“Flagship” is a confusing term, and those of us who work in higher ed should probably avoid it altogether unless we can settle on a clear definition of what it means. Alternative flagship lists could include the oldest public university in the state, but that would produce some odd results. The College of William & Mary was founded more than 120 years before the University of Virginia, but it was private until the Commonwealth of Virginia saved it from financial ruin in 1906. How would one rank that?