Through the Phog
Fansided

8 Things Every Kansas Jayhawks Fan Should Know

By Ryan Noel

Nov 23, 2015; Lahaina, HI, USA; Kansas Jayhawk cheerleaders perform a cheer during a game against the Chaminade Silverswords at the Lahaina Civic Center during the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Lahaina, HI, USA; Kansas Jayhawk cheerleaders perform a cheer during a game against the Chaminade Silverswords at the Lahaina Civic Center during the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; The Missouri Tigers mascot performs for the crowd during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Faurot Field. Missouri won 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; The Missouri Tigers mascot performs for the crowd during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Faurot Field. Missouri won 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

The First Border War

While every Kansas fan has grown up hating the Missouri Tigers – rightfully so – and relishing the old Border War rivalries, not many know about the first Border War game.

The first contest between the two schools took place in Kansas City’s Exposition Park, on the Missouri side of Kansas City, in 1891. The park was the current home of the old Kansas City Cowboys double-A baseball team, and would end up being the home for the Kansas City Blues.

The teams met on Halloween, and earlier in the month the Kansas athletic officials had named “Crimson” as the official sporting color of the university, leaving Blue and Yellow as the official school colors. This game marked the first time Kansas would wear the color crimson in an athletic event.

Kansas, at the time known as the Jayhawkers or Rainmakers rather than Jayhawks, came back from a 4-0 early deficit (touchdowns were worth 4 points at the time) to win 22-8. The Jayhawkers were led by star fullback Archie Hogg. Hogg scored all of the teams points that day, including a play that – as described in an 1896 Kansas Football Booklet – “enlivened the game by one single brilliant play, which for nerve, coolness and audacity has never been equaled in any of the later games”. On that play, Hogg returned a punt for a touchdown (after apparently faking a kick back to the Tigers) to make the score 22-4.

Next: The First National Titles

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