College Sports Established
1922
Location
Morehead, Kentucky
College Name
Morehead State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1948 - Present / Ohio Valley Conference
1931 - 1948 / Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
1922 - 1930 / Independent
Nickname
Eagles - The Morehead State Eagles have represented the university since 1954, but where did their name come from? The answer is rooted in the school’s history and its location.
Morehead State University was founded in 1887 as a private liberal arts college called Morehead Normal School. It was named after John Jordan Morehead III, who served on Kentucky's Board of Education for 25 years and had donated land to help create what became MSU. In 1921, it changed its name to Morehead State Teachers College before becoming an independent public institution of higher education in 1966 with its current name: More Head State University (MSU). As part of transitioning from a teacher's college to a full-fledged university, the school also changed its mascot from “the Maroon” to “the Eagle."
The eagle symbolizes strength and power, which are traits that represent MSU students well! Not only does it reflect our proud heritage, but it also serves as an inspiration for all those associated with MSU athletics programs – student-athletes and fans alike! With such powerful symbolism behind them, it’s no surprise that many consider the Eagles one of NCAA Division I's most iconic nicknames!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1923
- 1961
- 1975
- 2021
-
Morehead State forms its first football team
In 1923 Morehead State forms its first football team, which competes against other small colleges in the region. -
Eagles Joining the Ohio Valley Conference
In 1961 Morehead State joins the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and begins competing against larger schools in the region. -
Wayne Martin as head basketball coach
In 1975 Morehead State hires Wayne Martin as head basketball coach. Martin would go on to coach the Eagles for 21 seasons and become the winningest coach in school history. -
Morehead State NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament
In 2021 Morehead State wins its first-ever NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament game, defeating James Madison 2-1 in the first round before losing to Marshall in the second round.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Eagles
The Morehead State Eagles have a long and storied history in NCAA sports. From its humble beginnings as an independent school in 1921 to become a full-fledged member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 1948, they have been an integral part of college athletics for nearly 100 years.
Since joining the OVC, the Eagles have made countless appearances at various NCAA tournaments, including five trips to March Madness (the most recent being in 2015). They’ve also won numerous conference titles and even claimed one national championship when they won it all back in 1962!
In addition to success on the court or field, Morehead State has also produced some fantastic athletes. Basketball standouts such as Kenneth Faried and Corie Blount played for MSU before playing professionally. At the same time, baseball greats like Barry Larkin and Doug Drabek were alumni too! Even current NFL star Drew Brees spent his collegiate career with them before making it big with New Orleans Saints.
Overall, there is no denying that Morehead State University has had quite a successful run since first joining Division I sports back in 1948 - from winning championships & producing pro players alike - this team is worth cheering for if you’re looking for some exciting college action! So whether you’re already an avid fan or just getting into following teams, now be sure not to forget about these proud Kentucky Eagles next time your watch games around campus or tune into ESPN2 Saturdays during basketball season – Go MSU!!
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