Kent State University

Yesterday we got a MegaBracket-style education about Stony Brook. Today, we take a look through MB-colored glasses at the other Cinderella story to reach Omaha, the Kent State Golden Flashes. Like the Seawolves, the Golden Flashes are making their first appearance at the College World Series.

Kent State University

Location: Kent, OH (population: 28,904 as of 2010 census)

Established: 1910

Enrollment: ~27,800 on the Kent campus

Nickname: Golden Flashes

Mascot: Flash the Golden Eagle

Historical Note: Kent State was the site of the May 4 Massacre in 1970, during which 4 unarmed students were killed and 9 more wounded by members of the Ohio National Guard. Read more about the incident here.

Random Fact #1: Named for William S. Kent, who donated the 53 acres of land for the original campus. It is the only public university in Ohio named for an individual. William was the son of Marvin Kent, for whom the town of Kent was named.

Random Fact #2: In 1947, Oscar Ritchie became the first African-American professor at a state university in Ohio. In March of 1991, Carol Cartwright became the first female university president of a state university in Ohio.

Random Fact #3: The campus’ unofficial mascot is the black squirrel, which was originally brought on campus in 1961.

Random Fact #4: The university developed one of the earliest conflict management undergraduate programs in the United States in response to the 1970 shootings. Kent State also offers the only American Sign Language B.A. degree in the U.S. east of the Mississippi River.

Notable Alumni: Comedian and Price Is Right host Drew Carey; comedian Arsenio Hall; actor Michael Keaton; boxing promoter Don King; guitarist Joe Walsh; several members of the band Devo, which formed at Kent State in 1973; WWE superstar Dolph Ziggler; San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates; NFL Hall-of-Fame LB Jack Lambert; Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban; Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel; ESPN “analyst” Lou Holtz; MLB Cy Young winner Steve Stone; MLB Hall-of-Fame C Thurman Munson; and 2003 British Open champion Ben Curtis

Notable Kentities: Former NFL player (and American Gladiators announcer) Mike Adamle; former MLB player, manager, and executive Gene “Stick” Michael; and Lucien B. Smith, the inventor of barbed wire