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KANSAN.COM
World University Games jerseys honor Olympic team
The seven stars adorning Kansas' World University Games jerseys represent each of the seven Jayhawks on the 1952 USA Olympic basketball team.
SAMANTHA SEXTON
@SamBiscuit
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
The Kansas men's basketball players attending this year's World University Games are sporting new uniforms in honor of those athletes representing the United States before them.
"Our boys have new jerseys that they will be wearing specially for the games," said Paul Vander Tuig, director of trademark licensing.
The team's new jerseys, co-created with Adidas, will feature seven stars for the seven University students who went to the Olympic Games in 1952.
"We took a look at the atmosphere of the World Games and really wanted to bring some of our heritage," Vander Tuig said. "A big part of our basketball history was winning the '52 National Championship."
There's no set way to choose what teams go on to the Olympics, but up until the 1970's, it was common practice to allow those players or teams who won a national championship during an Olympic year to represent the U.S. in the Olympics. Not only did the Kansas basketball team win the NCAA Championship
in 1952 but also brought home gold from Helsinki in the 1952 Olympics.
The players from the 1952 Olympics and those represented on this tournament's jerseys are Bill Hougland, John Keller, Dean Kelley, Robert Kenney, Bill Lienhard, Clyde Lovelette and Charlie Hoag. Forrest "Phog" Allen joined the team as an assistant coach.
"We had so many great players on that team," Vander Tuig said. "We just needed to represent them."
When Kansas was approached about a year ago with an invitation to the World Games, the Athletics Department was thrilled to create a new uniform for the world to see, said Larry Hare, assistant athletics director.
"Three years ago we wore retro uniforms celebrating the 60th anniversary of winning the '52 championship," Hare said. "The uniforms were very popular and nine of the original '52 players were invited. It was one of those rare and very special occasions."
The pride in Kansas heritage was a driving variable in the design of the jerseys. One of the biggest concerns in crafting the design was the representation of not only the U.S., but
Kansas as well, as this is the first time in 63 years Kansas has been chosen to represent the U.S.
"We told Adidas our thoughts and they researched for months what sort of design to go with," Hare said. "That's when we realized that not only did our 'S2 players win
the NCAA Championship, but had gone on to win gold in the Olympics. We knew we had to honor that history and represent those players that went before us. I don't know of many, if any, other schools that can say they've had such a history and such success while representing us
all."
The players will only wear their commemorative uniforms for the World University Games. In accordance with the historic time, however, the concept has been carried on into jersey hook tees that will be available for purchase.
FIFA FROM PAGE 15
final, one the United States could have won if not for a goal in the 117th minute by Japan. The game went into penalty kicks, and Japan won 3-1.
In 2012, the United States and Japan took the field looking for a gold medal at the Olympics. Lloyd stepped up with two goals and the US. avenged its previous loss, winning 2-1.
Lloyd continued her success against Japan in the final World Cup match this year, recording the fastest hat trick in Women's World Cup history. She finished with the most
goals (six) for the United States and tied Germany's Celia Sasic for the most goals scored in the tournament. Lloyd lost a tiebreaker for the golden boot, which awards the top goal scorer, but still came away with a trifecta of hardware.
Besides the silver boot — the consolation prize to the golden boot — Lloyd gets a piece of the Women's World Cup trophy along with the Golden Ball, which is given to the tournament's best player.
"I was on a mission to help my team win this game," Lloyd told Fox Sports. "I worked my butt off and everything, all the repetitions, came into play."
The red, white and blue defeated Germany in the semifinals in an exciting 2-0 match on July 1. The victory ensured Germany could not get its third title and instead allowed the U.S. to snatch the trophy.
This is the third World Cup title for the United States in an event that, for women, began in 1991. Since then, only two countries have won multiple championships: Germany and the United States. Germany came into the tournament ranked No.1 in the FIFA rankings for women. The United States were No.2.
Going forward, the United States will lose Abby Wambach and Christie Rampone, as the duo played their
At age 40, Rampone became the oldest athlete to compete in a FIFA Women's World Cup. In her career, she competed in five World Cups.
final matches on the U.S. Women's National Team this year.
Wambach, the all-time goal leader in women's soccer international play, finally added a first-place finish at the World Cup to her long resume. Although Wambach did not start in the final two matches, her leadership was crucial to the team's success. Before the final match, she opened up on an emotional video tribute to her fans and teammates.
"I'm just so thankful that we stuck together as a team. We didn't buy
into any of that cynicism that was creeping in during the group stage," Wambach said to Fox Sports. "We peaked at the right time."
2015 has been a patriotic summer. Kansas men's basketball is abroad representing the United States in the World University Games. The U-19 United States basketball team took the FIBA U-19 World Championship earlier today. The U.S. Men's National Team gets going next week in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
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But maybe the biggest victory was the one following the Fourth of July, as the United States won a title against the world for the first time in 16 years.