chilli311
02-11-2008, 02:01 PM
KSU to Three former Golden Flashes players make the most out of opportunities, bring honor to themselves and Kent State
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, Feb 10, 2008
Lou Holtz. Jack Lambert. Nick Saban. One used to have to dig through the Kent State record books to find recognizable names of former Golden Flashes players who had gone on to NFL fame.
Not anymore. Not with three former Flashes — Joshua Cribbs, Antonio Gates and James Harrison — selected for the Pro Bowl today at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
Cribbs, the Browns' return man extraordinaire, and Harrison, a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, are expected to play. Gates, a popular San Diego Chargers tight end, is skipping the event with a toe injury that he suffered in the playoffs.
Gates' absence from the AFC team opened the door for another Browns standout, Kellen Winslow, to participate.
Besides being from Kent State, the three Pro Bowlers have something else in common: Each of them went undrafted.
''It's remarkable,'' Kent State Athletic Director Laing Kennedy said. ''Each one of them has a great story as undrafted free agents who have gone on to not only play in the NFL, but rise to the top of their profession.''
Cribbs, a former KSU quarterback who signed with the Browns in 2005, had to switch to special teams to earn playing time in the pros. This season, he led the league in kickoff-return average (30.9 yards) and returned two kicks for touchdowns. He also tied for the team lead in special-teams tackles with 18.
''Not being drafted, switching positions, having to learn something I've never done before and then doing it at such a high level in the NFL — it just means a lot to me,''
an emotional Cribbs told the Associated Press when he learned of his Pro Bowl selection.
Harrison, a first-year starter, was cut by the Steelers three times before finally getting a shot this season to take over for the departed Joey Porter. He claimed the Steelers' Most Valuable Player award in addition to his Pro Bowl honor.
Harrison, a Coventry High School graduate, started all 16 games, finishing with 98 total tackles (76 solo), 81/2 sacks and an interception. He also had three fumble recoveries and forced seven fumbles.
Gates' story has garnered a lot more attention in the past few years, simply for the sheer improbability of it. The former KSU basketball standout who helped lead the 2001-02 team to the Elite Eight round in the NCAA Tournament didn't play football for the Flashes.
Gates, after leading the Chargers with 75 receptions for 984 yards and nine touchdowns, will be making his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance since signing with the Chargers.
In recognition of their success, the trio will be honored by Kent State on Saturday during halftime of the Flashes' 3 p.m. home basketball game against Ohio. Not only will KSU fans get to meet Cribbs, Harrison and Gates, but the first 5,000 fans through the M.A.C. Center doors also will receive free posters featuring the three players.
''It's a chance for everyone at Kent State to puff up their chests a little bit,'' said Pete Mahoney, Kent State's associate athletic director. ''Josh, Antonio and James — their success stories are our success stories, as well. We have a slogan here at Kent State — 'Excellence in Action' — and these three guys truly exemplify such.''
Their success has brought plenty of recognition individually, but it also has proved to be a good marketing tool for the university.
Upon hearing the news of the Pro Bowl rosters, Kent State quickly took out full- and half-page color ads in several local papers. Within 10 days, a large vinyl wrap on the elevator shaft in the M.A.C. Center had gone up, with life-size pictures of the three in action on the field.
''The university, as a whole, is getting a nice spike in terms of (the number of) applications being up,'' Kennedy said. ''And I have received so many positive e-mails, letters and calls.
''In a time where so many people are facing financial challenges daily, it has given us a lift and something positive to focus on knowing we have three Pro Bowl players.''
The Pro Bowl selections have helped Flashes football coach Doug Martin and his staff with recruiting, too.
''Having our former players on a stage like that has helped give us some name recognition, particularly in our out-of-state recruiting areas such as Florida,'' Martin said.
''It's not a complete selling point, but it has helped get us in the door of a lot of homes that we would not have otherwise. It's a great advertisement not only for our football program, but a great accomplishment for a (Mid-American Conference) school.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Lou Holtz. Jack Lambert. Nick Saban. One used to have to dig through the Kent State record books to find recognizable names of former Golden Flashes players who had gone on to NFL fame.
Not anymore. Not with three former Flashes — Joshua Cribbs, Antonio Gates and James Harrison — selected for the Pro Bowl today at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
Cribbs, the Browns' return man extraordinaire, and Harrison, a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, are expected to play. Gates, a popular San Diego Chargers tight end, is skipping the event with a toe injury that he suffered in the playoffs.
Gates' absence from the AFC team opened the door for another Browns standout, Kellen Winslow, to participate.
Besides being from Kent State, the three Pro Bowlers have something else in common: Each of them went undrafted.
''It's remarkable,'' Kent State Athletic Director Laing Kennedy said. ''Each one of them has a great story as undrafted free agents who have gone on to not only play in the NFL, but rise to the top of their profession.''
Cribbs, a former KSU quarterback who signed with the Browns in 2005, had to switch to special teams to earn playing time in the pros. This season, he led the league in kickoff-return average (30.9 yards) and returned two kicks for touchdowns. He also tied for the team lead in special-teams tackles with 18.
