The Rock Chalk Chant isn’t heard only at Kansas University athletic events.

In fact, it reportedly was ringing through a hotel ballroom in Austin, Texas, early Tuesday morning after it was announced that two KU seniors had won the National Debate Tournament title. Brett Bricker, Wichita, and Nate Johnson, Manhattan, defeated the defending champions from Wake Forest to earn the title in a 4-1 decision.

The tournament has its own version of the Final Four and all four of the nation’s top-ranked debate teams made it through four days of competition and into the semifinals.

Interestingly, KU officials say that KU debate teams have appeared in 13 Final Fours, the same number as the KU basketball team. As in basketball, national championships are hard to come by and this was KU’s first debate national title in 26 years.

Debate is a great combination of competition and academics, and the KU team has compiled a stellar record under the leadership of Scott Harris, who has coached at KU for 18 years and was honored as a national coach of the year in 2006.

Congratulations to the Jayhawk debaters for bringing home this prestigious trophy.