Through the Phog
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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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Feb 2, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks fans cheer from the stands during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jawhawks won 89-76. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks fans cheer from the stands during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jawhawks won 89-76. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Crimson and Blue

Not only are crimson and blue the school’s colors, it’s also the title of the alma mater.

"Far above the golden valley Glorious to view, Stands our noble Alma Mater, Towering toward the blue. CHORUS: Lift the chorus ever onward, Crimson and the blue Hail to thee, our Alma Mater Hail to old KU. Far above the distant humming Of the busy town, Reared against the dome of heaven. Looks she proudly down. (REPEAT CHORUS) Greet we then our foster mother, Noble friend so true, We will ever sing her praises, Hail to old KU. (REPEAT CHORUS) (Follow with Rock Chalk Chant)"

This song has been around longer, and is not quite as well known as the “I’m a Jayhawk” song. George Barlow Penny created it in 1891, and it has been used ever since.

The school colors, though, were not originally crimson and blue, but the maize and blue of Michigan. The crimson and blue actually came from Harvard and Yale, according to the KUAthletics.com.

"However, when football came upon the scene in 1890, the student backers wanted to use Harvard crimson as the athletic color in honor of Col. John J. McCook, a Harvard man, who had given money for an athletic field at KU. That field ran east and west in the proximity of where the north bowl of Memorial Stadium stands on the Kansas campus today. Until that time, Kansas football games were played at Central Park on Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence. Some Yale men were on the faculty, and they demanded that Yale blue be included. The rooters rallied forth to follow crimson and blue on their team. No one fought to retain the original colors, and the vivid deeper tone crimson and blue became generally used. Finally, in May 1896, the KU Athletic Board adopted crimson and blue as the official team colors for the university."

Next: Where does Rock Chalk come from?

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