HE YEARS
Kathy Driskoll/
KANSAN
A crowd of KU football fans celebrate a touchdown by 'waiving the wheat' during the Jayhawk's game at OU Saturday, Oct. 5.
inceased because of a flu epidemic in Lawrence and most of the Midwest.
it was restarted in 1919 in a 13-6 loss to Missouri. That year is noted as the real beginning of homecoming as a permanent fixture at Kansas. One of the first football Homecoming traditions was playing Missouri and Nebraska every year.
Kansas played those two teams 45 of the first years. The canceled game in 1918, a 13-0 loss Oklahoma in 1940, and a 27-0 win against ussas State in 1945 were the only exceptions. However, since 1960 the Jayhawks have ayed Nebraska three times in Homecoming antests, with the last game coming in 1966 and issou just once more in 1983.
The Jayhawks have good reason to not schedule Nebraska for a Homecoming game. They weve a 3-21-1 lifetime mark against the Cornuskers in homecoming games. Kansas went aspectable 12-9-3 against Missouri.
1927 was a special year, because the Homecoming game was also the dedication of new emorial Stadium.
The 1930's were not as kind to the Jayhawks, they were shut out six times in the decade on upcoming day. As a matter of fact, from 1928
the coming day as a result of the 1940 Kansas was shut out nine of the 13
ars, although a 13-0 loss to Oldahoma in 1940
as the last time the Jayhawks were shut out.
The Jayhawks next memorable game was in 60 when they defeated Colorado 34-6 on the first game of the season. It was a win that did not st very long. Kansas had to forfeit the game then it was found that one of its players had immitted an NCAA rules violation.
John Hadi is now an associate athletic direc r at Kansas but in 1960 he doubled as the Jaywicks halfback and quarterback.
He remembered the forfeit well.
"That was disappointing to us that we had to rerfeit that game," he said. "I believe a player fed a private plane to get one from one city to other and at that time that was an NCAA violation."
Hadi played for Kansas from 1959-1961 and was Kansas' first two-time All-American.
Hadl is in charge of the Williams Fund and has seen his Homecoming duties change from on-the-field to off it.
"We make sure all the social events and the alumni are taken care of," he said.
Last season, the Jayhawks defeated Iowa State 34-7 at Homecoming.
Although Kansas pulled off many upsets last season en route to a 10-2 record, the win against the Cyclones proved to be key.
"That was a game that kind of got lost in the shuffle," Davis said. "Kansas really could have a letdown in that game because the week before they beat Colorado. But they came out ready to play and they kept on rolling."
Kansas plays Colorado on homecoming for the first time since 1988 when the Buffalo's won 21-9. Colorado is 2-3-1 against Kansas on homecoming day.
Last year the Jayhawks pulled off one of the biggest upsets in their history when they went to Boulder and stunned the fourth-ranked Buffalo's 40-24. It was Kansas' first win against Colorado since 1984.
Mason said playing Colorado on Homecoming isn't an extra incentive.
"I never really look at it as we have to win this game because it's Homecoming," he said. "We have to win because it's the next game on our schedule."
Kansas junior quarterback Matt Johner said Kansas would be ready for Colorado.
"It's in Lawrence, it's Homecoming, I know we'll be pumped and it's ready to play," he said. "We beat them last year so that will give us the confidence that we need. It should be a good game."
"Oh, we'll win," he said. "I feel real good about it. We should win by about 10 points. We're playing real well, plus its Homecoming."
Hadl forecasts a Jayhawk victory.
Kathy Driskoll / KANSAN
Wide Receiver Issac Byrd, St. Louis-Mo., senior runs the football down the field while try ing to avoid his approaching Oklahoma opponents.
A flu epidemic in Lawrence and across the Midwest forces the cancellation of Kansas' homecoming game.
1918
lowa State turns up on the short end of Kansas' most lopsided homecoming victory, 41-0. Two years earlier, Iowa State produced Kansas' last homecoming loss. 24-20. KU has won its last six homecoming games.
October 17,1996 The Hill
Homecoming
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