Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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 dormitory 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 mass-producing 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
Kansas, Missouri rivalry heats up
With the heightened stakes riding on this Saturday’s game, the trash talking ...
Documentary examines Kansas—Missouri “Border War”
An alum’s film explores the rivalry — one that is rooted not ...
KU vs. MU begins in heated rivalry
KU fans have taken many traditions from the competition, which originated with ...
He’ll always be a Jayhawk
Former head football coach Don Fambrough will never lose his love for ...
Border Showdown represents old rivalry
The year-long competition based on a point system continues the competition between ...
Robinett: Rivalry shirts get uglier
A T-shirt celebrating a victory for racism tarnishes the tradition more than ...
Showdown brings unique rivalry beyond athletes
Team rivalries go beyond universities.
Kansas spirit never wanes
Former Kansas coach Don Fambrough remains a staple in football program despite ...
Petterson: Fambrough remembered as irreplaceable fan
Former coach Don Fambrough should be remembered for his loyalty to the ...
Morning Brew: Alum's documentary offers Border War ...
A look inside the Border Showdown
The Kansas-Missouri rivalry couldn’t be any bigger as the Jayhawks play the ...
Erickson: Remind me: Which state are we ...
Raid rivalry shirt made for personal use
The Missouri alumnus who designed and printed four KU-MU rivalry T-shirts said ...
Editorial: Missouri betrays long-standing traditions
With Missouri's choice of money over regional values, Kansas students need to ...
Dwyer: Admitting my black (and gold) past
Transferring from Mizzou to Kansas complicates rivalry.
Carpenter: Kansas-Missouri rivalry will eventually continue
After both Kansas and Missouri cool off and reconsider things, they'll want ...
Former KU coach dies at 88
Don Fambrough, noted for his passionate speeches before Border Showdown games, died ...
Museum to commemorate anniversary of raid
Local historians will host a tour of downtown locations to discuss William ...
"NMT" post ignites false Twitter controversy
A post on a popular Missouri message board sparks backlash throughout Jayhawk ...
Beecher: To the victor should go the ...
Kansas’ Border Showdown victory should earn reparations from Missouri.
Mizzou we no likey: The rivalry lives ...
Nelson: Rivalry will be missed
Missouri's decision to leave the Big 12 has unfortunate effects on the ...
Brew: Border War shouldn't end
Losing the Border War would only hurt the fans.
Buser: Rivalry builds school spirit
Illinois senior reflects on four years of participation in Border Showdown
Missouri natives feel rivalry’s heat
For some KU students, the Border Showdown hits closer to home
Name of the game shows principle
‘The Border War’ became ‘The Border Showdown’ after the start of the ...
Matson: Kansas should discontinue the Border War
The subject of continuing the Border War has generated much debate among ...
The play that won the showdown
Reesing and Meier’s last-minute pass won last year’s KU-MU game for the ...
Border rivalry renamed ... again
Football assistant coaches reminisce on ties to ...
Clint Bowen, special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach, thinks Missouri messed ...
Border Showdown starts at home for some ...
Sister jayhawks fly against the grain in a family of tigers.
Gill realizes Border Showdown opportunity
Despite a losing record, coach Gill prepares for a win Saturday against ...
Letter to the Editor
Mizzou designer explains position in ‘Scoreboard’ shirt
Border Showdown heads to Kauffman Stadium
It doesn’t count for Big 12 records, but tonight’s game still means ...
Jayhawks skin Tigers, 84-65
Kansas players remember rivalry fondly after 19-point victory.
Wiebe: This year’s Showdown is most important
Kansan columnist Andrew Wiebe looks at the history of the Border Showdown ...
Historic Murphy-Bromelsick House now open to public
John Speer built the house and advocated for University and rebuilding Lawrence ...
Respect is the real victory of the ...
Missouri beat Kansas 74-71 Saturday in an intense rivalry game
Jayhawk and Tiger odd couple makes it ...
Two recent graduates look beyond the rivalry for the sake of their ...
Jayhawks deliver excitement, entertainment
Whether homecoming resulted in a victory or a loss for the Jayhawks, ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID