Long runs on short legs thrilled Golden Flash football fans at the season’s home opener when Kent State Athletics welcomed Little Stumps Racing Corgis to Dix Stadium.
Ziggy, 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 Kent State employees: Snip – the canine companion of James C. Hannon, Ph.D., dean and professor in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, and Quinn – the four-legged friend of Nicole Kotlan, Ph.D., director, student progression in the Division of Enrollment Management.
This wasn’t Quinn’s 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 “Unofficial Official Corginators” of Little Stumps Racing.
A Kent State Staffer Helped Bring the Races to Campus
Kotlan suggested the races to the marketing team at Kent State Athletics and they contacted the “Unofficial Official Corginators,” Jess Ramberg and Ziggy from Little Stumps to bring the canine entertainment team to Kent State.
Suzette McQueen, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator for Kent State 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."
“The inaugural Corgi Race at Dix Stadium was so much fun,” said Kotlan. “The excitement of the fans could be felt on the field and when leaving the stadium. I have wanted to do a race at a Kent State football game since Quinn had raced at an NFL game. I was so happy that Kent State 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!”
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.
Hannon and Snip were also happy to participate. “My family, Snip and I really enjoyed the Corgi Race,” he said. “It was so much fun to share the experience with other Corgi families.”
“I think what stood out the most to me was how much love everyone at the stadium showed for our babies,” Hannon said. “I think they cheered louder for the Corgi Race than the game! We would definitely do it again.”
Banner photo by Rami Daud, senior photographer, University Communications and Marketing.