3 the university daily kansan
sports
wednesday, october 29, 2003
Jayhawkslead Border Warearly
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The 2003-04 Midwest Ford Border War may have only begun, but the University of Kansas has taken an early lead.
The Jayhawks lead their rival Missouri Tigers 6 to 1.5 in this year's rivalry. The two arch rivals have competed in three sports matchups this season with 18 matchups remaining.
KU students see the early lead as an issue of pride.
"There is no doubt that Missouri is our main rival and most competitive rival," said Evan Fox, Garden City senior. "Any time we can beat the Tigers at any sport it creates a sense of pride for the school and the state."
KU students also count Kansas State as a rival but not to the extent of Missouri.
pete on a points system based on the meetings between the two universities in athletic competitions.
"Anytime you play your instate rival it's important," Fox said. "But the rivalry with K-State is not as competitive and intense as the one with Missouri."
The Midwest Ford Border War was created prior to the 2002-03 athletic year as a way to further promote the rivalry between Kansas and Missouri. The competitiveness between the two schools can be traced back to pre-Civil War days when Missourians attempted to make Kansas a slave state upon its admittance to the Union.
While those disputes were violent, today's rivalry is decided on the playing field. Ford Motor Co. decided to create a system where Kansas and Missouri would com-
The 18 meetings between Kansas and Missouri are worth either one, 1.5 or three points, depending on the sport. For example, the games in football, soccer and tennis are worth three points along with the men's and women's Big 12 Golf tournaments.
The other games constitute either one or one and a half points with the meetings in men's and women's basketball worth 1.5 points.
If the two teams tie in any event, the points for that event will be split. At the end of the athletic year, if a tie occurs the school that won the majority of the head-tohead regular season games will win the Border War championship.
Last year was the inaugural year of the competition, and the Tigers ran away with the title, making this year's edition of the competition an opportunity for
Kansan File Photo
Junior defensive end David McMillan sacked Missouri quarterback Brad Smith in the Jayhawks' game against the Tigers earlier this year. Kansas has defeated Misouri in volleyball and football to retain an early lead in this year's Border War.
Kansas earned three points for their 35-14 victory against the Tigers in football on Sept. 27 at
the Jayhawks to attempt to gain the title from their rivals.
Memorial Stadium. On Oct. 1, the volleyball team lost in five games to the Tigers who earned 1.5 points for the victory. The third contest went Kansas' way in
a 2-0 soccer victory on Oct.12. The victory was worth three points giving Kansas a 4.5 lead in the Border War.
on Oct. 31 at the men's and women's Big '12 Cross Country meets.
The Border War will continue
- Edited by Michael Owells
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