Flash the Golden Eagle
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Position: Mascot Extraordinaire
Height: 6'0-6'5
City/State: Kent, Ohio
Alma Mater: Kent State University… Everlasting student
Birthday: October 12
BIO:
- Dressed in blue and gold and showing school spirit, "Flash" the golden eagle has won the hearts of KSU students, faculty and alumni since 1994.
- The golden eagle earned his place as mascot after surpassing a series of mascots dating back to the 1920s.
- John McGilvery, the university's first president established the first school mascot. The mascot name used by Kent State Normal School was the Kent State Silver Foxes, in homage to McGilvery, who owned a silver fox ranch adjacent to campus. The name first appeared during the 1923 school year. The silver fox proudly served as mascot for six years.
- A contest was held in 1926 to select a new mascot, with the $25 prize going to the author of the winning entry - Golden Flashes. Oliver Wolcott, one of Kent State's first football stars, perpetuated this name as sports editor of the local newspaper. Mascots and symbols have ranged from lightning bolt logos to a golden retriever named Mac the Flash to the current golden eagle mascot, Flash.Â
- "Flasher" a golden retriever with a Kent State branded cape, was the Golden Flashes mascot starting in the early 1950's and remained that way until a slew of replacements were tried in the 1960's and 1970's.
- "Flasher" the dog was followed in 1966 by a cartoon character named "Grog".
- With hopes of getting back to school roots, the "Golden Flasher", a golden palomino horse with a rider dressed in blue and gold took over in 1972.
- The following year, the name and figured changed once again to "Freddie Flash". He was a masked figure holding fierce lightning bolts in each hand.
- After a long series of changes, the golden eagle soared in to represent Kent State in 1985. In an effort to increase school spirit and enthusiasm for intercollegiate sports, the athletics department unveiled a new mascot for the Golden Flashes in a series of special homecoming events.
- Students in the Kent Technology Education Club put in 265 hours of work to construct a giant egg out of wood, plaster, fiberglass, and resin, while Craig Hollinger and other staff members of the grounds department created a natural nest in which to nestle the egg. The identity of the new mascot was kept secret leading up to homecoming weekend, The "mystery egg" then became part of a special homecoming parade float, news conference, and football game halftime spectacle.
- During halftime of the homecoming game against UTEP, spectators were treated to an unusual display when a live golden eagle owned and handled by Earl Shriver, soared into the stadium, followed by the appearance of the new Flash mascot. The golden eagle has endured as the school's official mascot to this day.
CAREER NOTES:
- The most diverse and complete year round athlete at Kent State University.
- Appears at over 100 sporting and non-sporting events each year
- Entertains young and old alike with his humorous nature and goofy antics
RIVALS & ENEMIES
- Zippy the Roo
- Freddie & Frieda
- Rufus the Bobcat
- Rocky and Rocksy the Rocket
- Swoop the RedHawk
