Did anyone else notice the 2002 Elite 8 banner hanging above the rafters lastnight at the game? I believe it replaced the spot that was allocated for Eric Thomas's retired jersey. Does anyone find it funny that it took nearly 6 years to get that sign both designed and hung up in our gym? I guess Advanced Display in Kent was backed up in purchase orders for the past 72 months!
I thought it was a nice added touch to the MAC Center. Anyone else agree?
Kentalum22, I should hope nobody disagrees that it's a nice added touch!
Anybody else think they should should have Gates come back for a special ceremony? I understand their reasoning for not having it up there yet, but he is in his prime and we are missing out on some huge public relations, especially when he's introduced on tv for the game lineups and everybody gives their college and he gives his high school. Make a night for him, bring him back and you never know what happens. I know alot of people already know he's from Kent State and we get some free pub, but considering he's not exactly embracing that publicly also works against us.
I don't think Gates is interested in coming back to Kent. I know we would love to think everything is great between him and the university -- it isn't.
I was researching the Elite 8 team for a project I am working on and Demetric Shaw said some interesting things about Gates. I don't think there is any animosity, but Shaw told me the guys get upset at the media for bringing up only Antonio's name while talking about the Elite 8 team.
Shaw is huge about being a 'blue bloodier' as he calls it and looks at Gates' antics, the MNF references to his HS, as a diss to Kent.
My hope was to bring them all back together, but with the recent developments with E.T. doesn't look possible.
I saw the banner too and wondered where it came from. Why put it up for the last home game? My guess is they wanted ESPN to zoom in on it and talk about it. Anyone who watched it on TV, did that happen? Our guys are trying to write there own history, it could of waited until next season.
I'm not defending Gates, but in fairness he didn't play football at Kent. In fact the last place he actually played in a regulation football game prior to the NFL was HS, I understand. If he doesn't want to do whatever he needs to do to get his number retired, that's his decision. Besides, he did only play two seasons. I have nothing at all against tranfers or JUCO players, but I think some special honors should go to guys who were in the program longer. All the others were at Kent at least four years, counting years they had to redshirt.
Still, we're missing the boat on some HUGE opportunities. Luckily for us Cribbs and harrison really have embraced their past but it would be nice to get gates in the fold as well. We all know he didn't play football in college but if he had any pride in his school he'd still mention it for his college.
Gates jersey will not be hung because he is not an alum. He never graduated from Kent State. That is the only reason it is not hung up.
But, let's turn our attention back to the elite 8 banner. Any other thoughts? We are going off topic a bit. Why did it take so long?
kentalum22 Wrote:Gates jersey will not be hung because he is not an alum. He never graduated from Kent State. That is the only reason it is not hung up.
I know that and think we are all aware he didn't graduate, I think an exception should be made. With baseball players getting drafted their Junior years are all of the baseball honorees graduates? BTW, while he may not have graduated he is an "alum".
Merriam-Webster Dictionary Wrote:alumni
One entry found.
alumnus
Main Entry: alum·nus
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈləm-nəs\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural alum·ni \-ˌnī\
Etymology: Latin, foster son, pupil, from alere to nourish — more at old
Date: 1645
1 : a person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university
2 : a person who is a former member, employee, contributor, or inmate
Thank you for bringing out Webster's Dictionary. My definition of an alum is someone who has "graduated" not attended. I could be wrong but that is what I have been told and was taught and therefore a byproduct----- learned. Just ask former Kent State b-ball coach Josh Oppenheimer his defintion of an alum. I am sure he will give you a totally different answer.
And the dictionary says otherwise but you're right and so is Coach Oppenheimer.
Kentalum22, yeah such a banner should have been put up the very next year. I don't know why they decided to put one up 6 years later. Kent State has always seemed reluctant, or at least slow, at those sorts of things. I, and some others, always felt they should have capitalized more on their Elite 8 run. Just how, I don't know. It's neither my job nor area of expertise. While I don't have a problem with retiring the numbers of those players, it did strike me as odd that Kent never practiced that previously, then decided to retire those top seniors from just the one team. Granted, there weren't an awful lot of players in their history that would warrant it, but there were some. Don't get me wrong, I liked E.T.'s game from the very start, but there were players in the past better than he, or at least as good. But I'm rambling now.....
It was not up prior to the womens game on Saturday afternoon. I have wondered why it wasn't up to recognize that special year every game that I would look at the other banners. It is rather strange, with the timing and no public recognition of the banner being hung............
Long Overdue! I am glad to see that they have finally decided to honor that special season with a banner.
bball72 Wrote:It was not up prior to the womens game on Saturday afternoon. I have wondered why it wasn't up to recognize that special year every game that I would look at the other banners. It is rather strange, with the timing and no public recognition of the banner being hung............
Agree 100%,while it looked nice and is long overdue(should have been hung the 1st home game the following season) very strange that it just showed up.
I rewatched the game the next day, and heard no mention, or even a showing of the banner. I could have missed it though.
Not too surprised, but even though we were on ESPN2, the only mention of our game on any of the sportscenters or college game night, was Mike Scott's dunk.
But oh yeah, did anyone hear Brett Favre retired???
I don't think the athletic department considers these banners very high priority. They took down the baseball one down that shows NCAA appearances at the east end of the MACC to add 2007 to it. It seems like it's been gone for months.
this should have been done at the beginning of the 02-03 season.
why wasnt there some kind of cerimony????????
Speaking of a the banners...when I was a freshman 4 years ago one of the first things I noticed about the MACC was how cheap and tacky the banners were. I mean the best players at Kent State get their names on a plastic banner...that's ridiculous and they're ugly to boot. If the school really cared about the banners they would have them updated quickly...which isn't normally the case...and they would have nicer ones.