Relay For Life Kent

Before coaching Saban was a gritty player at Kent State

Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA | Jim Conrad thought he already knew what Kent State football meant to Nick Saban. He'd been his teammate in the Golden Flashes' secondary long enough to have not only recognized Saban's knowledge, resolve and spirit, but to witness it rub off on other players as well.

But it wasn't until the moment an ankle injury ended Saban's day — and ultimately, his playing career — that Conrad fully understood.

“I remember it very vividly. When he busted his ankle, he insisted on getting off the field by himself. He hobbled off on two hands and one foot,” said Conrad, who replaced the future University of Alabama coach in the lineup for the balance of the 1972 season. “That's how tough he was. He didn't want any help getting off the field, and I said, ‘Shoot. I'm in.'”

It was Saban's senior year, and the Golden Flashes fell under .500 for the season that day. But by all accounts, there was something about that team — something Saban helped instill — that brought about a season-ending rally for the first and only Mid-American Conference title in school history.

As his former team meets his current team today at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Saban's former teammates recall not only the championship Saban helped win, but the toughness he displayed while doing it. They remember Saban, the player.

“He was a great competitor, just very intense. That was his personality,” said Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, who was a tight end at Kent State during Saban's playing years. “All those characteristics you see as a head coach, he had them as a football player. That injury was very unfortunate.”

Saban's ankle gave way in a 28-7 road loss at Northern Illinois, and what eventually became a championship season for Kent State didn't look especially promising at the time.

Not with Saban finished for the year.

Not with two tough conference games still to play on just a five-game conference schedule.

Relay for Life of Kent cancer fundraiser runs June 3-4 at French ...

French Field at Kent-Meridian High School will fill up Friday and Saturday with more than 1,400 participants in the Relay for Life of Kent, the 13th annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society to support cancer research.

Ninety-eight teams signed up to participate in the event at Kent that is expected to raise as much as $225,000, according to projections by the American Cancer Society.

The Relay for Life of Kent raised more than $222,000 last year with nearly 1,400 participants on 96 teams.

The Country Club Village People team from an East Hill neighborhood already has raised more than $22,000, the most of any of the teams. Team Hartnett ranks second with more than $15,000 raised.

"The Country Club Village People are amazing," said event co-chair Heather Shaw in an email. "The fundraising totals for them are not unusual for themselves personally. They have been with the event for many years and fundraise year-round. Many teams try hard to emulate them but to my knowledge, it hasn’t happened yet. They are neighbors who are passionate and strive hard to excel in beating their goals."

Bender, from the KISS-FM's 106.1 morning show, will be the guest speaker at the opening ceremony.

The relay starts at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at about noon Saturday. The participating relay teams include members who camp out at French Field and take turns walking or running around the track. Each team is slated to have at least one representative on the track at all times throughout the 18-hour relay.

Survivors kick off the relay by walking the first lap followed by caregivers on the second lap and local heroes on the third lap. The local heroes include firefighters, police officers and military.

At dusk, about 9:30 p.m. Friday, the Luminaria Ceremony of Hope takes place. During the ceremony, paper bags containing lit votive candles are set out around the edge of the track. Each bears the name of a person fighting cancer, or a loved one lost to the disease. People then begin reading off the names from the luminaria.

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