The Wagon Wheel: Great rivalry ... and Conspiracy Theory? Plus a look ahead to basketball season

The 43rd battle for the Wagon Wheel is a little more than 24 hours away, and the renewal of the rivalry with Akron has helped to spice up the atmosphere in the M.A.C. Center hallways and on the practice field at Dix Stadium.

I'm sure it's the same at the University of Akron. Both teams are obviously trying to salvage some good feelings from what have been frustrating seasons, and a rivalry win will always do the trick.

At Kent State, the T-shirts are out and featuring the usual "Beat Akron" on the front in gold with blue trim. On the back the shirts have the image of the Wagon Wheel with "three years" along with the number of days "and counting." The obvious hope is this year's seniors will be the first class to beat Akron for four straight years since 1954.

Those seniors have been addressing their teammates at the end of each practice, explaining about what winning the Wagon Wheel means to them and talking about the effort it takes to win in the rivalry with Akron. I watched Darius Polk's speech after practice on Wednesday, and he seemed to get the point across. 

This game always brings back memories for me. I've covered quite a few of these Wagon Wheel battles both for the Record-Courier as a beat writer and now in my new role as director of new media at Kent State. 

My favorite game is the 2003 game at the old Rubber Bowl in Akron. That was by far the best atmosphere for a Kent State-Akron game in my time on the beat. It was the first game of the season, and there was sill plenty of hope on both sidelines. There was also plenty of NFL talent on the field, including Joshua Cribbs, who led a late comeback that was capped by a key punt return from Jon Drager to set up a game-winning field goal by Travis Mayle.

What some might not remember was that the Wagon Wheel was lost around that time. After it was found, I got a tip to call former Zips men's basketball coach Dan Hipsher to get the true story about its recovery.

Hipsher had been getting breakfast at his favorite greasy spoon restaurant in Akron when a shaggy-dressed man walked up to him and said he had something that might be of interest. The guy asked Hipsher to walk out with him to his van. It was still somewhat dark, and Hipsher wasn't exactly comfortable with the idea. But for those of you who remember Hipsher, he was a pretty big guy, and after thinking about it for a second, he was pretty sure he could overpower the stranger if there was some sort of ulterior motive to the invitation.

The guy flipped open the back door of his van, and there was the Wagon Wheel. He told Hipsher he had found it in the bushes around the Rubber Bowl after the game. So the fact that we still have a Wagon Wheel as the prize for this rivalry game is all thanks to former Akron coach Dan Hipsher and some stranger in Akron. Although some conspiracy theorists might argue that.

It's already one of the craziest stories I ever told in the Record-Courier.  But to add to the craziness, there are still some Kent State fans who insist the whole story was a cover up.

They believe the Wagon Wheel was never recovered and that the Flashes and Zips currently compete for a replacement wheel. Their "proof" is that the wheel doesn't look the way they remember it. Of course, those same fans probably poured over Beatles album covers in the late 60's to prove that Paul McCartney really was dead.

I like listening to conspiracy theorists and their advocates like Art Bell and Jesse Ventura. I'm willing to listen to claims that there are such things like black helicopters or that Lee Harvey Oswald was a dupe. But I'm also convinced the current Wagon Wheel is also the real Wagon Wheel. 

What are your favorite memories from the Wagon Wheel series?

DON'T FORGET … the Kent State football game at Akron is just one of the points being contested on Saturday in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge. 

The Golden Flashes lead the Zips 1.5-to-0. A second half-point on the line Saturday night when Akron visits Kent State in volleyball. The Flashes already earned a half point in volleyball with a win at Akron earlier this season. 

And with the MAC Cross Country Championship contested in Bowling Green on Saturday, the head-to-head battles between the men and women from Kent State and Akron will yield two points.

It would be nice to put an early strangle hold on the trophy that currently resides in Kent.

What do you expect this weekend from the different Kent State and Akron teams?

BASKETBALL SEASON STARTS NEXT WEEK … and I can't wait.

I'm looking forward to seeing improvement from Kent State's women's basketball team in the second year under Danielle O'Banion. The roster has been overhauled with plenty of new faces. CiCi Shannon's face isn't exactly new, in that she was on the roster last year. After sitting out under NCAA rules following her transfer from Southern Illinois, she'll play her first game in a Kent State uniform on Wednesday when the Flashes host Walsh College.

The 6-foot-4 Shannon could have an immediate impact. Whenever I've peeked into practice, she has looked bring some valuable athleticism and intensity. She can be a defensive stopper, considering she led the Missouri Valley Conference in blocked shots at 2.2 per game. She looks like she takes that role very seriously.

It's an interesting early schedule for O'Banion's team. After Walsh, the Flashes take on two teams with postseason experience from last season. Eastern Kentucky played in the Women's Basketball Invitational, losing a tight game to Elon. Duquesne played in the Women's NIT, beating Akron in Pittsburgh in round one before losing to Bowling Green to close a 24-8 season. 

Eastern Kentucky visits the M.A.C. Center on Sunday, Nov. 10.

Duquesne is in town on Thursady, Nov. 14.

What are your expectations and hopes for O'Banion's team this season?

THE MEN'S BASKETBALL OPENER ... follows on Nov. 8 with a home game against Division III Ohio Northern.

That opener is a good opportunity for fans to get a first look at several newcomers, including former Central Michigan guard Derek Jackson. The transfer has wowed in practice early with his ability to defend. Jackson is my early pick for defensive player of the year in the MAC. He will be among the conference leaders in steals.

The Flashes could be loaded at guard with the return of Kris Brewer, a stronger and more confident Dev Manley, the return to health of Kellon Thomas with a year under his belt, another sharpshooter in K.K. Simmons, and the MAC version of former NBA swingman Johnny Newman in sophomore junior-college transfer Devin Carter.

The big question is in the front court. So far, there are some encouraging signs in practice. Mark Henniger is stronger. He has been making some crafty-veteran plays around the rim. Melvin Tabb can make a big jump, as most junior-college transfers do in their second seasons in Kent. Khaliq Spicer continues to improve. He has also added some strength.

Jimmy Hall's early play in practice has me excited about the future in the post. The Hofstra transfer has a game that is reminiscent of Justin Greene. Ironically, like Greene, he is from Brooklyn. Hall should benefit from being around the program for a year, and then Kent State should be very lucky to have him on the court for three more seasons. I like him.

What are you most interested in finding out about Rob Senderoff's team as we get set to open a new season?