Kent State has experienced success on the national stage before in both football and basketball, and this week their impressive baseball program pulled off the improbable and advanced to Omaha for the College World Series. It's the first time a MAC school has made it to Omaha since 1976. Most of KSU's notable athletic alums are NFL players, with Josh Cribbs leading the bunch.
Cribbs is perhaps the most popular athlete in Cleveland, and a supporter of all things Kent State. After the Flashes dramatic ninth-inning win on Monday night, he tweeted that he needed to get a ticket to Omaha:
Via @JoshCribbs16:
ALL the WAY!!!! I'm going 2 Omaha, NE!!!!!!!!
— Josh Cribbs (@JoshCribbs16) June 12, 2012
Cribbs has been known to show his support at an array of sporting events around town, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him show up in the stands in Omaha this weekend. He spoke earlier in the week with Fox Sports Ohio's Zac Jackson, and indicated that he was very familiar with the success of the baseball program over the years:
"It's unfortunate that (Kent State's baseball team) hasn't made it this far before because they have talent every year," Cribbs said. "I remember going to a few games when I was there. I've watched a little bit (of this year's tournament run) and I'm glad they're playing at an elite level at the right time. I've seen online how excited people around the university are and I know I have a few text messages from people excited about it."
In addition to Cribbs, Browns' safety Usama Young is a former KSU football standout and he was wearing his pride on his sleeve (and head covers) at the Browns charity golf outing on Monday:
"The boys are balling," Young said. "It's major. I've been following them. I missed it last night, but I'm hoping they hold on to it. They've been balling all year. I think they have four straight MAC Championships, so to go ahead and go to the College World Series, oh man, it's going to be major."
For more 2012 NCAA Baseball Tournament coverage, be sure to stay right here with SB Nation Cleveland's StoryStream. For more coverage of Kent State and the Mid-American Conference, check out Hustle Belt.