Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Some think that love conquers all, but when it comes to a relationship between a Tiger and a Jayhawk, others may beg to differ.
“I refuse to visit my friends in Columbia, Mo., let alone marry a Tiger,” said Megan Wolf, Lenexa sophomore. “Being a Missouri fan is a deal breaker for me. Some have their requirements — must be tall, must love kids, must love dogs — but for me, they must not be a Tiger.”
Contributed Photo
Drew Waldron graduated from the University and began dating Rachel LaNoue, a Missouri graduate he met at work. Though the couple says graduating from rival universities can create minor tensions, especially during sporting events, they manage to make the relationship work.
The rivalry between Kansas and Missouri dates back to ancient times before dinosaurs roamed the Great Plains. Not really, but it can sure seem like it.
The opposition between the two schools has always made sporting events intense, heated matches, producing feelings that can be hard to dismiss even after the game is over.
Some might assume that a love affair between a Kansas fan and a Mizzou fan would be impossible, but Drew Waldron and Rachael LaNoue make it look easy.
Waldron, 2008 graduate, and LaNoue, 2008 Missouri graduate, first met about at year ago while working at State Street, a financial service provider in Kansas City, Mo. Waldron started work a couple of weeks before LaNoue and eventually they were assigned cubicles across from each other.
“I’m not really sure exactly how we met the first time,” Waldron said. “It was probably when I was checking her out at work.”
One of the first instances that brought the pair together was when a fellow employee put up Mizzou pictures all over Waldron’s cubicle in the morning before he got to work. LaNoue laughed about the prank and from that Waldron figured she had gone to Mizzou.
“It was even a joke at first,” LaNoue said. “We forwarded MU-KU e-mails or random articles about how one school was better than another.”
For these two lovebirds, it has never really been an issue that they graduated from rival universities. The only problem that has arisen is that Waldron still attends every Kansas home basketball and football game and tries to get LaNoue to go with him.
“I don’t mind going to some, but all of them is a little excessive,” LaNoue said. “He was mad that he missed a KU basketball game when were on a cruise together to the Cayman Islands. I mean, come on, how could you be thinking about basketball while you are on a white, sandy beach?”
Last year, LaNoue and Waldron both attended the Border Showdown at Arrowhead Stadium. They went separately and hung out with their friends.
“The girls that I were with couldn’t handle the rain and snow, and they left, so I went and sat with Drew for the second half of the game,” LaNaue said. “It was OK until the end. I started getting a little cocky thinking that we were going to win, so I was yelling and cheering as loud as I could. Then all of a sudden it was over. KU won and all his friends, even his dad, had something to say.”
Besides the minor turbulence regarding sporting events, their relationship seems to be above the border feud. Although comical jabs are thrown regarding schools, nothing is taken too seriously and their social lives can intermingle without any tension, the two say.
“We just joke with each other, and I actually get along well with her friends who attend MU,” Waldron said.
Love is never easy, but when you have the border feud weighing down your relationship, that tends be to an entirely different game of hearts. If a couple can get past their collegiate rival differences and share a life together, then Hawks the limit.
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