Robert Rescot is looking for some Kansas University students brave enough to wear their black and gold colors in the epicenter of enemy territory.
Though the plan is still in its formative stages, Rescot, a civil engineering graduate student at KU who got his bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri, and a few of his friends want to form a support group of sorts — a KU student group for Mizzou alumni.
He’s quick to point out that he’s a rare breed — someone who loves both schools.
“I’ll root for KU anytime,” he said. “Except when they’re playing Missouri.”
The group started as a bit of a joke, but Rescot figured if he could find others like him, he might have some support for Lawrence outings to get some televisions in bars tuned to Missouri football games. He said he’d settle for just one television in many cases — something that doesn’t always happen.
He gets some strange looks around town when he dons Missouri garb, recalling a time when a small group of his friends wore Tiger black and gold to a restaurant on a KU football game day.
“I’m pretty sure the waitress was petrified,” Rescot said.
He and his friends have begun sifting through faculty members who attended Missouri at some point during their education as potential sponsors for the group.
Scott Reinardy, assistant professor of journalism, spent five years in graduate school at Mizzou, and worked in the newsroom of the Columbia Missourian newspaper.
Working in the sports department there, he said he developed a kind of detachment from the intense rivalry between the two schools.
“I’ve gotten grief from both sides of the border,” Reinardy said.
He recalled being at a ceremony for his son at Langston Hughes School after his son completed sixth grade. Each student had some goal or aspiration announced at the ceremony, and his son’s was to be a sports star at the University of Missouri.
“He was booed at a sixth-grade graduation ceremony,” Reinardy said.
If asked, would he serve as a faculty adviser to a student group of Missouri alums? He’d consider it, but probably not if it was a bunch of Missouri alums looking to tweak KU people in their own backyard, he said.
And, Reinardy said, being seen as “that guy” by a bunch of rabid KU fans might hamper the educational experience he’s looking to foster in his classes.
Tiffany Huggard-Lee, a second-year master’s student in classics who graduated from Missouri, said she’s not particularly interested in sports, but often is asked what side she’s on in terms of the rivalry.
Huggard-Lee said she figures there’s more people like her and Rescot out there. When she uses her Missouri golf umbrella around town, she’ll get a few more positive comments — some low whispers of “Go Tigers.”
“We’re in hiding,” she said.
She said the potential new group is mostly meant in jest, but she enjoys the irony of the concept.
“We can be one of the most-hated groups on campus,” she said.
Comments
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Kawatchi (anonymous) says…
Seriously, is this newsworthy? Three people wearing Mizzou sweatshirts?
flclhack (Maxwell Butterfield) says…
Ugh.
I don't understand how something like this becomes news in the first place. Do you contact the paper and convince them it's a good story for a slow day, or what?
No offense to these three.
davidsmom (anonymous) says…
What would make a Miizzou grad pick KU for grad school? I don't understand that at all.
kujayhawk (anonymous) says…
Big XII North Champions? LMAO.
kusp8 (anonymous) says…
Lame. Just, lame.
classclown (Class Clown) says…
“He was booed at a sixth-grade graduation ceremony,” Reinardy said
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Way to stay classy there Lawrence.
think_about_it (anonymous) says…
Anyone who is stupid enough to wear Mizzou colors into a restaurant in Lawrence, KS on gameday better like spit and snot in their food.
AreUNorml (anonymous) says…
if it's seriously a big enough problem for you that you can't wear what you want, maybe your fanaticism has gotten out of hand.
whatatown (anonymous) says…
Hillbilly_jim- That 'boy' in the middle is actually a woman.
cowboy (anonymous) says…
i dont give a damm about mizzou , most of em can't even spell their state's name unless it's on the front of their dress clothes
tanaumaga (anonymous) says…
cowboy,is that a typo or are you having trouble with four letter words again?
beawolf (anonymous) says…
"Seriously, is this newsworthy?"..
