“Atomic Habits’ is a best selling book by author James Clear. In it, the book discusses methods, strategies and ways to break bad habits, and build new ones.
Kent State football is hoping their ‘HAB1TS’ in 2025 will help guide them through what could be another difficult season. Interim Head Coach Mark Carney came up with the new mantra in the spring, and it has already paid dividends.
“Yeah, I think one we’ve developed really good habits,” Carney said at his Monday press conference as the team prepares for the season opener Saturday vs. Merrimack. ” How we get ourselves ready to practice, how we get ourselves ready to meet, how we recover after practice, how we fuel our bodies. We’ve built really, really good habits.
“You know, we’ve got to continue to develop those and continue to earn, you know, the right to go out there and and compete wearing these Kent State colors. You know, every, every day rent is due, right? And and just because we put work in from August 1st until now doesn’t, doesn’t guarantee us anything but an opportunity. I’m excited to take the field with with a bunch of hungry dudes on on Saturday and go earn it on game day.”
It’s been a tumultuous two years for Kent State football on the field, as well as enduring the Kenni Burns debacle. Kent State needs to control what they can control, focus on getting better week to week and provide a great experience for their student athletes, and that’s where Carney and his ‘HAB1TS’ can aid in that process.
HOMECOMING: Carney is a Northeast Ohio guy, having played at St. Edward’s in Lakewood, before heading to Fordham in the Bronx to be a standout QB. He has coached at Baldwin Wallace, as well as Bowling Green. His Northeast Ohio ties run deep, and he has coached at every level of college football. Saturday is a big day for him and his family.
“You know, it’s one thing to talk about it. It’s another another thing to do it and see it,” Carney said Monday. “And if I can be that example for our guys and and the rest of their lives, you know, I’m excited to do that being a local guy and I know I’m going to have some support from from home. You know, my wife and children will be here, Mom and dad. Aunts, uncles, godparents, a lot of support in the stands. So excited to run out of the tunnel.”
“There may be some guests running out of the tunnel with me. I can’t promise that there won’t be a bunch of kids running around. You know, this is a family football program and Coach Watson, our general manager, his son has his birthday on Saturday, so he may be one of the guys running around with the team from the sidelines. But yeah, excited to to get the season going.”
Carney was the wide receivers coach at BG in 2012 and coached against that great Kent State team. He has reached out and stayed in touch with several players from that team such as Kent Cleveland and Rosie Nix. Cleveland and Nix attended practice this August, talked to the team and appeared on social media segments.
MONTES NAMED QB1: Kent State has named Fordham transfer CJ Montes as its starter for Saturday, beating out Dru DeShields. DeShields has overcome mulitple knee injuries in high school and college to battle back to this point. Montes had a standout season in 2023 before injuries plagued him last year. He started his career at New Mexico. Expect to see both at some point Saturday.
Carney talked about what gave the more experienced Montes the edge.
“Yeah, I think experience and comfort level and consistent execution on a day-to-day basis throughout the situations, not only on first and ten but on 3rd down in the gold zone, you know in the backed up coming out situations. There’s not a whole lot of substitute for experience at the quarterback position, you know, and that was the difference between him and Dru.”
“Ultimately, I think both guys are going to play at some point. I know both guys are going to play at some point. I’m excited for Dru and his opportunity, but you know, CJ has earned the earned the right to step foot on the field first, with our ones and you know, looking forward to the team rallying behind him.”
OH, THE O-LINE: Kent State will try to piece together an offensive line this year to help keep those quarterbacks upright, and provide a running game for a room, that is arguably the most talented on the roster.
Newcomers Jamarcus Hill (SE Missouri), Matt Pajuste (Buffalo) and Ashton Rivera (FIU) join returners Dustyn Morell and Garrett Masterson as the initial five that will be leading the way. It was a competitive camp that helped allow this configuration to emerge.
“Yeah, the competitive depth. You know, our staff did a really, really good job
recruiting,” Carney remarked Monday. “Bringing in, you know, young, talented players from the high school ranks as well as, you know, some transfer portal guys that we hit on. And you know, the competition everywhere has made everyone better, everyone on this football team better.
“It’s not only the offensive line, it’s the defensive line, it’s the quarterback, it’s the receiver room, it’s the DB room safeties, linebackers you know competition breeds success and a lot of positions this training camp we’ve had very competitive battles.”
Carney had high praise for Morell, who will play at right tackle.
“I think Dusty’s an NFL player. He started and played games at every position outside of center on the offensive line throughout his career here. The growth he’s made in the weight room, you know, first spring that he’s been fully healthy and been able to train in in the weight room. The strength gains that he’s made, you know, from a leadership perspective that is that is his room. You know, he’s a guy that I I know you may not notice, you know, as as being a splash guy because he’s an offensive lineman, but he is a calming force and and you know, without question the leader of our offense.”
COACH KEE SAYS ‘ALOHA’: Cherokee Valeria takes over the defense this year after Kody Morgan left late in the summer for North Dakota State.
Carney discussed what to expect on that side of the ball.
“Certainly up front, but you know at the second and third level as well, you know
linebacker room is as deep as we have on our team. You know, I think the
interior D lineman, you’re going to see seven or eight guys play throughout the
course of the season.”
“And Coach Kee, I cannot say enough about Cherokee Valeria and the organization that he has brought to our defensive side of the football. He’s got, you know, whether it’s Aloha Friday or his Sharks or he’s got the guys, you know, chomping at the bit and excited to play. So I’m excited to. To cut him loose on game day.”
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES: In addition to Carney and Valeria being in new roles, the Golden Flashes also have a new offensive coordinator in Clay Patterson. With so many new faces in high profile roles, how did KSU ease this transition?
“No, we we’ve practiced the heck out of it,” Carney said. “Just like, you know, a member of the team, any coach going into a new position has to practice those things. So whether it’s, you know, myself making postgame speeches, practice that, you know, Coach Patterson calling plays offensively, Coach Kee on defense, the communication from the sidelines to the box, you know, all of these things have been run through and practiced, you know. So when we get out there Saturday, it won’t be the First, time that we’ve done it. You know, certainly going to be some challenges that that I’m not ready for and I’m not prepared for and I’m excited to get to those. Meet those those obstacles head-on and and see them as opportunities, right? And you know, but just like any other player on the team, our staff has practiced the new role.”
“So you know you’ll see great communication on all levels, whether it’s from me to the coordinators or coordinators to their side of the ball. I think we’re built on clear and concise communication and having clear expectations for everyone going into each game each week.”
Despite not having a Kent State alum on staff, the group features Northeast Ohio ties with Bart Tanski (Mentor) coaching corners, CJ Conrad (LaGrange Keystone) coaching tight ends and special teams, and Malcolm Robinson (Massillon Washington) coaching the rush ends.
IF YOU GO: It’s Faith and Family Day, Union Appreciation Day and Health Care Appreciation Day Saturday. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Fearless Flash Football flag. It’s a ‘Blue Out’ with all fans encouraged to wear their Kent State navy blue. It’s also Flashes 101 Tailgate: Students enrolled in Flashes 101 are welcome to join the complimentary tailgate located inside Dix Stadium in the southeast party tent while socializing with their fellow Flashes.
ON THE AIR: The game will be teleived by ESPN+ with Anthony Lima and Je’Rod Cherry on the call.
Kent State will broadcast the game on radio with Dane Richardson, Rob Polinsky and Andrea Filote on the call.