Browns' Josh Cribbs sends off fans as they take bus to Omaha to root on Kent State baseball

BROOKLYN, Ohio - A “Flash Mob” is on its way to Omaha.

Dozens of northeast Ohioans are on a bus chartered by the Browns’ Josh Cribbs, taking the 14-hour road trip to support the Kent State baseball team at the College World Series.

They departed Friday morning from Brooklyn, greeted by Cribbs as they arrived to board the bus.

“We’re going to be 50-deep in the stands cheering for our Golden Flashes and making sure we bring home a World Series championship,” Cribbs said.

It’s a long way to Omaha, but the Kent State faithful are eager to watch the Flashes make history, appearing in the College World Series for the first time in school history.

“I decided to go because I love sports, specifically baseball, and I just graduated Kent in May so it was fun to see it all happen,” Michelle Martinez, a fan taking the bus, said.

Chris Meluch, a spring 2011 graduate, still follows his alum’s sports and is pumped about the trip.

“It’s amazing,” Meluch said. “There is so much Kent pride going on.”

Cribbs is a Kent State alum himself, setting records as the team’s starting quarterback from 2001-2004. In 2005, Cribbs was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent.

“I was a fan just like they are now. The fans drive my motivation,” Cribbs said. “I feel like without them there would be no me.”

Cribbs and his site TeamCribbs.com put together the bus, opening a limited number of seats to the public. For $150, fans got a hotel room on Friday night, ticket, beverages and snacks on the bus.

They also got a shirt that says Flash Mob, Omaha 2012 on the front and Team Cribbs on the back.

"$150 for all that is included is unbeatable," fan Kyle Chaboudy said.

He said they've been partying since leaving Cleveland, while Martinez said they’re playing games for Josh Cribbs autographed memorabilia through the ride.

“Kent State, they’re going to do it big. We’re doing it big for them,” Cribbs said. “We’re gonna be out there in numbers, in Omaha, Nebraska, and bringing home a winner.”

The Golden Flashes take on Arkansas in their first game Saturday at 5 p.m. A team gets eliminated after losing its second game in division play. The winners of each division play a best-of-three series for the College World Series title.