In advance of Kansas University’s Final Four matchup against Villanova, we examine what a Jayhawk is and why the school is known as the Jayhawks.
Even though it is already April, March Madness is heating up with the arrival of the Final Four. The first Final Four game will take place tonight, and the only surviving No. 1 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament is Kansas, who will play No. 2 Villanova. Before the game, many are unsure of what a Jayhawk is and how it links to the University of Kansas.
Jayhawk: What Is It?
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The Jayhawk is a fictional bird that regrettably does not exist that lives at the University of Kansas. The first dean of the Graduate School, Dr. F.W. Blackmar, made an effort to explain the Jayhawk in 1926, but its roots are unknown.
He asserts that the species is a hybrid of two birds: the sparrow hawk, a stealthy hunter who is also a courageous and cautious fighter, and the blue jay, a noisy, argumentative creature infamous for robbing nests.
Why Is Kansas University Known as a Jayhawk?
What does Kansas have to do with any of this, then? The Jayhawk, on the other hand, has its roots in the early Kansas settlers’ tribulations. The term “Jayhawker” was created in 1849 by a group of California-bound travelers traveling through Kansas.
But in the 1850s, the Kansas Territory served as a battleground between those who desired a free state and others who want a state where slavery would be legal.
Immediate tensions between rival factions led to the Kansas-Missouri Border War as well as numerous more clashes and fights. Supporters of abolition were referred to as Jayhawkers, while those in favor of slavery were referred to as Bushwhackers or Border Ruffians.
However, according to some historical records, thugs from both sides used to be known as Jayhawkers. The term “Jayhawkers” stuck to the “free staters” after Kansas was accepted as a free state in 1861. It eventually became a sign of patriotism associated with the enthusiastic individuals who contributed to the establishment of Kansas as a free state.
At a University of Kansas sporting event in 1886, the fabled bird “appeared” amid the shout Rock Chalk. It was only fitting to call the first Kansas University football players Jayhawkers when they took the field in 1890.
The logo Has Seen Many Changes
Over the years, the Jayhawk has seen various versions. The iconic Jayhawk was designed in 1912 by student newspaper cartoonist Henry Maloy. He equipped it with footwear, maybe for kicking adversaries.
Since then, there have been additional birds with sad appearances. In 1941, Gene “Yogi” Williams gave the Jayhawk a tight face by opening its eyes and beak.
On the other side, the 1946 drawing of a grinning Jayhawk by student Harold D. Sandy has persisted over time. In 1947, the KU Bookstores bought Sandy’s design and patented it. It continues to be one of the most recognizable and distinctive collegiate mascots in the nation.
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