For you KU folks, what exactly is a Jayhawk? I saw a KU team in action last weekend, and it looked like a Jaywawk was some strange rendition of a non-existent bird. Is this connected with the fact that Kansas is the stupidest sta

-- peter (pg@crocker.com), October 28, 2002

Answers

The Jayhawk is a "mythical bird." Always has been.

Actually, the name goes back to the days before and during the civil war when evil Missourians (pro slavery of all things!) came in to Kansas to burn and plunder. Quantrill -- the prototypical Missourian -- was probably the best known of these sketchy-criminal- types. He burned Lawrence to the ground.

For more, check out the official history of the Jayhawk page at:

http://www.ur.ku.edu/KU/Traditions/traditions.html

Almost forgot to mention, the Jayhawk has even been spotted on the hood of a car during a Nascar race. Take a look at Casey Mears' car:

http://www.oread.ku.edu/Oread02/Sept13/nascar.html

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), October 29, 2002.

I'm reminded of Blofeld's line in Diamonds are Forever: "The satellite is currently over Kansas. Well, if we destroy Kansas, the world might not learn of it for years."

-- Eric (ejbuckley@earthlink.net), October 29, 2002.

At the north end of Massachusetts Street (Lawrence's main street) is a boulder monument listing all the New Englanders who settled the town in the 1800s. Is that were all the city's smarts come from?

-- mean gene (gmw@ku.edu), October 29, 2002.

So the Jayhawk is OK. But it occurs to me that OK (the O' club) does not itself have a mascot.

I'd suggest adopting as a mascot the ball of twine in Cawker City that helped Kansas earn the title as the stupidest state from Dave Barry. Have any of you guys ever been to Cawker City? Its ball of twine (see http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MNDARtwine.html) looks pretty impressive. Think how impressed all the other O' clubs would be if you brought the Cawker City ball out to the relays in Idaho next sum

-- peter (pg@crocker.com), October 29, 2002.

The concept of a mascot for OK is sound. But, I'm not sure the ball of twine is the right mascot. Any other suggestions?

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), October 29, 2002.

The Cawker City ball is now only the 2nd largest in the world. Does the stupidest moniker go to the new state? An team-autographed replica of the Cawker City ball may make an appearance in Idaho - but we might have to leave the tent behind.

-- mean gene (gmw@ku.edu), November 06, 2002.

My name is Eric Christopher Dyer is Jayhwk fan. I from EL DORADO Kansas. My parents name is Dennis Helms & Gloria Helms they are take me to Lawrence. To see a-lots of the games.

Thanks, Eric Dyer

-- Eric Christopher Dyer (Dhelms2@cox.net), September 14, 2003.