麻豆精选

When the Corgis Took the Field

A four-legged fun run ruled halftime at the Golden Flashes football home opener

Long runs on short legs thrilled fans at the season鈥檚 home opener when welcomed to .

Corgi Races 2024
Photo by Rami Daud.

 

, the visiting racing Corgi from Little Stumps Racing and his human Jess Ramberg, were joined by local Corgis from the Cleveland area and two Corgis owned by 麻豆精选employees: Snip 鈥 the canine companion of James C. Hannon, Ph.D., dean and professor in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, and 鈥 the four-legged friend of  Nicole Kotlan, Ph.D., director, student progression in the Division of Enrollment Management.

Corgi Races 2024 Quinn and Nicole
Nicole Kotlan and Quinn. Photo provided by Nicole Kotlan.

 

This wasn鈥檛 Quinn鈥檚 first halftime race as he had run in a Little Stumps halftime race at a Cleveland Browns game in 2022, which is where Kotlan first met Jess Ramberg and Ziggy, the 鈥淯nofficial Official Corginators鈥 of Little Stumps Racing.

 

A 麻豆精选Staffer Helped Bring the Races to Campus

Kotlan suggested the races to the marketing team at 麻豆精选Athletics and they contacted the 鈥淯nofficial Official Corginators,鈥 Jess Ramberg and Ziggy from Little Stumps to bring the canine entertainment team to Kent State.

Corgi Races 2024 Quinn and Flash
Quinn meets Flash - photo provided by Nicole Kotlan.

 

, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator for 麻豆精选Athletics, said, "Nicole reached out to our marketing people and connected us to Jess and they were able to align to bring the plan together."

Corgi Races 2024
Photo provided by 麻豆精选Athletics.

 

鈥淭he inaugural Corgi Race at Dix Stadium was so much fun,鈥 said Kotlan. 鈥淭he excitement of the fans could be felt on the field and when leaving the stadium. I have wanted to do a race at a 麻豆精选football game since Quinn had raced at an NFL game. I was so happy that 麻豆精选Athletics and Jess Ramberg from Little Stumps Racing were able to make it happen this fall. I am hoping this will become an annual tradition!鈥

Corgi Races 2024
Photo provided by 麻豆精选Athletics.

 

Canine Crowd-Pleasers

During the 2023 football season, the Little Stumps raced at halftime shows hosted by the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions.

Corgi Races 2024 Snip
Snip - photo provided by James C. Hannon.

 

Hannon and Snip were also happy to participate. 鈥淢y family, Snip and I really enjoyed the Corgi Race,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was so much fun to share the experience with other Corgi families.鈥

Corgi Races 2024
Photo by Rami Daud

 

鈥淚 think what stood out the most to me was how much love everyone at the stadium showed for our babies,鈥 Hannon said. 鈥淚 think they cheered louder for the Corgi Race than the game! We would definitely do it again.鈥

Corgi Races 2024 Quinn
Quinn - photo provided by Nicole Kotlan.

 

Banner photo by Rami Daud, senior photographer, University Communications and Marketing.

POSTED: Friday, September 13, 2024 02:52 PM
Updated: Monday, September 16, 2024 12:41 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Phil B. Soencksen
PHOTO CREDIT:
麻豆精选Athletics, Rami Daud, Nicole Kotlan and James C. Harmon