The History of the Wagon Wheel

The Golden Flashes and conference rival Zips battle for the Wagon Wheel in their annual football game. The unique rivalry trophy grew out of the wagon wheel legend. According to the legend, the trophy traces its beginnings to the spring of 1870, when Akron industrialist John R. Buchtel set out for the town of Kent in search of a site to establish a college. 

However, in the muddy Ohio fields,  his wagon became bogged down in the area where Kent State University is currently located. When horses pulled the wagon, a wheel came loose and became buried until it was discovered in 1902 during the construction of a pipeline along the Western Reserve Trail. The wheel eventually fell into the possession of Dr. Raymond Manchester, who, as the Kent State Dean of Men in 1945, suggested that the local historic artifact be offered as the trophy to the winner of the annual football game.

There is also a year-long challenge that counts all athletic contests in the 16 sports where the rivals compete head-to-head. The winner of each contest (or series) earns a point towards the challenge, and the first school to earn 8.5 points wins the challenge.