It's called a human interest story. No one forced you to read it, much less comment on it.
"What would make a Miizzou grad pick KU for grad school?"..
How about a degree?
kuhwk80 (Tom Jones) says…
I grew up in Columbia, graduated from HS there and then made the good choice and moved to Lawrence to go to school. My parents still live in Columbia, and when I go back home, i always wear something KUish when I go home. My best friend used to be Truman, MU Mascot and we would come see the games, either in Columbia, or Lawrence. Its awsome
janetsjazz (anonymous) says…
Are you serious? No self-respecting Jayhawk fan would wear Fizzou gear anywhere for any reason.
zstoltenberg (anonymous) says…
It should be easy to find these people, apparently you look for overstated T-Shirts and Mullets.
TriSigmaKS (Tracie Howell) says…
LAME. Typical looking misery folks there.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
I think that the kid deserved to get "booed" at his sixth grade graduation. He should have much higher goals in life than anything involving Mizzou.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
It's kind of fun to wear your college gear in enemy territory. Although it's not quite the same atmosphere, I wear my KU stuff in OKC and Norman, pretty much anywhere.
CindiCat (anonymous) says…
mom_of_three...that is funny.
That brought back a "memory" for me.
When my middle daughter was in band in high school they attended Band Day in Manhattan.
My husband and I were chaperone's. I was totally decked out in my KU garb.
Didn't know, til the last minute, that we were going to walk with the band in the parade.
Yes, I was BOOED the entire time. I just smiled and waved at those who booed me.
Good times....good times.
Fatty_McButterpants (anonymous) says…
They have a sixth-grade graduation ceremony??! Seriously??? Are the little tykes suffering from such poor self-esteem that they need a graduation ceremony for THAT?? Lame...
Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…
"Robert Rescot is looking for some Kansas University students brave enough to wear their black and gold colors in the epicenter of enemy territory."
That is kind of like asking a straight man to do hardcore gay porn. Just doesn't work.
bb837988 (anonymous) says…
Why would someone come to grad school at KU when they have an undergrad degree from MU?
Family reasons - their significant other is attending KU.
MU doesn't have the program or specialty that KU has.
Some programs strongly suggest that students attend different schools for undergrad and graduate programs - a chance to get a different perspective on the subject.
Or maybe it took them 4 years to realize that the better school is one state away.
labbadabba (anonymous) says…
Jamin -
Pick a different example. What you describe is not all that uncommon. It's called 'Gay for Pay.'
But moving on, I've had friends at KU who've attended Mizzou. One was a Ag major and the other one was going into dentistry. This is not all that uncommon I guess, it's jarring to be sure and not something I could ever see myself do but props I guess for these kids for being brave enough to show their colors.
platypus (anonymous) says…
OK, KU fans. Time to grow up.
flicker (anonymous) says…
That color of gold that they use is just horrendous. I'm not sure if it changed in recent years but it seems like it's more of a dirty yellow or something. It looks even worse on HDTV. I remember seeing their elite 8 BB game last year and thinking the lighting there made it look like the color of my kids used diaper.
flicker (anonymous) says…
platypus (Anonymous) says…
OK, KU fans. Time to grow up.
Yes, because on a similar Columbia, MO news column we would see much kinder comments....
Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…
"Jamin -
Pick a different example. What you describe is not all that uncommon. It's called 'Gay for Pay.'"
Maybe these three should adopt a pay system to get people to hang out with them wearing those awful clothes.
coolmarv (anonymous) says…
They're sleepers I tell ya. Come from Missoura to live among us for awhile. One day they'll burn down Lawrence! Just mark my words.
