Bar stool victory dances, impromptu parades and earth-shattering screams.
They were frequent in Lawrence on Saturday afternoon as Kansas University football fans celebrated a 30-24 victory at Kansas State University. It was KU’s first victory at K-State in 18 years.
After KU took the lead in the third quarter and with 1:12 left in the game, KU’s Aqib Talib picked off an interception to seal the game, much to the relief of nervous fans who witnessed a few potentially disastrous moves earlier in the game.
“Yes!” said Ryan Glanzer, a KU alumnus who watched the game at The Wheel, 14th and Ohio streets.
The chant “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU” rang out of the bar, with consistent shouts and high fives serving as backups.
“No one actually thought we’d win this game,” Glanzer said. “We’re finally proving ourselves.”
The real celebration at the bar started with just 10 seconds on the clock, when KU’s victory was near absolute.
Tyler Thompson, Collin Baba and Richard Young shared a lengthy three-way hug.
“We’ve beaten a proven team!” said Thompson, KU senior, of Leawood.
“It’s incredible!” exclaimed Baba, KU junior, of Wichita.
“If my mom’s calling me the moment the game’s over, then I know it’s a big game,” commented Nolan Seim, 2007 KU graduate, before answering his cell phone.
Michael Siroky and James Carter analyzed the now 5-0 KU Jayhawks outside Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 1012 Mass.
“We’ve got to be ranked after this,” said Siroky, of Wichita. “It’s about time we had a football team to complement our basketball program.”
“I couldn’t be prouder,” said Carter, KU sophomore, of Kansas City, Mo.
People honked their car horns victoriously on Massachusetts Street.
Siroky hollered back at the passengers of a green Honda Civic, who yelled out the windows and shared the proud responsibility of holding a large KU flag out of the car.
For many, the party wouldn’t end until the bars closed this morning.