Author: nshook61

Don’t give up on the Flashes yet

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By Nick Shook

Don’t mail it in on the Kent State men’s basketball team in 2014 just yet.

Yes, they’ve lost six of nine games.

Yes, they are currently last in the Mid-American Conference East Division standings.

As much as these two facts might drive a fan to leap off the bandwagon and hit the ground running, I’m here to tell you that it’s too early to give up on them.

History proves that the Flashes tend to hit their stride at this time of the season. Don’t believe me? Look at the last two seasons.

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When life gives you Sherman…

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By Nick Shook

Richard Sherman Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks answers questions during media day for Super Bowl XLVIII at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday, Jan. 28. 2014. Photo by Brian Branch Price and courtesy of MCT Campus.

Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks answers questions during media day for Super Bowl XLVIII at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday, Jan. 28. 2014. Photo by Brian Branch Price and courtesy of MCT Campus.

I’ve tried all week to avoid writing about Richard Sherman.

I’ve searched high and low for worthy distractions, new storylines and trending topics.

The sports world has done me no favors. Not even the Cleveland Browns’ laughable head coaching search could fill up this column.

You know what, hold that thought for later.

Sherman has been called various names and insulted countless times via social media since his outburst following Sunday’s NFC title victory. (In case you missed it, watch it here). Below are some facts to help get you up to speed. Continue reading →

The top five games of the college football bowl season

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By Nick Shook

I gave you eight days to recover from the exhilarating finish to the BCS National Championship Game. Now that you’ve had time to rest, recuperate, reflect and rehydrate, it’s time to look back on the most exciting games of college football’s annual bowl season.

5. Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Central Florida 52, Baylor 42

This game promised to be one of the higher-scoring contests of bowl season, and it lived up to the hype.

Fiesta Bowl

Central Florida’s Rannell Hall (6) runs during a 50-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter against Baylor during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Az., on January 1, 2014. Photo by Wally Skalij at Los Angeles Times. Photo courtesy of MCT Campus.

Art Briles’ Baylor Bears had a banner year, going 11-1, winning the Big 12 and coming one conference loss away from a shot at the national title. Briles and quarterback Bryce Petty were favored over American Athletic Conference champion Central Florida, playing in its first Bowl Championship Series game in school history.

Boy, were the bookmakers ever wrong.

Led by quarterback Blake Bortles and running back Storm Johnson, the Knights emphatically cast their place in UCF history from the opening kick. Johnson scored twice in the first quarter and the Knights never trailed, running away with a surprising and impressive victory over Baylor.

As a fan of beautiful execution, my favorite part of the game came in the form of two well-timed screen plays, both in the second quarter. The first was a bubble screen from Bortles to wide receiver Rannell Hall near the left sideline, and while I despise the bubble screen for its ineffectiveness and think it should be banished from playbooks worldwide, UCF gave me a reason to believe that maybe it isn’t all that bad. And wouldn’t you know, the second was again a bubble screen, this time to the right sideline. Textbook downfield blocking from Knights wide receiver Josh Reese sprung the scores. Nothing gets me more fired up during a football game than great downfield blocking.

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Ellet 65, Buchtel 55: Orangemen hand Griffins first City Series loss

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By Nick Shook | Special to the Beacon Journal
Read full story on Ohio.com

Saturday night’s showdown between Buchtel and Ellet was supposed to be a must-see battle between the top two teams in the City Series.

The first half lived up to expectations, with both teams trading baskets before Ellet claimed a four-point halftime lead.

The second half was a much different story. Continue reading →

Kent State ends season with blowout win against Ohio

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By Nick Shook

Read original story on KentWired.com

ATHENS, OH. — After losing five straight games, Kent State finished its 2013 season the way head coach Paul Haynes envisioned.
With postseason possibilities well out of reach, the Flashes (4-8, 3-5 Mid-American Conference) played as well as they have in the final two weeks of the season, capping a two-game winning streak with a 44-13 victory over Ohio (6-5, 3-4 MAC) on Tuesday night at Peden Stadium.

In his own words: New Kent State head football coach Paul Haynes

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Originally posted May 5, 2013.

Paul Haynes, Kent State’s new head football coach, on his upbringing, winning and losing and what makes a good football player – on and off the field. (Quotes taken from interview for cover feature on Haynes in May 2013 issue).

Kent State head football coach Paul Haynes graces the cover of the May 2013 issue of The Burr. Story by Nick Shook.

Kent State head football coach Paul Haynes graces the cover of the May 2013 issue of The Burr. Story by Nick Shook.

Interview by Nick Shook

> I’ve got two older sisters. Mom and Dad were hard workers. I got a lot of my work ethic from them because they worked at the same place — my mom worked for the state, my dad worked for a place called Fournier Rubber for probably over 20 or 30 years. [They] kind of started from the bottom and worked their way all the way up top.

> I think it again goes back to my childhood, seeing my parents grind so much. They get up early; they drop us off; they go to work; they take a bus down to their job; they had someone take me to practice. Just all that sacrifice and that grinding to make sure the job was done. I guess the grind concept doesn’t mean that you’re there until one o’clock. That’s not grinding. Grinding to me is making sure you get the job done, and you’re not going to finish until the job is done.

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The Return of Paul Haynes

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Paul Haynes, Kent State’s head football coach, has returned to his alma mater. After time in the NFL and alongside former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, Haynes is stepping into the shadow of his predecessor, Darrell Hazell, and the best football season in university history. In an exclusive interview with The Burr, Haynes speaks about the game, his faith and why — if he has things his way — he’s here to stay. By Nick Shook.

The Return of Paul Haynes

Originally published in the May 2013 issue of The Burr.

Haynes signs 21 student-athletes in first recruiting class

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By Nick Shook

Read original post on KentWired.com

Read the print version of this story in the Daily Kent Stater here

Kent State football coach Paul Haynes signs an autograph for Sophia Waiz, 8, during National Signing Day Feb. 6, 2013 at Quaker Steak and Lube in the student center. Photo by Shane Flanigan.

Kent State football coach Paul Haynes signs an autograph for Sophia Waiz, 8, during National Signing Day Feb. 6, 2013 at Quaker Steak and Lube in the student center. Photo by Shane Flanigan.

Paul Haynes sat at the head of his conference table inside his office Wednesday morning, awaiting the start of another historic day in his head coaching career at Kent State.

ESPNU’s coverage of National Signing Day played on the television mounted on his office wall while less than two months of relentless recruiting efforts became tangible results in the form of faxed documents.

The first national letter of intent, signed by Toledo Whitmer recruit Nick Holley, arrived at 7:35 a.m.

Recruiting coordinator Ben Needham dialed the first official signee of the 2013 Kent State football recruiting class.

“You were right, you are faster than Nate,” Needham told Holley before handing the phone off to Haynes. Continue reading →