The mascot of the University of Kansas is the Jayhawk. It is believed that mascots bring good luck.
The name combines two birds--the blue jay, a noisy, quarrelsome thing known to rob other nests, and the sparrow hawk, a stealthy hunter
For years a single costumed Jayhawk cheered for KU. A second Jayhawk, Baby Jay, arrived in 1971, hatching out of a huge egg on the 50-yard line during Homecoming. Ever since, we've had two Jayhawks in costume: Big Jay and Baby Jay.
The colors of the Kansas Jayhawks are crimson and blue.
Allen Fieldhouse was dedicated on March 1, 1955 when the Jayhawks defeated in-state rival, Kansas State 77-67. The fieldhouse will hold 16,300 fans.
Banners hang in the south rafters to honor former players including Wilt Chamberlain, Clyde Lovellette, Jo Jo White, Danny Manning, Paul Pierce, Lynette Woodard, Drew Gooden, Nick Collison, and Kirk Hinrich among others
The coach for the KansasJayhawks basketball team is Bill Self. His season began in 2003-2004 as head coach. He is starting his ninth year at KU. This is a picture of my son Josh with Bill Self at his basketball camp at Lawrence.
Coach Bill Self has received many honors and records. A few of them are Big 12 coach of the year in 2009 and 2011. In eight season at Kansas he has won the 2008 National Championship, seven straight regular-season Big 12 Titles, and five Big 12 Tournament Championships. Coach self has the most wins in NCAA Division I in the last five years (165). He has has SOLD OUT every game he has coached in Allen Fieldhouse.
The Kansas Jayhawks have made 41 tournament appearances. Fourteen of those were the Final Four. They have had five national championships. 1922, 1923, 1952, 1988, and 2008. They have had 52 conference championships.
For the 2012-2013 season, three seniors comprise the returning starters in guards Elijah Johnson and Travis Releford, and center Jeff Withey. Other KU regulars from last year include senior forward Kevin Young and junior forward Justin Wesley. Five of the other seven freshmen on the roster are on scholarship: guards Rio Adams and Andrew White III and forwards Perry Ellis, Landen Lucas and Zach Peters. Adding depth at the guard position are invited freshmen walk-on guards Evan Manning and Tyler Self. Manning and Self have lived basketball all their lives as their fathers are current, or previous head coaches.
Currently, KU has 14 players in the NBA, and another two in the D-League. Julian Wright and Brady Morningstar have signed with the D-League. These former Jayhawks have signed with the NBA. Cole Aldrich, Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, Nick Collison, Drew Gooden, Xavier Henry, Kirk Hinrich, Markeiff Morris, Marcus Morris, Paul Pierce, Brandon Rush, Josh Selby, Thomas Robinson, and Tyshawn Taylor.
Career games scoring in double figures: 132, Danny ManningRebounds in first career game: 31, Wilt Chamberlain, vs. Northwestern, Dec. 5, 1956Most blocks in the NCAA tournament in one season: 31, Jeff Withey
Chalmers helped his team win the 2008 NCAA Championship with a three-point shot with 2.1 seconds left in the final game (often referred to as Mario's Miracle). His three just before the end of regulation brought the game into overtime, when Kansas would take over and beat the Memphis Tigers. Chalmers was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. It was the Jayhawks' 5th national title (including two pre-tournament titles in 1922 and 1923). He was on the defensive first team in the NCAA.
Mario Chalmers is a point guard for the Miami Heat. Chalmers is the founder of the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation, which supports athletic and educational programs for children and also helps fund programs for breast cancer research.
Before the start of every home game, it is a tradition to sing the alma mater, "Crimson and the Blue", which is concluded by the Rock Chalk chant. If the Jayhawks are leading comfortably near the end of the game, the crowd begins a slow version of the Rock Chalk Chant, which has become the signature tradition of Allen Fieldhouse. Fans will also line up early for Late Night In The Phog, which is the first practice of the season. The practice is viewable to the public and includes skits with past players as the hosts
