Chicago — Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Kansas Jayhawks are flocking to Chicago to see Bill Self and the boys open play Friday night in the NCAA Tournament.

But only five carry the clout that allows them to travel in the official Ford Expedition that lugs a trailer emblazoned with a giant Jayhawk on the side for a 572-mile trek to the Windy City.

Mission: Own the Road to the Final Four.

"It's the Rock Chalk Trailer, and people love it," said Mike Davis, senior vice president of the Kansas University Alumni Association. "We have great fans, and that's why we do it."

And if Davis and his crimson-and-blue compatriots didn't make the trip, those fans would miss out on the haul of Jayhawk "spirit supplies" that will be available - some for free, others for purchase - beginning this evening at the official team hotel, the Westin Michigan Avenue:

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'Hawks head to Chi-town

¢ 2,500 Jayhawk stickers.

¢ 1,000 pompoms.

¢ 500 blinky lights.

¢ 500 T-shirts.

That's not even including the piles of Thunderstix noisemakers, novelty basketball hoops and other materials being toted to the shores of Lake Michigan for use by the Williams Educational Fund.

"We've got it all," said Davis, who leads KU's official pep rallies during the tournament.

Davis and his crew - Heath Peterson, Danny Lewis, Jamie Winkelman and Betsy Winetroub - left Lawrence about 5 p.m. Wednesday and planned to stop overnight near Iowa City before heading east toward Chicago.

"It's going to be an incredible weekend," Davis said.