KU students can take jab at fight song lyrics

New words needed after conference realignment; contest will be offered during Homecoming

As Kansas University residence halls fill up with students this weekend, the KU Alumni Association is hoping a few of the more creative types will help the organization out.

You see, the Big 12 Conference realignment will raise an issue with the school’s fight song — it needs some new lyrics.

Outgoing conference foe Nebraska is mentioned twice and Colorado is mentioned once in the lyrics to “I’m a Jayhawk.” Nebraska gets a nod in the chorus of the song, “Got a bill that’s big enough to twist the Tiger’s tail. Husk some corn and listen to the Cornhusker’s wail.”

This fall, during homecoming week in October, the KU Alumni Association will conduct a student contest to come up with new lyrics for the song.

Kevin Corbett, KU Alumni Association president, said that hasn’t stopped the suggestions from flowing in already from alumni.

“We haven’t changed it in so long,” he said — since 1958 to be exact, when a reference to the Haskell Indian Nations University Braves was replaced. “The song’s not often sung to begin with. People are concentrating on getting the clapping part right.”

Jennifer Sanner, a senior vice president at the alumni association, said more details on the contest will likely be hammered out in the days to come.

One thing’s for sure, however, she said. Though there may be room to incorporate some new conference opponents, some parts of the song remain sacrosanct.

“I can’t imagine that we’ll mess with ‘I’m a Jay, Jay, Jayhawk,'” she said.