History
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 . 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.
Read more about this topic: Wagon Wheel (trophy)
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