SAN ANTONIO — Fatso's Sports Garden is like Little Lawrence for dozens of Kansas University fans.
On every KU basketball game day, dozens of KU alumni gather at the sports bar to cheer on the Jayhawks. It's a tradition they've carried on for more than 10 years.
KU's fans Brittany Bedene, left, and Amy Goodwin, both of Arma, react to a wave from Kansas University head coach Roy Williams during Thursday's practice in the Alamodome. The two made the 13-hour trip with their families without tickets for KU's Sweet 16 game today against the Fighting Illini.
Marc Frey, a 1984 KU graduate, said about 25 fans show up to watch every Jayhawk game. During NCAA Tournament time, that number can double.
"Maybe I'm a little biased, but except for the Longhorns and Texas fans, we rank No. 3 in terms of numbers," Frey said. " And we're more dedicated.
"I salute the Longhorn and Aggie fans for their loyalty, but we're in their country. We're 1,400 miles away (from Lawrence), but you'd never know that."
Organizers receive a list of KU graduates living in the San Antonio area through the alumni association. And they're always recruiting new fans.
"If we see somebody in a KU jersey," Frey said, "we'll ask, 'Did you go there?' And if they say yes, we'll tell them about Fatso's."
Fatso's, in a former plant nursery warehouse, is about a 15-minute drive from the Alamodome. It bills itself as the "oldest and most established" sports bar in San Antonio.
Manager Bob Carey said the Jayhawk fans are one of his favorite groups at the bar.
The basketball court dwarfed by the massive confines of the Alamodome, KU practices Thursday afternoon in preparation for tonight's game against Illinois.
He said Fatso's usually sets up two big-screen televisions for Jayhawk fans. The fans bring KU banners and set a cardboard Jayhawk on top of the televisions.
Organizers hold door-prize drawings for KU memorabilia such as calling cards and stationery.
Some fans bring pom-pons. And the afternoon or evening generally ends with the "Rock Chalk" chant.
"We're high-fiving and when a three-pointer does down, it's 'Boom!'" Frey said. "We're pretty emotional."
Although Frey has tickets to today's game, Carey said he expects a big crowd at the bar for tonight's game.
"I've got the feeling even though the team is going to be playing in town there this weekend, they'll still be here," Carey said. "They're used to coming here and seeing the games with each other. Plus, it's a better view on a couple of big screens here than in nosebleed seats in the Alamodome."
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