To the editor:

My husband, son, daughter-in-law and I traveled to Hattiesburg, Miss., last weekend to watch the Jayhawks compete in the Friday night football game against the Golden Eagles. Although the game didn’t end as we had hoped, the time we spent there was both positive and memorable.

From the time we checked into our hotel until the time we checked out, we experienced the “southern hospitality” that I have so often heard and read about. I lost count of the number of people, of all ages, who went out of their way to say hello and welcome us. As we walked on their campus, dressed in KU attire of course, we were greeted with friendly smiles, warm welcomes, and conversation.

Even after the game, at a local sports grill, we were treated to a round of drinks by a Golden Eagles’ fan who was seated at a table next to us! We spoke briefly, expressed our thanks, and told him that we would tell everyone we know about the gracious fans we encountered, and the great experience we had in Hattiesburg!

I personally plan to do a better job in the future of extending a warm welcome to the fans of visiting teams when they come to Lawrence and the KU campus, hoping they leave us with the same great feeling that I and my family had when we left the University of Southern Mississippi and Hattiesburg. A win is the only thing that would have made it better!

Rock Chalk!