kulture
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 5A
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006
The twelfthman Jayhawk fans go the distance
Jayhawk fans go the distance in the name of KU spirit
At count point in time after an emergency
By Ashley Pate Kansan correspondent
Most students left campus after finals to enjoy winter break and the upcoming holiday season. But vacation couldn't keep some die-hard fans away from Fort Worth, Texas for the Jayhawk's 10th bowl game appearance, this time in the Fort Worth Bowl against the University of Houston.
Ryan Boehler and Zach Pope, Olathe juniors, drove to Fort Worth with two friends the night before the game. Pope drove the entire eight
hours while his buddies slept and listened to music.
Molly Tye, Lawrence senior, also drove south on Interstate 35 to Fort Worth with some friends. Tye said she was a big football fan, and wanted to support friends on the team.
"We wanted to support the football team as much as we do the basketball team, and we wanted to see them win," Pope said.
"You could tell that the players were really excited and the fans were feeding off their
Before the game it was obvious that the Kansas fans would overpower the Houston fans with a sea of blue in the stands. Outside of Amon G. Carter Stadium were two invitation-only tents, one for Houston and one for Kansas. Boehler said he noticed that the Kansas tent was completely packed.
excitement," Tye said. "There was a lot of energy between the players and the fans."
"We looked at the Houston tent and there was maybe four
people there," Boehler said.
Kansas overpowered Houston, winning 42-13, but the celebration didn't stop on the field. Many fans ventured downtown after the game to eat. Tye and
While Boehler and Pope were waiting in the stands for the game to start, the marching band performed on the field.
"For some reason the band didn't play the alma mater, so we started singing it with some guys we'd met before the game. Soon everyone was singing it," Boehler said.
Tye said she was sitting in a restaurant with some of the basketball players and fans when "We Are the Champions" by Queen started playing.
her friends were there among many other Kansas fans.
Boehler and Pope, however, couldn't join in the singing, because they had to head home immediately after the
game, arriving in Olathe at 7 a.m. the next morning, Boehler said. Many students and Kansas fans did the same because of family holiday plans.
Despite the distance and the limited amount of time spent in Fort Worth, the trip was worth it to fans.
"I don't just go to the football or basketball games, I support all sports," Tye said. "Of course I'd go again."
—Edited by Kathryn Anderson
Kansas fans cheer on the Jayhawks at Amon Carter Satudium during the Fort Worth Bowl against Houston on Dec. 23. More than 33,000 were in attendance for the Jayhawk victory.
Rachel Seymour/KANSAN
Fans congratulate senior linebacker Banks Floodman after the Jayhawks defeated the Cougars at the Fort Worth Bowl on Dec. 23.
Ryan Howe/KANSAN