The Blue and Gold Wagon Wheel, now known simply as the Wagon Wheel, is awarded to the winner of the annual college football game between the University of Akron and Kent State University.
The trophy is, as the name implies, the wheel from a horse-drawn wagon that is painted blue and gold, the colors in which both teams play.
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The University of Akron and Kent State University, located just 10 miles apart, first played for the Wagon Wheel in 1946. The story goes that John R. Buchtel was searching for a site to start a new college in 1870 near what is now Kent State University when his wagon became stuck in the mud. The horses pulled the wagon apart and one of the wheels ended up being buried. Buchtel would eventually settle on a site in Akron for Buchtel College, which would eventually become the University of Akron. In 1902, while digging for a pipeline in Kent, the wheel was discovered and eventually came into the possession of Kent State dean of men Dr. Raymond Manchester. It was he who suggested in 1945 that the wheel be used as a trophy for the winner of the Kent State-Akron football game [1]. When the rivalry first started, Kent State dominated the series every year until 1954, when the rivalry was scrapped due to a lack of competition. It was reinstated in 1972 and has been an annual contest since. In 1992, Akron joined the Mid-American Conference and the rivalry became a conference game. Through the 2011 game, Akron holds a 30–22–2 edge in the overall series though Kent State leads the series 21–19–1 in Wagon Wheel games.
Akron has won twelve of the last fifteen meetings against Kent State, beginning with six consecutive victories from 1997-2002. Kent State finally broke through in 2003, winning a 41-38 thriller at Akron, led by current Cleveland Browns returner Joshua Cribbs. The Zips, led by current Oakland Raiders quarterback Charlie Frye, bounced back with 24-19 and 35-3 wins in both 2004 and 2005 respectively before Kent State won 37-15 at Kent in 2006. On 9 October 2010, the Flashes won 28-17 at Dix Stadium in Kent, which was also Kent State's Homecoming. On 12 November 2011, the Flashes won 35-3 at Infocision Stadium in Akron. The win gives Kent State the overall Wagon Wheel series lead at 21-19-1.
Akron victories are shaded ██ blue. Kent State victories shaded ██ gold. Ties shaded ██ silver. Only trophy games are listed.
Date | Site | Winning team | Losing team | Series | ||
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November 16, 1946 | Akron | Kent State | 13 | Akron | 6 | KENT 1-0 |
November 14, 1947 | Kent | Kent State | 6 | Akron | 0 | KENT 2-0 |
November 12, 1948 | Akron | Kent State | 31 | Akron | 0 | KENT 3-0 |
November 12, 1949 | Kent | Kent State | 47 | Akron | 0 | KENT 4-0 |
November 11, 1950 | Akron | Kent State | 19 | Akron | 7 | KENT 5-0 |
November 10, 1951 | Kent | Kent State | 48 | Akron | 7 | KENT 6-0 |
November 7, 1952 | Akron | Kent State | 34 | Akron | 14 | KENT 7-0 |
November 7, 1953 | Kent | Kent State | 54 | Akron | 19 | KENT 8-0 |
November 6, 1954 | Akron | Kent State | 58 | Akron | 18 | KENT 9-0 |
1955–1971 | No games played between Akron and Kent State | |||||
September 13, 1972 | Akron | Akron | 13 | Kent State | 13 | KENT 9-0-1 |
October 26, 1974 | Kent | Kent State | 51 | Akron | 14 | KENT 10-0-1 |
September 15, 1979 | Akron | Akron | 15 | Kent State | 13 | KENT 10-1-1 |
September 19, 1981 | Kent | Kent State | 17 | Akron | 6 | KENT 11-1-1 |
September 3, 1983 | Akron | Akron | 13 | Kent State | 6 | KENT 11-2-1 |
September 1, 1984 | Kent | Kent State | 24 | Akron | 17 | KENT 12-2-1 |
September 14, 1985 | Akron | Akron | 24 | Kent State | 0 | KENT 12-3-1 |
September 13, 1986 | Kent | Akron | 17 | Kent State | 7 | KENT 12-4-1 |
September 12, 1987 | Akron | Kent State | 27 | Akron | 23 | KENT 13-4-1 |
September 10, 1988 | Kent | Kent State | 32 | Akron | 12 | KENT 14-4-1 |
September 9, 1989 | Akron | Akron | 40 | Kent State | 7 | KENT 14-5-1 |
September 8, 1990 | Kent | Akron | 38 | Kent State | 10 | KENT 14-6-1 |
October 10, 1992 | Kent | Kent State | 20 | Akron | 16 | KENT 15-6-1 |
September 11, 1993 | Akron | Akron | 42 | Kent State | 7 | KENT 15-7-1 |
September 17, 1994 | Kent | Kent State | 32 | Akron | 16 | KENT 16-7-1 |
October 28, 1995 | Akron | Akron | 14 | Kent State | 6 | KENT 16-8-1 |
October 5, 1996 | Kent | Kent State | 32 | Akron | 17 | KENT 17-8-1 |
November 8, 1997 | Akron | Akron | 45 | Kent State | 35 | KENT 17-9-1 |
October 10, 1998 | Kent | Akron | 45 | Kent State | 16 | KENT 17-10-1 |
November 13, 1999 | Akron | Akron | 37 | Kent State | 34 | KENT 17-11-1 |
November 18, 2000 | Kent | Akron | 34 | Kent State | 6 | KENT 17-12-1 |
September 29, 2001 | Akron | Akron | 14 | Kent State | 10 | KENT 17-13-1 |
November 23, 2002 | Kent | Akron | 48 | Kent State | 10 | KENT 17-14-1 |
August 28, 2003 | Akron | Kent State | 41 | Akron | 38 | KENT 18-14-1 |
September 23, 2004 | Kent | Akron | 24 | Kent State | 19 | KENT 18-15-1 |
November 24, 2005 | Akron | Akron | 35 | Kent State | 3 | KENT 18-16-1 |
September 30, 2006 | Kent | Kent State | 37 | Akron | 15 | KENT 19-16-1 |
September 22, 2007 | Akron | Akron | 27 | Kent State | 20 | KENT 19-17-1 |
October 4, 2008 | Kent | Akron* | 30 | Kent State | 27 | KENT 19-18-1 |
November 7, 2009 | Akron | Akron | 28 | Kent State | 20 | TIE 19-19-1 |
October 9, 2010 | Kent | Kent State | 28 | Akron | 17 | KENT 20-19-1 |
November 12, 2011 | Akron | Kent State | 35 | Akron | 3 | KENT 21-19-1 |
* Overtime game
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