Section B·Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, September 12, 1997
'Waving the Wheat'unlike most traditions
Jayhawk fans "waved the whet" a number of times during a home football game against the University of Missouri in 1983. KU won the game 32-27.Fans and historians have been unable to pinpoint the exact origins of the tradition. Photo courtesy of University Relations
Football ritual's origin unknown
By Zach Zipfel Special to the Kansan
Following each Jayhawk score at home football games, the KU marching band strikes up "The Touchdown Song" and fans flail their arms back and forth in a tradition known as "waving the wheat."
But this ritual is unlike many others at the University of Kansas. It seems that no one knows when, why or how it got started. In many ways, waving the wheat is a tradition without a past.
Ned Kehde, archivist at the University Archives, said for several years people have attempted to pinpoint a date that waving the wheat started.
"We've had people from the 'Alumni' magazine every ten years make a thorough run through it," Kehde said. "People have tried to conjure up the actual date and never come up with it."
Radio commentator Max Falkenstein, who is in his 52nd year of covering University athletics, also is unsure when the tradition began.
"It's fairly recent vintage," he said. "It doesn't go back that long. I can't remember specifically, but I'm going to say it started in the late '60s or early '70s."
Falkenstein said that sometimes it could be difficult to keep track of when traditions start.
"When it first happens you don't think to write it down." he said.
Steve Jansen of the Douglas County Historical Society said he thought it was important to know the history of waving the wheat.
"Things that we've sustained at a grass-roots level are very interesting," he said. "Traditions are foundation stones. If it's been done for generations by KU fans,
it shouldn't be lightly discarded."
it shouldn't be tightly discarded. David Hankins, Overland Park freshman, said maintaining traditions was an important way for the University to distinguish itself.
"It's good to keep traditions alive," he said. "It shows we're individual. It's important to keep unique cheers so teams can recognize that we have team spirit."
Some people unfamiliar with the tradition have mixed reactions upon seeing it for the first time.
"I don't think I did it the first time," said Melissa Citarelli, Woodstock II., senior. "It took me a while to get used to it. It contributed to my idea of Kansas as country, farms and hicks."
Cory Aubuchon, St. Louis, junior had a different initial reaction to waving the wheat.
"I thought it was really neat," he said. "It was what I expected when I came to school. It showed a lot of hometown pride and pride in the state and school's history."
KU HILLEL FOUNDATION PRESENTS: SHABBAT
DINNER
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1997. 5:30 PM AT THE JCC. 9TH AND HIGHLAND.
Students: $2.00