Coach Don Fambrough is a University of Kansas Legend! No one cared more or gave more to the University post World War II. This Texan had played football at the University of Texas when the war broke out. But during the War, Fambrough played football with a number of football players from Kansas who convinced him to enroll at KU. He played guard on the 1948 Orange Bowl team and became a life-long Jayhawk, coaching the Jayhawks football team – twice!
Where, when and how he learned his disdain for the University of Missouri, I am not sure, but he did once say, “I don’t hate anyone, but I truly dislike the University of Missouri. I disliked ‘em when I played ‘em. I disliked ‘em when I was an assistant coach. I disliked them when I was head coach. I dislike ‘em now, and I always will.”
I did a little research and found what might be the reason for Fambrough’s disdain. In 1947, KU enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in program history, earning an 8-1-2 record, a co-Big Eight Conference championship and a 1948 Orange Bowl bid and victory. As spring practice began the following year, KU had five players, including Fambrough, who were about to play their final season. However, former MU coach Don Faurot wanted to change the World War II exemption rule that had allowed for freshmen eligibility. Two weeks after spring practice, Faurot, then MU athletic director, called an emergency session of the Big Six Conference. Conference officials eventually sided with Faurot, and made the exemption retroactive, meaning Fambrough’s expectation of a senior season had been dissolved by the Tigers, and his playing career was over. Kansas lost its top two quarterbacks and the entire left side of its offensive line as a result.
Coach was well known for his pre-game speech for the KU – MU game. Even when he was not coaching, Fambrough was often invited into the KU locker room before the game to fire up the team. (I once had an audio tape of one of his pre-game speeches; but I loaned it out, and it was never returned. Lesson learned!)
Coach Fambrough’s annual speech went something like this: (Delivered in a gruff, gravely voice) Now boys, y’all need to know how this game got started. Years ago, a drop-out from the University of Missouri gathered up his low-rent buddies. They were nothin’ but a bunch of no-good, hard-drinkin’ thugs. By God, they rode horseback over to Lawrence [Fambrough’s voice is rising.] where they killed our men, even our boys. They raped our women! . . . then the burned the whole DAMNED TOWN!
Today is not a day when you give 100%. Today is a day when you give 110% every down, every play! Every Kansan who ever lived is counting on you today. Go out and beat those DAMN Tigers!
It’s a shame, in my opinion, the City of Lawrence, Kansas, could not find a way to re-name Missouri Street to Fambrough Street as it leads south into Memorial Stadium.
