Regardless of how Jayhawk fans feel about public displays of affection, they embraced them Friday night.

As part of Kansas University Homecoming festivities, and in an effort to make the “Guinness Book of World Records,” more than hundreds of couples locked lips as a warmup to the annual Late Night in the Phog festivities.

It was a big — very big — kiss for the crimson and the blue.

The record to beat was by a group from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. It gathered 1,588 couples for a simultaneous kiss that withstood several challenges. But considering Allen Fieldhouse can hold 16,000 people or 8,000 couples, event coordinators thought KU would have no trouble topping the mark.

With the tallying still taking place early today, officials at the KU kiss-off were at 1,471 couples and counting.

“I don’t think we’re going to have any problem,” predicted Elissa Hudson, co-coordinator of this year’s Kansas University Homecoming festivities, before the event. “The couples have to kiss for 10 seconds, and then they’ll have to sign a sheet of paper verifying they did it.”

While in theory it sounded easy, there was a little confusion.

“People didn’t know they needed to both sign the sheets,” said Carrie Mills, a Kansas City, Kan., freshman who was helping collect the kiss-off’s results. Her brow furled with disappointment as she flipped through the few pages of signatures she had gathered.

Regardless, those who participated had fun.

¢Guiness World Records¢ 6News video: Students try to break world record for kissing

Pam Titus and her husband, James, puckered up in front of their five children, ages 3 to 10.

“That was embarrassing!” said 8-year-old Ashley Titus, wrinkling her freckled nose. “They don’t usually do stuff like that in front of everyone.”

Meanwhile, the big crowd didn’t scare Jessica Strathman or Dustin Walters. The KU couple has been dating for three years, they said, and they’re not shy about showing their fondness for each other.

“It’s not like we’re making out everywhere,” Walters said, sheepishly. “But nah, this wasn’t a big deal.”

Jayhawk fans Harry and Jennifer Nestelroad, left, and Pat and Merle Lahan, of Augusta, Kan., hold a kiss while trying to help break the world's group kiss record. Organizers set up the event Friday at Late Night in the Phog as part of Kansas University's Homecoming celebration.

At press time, the count of just how many kissers participated still wasn’t final.

“We feel confidant that we’ll get there,” organizer Ben Kirby said, noting final results would be announced today.

If the record is surpassed, Kansas University will be noted as host to the world’s biggest community kiss in the book that has sold more than 94 million copies in 100 countries, and is printed in 37 languages.

“It’s a funny way to remember Late Night,” Walters said of his kiss. “But it’s way to remember we spent it together.”