Bad blood

By George Diepenbrock     Oct 29, 2005

Most Kansas University fans have never felt any other way about the University of Missouri Tigers.

“I grew up a KU fan, so I grew up hating Missouri,” said Adrienne Allegre, a KU senior from Ottawa. “This is a big game, and the Tiger is evil.”

Today’s Border Showdown begins at noon at Memorial Stadium, and Jayhawk faithful hope KU can defeat Missouri for a third consecutive year in football. A KU victory also would ease the pain of a four-game Jayhawk losing streak.

Many on campus Friday afternoon said the two schools’ close geographic location and long history have made the rivalry strong.

Destiny Boutchee, a KU sophomore from Los Angeles, described a time at a past Border Showdown when she saw KU fans draw a line and tell a Missouri fan not to cross it.

“It stirs up rowdiness between each team. It makes it fun, though,” Boutchee said.

The two schools are about 165 miles apart, and some friendly circles overlap.

“I live in Missouri, but I work at KU, so I try to stay neutral. But the rivalry goes back many, many years.” said Paul Farran, a staff member with KU’s Office for Student Success.

Matthew Green said that this week he had received several phone calls from some of his high school friends who now attend the University of Missouri.

“If we beat them three times in a row, then I’ll have something I can brag to my friends about,” said the sophomore from St. Louis.

While the rivalry stirs deep emotions for some, others who are less captivated by sports said they didn’t take it as seriously.

“Other than the fact that I see students wearing different T-shirts about Missouri, that’s probably the only way I’d know there was a rivalry,” said Megan Greene, a KU assistant professor of history.

Sometimes tensions between KU and Missouri fans can run extremely high, which some people said turned them off.

“I don’t approve of pumping up hatred between the two schools,” said Fikri Birey, KU sophomore from Nicosia, Cyprus.

“I just kind of question why some people take it so seriously. It’s supposed to be a game and for fun,” said Jeremy Clarkson, a 2003 KU graduate.

Others said rivalry was part of the nature of sports, and it’s not meant to be personal.

“It’s just a friendly Big 12 competition. The rivalry’s a good way to get people out to the game,” said Katie Smith, a KU senior from Tucson, Ariz.

Smith handed out crimson and blue KU pompoms Friday afternoon on Wescoe Beach for Crimson and Blue Day as a way to try to lift student and alumni spirit before the game. Although the Homecoming Steering Committee was unable to get a car painted in Missouri colors for KU fans to beat up, Smith said she thought many KU fans were ready for today’s game.

Former KU football coach and longtime Missouri nemesis Don Fambrough chatted with World Online readers Friday afternoon and gave his take on the Border Showdown.

“Any time we beat Missouri is sweet to me. I can’t recall the year but we went over there and they were No. 1 in the nation, No. 1 in the nation, and we didn’t allow them to make a first down until the third quarter,” he said.

What are your thoughts on the KU-MU rivalry?

“It’s just a friendly Big 12 competition. The rivalry’s a good way to get people out to the game.” – Katie Smith, KU senior, Tucson, Ariz.

“It means a great deal for some KU students, but I’m not immersed in the KU-Missouri rivalry.” – Rasim Aroglu, KU sophomore, Nicosia, Cyprus

“There’s always going to be a close rival geographically. We always want to beat Missouri.” – Stephanie Barrett, KU sophomore, Davenport, Iowa

“I just kind of question why some people take it so seriously. It’s supposed to be a game and for fun.” – Jeremy Clarkson, KU Class of 2003

“I live in Missouri, but I work at KU, so I try to stay neutral. But the rivalry goes back many, many years.” – Paul Farran, KU Office for Student Success

“I don’t approve of pumping up hatred between the two schools.” – Fikri Birey, KU sophomore, Nicosia, Cyprus

“It’s not as big of a deal in football. It’s just probably a rival because they are close to us geographically.” – Cory Roberts, KU senior, Spring Hill

“It stirs up rowdiness between each team. It makes it fun, though.” – Destiny Boutchee, KU sophomore, Los Angeles

“I grew up a KU fan, so I grew up hating Missouri. This is a big game, and the Tiger is evil.” – Adrienne Allegre, KU senior, Ottawa

“Other than the fact that I see students wearing different T-shirts about Missouri, that’s probably the only way I’d know there was a rivalry.” – Megan Greene, KU history professor

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