HERO Sports is counting down the 100 days until the kickoff of the 2018 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 25, with daily trivia. Each day, from May 17 through Aug. 24, we'll publish one college football trivia question.
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When present-day Vanderbilt University was founded in 1872 — three years before the first students enrolled in 1875 — by the Methodist Episcopal Church South, it had a different name.
What was the original name of Vanderbilt University before it was renamed in honor of philanthropist Cornelius Vanderbilt?
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Answer
Central University
Central University — aka Central University of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South — was founded in 1872 as a school for, in part, the training of ministers. The church planned to open the school soon thereafter but it was delayed due to financial issues. That's when Cornelius Vanderbilt, a wealthy American businessman who made millions as a railroad and shipping tycoon, gave $1 million to endow the university.
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