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Look beyond wins and losses in Akron/Kent game

By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist

POSTED: 10:54 p.m. EST, Nov 06, 2009

There are times when a win-loss record does not tell an entire story.

Kent State Athletic Director Laing Kennedy, for instance, has a very solid and logical way to judge a coach beyond W's and L's.

''I look at all coaches and ask myself, 'Is this the kind of person I'd want a member of my family associated with?' '' Kennedy said this week as the Golden Flashes prepared for today's 3:30 p.m. football game against the University of Akron.

Kennedy should have been around in the 1770s to help Thomas Paine write his book.

Because rarely has an administrator used more common sense, especially when it comes to coaching in the Mid-American Conference.

A school like Kent State should not be expected to win eight, 10 games every year.

Clearly the Flashes want to do that, but too many circumstances make that goal extremely tough to achieve.

Too, with a MAC school, there should be more important things than winning and losing. That is the goal for everyone, yes, but MAC institutions are not behemoths like those in the SEC or Big Ten that thrive on the Saturday victory.

It seems reasonable that MAC goals should especially mirror the goals of the entire campus — to help young men and women grow, to help them learn, to help them enjoy their college experience and to help them enjoy their athletic experience.

In athletics, they do that by competing to win.

But when a good coach doing a good job comes along and loses, he or she need not be sent to the curb.

This isn't the Browns, after all.

A year ago, Kent State and coach Doug Martin suffered through a 4-8 season. It was better than 2007, though, when the record was 3-9.

Martin has not had a winning season at Kent State, yet in 2006 Kennedy signed him to a four-year contract extension that would keep him at KSU through 2010.

Some athletic directors might reassess the situation after two seasons with seven wins combined.

''Honestly, it never got to that point,'' Kennedy said. ''We were doing things the right way. Building a program with quality and character and really doing the academic issue well.''

Kennedy pointed out that under Martin the graduation rate has improved (to above 80 percent), the school's progress toward players earning degrees has improved and the team's citizenship has improved.

Too, Martin's win-loss record is far better than any of the four coaches who preceded him.

''Looking at the full body of the program, it never got to the point that this was not the right person,'' Kennedy said. ''Now, nobody likes to lose. And those losses were disappointing. It was really something that we spent a lot of time on, working together to build a really strong program.''

How does that happen?

''Every day,'' Kennedy said. ''Doug and I sit down and really talk about what we want to do.''

One example of a coach with a tough record reaching his players: Kent State had nothing to play for in the season finale last season but still beat MAC East champion Buffalo.

Kids who don't respect their coach do not go out and play like that in a meaningless game.

This season started in difficult ways for Martin. The Flashes lost four-of-six and lost standout running back Eugene Jarvis to injury.

They rebounded behind a core of young players, though, to beat Eastern Michigan, Ohio and Western Michigan.

Today's game at UA gives KSU and Martin a chance to guarantee themselves a nonlosing season, and two wins in the final three games would give KSU and Martin their first winning season.

In some circles, that's not a record worth touting. And Martin himself would surely say he wants better.

But when a good guy is doing a good job, the measurables don't always show the whole story.

''Doug is an excellent person and someone you'd like to be associated with, someone you'd want your son associated with,'' Kennedy said. ''No, it was not hard to stick with Doug. He's just put together the right way.''

Patience is wise.

And sometimes it's rewarded.

Especially when patience is associated with people with the right character and qualities.

Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohio.com/mcmanamon/. Follow Pat on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/patmcmanamon.

There are times when a win-loss record does not tell an entire story.

Kent State Athletic Director Laing Kennedy, for instance, has a very solid and logical way to judge a coach beyond W's and L's.

''I look at all coaches and ask myself, 'Is this the kind of person I'd want a member of my family associated with?' '' Kennedy said this week as the Golden Flashes prepared for today's 3:30 p.m. football game against the University of Akron.

Kennedy should have been around in the 1770s to help Thomas Paine write his book.

Because rarely has an administrator used more common sense, especially when it comes to coaching in the Mid-American Conference.

A school like Kent State should not be expected to win eight, 10 games every year.

Clearly the Flashes want to do that, but too many circumstances make that goal extremely tough to achieve.

Too, with a MAC school, there should be more important things than winning and losing. That is the goal for everyone, yes, but MAC institutions are not behemoths like those in the SEC or Big Ten that thrive on the Saturday victory.

It seems reasonable that MAC goals should especially mirror the goals of the entire campus — to help young men and women grow, to help them learn, to help them enjoy their college experience and to help them enjoy their athletic experience.

In athletics, they do that by competing to win.

But when a good coach doing a good job comes along and loses, he or she need not be sent to the curb.

This isn't the Browns, after all.

A year ago, Kent State and coach Doug Martin suffered through a 4-8 season. It was better than 2007, though, when the record was 3-9.

Martin has not had a winning season at Kent State, yet in 2006 Kennedy signed him to a four-year contract extension that would keep him at KSU through 2010.

Some athletic directors might reassess the situation after two seasons with seven wins combined.

''Honestly, it never got to that point,'' Kennedy said. ''We were doing things the right way. Building a program with quality and character and really doing the academic issue well.''

Kennedy pointed out that under Martin the graduation rate has improved (to above 80 percent), the school's progress toward players earning degrees has improved and the team's citizenship has improved.

Too, Martin's win-loss record is far better than any of the four coaches who preceded him.

''Looking at the full body of the program, it never got to the point that this was not the right person,'' Kennedy said. ''Now, nobody likes to lose. And those losses were disappointing. It was really something that we spent a lot of time on, working together to build a really strong program.''

How does that happen?

''Every day,'' Kennedy said. ''Doug and I sit down and really talk about what we want to do.''

One example of a coach with a tough record reaching his players: Kent State had nothing to play for in the season finale last season but still beat MAC East champion Buffalo.

Kids who don't respect their coach do not go out and play like that in a meaningless game.

This season started in difficult ways for Martin. The Flashes lost four-of-six and lost standout running back Eugene Jarvis to injury.

They rebounded behind a core of young players, though, to beat Eastern Michigan, Ohio and Western Michigan.

Today's game at UA gives KSU and Martin a chance to guarantee themselves a nonlosing season, and two wins in the final three games would give KSU and Martin their first winning season.

In some circles, that's not a record worth touting. And Martin himself would surely say he wants better.

But when a good guy is doing a good job, the measurables don't always show the whole story.

''Doug is an excellent person and someone you'd like to be associated with, someone you'd want your son associated with,'' Kennedy said. ''No, it was not hard to stick with Doug. He's just put together the right way.''

Patience is wise.

And sometimes it's rewarded.

Especially when patience is associated with people with the right character and qualities.

Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohio.com/mcmanamon/. Follow Pat on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/patmcmanamon.

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