One of the most popular homecoming events is the parade, which features creative floats decorated by organizations and other individuals. This year, fans will see a new addition to the parade: a giant crimson and blue school bus.

The Jayhawk Nation bus will lead the Homecoming Parade on Saturday morning. However, that both the theme of the bus and the theme of homecoming is Jayhawk Nation was merely a coincidence.

“The committee started brainstorming for the theme last January,” said Meghan Easter, co-director of the Homecoming Steering Committee. “The committee members threw out numerous ideas, and as a committee we voted and ultimately came up with Jayhawk Nation as the theme for homecoming. We thought the theme could be interpreted in many different ways.”

The Jayhawk Nation bus, which is owned by Marine Corps Sgt. Rodney Kessler and Lawrence resident Bryan Berns, fits the homecoming theme perfectly.

Kessler, a life-long KU fan, has enjoyed attending football and basketball games with his parents and grandparents since he was a child. After buying an old Museum of Natural History bus from the University two years ago, it only made sense for Kessler to decorate it with what he loves — the Jayhawks.

“I bought the bus because being as big of a fan as I am, I figured I had to go all out and show my team spirit in any way possible,” Kessler said.

Coming up with the title for the bus proved to be an easy task for the fan.

“I wanted to come up with something that was original and also because it meant something to all KU students, so I figured Jayhawk Nation was the perfect theme,” he said.

With the help of Berns, his roommate, Kessler worked long hours restoring the bus. Restorations included fabrication work on the seats and hardwood flooring that covered the length of the bus. Kessler and Berns also buffed the bus, tinted the windows and put vinyl stickers on the sides. Their goal was to have the bus up and running in time for football season. Their hard work finally paid off after five long months.

Although Kessler is the more vocal owner of the bus, Berns also shares ownership. This ownership began as a hobby for Berns, however, reviving the bus soon turned it into something much larger.

“Restoring the bus started out as a fun project, but from there things just kept getting bigger and bigger and that left us with what you see today,” Berns said.

Besides helping with the restoration process, Berns also contributed to the effort in other ways.

“My input came with helping think of ideas and figure out if they would work,” Berns said. “Rod is the master fabricator. He was responsible for most of the work. I just did what he told me and tried to stay out of his way.”

Although the bus already shows Jayhawk pride, Kessler plans to continue to deck out his work of art.

“I’ve thought about getting the horn to play the fight song when I honk it,” he said. “I would also like to add a custom painted floor designed like the basketball court since the bus has a hardwood floor. I have also thought about putting a big KU logo on the side and painting the KU flag on the roof.”

Owning a giant themed bus may seem like a good idea to some fans, but others may wonder what they would use it for. Kessler, on the other hand, has found a variety of ways to put his masterpiece to work.

“My friends and I take the bus out on weekends sometimes and roll around Lawrence and party, but it’s mainly used for tailgating at football games,” Kessler said. “One of the highlights of tailgating was winning Tailgate of the Game at the Colorado game last year.”

Taking the bus out with friends and family provided many memories for Kessler, but there is one memory that stands out more than the rest.

“The most memorable moment right now would have to be driving through Aggieville after winning the last KU–KSU game and watching the K-State fans throw beer cans and beer bottles at my bus,” he said.

Kessler will add this year’s Homecoming Parade to his list of most memorable moments, but he can’t attend because he is in Iraq serving in the Marine Corps. Berns is driving the bus in the parade in Kessler’s place.

Although Kessler is unable to be in the parade and to show off his bus himself, he still believes his crimson and blue pride is apparent.

“I think I’ve shown my team spirit better than anybody else in Lawrence,” Kessler said.

— Edited by Meghan Murphy