Jayhawks of all ages celebrate Homecoming on the Boulevard

"Traditions Anew in 2002" was the theme for Homecoming Oct. 12, when parade participants defied cloudy Saturday morning skies to show their colors all along Jayhawk Boulevard. This was the first year in recent memory that the event was held on Saturday rather than Friday afternoon. The parade's Grand Marshal was Coach Don Fambrough, d'48, who led the football team from 1971 to '74 and from 1979 to '82. Fam celebrated his 80th birthday at Homecoming with his neighbor Jacob Hut, age 10, Fam's frequent companion at games and practices.

The two struck up a friendship four years ago. "He's just a special young man, and that blazing red hair adds to it. … Jacob's been my best friend," Fam says. "He loves football, so I started taking him to practices, and he likes to visit with the KU players. One day one of them asked him what position he played in the youth football league, and Jacob said, 'Defensive noseguard, long snapper and punter.'

"Well, it sounded like he was doing it all at the same time. And the guys just got the biggest kick out of it. One of them said, 'You must be one of the fastest dudes in the world.'"

Also in the parade, Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway shared his pregame enthusiasm, as did the makers of several floats that highlighted the Jayhawks' afternoon contest against the Colorado Buffaloes. Among the displays were creations from Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Alpha Chi Omega sorority and Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, whose float urged fans to Wave the Wheat. Of course, younger fans took part in another rite: hugs and high fives with Big Jay.

Although the day concluded with Colorado's defeat of Kansas, 53-29, student leaders were victorious in their campaign to revitalize traditional fall Homecoming events.

#top#