The Mid-American Conference has unanimously decided for a divisional realignment for football. The realignment includes the newest addition to MAC football, the University of Massachusetts, to the East Division. Bowling Green University will be moved to the West Division, making the two divisions even with seven teams.

 With the addition of Massachusetts for MAC football, Kent State’s recruiting field greatly extends.

 “It helps us in a lot of different ways,” Flashes’ head football coach Darrell Hazell said.  “It allows us to get into that East Coast market in recruiting out in the University of Massachusetts area and really the whole eastern seaboard.”

Hazell explained that the addition of Massachusetts into MAC football is a tremendous recruiting tool for Kent State because it allows Kent State players who are from the Massachusetts area to play near their home every other year.

“They (UMass) do a great job with their program,” Hazell said. “They are a very good academic school, which is good for the conference, but also they’ve been very competitive in their leagues for football.”

 In its 92-year history, the Kent State football program has never played UMass.

 Hazell is currently in San Antonio for the American National Coaches Association Convention.

Contact John Dvozenja at [email protected].