Note: I apologize for not getting this up sooner. it has been a busy week. I'll have a preview for Delaware State up tomorrow. — Jonas

Welcome back Kent State! To ESPN'S bottom 10 that is. The Flashes checked in at No. 10 this week. David Duffey had to this to say about the Flashes…

“‘Something About You’: Maybe it's extending the nation's longest losing streak to nine games? Yup, that's it.”

Ouch. No wonder Kent State football coach Doug Martin was mad as hell Monday at his weekly press conference. Although, I have a hunch it had more to do with his team’s fumbilitis.

Yes, that same bug-a-boo that wreaked havoc on the Flashes’ offense last year for most of the season is back.

“The turnover deal has been going on for two years now,” Martin said. “That’s enough.”

It was a different Martin then anyone has seen as of late. He put the blame squarely on the players shoulders for the first time ever at KSU and rightfully so. Martin can’t hold onto a football himself. Martin can’t protect the punter from the sidelines.

The saddest part about the two punt blocks Saturday was that Iowa State was in its basic punt return formations for both of them. It wasn’t even the punt block formation according to Martin.

That is inexcusable. The player simply ran down field instead of blocking, Martin said.

But let’s get back to the fumbles….

They lost four fumbles Saturday!! That is now five for the season. They lost 11 all of last year.

Now it is football and defensive players can make plays. Whether it is putting a helmet on the ball or just making a big time hit; players will fumble throughout the season. That is a given in, but five already is a bit much.

The most alarming part is where the fumbles were. The Flashes gave the two easy scores when fumbles placed the Cyclones on the KSU 20 and KSU 5. They also may have cost themselves the game when they lost the ball on the ISU 6 early in the fourth quarter. The other fumble was on the Iowa 43.

It is not exactly a formula for winning.

No players’ job is now safe including senior starting quarterback Julian Edelman, Martin said Monday.

Perhaps the most interesting thing to me is the way Martin finally showed cracks in his protection of Edelman, who had two fumbles Saturday.

He did say that Edelman played one of his best games at Kent State (10-22 for 171 yards and three touchdowns), but said he cannot afford to fumble the ball anymore. If he can’t hold onto the ball he cannot stay on the field.

When asked if about Edelman’s “reckless” style of football being both a positive and a negative martin quickly responded.

“There is a difference between reckless and stupid,” he said.

Martin also discussed sophomore quarterback Giorgio Morgan for one of the first times this season. It has appeared – and this is speculation on my part – that Morgan may have been in the coach’s doghouse.

Anthony Magazu jumped ahead of Morgan on the depth chart at the beginning of the season. He has also played in the one series every half in both games (He did not play in the second half Saturday though) that Martin said would be won each week.

In Monday’s press conference Martin talked about how this is a big week for Giorgio Morgan and he is hoping that “Giorgio comes on.” He hadn’t spoken of Morgan like that in a while.

It is pretty Obvious that Morgan, with his big-time arm and deceptive legs, is the heir apparent. It is up to he and Edelman how soon though. If Morgan does not play within the next two weeks there is a good chance he will be red-shirted this season.

Martin also said that plenty of positions will be one this week in 50/50 battles.
– Tight end is up for grabs between the injured Jameson Konz (high ankle sprain) and Jonathan Simpson, who played well last week at Iowa State.
– Safety is another rare that is up for grabs. Adam Richey has been playing really well, but Will Johnson brings more overall talent to the position. Martin said he with Richey he knows what he has week in and week out as Richey possesses great football instincts. He also likes Richey’s love for the game. Yet he also said Richey isn’t the fastest player at the position.
– Martin said the jury is still out about his wide receivers. Leneric Muldrow had a costly fumble last week and Aaron Robinson hasn’t been playing up to par. He has liked what he has seen out of junior Phil Garner though.

One aspect of the team Martin was proud of was the offensive line. He challenged the big guys up front to beat Iowa State off the ball and he said they did all game.

