Morning Brew: Alum's documentary offers Border War Perspective
By Rustin Dodd (Contact)
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
So ESPN.com sportswriter Bill Simmons once had a great take on the television special, “VH1’s Top 40 Celebrity Feuds.” Simmons had a problem with VH1 not naming Tupac vs. Biggie the greatest feud of all time. As Simmons astutely points out, umm well, didn’t both of them die?
You could make the same argument about the Kansas-Missouri rivalry, right?
Well, Erik Ashel is making that argument. Ashel, who works at Metro Sports in Kansas City, Mo., (Full Disclosure: Ashel graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism in 2000) has spent most of the last year producing a documentary on the Kansas-Missouri Border War.
The documentary, which premiers in late November on Metro Sports, focuses on the origins of the rivalry — the bloody guerilla warfare during the Civil War between anti-slavery Jayhawkers from Kansas and pro-slavery Bushwhackers from Missouri.
“I think it’s the most historically significant rivalry in the country,” Ashel said. “To me, all other rivalries pale in comparison. I’m not just talking about KU’s Sunflower State Showdown with Kansas State, or MU’s Braggin’ Rights game with Illinois. I’m talking about all other rivalries anywhere. Maybe there’s a soccer rivalry somewhere in Europe with roots grounded in similar conflict or warfare, but in America, nothing compares to the historical significance of the Border War.”
So Ashel set out to show that, given the circumstances, using the term Border War is appropriate for this rivalry. He interviewed media members, historians and former coaches.
If nothing else, you’re probably going to want to check out former Kansas football coach Don Fambrough’s take on the rivalry. The man never disappoints.
And with the success of the Kansas and Missouri football programs during the last two seasons, there’s no better time to focus on the rivalry, Ashel says.
And even though Ashel grew up in Wichita, he doesn’t want you to think he’s biased.
“Growing up in Kansas, I was exposed to the Kansas side of things,” Ashel said. “Now I’ve learned how others east of the state line feel about it. I don’t think you can really tell the story unless you’ve been a part of it.”
But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been catching grief from the Missouri graduates at Metro Sports. “I sit next to a Missouri guy in my office. He’s always looking over my shoulder.”
Thursday YouTube Sesh
If you want to check out a trailer of the Border War documentary, go to YouTube and type in “Kansas - Missouri Border War.” Enjoy.
Thursday YouTube Sesh II
There’s no football home game this weekend. And that means the KU Band won’t be making its usual Friday night appearances at various Lawrence bars. Instead, check out this YouTube clip of the band playing the alma mater at the Hawk. Type in “KU Band, Alma Mater at the Hawk.” Enjoy.
- Edited by Kelsey Hayes
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