“You Call It a Mascot, We Call it Corn on the Cob.”

Cara DeCoito, Lincoln, Neb., sophomore, plans on wearing that shirt proudly this weekend, despite her origin. DeCoito, whose mother, Kathy, is an alumna of the University of Nebraska, made the decision to come to the University of Kansas as a way to branch out.

“I fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere at KU a lot more than at Nebraska,” she said. “[My mother] was happy for me; she didn’t have a problem with it.”

But not all Nebraska fans easily accept the idea of their children becoming Jayhawks or marrying Jayhawks.

Laura Goodenkauf, Lincoln, Neb., senior, has two siblings at Nebraska, and her father holds his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Nebraska. She is in a unique situation when it comes to Cornhuskers- Jayhawk competition.

“They are supportive,” Goodenkauf said, “but of course they give me a hard time for being a Jayhawk instead of a Cornhusker.”

Patrick Manning graduated from the University of Nebraska in Omaha and grew up a Cornhuskers fan. He moved to Hays for his first job and fell in love with a Jayhawk, Kris, who is now his wife. Then they moved to Lawrence so she could get her master’s degree from the University of Kansas.

“It’s hard because all of my family is in Nebraska, and all of my friends are still there,” Patrick said. “It’s hard for them to believe I left, hard to believe there is a world outside of Nebraska. A great world.”

But Patrick said living in Lawrence hasn’t made him less of a Nebraska fan.

“During football season, I’m still a diehard Cornhuskers fan,” he said.

However, he admitted that his feelings toward the University’s basketball program were a different story.

“But during basketball season, the state has such passion for the Jayhawks,” he said. “It is hard not to cheer for them.”

Kris said she didn’t quite understand her husband’s passion for the Cornhuskers at first.

“I met him, and I didn’t know if he was normal until I met his family,” she said. “I didn’t realize how fanatical Nebraska people are about their football and their college until I actually went to Nebraska.”

Kris admitted that the difference in university preference can sometimes create tension.

“My family is diehard KU and his is diehard Nebraska, so sometimes the grandkids get stuck in the middle,” she said. “We used to be able to cheer for each other, but now since we beat them in football, it’s getting more exciting.”

Laura Goodenkauf’s sister, Jolyn Anderson, Lincoln, Neb., sophomore at Nebraska, agrees that the games are always interesting.

“It’s a rivalry because it’s the Big 12, so there’s a competition,” said Anderson. “But it’s always been a good game because KU has fun fans.”

Even though they have come to Jayhawk country, DeCoito and Goodenkauf said their friends playfully teased them about moving to Lawrence.

“I have another friend from Nebraska here at KU, and we get made fun of for being the token Nebraska kids,” Goodenkauf said.

But DeCoito and Goodenkauf also admitted to being the first to cheer against Nebraska. DeCoito even said she was happy when Missouri beat Nebraska this season.

“I’m a Jayhawk,” Goodenkauf said. “Even if I’m at home watching it with my family, I’m cheering for KU all the way. If I’m at home, I get made fun of like no other, but I wear my crimson and blue proudly.”

While DeCoito is wearing her anti-Cornhuskers shirt at the game, the Mannings are split.

“One will be wearing blue and one will be wearing red, just like that fateful day two years ago when KU beat Nebraska for the first time in 36 years in Lincoln,” Patrick said. “Hopefully the circumstances will be different this time.”

But Patrick is not exactly confident that the Cornhuskers will prevail.

“I think Mark Mangino has put the pieces together,” he said.

Kris has faith in the Jayhawks, as well.

“I think KU is going to pull it off,” she said. “It might be close, but I think it’s KU’s year.”

Goodenkauf feels even stronger about the chances of the Jayhawks beating the Cornhuskers, but for more personal reasons.

“I hope KU kicks Nebraska’s ass!” she said. “That would be awesome! So when I go home for Thanksgiving I can rub it in everyone’s faces.”

DeCoito’s parents will be in Lawrence for the game, and she has a surprise in store for them.

“I will force them to wear KU stuff; they won’t have a choice,” she said.

— Edited by Jeff Briscoe