Erickson: Remind me: Which state are we in again?

Column photo

By Matt Erickson

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Since The University Daily Kansan began its campaign against the kickoff chant two weeks ago, I’ve seen passion bordering on nastiness from both supporters and defenders of the “Waterboy”-inspired yell. Some on the front lines of this fight, such as one Free for All commenter Tuesday, have grown so bitter that they’ve thrown out the lowest of insults for a KU student or football fan: You’re acting like a Missouri fan.

“It’s funny,” the commenter said. And then came that mother of all put-downs: “Go back to Missouri if you don’t like it.”

Ouch. This chant defender rocked my world, and it wasn’t just because he or she used the word “funny” in connection with the chant inspired by Rob Schneider, the comic genius behind such laugh riots as “The Animal” and “The Hot Chick.”

No, more unsettling than that is the suggestion that those who oppose the chant are acting like our rivals to the east.

I’m sorry to break it to the commenter, but if anyone here is acting like they’re wearing black and gold instead of crimson and blue, it’s not the chant’s foes.

For some historical perspective on this issue, I consulted Erik Ashel of the Kansas City cable station Metro Sports. Ashel has produced a documentary called “Border War” about the Kansas-Missouri rivalry, which premieres next month.

Ashel traced the rivalry back to its Civil War roots, when free-state Kansas clashed with slave-state Missouri. Kansas, of course, picked the right side of that fight. Since then, that fight has colored how Kansans, as well as KU students and fans, have seen themselves and Missourians.

When Ashel, a KU alumnus, came to Lawrence to interview history experts and others, he heard stories of Jayhawkers, the anti-slavery militants who clashed with pro-slavery Missourians and burned down the town of Osceola, Mo., in the name of freedom. The Jayhawkers gave KU its mascot, and their anti-slavery furor helped give Kansans a passion for taking the moral high ground.

Ashel went to Osceola, where “Jayhawk” might as well be a swear word. He learned about how Missouri’s backlash against the Jayhawkers, including William Quantrill’s massacre of Lawrence, helped give Missourians a passion for self-determination, the right to decide for themselves what to do.

Kansans, and KU supporters, have always tended to see themselves as moral and just, Ashel said. Missourians, and MU supporters, resent them for what they’d call an elitist attitude.

“That’s what makes Missourians the maddest,” Ashel said.

And those Missourians could hardly find better evidence of hypocrisy than a defiantly obscene student section.

“Missourians probably look at that and the publicity that it’s gotten,” Ashel said, “and they probably look at it as, ‘See, Kansans aren’t as holier-than-thou and respectful as they think they are.”

Kansans have always said, “Take the high road,” and Missouri’s rallying cry is more along the lines of “Don’t tell me what to do.’”

When I’m in the student section at Memorial Stadium and students let the F-bombs fly in unison, I hear them screaming one of those two mottoes loud and clear. If it weren’t for the blue shirts and the Jayhawk at midfield, I might well forget which state this is and which university I attend.

— Erickson is an Olathe senior in journalism and political science. He is Kansan editor.

Comments

KUChiefsFavreFan (anonymous) says...

How can you equate slavery with the word fu.ck?

October 22, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

caitlint (anonymous) says...

"The University Daily Kansan began its campaign against the kickoff chant two weeks ago" I'm part of the UDK and I never agreed to this campaign. Whether or not I agree we should get rid of the chant I'm with Ross on this one.

October 23, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawker88 (anonymous) says...

This is one confused individual. You would think an editor could have a clear thought process. Apparently not.

October 23, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawker88 (anonymous) says...

Your politics are as sound and confused as your writing. Whole let you be an editor? Some liberal professor or a bunch of ignorant college students?

Your last paragraph is a non-sequitur:

"When I’m in the student section at Memorial Stadium and students let the F-bombs fly in unison, I hear them screaming one of those two mottoes loud and clear. If it weren’t for the blue shirts and the Jayhawk at midfield, I might well forget which state this is and which university I attend."

Try it out:

When I’m in the student section at Memorial Stadium and students let the F-bombs fly in unison, I hear them screaming one of those two mottoes loud and clear.

Instead of "If it weren’t for the blue shirts and the Jayhawk at midfield, I might well forget which state this is and which university I attend."

insert this "If I weren't so brilliant, I would have to agree with their point."

or

"If my girlfriend wasn't so damn hot, I'd join them in buying the latest Playboy."

or

"If Coach Mangino was down to about 250 pounds or so, I'd be happy to join him in the sauna."

or

"Because I'm the editor, I can wrap up this piece with any drivel I can think of."
BAAZZING!!! Hope you complain about the economy some more when you can't get a job!

I guess his response to the comment would be: "Quantrill raided Lawrence twice, both times before KU existed. KU took the name of the Jayhawkers. Some of the Jayhawkers spawned, therefore, someone in their background decided to mess with someone else. That's how it is connected."

Mindless drivel. No wonder no one on campus respects this newspaper or the graduates that come from this school.

October 23, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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