From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Sept. 3, 1971:

A so-called “epidemic of Big Blue Fever” had hit Lawrence, and it was expected to last through fall. The Chamber of Commerce Big Blue Promotion Sports Committee had ordered 30-foot banners to be flown over both Lawrence turnpike interchanges. Other blue-flavored items distributed by the Chamber included what they described as “striking 45-by-19-inch Big Blue Country streamers,” disposable Big Blue Country kitchen place mats, car tags, and rubber stamps for outgoing mail which read “Coming to You From Big Blue Country.” Big Blue-themed messages were also sprouting on all theater, motel, savings-and-loan and cleaners marquees. All of these were available for purchase at the Chamber for use in businesses and homes. A portion of the proceeds of the car tag sales were to go to the Bess Stone Activity Center (soon to be Cottonwood).