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KU Football Audio History

Lawrence Historian Steve Jansen is an inexhaustible resource for information about the history of the sports programs at the University of Kansas. For several years, Steve recorded short (under-one-minute) K.U. sports vignettes that aired on KLWN radio in Lawrence. These fascinating tales from the early days of collegiate sports give a rare glimpse of K.U. Football from its inception and formative years.

Click on the audio icons to hear Steve tell the stories.

ref.#	Subject
23	Origins of KU football in 1890, in spite of considerable debate
24	The scoring system in 1894 (touchdowns were worth four points)
25	The establishment of McCook field in the early 1890s
26	School colors before the Crimson and Blue
27	The first KU v. MU game in 1891 at Exposition Park, in Kansas City
28	Eligibility rules for college football in 1891
35	Hiring Hector Cowan, the first real professional coach, and "professional" players on Ottawa College's team
54	Fans watched games from The Hill for free, even in 1895
55	The history of John Outland and the award named after him
56	Fans complained about the high cost of $1 tickets in 1895
57	KU fans erupted after an 1895 victory over Nebraska
62	The Crimson and Blue became official colors in 1896
63	In the 1890s, the team did not begin practice until mid-September
64	Academic eligibility in 1896
65	Athletic equipment of 1896
67	Early rivalries were local and bitter
68	KU took on a semi-pro team in 1896
72	Doane College's Bert Serf dies tackling a KU player in 1896
103	Two KU stars defect to Penn
104	The hiring of coach Wylie G. Woodruff
133	Early legend Bert Kennedy finds success back East
149	The team and students prepare for Nebraska in 1898
170	Coaches Yost and Naismith split the squad in 1899, because there are more players than available uniforms
180	KU defeats Haskell in 1899
185	The KU v. Nebraska rivalry was nearly dropped in 1899
191	Kansas defeats Ottawa in 1899 on a disputed call
210	KU's student newspaper anxiously awaits the 1899 season
222	KU trounces Washburn in 1899
223	The Washburn team were great sports, in contrast to KU's other rivals in 1899