Junior running back Eugene Jarvis drives through the Iowa State defensive line during Saturday night’s football game in Ames, Iowa. Daniel R. Doherty | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: DKS Editors

Kent State football coach Doug Martin made one thing painfully clear after the Flashes’ loss to Iowa State: Not one job is safe.

Monday, Martin said he had “absolutely not” backed down from his statement after Saturday’s game that every position was up for grabs. He also said he had not “cooled off much” since the mistake-laden loss.

Kent State lost 48-28 at Iowa State, thanks in part to four lost fumbles and two blocked punts. The Flashes lost the game despite outgaining the Cyclones in yards, 410-374.

Martin said the team’s performance disappointed him more than the season-opening loss to Boston College because he felt the players never put themselves in a position to win the game.

“I told the players after the game, if we had gone to Iowa State and they had just physically overpowered us, or if they had more speed than we did and we couldn’t catch them, I’d come home and sleep like a baby,” Martin said. “(But) when you beat yourself, I have a problem with that. I’m fed up with it around here, and the players need to start taking some ownership in that.”

Martin said players who find it difficult to perform in game situations for whatever reason need to be weeded out of the starting lineup.

“Some guys just can’t play under that (game day) pressure,” Martin said. “We’ve got to identify who they are and get them out.”

Junior running back Eugene Jarvis and senior quarterback Julian Edelman were particularly successful in the Iowa State game, each gaining at least five yards per carry.

Martin said he thinks Jarvis is a model of consistency other players should emulate because he makes fewer mistakes than the average player because of his preparation for each game.

“The great player is Eugene Jarvis on our football team . because he’s the same in every game,” Martin said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re playing Delaware State or Ohio State.”

Edelman performed well against Iowa State in every statistical category besides turnovers, giving up two fumbles. The team fumbled the ball three other times in the game, losing four of five fumbles total to the Cyclones.

Martin said he was upset about the turnovers because the offense has struggled with losing the football for the last two seasons.

“(The turnovers are) what’s disgusting me, particularly with our offense,” Martin said. “The turnover deal has been going on for two years now, and that’s enough.”

Going into the third week of the season, Martin said he still has unanswered questions about the capabilities of his team, especially among wide receivers and special teams players. Despite this, he said the punt protection issues against Iowa State would be “fixed” by the Delaware State game Saturday.

Jarvis’ brief statement after the Iowa State game succinctly summed up the major issues for the team.

“We’ve just got to get back to the drawing board and get some things taken care of,” Jarvis said.

Contact sports reporter Thomas Gallick at

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