Lawrence Lehigh grad torn on loyalty
A Lawrence resident doesn't know just who to root for in Thursday night's first round game between Kansas and Lehigh. The No. 1 Jayhawks will take on No. 16 seed Lehigh in the 2010 NCAA tournament. Enlarge video
Video previews: Kansas vs. Lehigh
6News Sports Director Kevin Romary checks in from Oklahoma City, where Kansas takes on Lehigh Thursday night. Tom Keegan joined him to discuss the game.
An unfamiliar fight song echoes from Mel and Phyllis Klein’s northwest Lawrence home.
The couple, decked out in brown and white, have little doubt for whom they’ll cheer in the Jayhawks’ opening round matchup with Lehigh University in the NCAA Tournament.
It will either be the Engineers or the Mountain Hawks.
“Go Mountain Hawks! That doesn’t ring,” 1955 Lehigh graduate Mel Klein said. “Go Engineers! Now that has something to it.”
Lehigh officially changed its mascot from the Engineers to the Mountain Hawks in 1995.
Klein said that whatever you call them, he’ll be rooting for his alma mater to pull off the unlikely upset. After all, he spent one year playing basketball for the college in Bethlehem, Pa.
“The odds are way against Lehigh doing anything memorable in this tournament except being there,” Klein said. “I don’t have too much hope, but I’ve got my fingers crossed that they can represent themselves well.”
Stranger things have happened.
Klein recalled the last time KU played a Patriot League champion team in the tournament. Jayhawk fans would rather forget KU’s stunning loss to Bucknell during the opening round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
“Anything’s possible,” Klein said. “Remember, that’s why they play them.”
Klein and his wife, who moved to Lawrence in 2002 to be closer to their daughter and grandson, plan to watch the game on their big screen at home where they can cheer on the underdog in private, although they’re not shy about where their loyalty lies. They drive around town in a car with a vanity plate that reads LEHIGH.
Yet Klein said he didn’t follow his heart when it came to filling out his bracket.
“I picked Kansas all the way,” he said. “I’m a fan, of course, but I’m not stupid. Gee whiz.”
All joking aside, the Kleins love Lawrence and love cheering for the Jayhawks, except for when their two favorite teams are playing each other.
“Now I’m conflicted,” Klein said. “We hold our fingers crossed and hope, but reality says KU is going to beat them. I just hope it isn’t too bad.”
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Boston_Corbett (anonymous) says…
fun article. nice find.
yankeevet (anonymous) says…
interesting........hummmmmmmmmm...
workingmom87 (anonymous) says…
this is great. not everyone in this town grew up a jayhawk. although lawrence has many people who came to the area and became loyal jayhawk fans, i think any one of us would secretly cheer for our alma mater in this situation...even if we run the risk of a little teasing. i hope the engineers or the mountain hawks make a good showing...just not too good.
Yahweh (anonymous) says…
Booooooo!!!
beatrice (anonymous) says…
Love the picture! Looks like a friendly guy who doesn't turn on the heat and enjoys his beer and coffee in equal amounts and simultaneously.
amrose42683 (anonymous) says…
I'm glad to see someone from my neck of the woods is in this town too:)
We're from Allentown, PA ... just a stone's throw from Bethlehem.
However, I'm going for my Jayhawks ... as they're my Alma Mater!
rock chalk!
honeychild (Mel Briscoe) says…
they sound like good people. :)
jfcm77 (anonymous) says…
LOL beatrice!
Brave21Hawk (anonymous) says…
Great article about people who are enjoying life and enjoying seeing their team play the best in the nation. Thanks for writing it.
easyliving (anonymous) says…
Beatrice...that was great. As I took a drink of my beer reading your post. Wipe off the screen!
momx2 (anonymous) says…
I Love This Guy!