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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Former Kansas quarterback Frank Seurer carries the ball during a game against USC. Seurer is currently a firefighter in Olathe.
Quarterback looks back at Kansas career
HANNAH SUNDERMEYER
hsundermeyer@kansan.com
rrank Seurer was the quarterback at Kansas from 1980-1983. After his time at the university, Seurer went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1983, Seurer gained 2,660 yards of total offense, resulting in a second place standing in the University record books.
WHAT WAS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM YOUR COLLEGE FOOTBALL CAREER?
A car accident ended Seuer's professional football career. He is now a firefighter in Olathe.
I obviously made some great friends from Kansas and am
fortunate to still be very close to them right now, even though I played back in the early '80s. I am from Southern California originally, so we got a chance to play USC in the College Jam. They were the 3-touchdown favorite and we ended up beating them. We also had the chance to beat Missouri a couple times, which was very, very fun. A win against them always means a lot to both the Jayhawk players and fans. I have been fortunate enough to stay in contact with a lot of people. John Hail, who was the assistant athletic director at the time, and I still remain very good friends. Being a Jayhawk has been a nice, long journey.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE HOMECOMING TRADITION?
We didn't really get a huge chance to participate. But it was always fun to speak to the crowd before the games, and talk to the students. It always involved a lot of excitement and emotion.
what DO YOU THINK IT MEANS TO BE A JIAYHAWK?
It's one of those things that very few people will know about unless they actually experience it—especially coming from California to Kansas and not knowing much of what KU was all about. As soon as you get on campus and get involved with the people who are there, it doesn't take long to
understand what it is all about, and the importance of the closeness of everybody. Jayhawk pride comes through with everyone involved with it.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND GIVE YOUR COLLEGE FRESHMEN-SELF ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Don't wish it away. It goes by so fast and people are really anxious to get [their] degree. That happens fast enough, so take it all in. In involved with all the different activities. I was always into sports, but I wish I could have been involved in theater and Greek life. There is so much to offer at the school. It is foolish if you don't take advantage.
Dancers carry on tradition
Edited by Chas Strobel
PAIGE STINGLEY
pstingley@kansan.com
THEN: Ann McCroskey
NOW: Cora Schimke
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE JAYHAWK TRADITION?
Cora Schimke. My favorite tradition is definitely waving the wheat, especially at football games when we can see the entire stadium waving their arms.
Ann McCroskey: I would definitely have to say Late Night in the Phog. It is such an awesome tradition and there is nothing like the feeling of being in Allen Fieldhouse.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING A ROCK CHALK DANCER?
Schimke: The community that we share with all of the girls means so much to me. We are like a close-knit family, always there for help and companionship for each other.
McCroskey. When we were there, because we were creating the squad from scratch, we became a team very quickly because we had to prove that we really belonged there, because the dance team
didn't even exist then. I am still very close to a lot of those girls today.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIENCE WITH THE ROCK CHALK DANCERS?
McCroskey. I remember going to the Final Four with the men's basketball team one year. That was the same year we were the Cinderella team. I really remember how Bob Foster and the marching band took us under their wings and helped us as we were getting started. We traveled with them and really formed a great connection with the band members.
Schimke: I love all of the travel games. We create so many memories as a team. Last year we got to go to the men's basketball Big 12 Championship game and even though it wasn't in Lawrence, it still felt like it was in Lawrence because there were so many KU fans there.
expecting of us. We had to be really careful not to mess up traditions, especially because so many KU students.
DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST HOMECOMING.
McCroskey: The first was a really big learning experience for us because we really didn't know what to expect, or what people were
Schimke
Alumni come
back for homecoming. There is something about the KU spirit that hasn't changed. It has just gotten bigger and bigger and more exciting every year.
Schimke: I remember my first time marching in the parade and throwing candy to the kids. It's a heartwarming experience because it gives you a chance to be more one-on-one with your fans. It is incredible to see how many people come back to KU each year. Seeing the fan base grow and grow each year, and seeing all the people who come all the way back just for one weekend because it means so much to them, means a lot to me.
