Monday Night, March 6, 1967, AFH

@approxinfinity

I recently completed a 56-page reflection on my Adventures and Misadventures as a Jayhawk. Plenty of stories to tell starting with my first football game in 1952 vs Santa Clara. Hope the guys get a chuckle out of this excerpt.

The basketball season offered the highlight (or low light) of my one-year career as a Kansas Jayhawk Yell Leader. It was Monday night, March 6, 1967. The Jayhawks were 21-3 playing against Colorado at Allen Field House. KU had beaten CU in the Pre-Season Holiday Tournament in Kansas City, but lost earlier in the season to Colorado in Boulder 59-62. This team featured sophomore Jo Jo White, later to be a two-time second team All-American, seven-time NBA All-Pro, and Olympic gold medalist. The Boston Celtics retired his #10. This K.U. team also included Roger Bohnenstiehl, Ron Franz (who played in the ABA and the NBA) and big man, Vernon Vanoy who also played tight end for the football team. The Field House was packed and going nuts!
Colorado was led by 6’ 4” shooting guard Pat Frink. He was the kind of “hot shot” player that opposition crowds loved to hate. I was sitting with other yell leaders on the edge of the court just outside the baseline under one of the baskets. (In those days, the court was raised three feet above the dirt floor.) Late in the second half Jo Jo White came streaking toward me, headed for a breakaway layup. Just as he got to the free throw line, Frink caught him and wrapped his arms around him. The Field House went crazy! I blanked out. Somehow, a few seconds of my life, and even my memory at the time, disappeared. The next thing I knew, I was standing in the free throw lane looking up at Frink. Jo Jo calmly said to me, “It’s okay, man.” I turned around and sat back down on the edge of the court with my megaphone clutched close to my side.
Amazingly, neither of the referees said anything to me. The game went on. Nothing was written in the local papers about the incident, but Sports Illustrated carried a little sidebar article describing the incident . . . but not giving my name!
Oh, what a different time it was. Had it happened in the era of ESPN, video of the “incident” and my name would have been splattered all over national TV!

@approxinfinity
Not proud but a memory forever. When my mother heard of the story, she asked "Where was your self discipline?" I answered, "When I didn't punch him!" (Glad I didn't.)

@approxinfinity
None of the other yell leaders said much about it. I think everyone was just "frozen," like "Did he really do that?" The next Monday, I was called to the advisor's office and suspended two games (the season was almost over anyway). I was relieved it wasn't worse.

Another great story from my yell leader days was from Ames, Iowa. It was a beautiful fall day, leaves changing, crisp temps, etc. I was standing in front of the football team, ready to lead them out onto the field. From behind me I hear a player say, "Sho' is a nice day." Then a reply from another, " Sho is. Too nice to play football." (I am not makin' this up.) And, sure enough, even though favored, Coach Fam's team lost that day.