Martin did make one thing for sure about his football team leading up to this week’s home opener against Delaware State. The players “are going to thank God when Saturday comes," he said

Kent State basketball player Chris Singletary has been “indefinitely suspended” by the Kent State Athletic Department after being arrested over the weekend. He will be allowed to participate in team activities.

Singletary was arraigned yesterday morning on charges of resisting arrest and loud noise/disturbance. He pled not guilty, according to court records. A pretrial will be held Oct. 9 at 10 a.m.

“While we are disappointed with Chris’ actions over the weekend, he still has our support and is a valued member of our program. We believe that the suspension is a necessary step at this time until the issue is resolved by the judicial system,” Kent State Athletic Director Laing Kennedy said in a press release.

Further action could be determined after the settlement of Singletary’s legal process.

Singletary was a key player for the Flashes last season as he averaged 10.3 points and 3.2 rebounds a game allowing the Flashes to earn its tenth straight season of 20 wins or more, a Mid-American Conference title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

MY OPINION ON SINGLETARY

I have always enjoyed being around Chris and I have never really felt like he is a bad person or a threatening person by any means. All of his arrests seem – to me atleast –petty.

Yet at what point does Kent State grow tiresome of having to deal with these type charges?

As a 23-year-old student myself I know we all go through growing pains at this age. It has to be even tougher for a guy like Chris, who is still trying to establish a type of structure in his life that he may have lacked in Chicago.

If he doesn’t figure it out quick though, he may be back in Chicago sooner than he would like to be. I hope that is not the case as I feel Chris needs basketball and Kent State to continue to develop as a person and put these types of situations in the past.

TYREE EVANS UPDATE

I apologize for those who were looking for a Tyree Evans update because I did not deliver one. Evans is indeed on campus and working out with the basketball team.

In fact, he joined the rest of the team as they marched down the goal line after the first quarter of Kent State’s season opening loss to Boston College at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

While I have yet to interview Evans myself – I should be scheduling something in the not so distant future — He is definitely an interesting story from what I have found out. I will have a story for the paper in a couple weeks, so keep an eye out for that.

ZIPS RELEASE SCHEDULE

My counterpart over at the Zips blog, Mike Rasor, has some pretty cool stuff about compliance issues in college athletics. I found it all pretty interesting and it is worth a read if you have questions on gray shirting and eligibility in general.

The post also announces that the Zippies have released their upcoming hoops schedule. Although the Zippies did pick up Pittsburgh, Winthrop and Dayton this year, it is still lackluster. Albeit still much stronger than in past years.

Akron coach Keith Dambrot's scheduling always bothers me. How do you expect to earn an NCAA bid when you schedule cupcakes that deliver little RPI points? This is not only bad for Akron, it is bad for the Mid-American Conference as an entirety (hence why I am complaining about it here). Playing Pittsburgh is a step in the right direction.

Expect the Flashes to release their upcoming schedule soon. I have been told they are trying to fill one more open slot thus delaying the release. A date with National Champion Kansas will be on the schedule though.

Kent State basketball player Chris Singletary was arrested early Sunday morning for violating a noise ordinance after receiving a warning at his Olympus Drive apartment, according to a Kent police report.

Singletary, 20, became uncooperative with police offers on their second visit to the residence and was arrested, the report said.

The junior guard also was charged with resisting arrest, for which he sustained wrist and shoulder injuries, according to the report.

"Coach Ford and I are gathering the facts from those involved and the Kent
City Police. Once we determine the facts we will take appropriate action," Kent State Director of Athletics Laing Kennedy said.

"In the meantime we will continue to support Chris and value him as a member
of the program."

This is the fourth time in less than a year the Chicago native has had a run-in with a local law enforcement agency, according to Portage County court records. Singletary was suspended for one game last season following an OVI arrest Jan. 26.

On March 10, he was charged with nuisance party regulations. He also was arrested on April 7 for driving under DUI suspension.

Singletary averaged 10.3 points and 3.2 rebounds a game last season. He was released on bond early Sunday morning and is scheduled to appear in court at 8:15 a.m. Thursday.