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KU fans arrive in San Antonio

Ever since an article on other schools with the Jayhawk as a mascot ran in Wednesday's Journal-World, e-mails and calls have been coming in with other schools or more information.

A college spokesman for Muskegon Community College in Michigan said his school has had the Jayhawk mascot since the 1970s, because of an athletic director who liked the name. Jericho High School in New York called and said no one could remember when the school took on the Jayhawk mascot - or why - but it dates back to the 1930s.

Other readers wrote in to note that another school in Utah uses the Jayhawks as well as a junior high school in Topeka. And for some reason, according to a reader, the J-Hawk is extremely popular in Iowa: Urbandale High School, Jesup High School and Jefferson High School of Cedar Rapids are J-Hawks, as is Jefferson High School of Rockford, Ill.

Moore wants KU credit

For each NCAA Tournament, Roll Call newspaper in Washington, D.C., creates a bracket based on the U.S. representative for each university in the tournament.

This year, however, Roll Call goofed and gave both Kansas University and Kansas State University to Rep. Nancy Boyda. While it's true that Boyda's district does cover parts of KU - at least West Campus, which is west of Iowa Street - the main campus and the admissions office are east of Iowa and in Rep. Dennis Moore's district.

In a Roll Call article online Thursday, the newspaper admits Moore was none too pleased.

"Rep. Dennis Moore got riled up after he noticed that Roll Call's annual March Madness bracket listed Rep. Nancy Boyda as the lawmaker in whose district the Jayhawks play, and placed a call to our offices questioning Roll Call's determination," the paper wrote.

Turns out the KU zip code is registered in Boyda's district, but Allen Fieldhouse and the admissions office are both in Moore's. Advantage Moore.

Moore will now take on Rep. David Price of North Carolina for a bid to the national title game. Of course, Moore's hopes for national glory all rest on the Jayhawks.

Scratch those early plans

KU spokesman Todd Cohen sent word Thursday afternoon that CBS' Early Show has decided not to do shots from the Hoops City in San Antonio.

Turns out breaking news has necessitated Dave Price being reassigned, and consequently he won't be on hand to document March Madness.

Everyone gets to sleep in.

Self says celebrate safely

Kansas University coach Bill Self doesn't mind his players celebrating after a win, and that goes for supporters of the program, too.

But he's no fan of taking matters too far.

"Jayhawk fans are truly the greatest, and there is no place better to play basketball than Allen Fieldhouse - although San Antonio on Saturday will be close!" Self told students, faculty and staff in an e-mail message. "We wish you all could be with us Saturday, but we know you will be there in spirit. No matter where you are, please look out for each other, know your own limits and be safe.

"Show the world that Jayhawks are class acts on and off the court! Celebrate safely."

Ads, posters and fliers also are being distributed, adding another message from KU's basketball boss: "The nation is watching; let's show some class. Jayhawks celebrate safely."

Self also recorded a video message, addressing anticipated fan behavior as the Final Four games approach.

Extra! Extra! Write the headline

So, just how would you capture the euphoria of victory - or, God forbid, the agony of defeat - in just a few words?

As the Jayhawks get ready for their big game against North Carolina in the Final Four, we're giving everyone a chance to submit suggested headlines for Sunday morning's paper.

Some advice: Be clever, descriptive and, of course, concise. Remember: Your optimistic words just might end up being prophetic.

For now, we'll stick with taking ideas for the national semifinal, the one pitting Bill Self and the No. 1-seeded Jayhawks against Roy Williams and his No. 1-seeded Tar Heels.

But keep in mind that a KU win Saturday in San Antonio would open up a new list of suggestions - for headlines following the national title game, to be contested Monday night.

So put on your editor's visor, grab a thesaurus and get to work. We'll get things started with one suggestion for a main headline and what we in the newspaper business call a subhead or a deck:

We're stayin'!

KU sends Roy's Heels home from Final Four

Show off your headlines by logging onto www2.ljworld.com/headline and leaving your suggestion in the comments.

Here are a few of our favorites that were posted on Thursday:

¢ Hawks make Texas toast of 'Heels

¢ KU victory! Self inflicted!

¢ No Joy for Roy!

Barbecue battle

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius also is jumping into the battle between her Jayhawk alma mater and the Tar Heels.

Sebelius and North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley have made a wager of barbecue on the winner of the game. Should the Jayhawks win, Sebelius will receive some of North Carolina's barbecue.

A Jayhawk loss would find Sebelius sending dinner for four from Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue - as well as other Kansas products - to Easley.

"It has been a spectacular season for the Jayhawks, and I look forward to our victory on Saturday night, and then I'll continue celebrating with a taste of North Carolina barbecue," Sebelius said in a statement.

- Staff writer Mark Fagan contributed to this story.