Dave Carducci from the Record Courier checks in today with some news and notes. 

-Currently the football program has 64 players on campus to participate in the summer strength and conditioning program. 

-The Kent State men's basketball program has seven players on campus for the "Summer I" session of summer school.  The first year players will not be permitted to practice this summer or go on the trip to Italy in late August.  Freshmen-to-be are not permitted to go on the trip. 

-Geno Ford isn't exactly thrilled about the new definition of the always difficult block/charge call that officials have to make.

-Men's golfers John Hahn and Brett Cairns have been honored several times in their career at Kent State and that has continued.

Kim Hamilton took 5th place at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  She tossed the javelin a career best 50.80 meters on Friday. 

The Kent State Athletic Department is very proud after eight teams earned a GPA of 3.00 or higher during the spring semester.  Overall the athletic department compiled a 2.96 GPA during the spring to equal KSU's highest semester GPA since 1983 when official records were first kept by the university.

Dix Stadium will host Football University this weekend for the second straight year.  Football University was founded by Rich McGuiness, the president of the New Jersey based company SportsLink.  This football camp offers instruction by former and current professional players.  More than 150 athletes have registered for Football University which will last Friday-Sunday.  The Plain Dealer's Tim Rogers has the full story. 

Dave Carducci from the Record Courier weighs in on the changes made to the MAC Basketball tournaments including thoughts from men's basketball head coach Geno Ford, former head coach Jim Christian and Athletic Director Laing Kennedy.

Three Kent State track and field athletes have the opportunity to compete at the 2009 NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas which will begin today and conclude on Saturday. 

Men's golfer John Hahn has been named to the Honorable Mention All-American team.  Hahn becomes the 14th individual and 21st All-American for Kent State's tradition rich golf program.

Kent State's football game on September 12 at Boston College will begin at 2P.M. and air live on ESPN360.com.  Recently Dominique Davis announced he would be transferring.  Davis was expected to be BC's starting quarterback this season.

The Major League Baseball 2009 First Year Player Draft will take place on Tuesday.  Kent State baseball coach Scott Stricklin says that as many as nine KSU players could be drafted but realistically six or seven should be taken for sure.  Jonas Fortune has the story here.  The MAC Daily has previewed the draft while talking about a few Golden Flashes and Dennis Manoloff from The Plain Dealer previews the draft and also looks at some Ohioans who should hear their name called. 

Lou Holtz's speech in the Centennial Starner Distinguished Speaker Series that will take place on September 9, 2009 has sold out in just a week.  The Kent State Athletic Department announced that it will simulcast the speech in the KIVA, which will roughly open up another 400 free tickets.  Holtz will speak in the Kent Student Center Ballroom at 7p.m.  A 1959 KSU graduate,  Holtz will share his life experiences as part of his speech entitled "If You Didn't Show Up, Who Would Miss You And Why?".

David Carducci checks in today with KSU news and notes including where some of the college football magazines are picking the 2009 Golden Flashes.

Former Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman has already caught the eye of one media member at the Boston Globe. Patriots beat writer Mike Reiss already dedicated a quick video to the seventh round draft pick.

Reiss' blog is chock full of information on the Patriots, with several Edelman notes. Not much on former wrestler Jermail Porter yet though. Check it out.

Reiss on Edelman:

Edelman looked very quick to me. You saw him plant his foot in the ground and change direction smoothly.

Edelman lined up at multiple spots, but he mostly caught my eye in the slot.

Despite never playing organized football, Kent State All-American heavyweight wrestler Jermail Porter will participate in the New England Patriots rookie camp this week.  Jonas Fortune has the interesting story here. 

Also, linebacker Derek Burrell will report to the Buffalo Bills mini-camp for a tryout.

Steve Hare from the Kent Sports Report is reporting that four Golden Flashes will be signed on the free agent market with NFL teams.  Wide receiver Shawn Bayes to the Oakland Raiders, cornerback Rico Murray to his hometown Cincinnati Bengals, offensive lineman Gus Parrish to the New Orleans Saints and wrestler Jermail Porter to the New England Patriots, joining Julian Edelman.