PAGE 8B
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
FINAL BORDER SHOWDOWN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Jayhawks have the last laugh with the fans
Dressed as Civil War figure Jo Tigers fan passes by during S
Jayhawk fans hold up many diffr tip off.
J
ansas' run to the Final Four starts tonight and if the Jayhawks win it all, one Jayhawk fan might add to her already recognizable tattoo. It all started in 2000 when
Kat "KU Tatt Kat" Steward was inked up for the first time. The tattoo is located on her lower back and it is of a girl and a flower that she got for her younger sister.
Steward said her family members rolled their eyes like any parents would when their child gets a tattoo, but since that first tattoo, she has added eight more with her tattoo on her upper back being the most recognizable. The tattoo that spans her entire upper back, from shoulder to shoulder, is commemorative of Kansas basketball.
"I started that one in early 2007." Steward said. "It took a lot of time planning that one. It took about two months with sessions."
Steward said that the main part took about 15 hours and five or six sessions, but said she was doing a couple touch up pieces on some of her other tattoos. She said she had the main part done by the time ESPN College GameDay came to Lawrence for Kansas' matchup with Kansas State in 2008.
The original tattoo caught the attention of GameDay's host Rece Davis and analyst Digger Phelps at The Wheel. The producer told Steward to come early to get it on TV, but Steward wasn't early enough.
However, she has since had the opportunity to be on ESPN a few times, but that was after she added the '2008 National Champions' banner to the top.
"When I originally designed this I never planned on adding more to it."
She said people were joking that the tattoo was a good luck charm during the season, since she had it the whole season and didn't have it before.
Steward said. "As it kind of got toward looking like we might win it all, I talked to my artist and I said, 'I need an appointment just in case I want to add a banner.'"
She said adding the banner was the most painful part because it is at the top of the spine, but said the rest of the tattoo wasn't as bad. Her tattoo on the inside of her upper arm is the most painful tattoo that she has gotten.
The banner was added two weeks after the Jayhawks cut down the nets in San Antonio.
Steward didn't graduate from Kansas; she actually graduated from Wichita State with a degree in criminal justice, but since her dad introduced her to
basketball, specifically to Kansas, she has loved them.
The tattoo has garnered national attention, from ESPN's Pat Forde writing about it, to Erin Andrews interviewing her at College GameDay this season. She has posed for pictures with a number of players, past and present, and even coach Bill Self.
If the Jayhawks do end up cutting the nets down in Houston, Steward doesn't know if she will add on to her tattoo. If one of the players wants to get tattooed with her at the same time she might, but she doesn't see that happening.
"I honestly don't know. I've thought about it, maybe I would maybe I wouldn't, but I don't want or plan to keep adding should they win more," Steward said.
56
5. RESORT STYLE SALT WATER POOL
6. TANNING BED
7. 24 HOUR GAME ROOM
8. FREE PARKING
10. ON-SITE LAUNDRY
9. PETS ACCEPTED
Ask about our Look and Lease Special!
Hawks Pointe
1421 W 7th Street, Lawrence, KS 66049
P 785.841.5255 | www.hawkspointeapts.co
or '