Edited by Chas Strobel
Yell leaders stoke spirit in homecoming events
DYLAN SHERWOOD
dsherwood@kansan.com
WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT HOMECOMING?
Homecoming as a student was always a great time because it seemed like the entire campus came to life with enthusiastic Jayhawks everywhere just taking in every part of Lawrence. All of them were always ready to share what they loved about the University and their experience as a student. As an alum, any time I come back to Lawrence for homecoming it takes me back to some of the best days of my life. Right when I pull into town, the nostalgia starts to hit me. I remember things like setting my room up for the first time with all of the new stuff I brought to start living on my own to some of the great moments like when KU made it to the Final Four and we all packed Wescoe Beach to celebrate. There were so many great moments for me at KU and it is always a great feeling to come back to Lawrence.
SINCE YOU WERE A YELL LEADER, WAS HOMECOMING MORE ENJOYABLE?
As a yell leader, I believe my
Rose
HOW WERE OTHER HOMECOMINGS DIFFERENT FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES?
experience of homecoming was unique because I got to take in the atmosphere of game day at Memorial Stadium. No
I am sure that everyone had responsibilities and events during homecoming and that everyone enjoyed the experience. The only thing that was probably different for me, as a yell leader, was that
matter how the football team was doing, Memorial Stadium was always filled the most on homecoming day. Getting to be on the field looking up into the stands at all of the people enjoying the experience made it a great day for me. I always thought of my role as a yell leader as a representative of the University and I wanted to show the alumni that KU was still being represented well. We always had alumni cheer squad members back and on the field with us and it was great to talk with them about their experiences.
Edited by Chas Strobel
we had a schedule of events throughout the day that kept me busy from early in the morning until late into the afternoon. I think a different vantage point was really the only difference. I was essentially performing throughout the day and others were taking the day in! I enjoyed my role and responsibilities as a yell leader and appreciated the opportunity to do it for four years. I am still one of the Jayhawks' biggest fans and have passed the Jayhawk passion on to my wife and three children, ages seven, five and three. We are always wearing crimson and blue on game days. The kids all know the Rock Chalk chant and even get some of the words to the alma mater right as they put their arms around each other and sway back and forth. Really, the entire experience of being a yell leader was incredible for me. I developed tremendous friendships and got to experience so many incredible things. On top of that, representing the University of Kansas is something I enjoyed then and now. Rock Chalk!
tdehart@kansan.com
Marching Jayhawk, Marsha Hanenberger, junior from Rochester, Mim.
Band brings tradition to gameday
ITOM DEHART
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE COLORGUARD AT KU?
In high school, I was on the guard team for three years. The last two of those years I was elected captain of the team and had to write and choreograph the work that went into the shows. When I started looking at universities my senior year of high school I decided I had to be part of a marching band because the friends you make through band end up being like family. This idea was incredibly important to me since I was moving so far away from my hometown.
So, after a lot of research through my different options, I obviously chose KU. There are so many awesome traditions affiliated with the band here. All I had to do to sign up was register for BAND 210 and audition at a camp before the start of the season to get on the team. Of course to actually get on the team I had to have previous marching experience and enough technique with a flag to know what I was doing. I also had to show that I could learn quick enough under pressure since we spin a new routine and learn an entire new show every home game.
WHY DO YOU ENJOY GAMEDAY SO MUCH?
The pregame is awesome. My favorite part of it has got to be the run on to the field. The drums
come out on the field and although the student section hasn't really showed up yet, the alumni have, and the band is an important aspect of the alumni experience. You can hear all the people cheering as we come running down the stairs from the tunnels and onto the field, and the energy stays pumped for the rest of the show. Our first performance of the game really sets the stage for how excited people are for the game afterwards. It's like a warm up for the crowd before they get to see our football team. My second favorite part of pregame is our alma mater. Hearing "Crimson and the Blue" being sung all the way around the stadium at such an impressive volume gives me chills every time.
THE
Edited by Chas Strobel