College Sports Established
1910
Location
Kent, Ohio
College Name
Kent State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1932 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1951 - Present / MAC Conference
1932 - 1951 / Ohio Athletic Conference
Nickname
Golden Flashes - The Kent State Golden Flashes are a proud member of the NCAA and have been for many years. As one of the most storied programs in college sports, they have earned their place among the elite teams in Division I athletics. But what is the origin story behind their nickname?
The first recorded use of “Golden Flashes” dates back to 1925, when it was used as an alternative name for Kent State's football team (then known as The Silver Foxes). It wasn't until 1932 that "Golden Flashes" became official with its inclusion on scorecards and other publications related to school sports.
There are several theories about why this nickname came into being, but none has been definitively proven true or false. Some say that it comes from the golden fur coats worn by fox hunters during fox hunting season (hence “Silver Foxes”), while others believe it could be derived from a local legend about a mysterious creature called “the Golden Flash." Still, others think that since Ohio is known as The Buckeye State, referencing these trees' yellow-gold leaves may have inspired someone to come up with this catchy moniker!
Whatever its origins, there's no denying how much pride and passion fans feel when cheering on their beloved Golden Flashes each year at home games or watching them compete against rival schools around Ohio and beyond! So whether you're an alum looking back fondly on your days spent rooting for KSU or enjoying following college sports closely—you can take comfort knowing you know where your favorite team got its unique name from!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1928
- 1972
- 2004
- 2012
-
1The Kent State men’s basketball team plays its first game
The Kent State men’s basketball team played its first game on January 10, 1928, against the Akron Firestone Non-Skids. The game was played in Akron, Ohio, and resulted in a 30-20 loss for Kent State. The team was coached by Glen L. Wilcox and consisted of ten players, including team captain Chester “Chet” Van Deusen. Despite the loss in their ... -
Kent State joins the Mid-American Conference (MAC)
In 1972, Kent State University joined the Mid-American Conference (MAC), which is a collegiate athletic conference consisting of 12 member schools primarily located in the Midwestern United States. Joining the MAC allowed Kent State’s athletic teams to compete against other schools in the region and increased the visibility of the university’s sports programs. At the time, the MAC included other ... -
Josh Cribbs – Football Pro
Josh Cribbs (Football) – Played quarterback and wide receiver for Kent State from 2001-2004 and later became a Pro Bowl kick returner in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. -
The Kent State baseball team reaches the College World Series
In 2012, the Kent State Golden Flashes baseball team achieved a historic milestone by reaching the College World Series for the first time in school history. The team, which was coached by Scott Stricklin, earned a spot in the NCAA tournament after finishing the regular season with a record of 41-17. In the tournament, Kent State won four consecutive games ...
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History of the Golden Flashes
In football, the Golden Flashes began playing in 1920 as an independent program before joining their first conference (the Ohio Athletic Conference) in 1928. During that time, they won three OAC championships and made four appearances at bowl games between 1953-1957 - winning two out of those four contests! The most recent bowl game appearance for Kent State was back in 2012 when they defeated Arkansas State 17-13 at the GoDaddy Bowl.
On top of their impressive record on the gridiron, Kent St also has a strong presence on hardwood court! The men’s basketball team is currently part of the Division I Mid-American Conference (MAC). They have won six MAC titles since joining in 1976 while making five trips to the March Madness tournament, including one memorable Elite Eight run during the 2002/2003 season, where they eventually lost to eventual champions Syracuse Orangemen by just 5 points! In addition, the women’s hoops program also made waves recently with 3 consecutive WNIT appearances from 2015-2017 - reaching Final Four twice during this period as well!
Overall there are plenty of reasons for sports fans around the country to be excited about what's going on up north with KSU athletics programs these days – especially if you're talking about how far both men's & women's teams have come since the mid-2000s era when things weren't looking so bright for them. So keep your eyes open next time these guys take the field or court because chances are good. We'll be seeing something special from them again soon enough!
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