''Not being drafted, switching positions, having to learn something I've never done before and then doing it at such a high level in the NFL — it just means a lot to me,''
an emotional Cribbs told the Associated Press when he learned of his Pro Bowl selection.
Harrison, a first-year starter, was cut by the Steelers three times before finally getting a shot this season to take over for the departed Joey Porter. He claimed the Steelers' Most Valuable Player award in addition to his Pro Bowl honor.
Harrison, a Coventry High School graduate, started all 16 games, finishing with 98 total tackles (76 solo), 81/2 sacks and an interception. He also had three fumble recoveries and forced seven fumbles.
Gates' story has garnered a lot more attention in the past few years, simply for the sheer improbability of it. The former KSU basketball standout who helped lead the 2001-02 team to the Elite Eight round in the NCAA Tournament didn't play football for the Flashes.
Gates, after leading the Chargers with 75 receptions for 984 yards and nine touchdowns, will be making his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance since signing with the Chargers.
In recognition of their success, the trio will be honored by Kent State on Saturday during halftime of the Flashes' 3 p.m. home basketball game against Ohio. Not only will KSU fans get to meet Cribbs, Harrison and Gates, but the first 5,000 fans through the M.A.C. Center doors also will receive free posters featuring the three players.
''It's a chance for everyone at Kent State to puff up their chests a little bit,'' said Pete Mahoney, Kent State's associate athletic director. ''Josh, Antonio and James — their success stories are our success stories, as well. We have a slogan here at Kent State — 'Excellence in Action' — and these three guys truly exemplify such.''
Their success has brought plenty of recognition individually, but it also has proved to be a good marketing tool for the university.
Upon hearing the news of the Pro Bowl rosters, Kent State quickly took out full- and half-page color ads in several local papers. Within 10 days, a large vinyl wrap on the elevator shaft in the M.A.C. Center had gone up, with life-size pictures of the three in action on the field.
''The university, as a whole, is getting a nice spike in terms of (the number of) applications being up,'' Kennedy said. ''And I have received so many positive e-mails, letters and calls.
''In a time where so many people are facing financial challenges daily, it has given us a lift and something positive to focus on knowing we have three Pro Bowl players.''
The Pro Bowl selections have helped Flashes football coach Doug Martin and his staff with recruiting, too.
''Having our former players on a stage like that has helped give us some name recognition, particularly in our out-of-state recruiting areas such as Florida,'' Martin said.
''It's not a complete selling point, but it has helped get us in the door of a lot of homes that we would not have otherwise. It's a great advertisement not only for our football program, but a great accomplishment for a (Mid-American Conference) school.''
Link (http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/15488751.html)
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, Feb 10, 2008
Lou Holtz. Jack Lambert. Nick Saban. One used to have to dig through the Kent State record books to find recognizable names of former Golden Flashes players who had gone on to NFL fame.
Not anymore. Not with three former Flashes — Joshua Cribbs, Antonio Gates and James Harrison — selected for the Pro Bowl today at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
Cribbs, the Browns' return man extraordinaire, and Harrison, a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, are expected to play. Gates, a popular San Diego Chargers tight end, is skipping the event with a toe injury that he suffered in the playoffs.
Gates' absence from the AFC team opened the door for another Browns standout, Kellen Winslow, to participate.
Besides being from Kent State, the three Pro Bowlers have something else in common: Each of them went undrafted.
''It's remarkable,'' Kent State Athletic Director Laing Kennedy said. ''Each one of them has a great story as undrafted free agents who have gone on to not only play in the NFL, but rise to the top of their profession.''
Cribbs, a former KSU quarterback who signed with the Browns in 2005, had to switch to special teams to earn playing time in the pros. This season, he led the league in kickoff-return average (30.9 yards) and returned two kicks for touchdowns. He also tied for the team lead in special-teams tackles with 18.
''Not being drafted, switching positions, having to learn something I've never done before and then doing it at such a high level in the NFL — it just means a lot to me,''
an emotional Cribbs told the Associated Press when he learned of his Pro Bowl selection.
Harrison, a first-year starter, was cut by the Steelers three times before finally getting a shot this season to take over for the departed Joey Porter. He claimed the Steelers' Most Valuable Player award in addition to his Pro Bowl honor.
Harrison, a Coventry High School graduate, started all 16 games, finishing with 98 total tackles (76 solo), 81/2 sacks and an interception. He also had three fumble recoveries and forced seven fumbles.
Gates' story has garnered a lot more attention in the past few years, simply for the sheer improbability of it. The former KSU basketball standout who helped lead the 2001-02 team to the Elite Eight round in the NCAA Tournament didn't play football for the Flashes.
Gates, after leading the Chargers with 75 receptions for 984 yards and nine touchdowns, will be making his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance since signing with the Chargers.
In recognition of their success, the trio will be honored by Kent State on Saturday during halftime of the Flashes' 3 p.m. home basketball game against Ohio. Not only will KSU fans get to meet Cribbs, Harrison and Gates, but the first 5,000 fans through the M.A.C. Center doors also will receive free posters featuring the three players.
