ten minutes have seen a fake field-goal run go for a touchdown for Akron (10 yards, Jeremy LaFrance), a fumle-roosky type play by Kent after a 40 yard pass and a failed option run on fourth and one to shift momentum to Akron's sideline.

21-17 Kent State late in the third.

Carducci on the Miami game

All of the hopes and dreams they may have harbored for a breakout season in 2010 were sucked away in a disastrous 27-21 loss on Saturday at Miami University.

The Flashes lost their MAC opener to Miami, today, 27-21.

The defense really struggled, surrendering 346 of total yards, 294 of those through the air.