The Kansas Jayhawks, also called KU, is the University of Kansas college football program. They are in the NCCA, Division 1 and the North Division of the Big 12. The team mascot is a Jayhawk bird, a cross between the blue jay and the sparrow. The term “Jayhawk” was adopted by the people of “Bleeding Kansas” (due to the heavy death toll during the bloody battles between the militant abolitionist group, named Jayhawkers and the pro-slavery troops). Over time, the state embraced the term. It was natural for the first college football team of the University to take the name and use it in their fight song, “I’m a Jayhawk.” Their uniform colors are crimson and blue. Their helmets are red, white, and blue with the KU emblem. The team alumni include the famous Gale Sayers, a Hall of Famer who died early. His story was told in the 2001 TV movie, “Brian’s Song”, which starred Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers and James Caan and as his close friend, Brian Piccolo.



As of last November, the Jayhawks overall record was 568–550–58. Fans are looking forward to seeing more records set this coming season. Last October, player Todd Reesing threw 37 completions for 442 and 4 touchdowns, Kerry Meier had 16 catches for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Dezmon Briscoe got 12 catches for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns. They were very impressive. The team will start their first home game this year on September 4th, at the newly expanded Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. Led by new coach, Tim Gill, this will be the 121st season for this historical team.

All the old rivalries will be back, drawing fans from all over the Midwest. Kansas has been battling the Missouri Tigers since their game in 1891. Their yearly feud, called the “Border Showdown” was last won by KU in 2008. And they’ll battle another rival, the Kansas City Wildcats, for the Governor’s Cup in the “Sunflower Showdown” (Kansas leads 64-37-5). The Nebraska Cornhuskers, seemingly their toughest foe (KU’s all time 23-90-3), will be out to prove they can still beat KU. One interesting fact, KU’s new coach, Tim Gill, is a former player and coach for the Cornhuskers. Good stuff!

This strapping team is no stranger to winning or record-setting. Historical victories include wins in 1992 and 1995 (Aloha Bowl), 2003 (Tangerine Bowl), 2005 (Fort Worth Bowl), 2007 (Orange Bowl), and 2008 (Insight Bowl). In the last 18 years, they’ve won every time they made it to a Bowl. Their most recent records include their defeat of UTEP in September of 2009. They were 30-2 in the last 22 nonconference games. Since their birth in 1890, the team has set seven records, been in their conference championship eight times, and boasts many former players as AP All-Americans, College Football Hall of Fame, Ring of Honor Members, and the NFL Hall of Fame. With that kind of lineage, how can this team lose?