''It's a chance for everyone at Kent State to puff up their chests a little bit,'' said Pete Mahoney, Kent State's associate athletic director. ''Josh, Antonio and James — their success stories are our success stories, as well. We have a slogan here at Kent State — 'Excellence in Action' — and these three guys truly exemplify such.''
Their success has brought plenty of recognition individually, but it also has proved to be a good marketing tool for the university.
Upon hearing the news of the Pro Bowl rosters, Kent State quickly took out full- and half-page color ads in several local papers. Within 10 days, a large vinyl wrap on the elevator shaft in the M.A.C. Center had gone up, with life-size pictures of the three in action on the field.
''The university, as a whole, is getting a nice spike in terms of (the number of) applications being up,'' Kennedy said. ''And I have received so many positive e-mails, letters and calls.
''In a time where so many people are facing financial challenges daily, it has given us a lift and something positive to focus on knowing we have three Pro Bowl players.''
The Pro Bowl selections have helped Flashes football coach Doug Martin and his staff with recruiting, too.
''Having our former players on a stage like that has helped give us some name recognition, particularly in our out-of-state recruiting areas such as Florida,'' Martin said.
''It's not a complete selling point, but it has helped get us in the door of a lot of homes that we would not have otherwise. It's a great advertisement not only for our football program, but a great accomplishment for a (Mid-American Conference) school.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Lou Holtz. Jack Lambert. Nick Saban. One used to have to dig through the Kent State record books to find recognizable names of former Golden Flashes players who had gone on to NFL fame.
Not anymore. Not with three former Flashes — Joshua Cribbs, Antonio Gates and James Harrison — selected for the Pro Bowl today at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
Cribbs, the Browns' return man extraordinaire, and Harrison, a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, are expected to play. Gates, a popular San Diego Chargers tight end, is skipping the event with a toe injury that he suffered in the playoffs.
Gates' absence from the AFC team opened the door for another Browns standout, Kellen Winslow, to participate.
Besides being from Kent State, the three Pro Bowlers have something else in common: Each of them went undrafted.
''It's remarkable,'' Kent State Athletic Director Laing Kennedy said. ''Each one of them has a great story as undrafted free agents who have gone on to not only play in the NFL, but rise to the top of their profession.''
Cribbs, a former KSU quarterback who signed with the Browns in 2005, had to switch to special teams to earn playing time in the pros. This season, he led the league in kickoff-return average (30.9 yards) and returned two kicks for touchdowns. He also tied for the team lead in special-teams tackles with 18.
''Not being drafted, switching positions, having to learn something I've never done before and then doing it at such a high level in the NFL — it just means a lot to me,''
an emotional Cribbs told the Associated Press when he learned of his Pro Bowl selection.
Harrison, a first-year starter, was cut by the Steelers three times before finally getting a shot this season to take over for the departed Joey Porter. He claimed the Steelers' Most Valuable Player award in addition to his Pro Bowl honor.
Harrison, a Coventry High School graduate, started all 16 games, finishing with 98 total tackles (76 solo), 81/2 sacks and an interception. He also had three fumble recoveries and forced seven fumbles.
Gates' story has garnered a lot more attention in the past few years, simply for the sheer improbability of it. The former KSU basketball standout who helped lead the 2001-02 team to the Elite Eight round in the NCAA Tournament didn't play football for the Flashes.
Gates, after leading the Chargers with 75 receptions for 984 yards and nine touchdowns, will be making his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance since signing with the Chargers.
In recognition of their success, the trio will be honored by Kent State on Saturday during halftime of the Flashes' 3 p.m. home basketball game against Ohio. Not only will KSU fans get to meet Cribbs, Harrison and Gates, but the first 5,000 fans through the M.A.C. Center doors also will receive free posters featuring the three players.
''It's a chance for everyone at Kent State to puff up their chests a little bit,'' said Pete Mahoney, Kent State's associate athletic director. ''Josh, Antonio and James — their success stories are our success stories, as well. We have a slogan here at Kent State — 'Excellence in Action' — and these three guys truly exemplify such.''
Their success has brought plenty of recognition individually, but it also has proved to be a good marketing tool for the university.
Upon hearing the news of the Pro Bowl rosters, Kent State quickly took out full- and half-page color ads in several local papers. Within 10 days, a large vinyl wrap on the elevator shaft in the M.A.C. Center had gone up, with life-size pictures of the three in action on the field.
''The university, as a whole, is getting a nice spike in terms of (the number of) applications being up,'' Kennedy said. ''And I have received so many positive e-mails, letters and calls.
''In a time where so many people are facing financial challenges daily, it has given us a lift and something positive to focus on knowing we have three Pro Bowl players.''
The Pro Bowl selections have helped Flashes football coach Doug Martin and his staff with recruiting, too.
''Having our former players on a stage like that has helped give us some name recognition, particularly in our out-of-state recruiting areas such as Florida,'' Martin said.
''It's not a complete selling point, but it has helped get us in the door of a lot of homes that we would not have otherwise. It's a great advertisement not only for our football program, but a great accomplishment for a (Mid-American Conference) school.''
Link (http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/15488751.html)