Practicality (anonymous) says…
One time, on my way to St. Louis, I drove through Columbia. I stopped to purchase gas and to my surprise, the receipt was a Mizzou Diploma. After looking at it for a few seconds, I was suddenly struck with the completely foreign desire to start chewing tobacco and had to resist the urge to call up my cousin and ask her on a date. I was so shook up by the experience, I drove through Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska just to get home because I was afraid of a relapse or someone handing me a PHD at the Columbia McDonalds.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…
practicality:
I know what you are saying.
last time I drove through missouri, all my teeth fell out and all of the ink on my ku championship sweater faded off.
missouri....really?
notjustastudent (anonymous) says…
Ok Flicker- so since they do it it makes it OK for us to do it? You're basically pointing your finger and saying "they started it" in a whiney high pitched voice. Like a child would. This is what is meant by "grow up."
That being said I would maybe give someone a little crap for wearing the wrong clothes on gameday, but it would be in good fun, as rivalries should be. I think it's a fun idea, and everyone who has posted about wearing the "wrong" stuff on game day seems to understand the fun in it too...
flicker (anonymous) says…
notjustastudent (Anonymous) says…
Ok Flicker- so since they do it it makes it OK for us to do it? You're basically pointing your finger and saying “they started it” in a whiney high pitched voice. Like a child would. This is what is meant by “grow up.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can you say - "Out of touch with reality"? Especially since this involves MU.
I bet your that fan in the stands who's still sitting when we score a touchdown aren't you?
Bossa_Nova (anonymous) says…
i love living in lawrence and call it my home, but seriously everybody, is missouri more redneck and bassackwards than kansas? at least in missouri evolution in the classroom hasn't been banned, republicans aren't a landslide majority, head of cattle don't outnumber the human population and fred phelps isn't a local mascot.
JohnElway (anonymous) says…
I like the idea of MU fans congregating. It would be easier to avoid collateral damage that way.
Satirical (anonymous) says…
Bossa_Nova....
"...at least in missouri evolution in the classroom hasn't been banned..."
Where do you get your news? The Daily Show? A few years ago there were discussions whether local school districts would be allowed to teach intelligent design, but teaching evolution was never banned.
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"...republicans aren't a landslide majority..." - B_N
Yeah, like that crazy Republican female governor we elected, until she recently resigned to work for....oh wait...nevermind.
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"...head of cattle don't outnumber the human population..." - B_N
Since when does farming and cattle raising automatically mean you are a redneck and backwards? I have a solution, maybe if you stopped eating you wouldn't contribute to this "redneck problem"...
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"...and fred phelps isn't a local mascot." - B_N
Fred Phelps only makes news because he atypical in Kansas. If he lived in Missouri no one would have heard about about him because half the population is just like him.
Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…
Maybe we can herd them all to a bar outside of town where they can watch the game and then quietly destroy all of the bridges leading back into town. Kind of like taking a stray out in the middle of the country and leaving them.
blindrabbit (anonymous) says…
I suggest that they team-up with the troubled Joe College t-shirt shop to come up with some new anti Miss-Zoo products. They would have to betray their school in doing so, but I bet it would be profitable for both Joe and the tigerites.
Also, they might do a little more about Missouri's proud role in Civil War history and Lawrence's abolitionist past.
Bossa_Nova (anonymous) says…
hey Satirical, nice attempt at explaining away some of the problems I pointed out about Kansas.
Satirical (anonymous) says…
hey Bossa_Nova, nice attempt at a response to my post challenging your claim that you know anything about Kansas.
notjustastudent (anonymous) says…
I get it- since I don't participate in the kind of fanaticism you do that means I'm not a fan at all. It's an all or nothing kind of thing. Thanks for clarifying....
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
Hey TheGreatSantini, a little interesting fact is that Kansas' first constitution had the following regarding voting rights: It limited suffrage to white males and "every civilized male Indian who has adopted the habits of the white man".... Makes your comment a lot lame. Yes Kansas was a free state albeit it a limited freedom to select groups. For me the whole border war thing is really old.
brother_cumulus (anonymous) says…
I saw that d-bag on the right last week wearing his Misery crap and wanted to punch him.