THE RIVALRY
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CIVIL WAR BEGINNINGS
Border Showdown's roots run deep
Budig Hall fell victim to the Kansas-Missouri rivalry after a reckless act of vandalism on Oct. 16. Kansas and Missouri have been rivals since before the Civil War.
Howard Ting/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
BY COURTNEY BULLIS cbullis@kansan.com
Kansas and Missouri have been at odds since the Border Showdown began in 1861. Upon entering the Union in that year, Kansas, a free state, fell victim to a series of violent attacks by pro-slavery inhabitants in Missouri.
It was almost inevitable that once the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas began to compete against each other the heated rivalry about slavery would transfer to sports.
On Oct. 31, 1891, Kansas and Missouri played their first football game against one another. Kansas won the game 22-10 and commenced the beginning of one of the most notorious rivalries between state universities.
It was originally called the Border War, but the KU Athletic Director Lew Perkins said the title was officially changed in 2004 to the Border Showdown in response to events such as Sept. 11. Former KU football coach Don Fambrough says that he will never call it anything but a war.
"People who call it the Border Showdown are people who have never played against Missouri," said Fambrough. "It is a total war. They started the war with Quantrill and all that and we are going to end it."
This rivalry is not just a war of words. Playing pranks, wearing graphic sportswear and refusing to cross state borders have all played apart in the tradition of KU-MU rivalry.
Members of the Antlers, a Missouri student fan group organized in 1976, are known for disrupting and annoying any opposing team of Missouri. Jeff Gordon, co-founder of the Antlers, said the group originated at the behest of an older student.
"During the 1975-76 season, a few guys, myself included, from the Hudson Hall dor-
mory starting going to Mizzou home basketball games and causing a stir;" Gordon said.
"I think every school has a group that just really loves the team," Kurtis Townsend, a Kansas men's assistant basketball coach said. "Until something gets personal or they invade your privacy, then that crosses the line. Just wanting to win and being a fan is great though."
Coaches of both universities have chosen to participate by refusing to cross borders unless it is mandatory for the game. Former Missouri basketball coach Norm Stewart had his players stay in hotels in Kansas City, Mo. He would have the team bus buy gasoline in Missouri and he would lecture any player that purchased and/or ate food in the state of Kansas.
The rivalry seemed to come full circle to its Civil War roots in 2007, when a few Missouri fans created a shirt showing William Quantrill
and his Bushwhackers next to a scoreboard and a picture of Lawrence burning.
"I think that their shirt was extremely distasteful," Lauren Beebe, Overland Park, junior, said. "They are glorifying one of the worst times in American history and massproducing it."
Even though many thought the shirt had crossed a line, KU fans did not want to be outdone. They created a shirt showing abolitionist John Brown with the words, "Kansas: Protecting America from Missouri since 1854."
Whether it is the war or the showdown, graphic t-shirts or prank calls, the rivalry between Kansas and Missouri is still going strong.
"I think there is a renewed passion for the rivalry," said Fambrough. "It is because of the excitement around the success of our teams."
Edited by Betsy Cutcliff
once its away in the
1952 NBC broadcasts KU's first televised game where KU wins 27-13 against TCU.
ange time and
1960 Kansas beats No. 1 ranked Missouri 23-7. The victory was later forfeited after information came to light that Kansas player Bert Coan had
1961 KU had its first bowl game victory. KU beat Rice 33-7 at the Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston.
accepted a free plane ride to Chicago from a KU graduate.
1965 Kansas ends the longest winning streak against a single opponent - Kansas State.The streak spans from 1956 to 1965.
1973 KU player David Jaynes ranks fourth place in the Heisman award voting.
1979 KU has its largest crowd for an away game. 100,228 people show up at Michigan and KU loses 7-28.
2008 Kansas wins the Orange Bowl. Kansas wins the Showdown 40-37.
2007 KU has 12 wins; the most in a season to date. Kansas falls to Missouri in hugely anticipated Border Showdown held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., for the first time, ending Kansas' undefeated season with a 36-28 loss. The attendance of the fans was 80,537 people.
2005 KU has its first win ning season since 1995. The overall season result is 7-5-0.
2002 Mark Mangino coaches his first season at KU.
1998 Devin West gets 319 yards in Border Showdown,a Kansas record. Kansas goes into overtime four times against UAB, tying the NCAA record. KU won 39-37.
1995 KU makes it to the Aloha Bowl again, wining against UCLA 51-30.
1992 KU makes it to the Aloha Bowl and wins against BYU. 23-20.
1991
Glen Mason named Big 8 coach of the year; Mason got the honor again in 1995. The next
Mangino
get the award is Mark Mangino in 2007.
1991 Kansas tallies 648 yards against Missouri, a record against conference opponent.
1985 Willie Pless Tackler of the Year award established and named for the Kansas and Big 8 all time leading tackler.
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THE UNIVERSITY BAY KANSAS
Sources: 2009 Jayhawk football media guide and www.kuhistory.com
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009