Jayhawk Jottings
By JOE CHILDS Assistant Sports Editor
Last Saturday, for the first time in 14 years, the K-State football team came to Lawrence knowing they had a good chance to beat their state rivals. The Wildcats, high on offense and something called Purple Pride, barely edged Pepper Rodger's crew, and to shoot it straight, were lucky to get away with a win, as KU wingback Steve Conley nearly made a spectacular catch in the endzone on the last play of the game.
But when the action was over and the football lay lifeless in the endzone, K-State had beaten the 'Hawks in football, which to Kansas football fans is as unfamiliar and as unpopular as a 4:30 class on Friday afternoon.
In Wildcatville, however, the victory will be remembered for years to come. Vince Gibson—who can never seem to say enough about his Wildcats—has put Manhattan on the football map by establishing a respectable football program in three short years. The spooky part about K-State's rise to prominence looms as a certainty that the Wildcats will continue to get better. But the fact that KSU might become the most devastating college gridiron power ever to compete scares no one. What's frightening about the Wildcat's rapid development is the mental condition of the average Purple fan as he faces the fact that his team is winning.
Take for example some of the instances in their narrow 26-22 victory last weekend. To say their gimmick of Purple Pride is stupid is being far to critical and quite unfair. But to examine the motives behind such things as their coach wearing Purple underwear, their fans wearing Purple everything, their Purple busses, their Purple hats and their Purple blazers is justifiable. Sure it's colorful, but so are the northern lights and everybody knows that the northern lights pertain to football about as much as Purple underwear.
Another danger to consider is the fact that K-State supporters (representatives of an institution of higher education) brought to the game everything to cheer with from Purple noise makers, to clever sayings written on bed sheets, to toilet paper, to Purple chickens. Remember when the Wildcats scored the opening TD on a 80-yard scoring drive. As if the drive and the offensive display wasn't impressive enough K-State fans began looping rolls of toilet paper through the stands and onto the playing field.
True, Wildcat fans haven't had much to cheer about in the way of pigskins other than at county fairs but if during the Big Eight race, K-State football should reach another emotional zenith things could get carried away.
Last year KU played three non-conference foes and beat all three, played seven conference teams and beat all three enroute to a conference championship and even went to the Orange Bowl for the first time in 22 years. Through all these victories and emotional triumphs KU fans never threw one roll of toilet paper. It can also be said that never did a jayhawk fan carry a crimson and blue chicken onto the playing field while the opposing team put on their half-time show.
After being subjected to the excitement and festivities of the Purple people, KU fans should sing to themselves a note of praise for their conduct last weekend. Going into the game as a slight underdog and down several times through the contest, Jayawk rooters refused to say die as they showed spirit for the first time this year. The 51,500 seat stadium was filled to capacity for the first time in its history and Jayawk fans filled it with spirit. Whether the spirit came from their hearts or from their back pockets is a matter that deserves little attention. What really is important is that even burdened by a humiliating defeat KU outcheered their Purple opponents.
K-State, to show their greenness at winning football games in opposing towns retired after the game to our local taverns and filled our places of business with plenty of Purple and plenty of snide remarks.
Oct. 15
1969 KANSAN 7
So many a Wildcat . . . or Wildman . . . will have an occasional black eye as they await next Saturday's clash with Iowa State. But more and more people should realize that something new is happening at K-State. Something which may be good for the prestige of both Big Eight and Kansas football, but which could also severely damage the mental condition of an entire city. Seriously, isn't the sanity of Manhattan too much of a price to pay for a winning football team.
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