Spring Break
Tearing It Down In Kansas
Chris Licata
Issue date: 11/2/05 Section: Sports
LAWRENCE, Kan. - This past weekend I left the familiar settings of the Storrs-Mansfield area for Kansas City, Mo. to attend a conference on college journalism. While the conference was interesting the highlight of the weekend came on Saturday when I took a trip to Lawrence, Kan. to take in the annual "Border War" between Kansas University and the University of Missouri. As an added bonus, this game also happened to be homecoming at KU. All the ingredients for an unforgettable day were present, but there was no way I could have anticipated what I experienced.
9:30 a.m. - The College Store Crown Center Shops
Kansas City, Mo.
The first thing I knew I had to do before attending this game was to get dressed for success. Luckily there was a mall connected to the hotel that had a store that sold strictly KU, K-State and Mizzou apparel. Immediately, I purchased both a KU T-shirt and a Missouri T-shirt - why you ask? Because regardless of the outcome, I planned on celebrating with someone afterward.
10:30 a.m. - Hertz Rental Counter Westin Crown Hotel
Kansas City, Mo.
Anyone who tells you that you need to be 25 to rent a car is either a liar or completely clueless. Car rentals begin at age 21, but taxes and additional fees apply from that age through 24. Subsequently, I was forced to pay $81 dollars in rental fees as opposed to $51 dollars - and I couldn't even get a convertible.
The good people at Hertz rented me a Hyundai Sonata, a very nice luxury car but a complete gas guzzler. Lawrence was only 30 miles away, yet in one day I managed to burn through half a tank of gas going to KU and back.
11:45 a.m. - KU Memorial Stadium - Lawrence, Kan.
Along with two fellow DC writers I parked my car illegally at the library, put on a KU T-shirt, took a swig of Irish coffee and went out to the stadium. The scene outside the stadium was absolutely awesome. If you think the tailgating scene at Rentschler is intense, you need to take a trip to Lawrence, Kan. In addition to a gigantic lawn that overlooks the stadium, numerous fraternities and other organizations had setup tents that contained both food and drink. While the tents may have been numerous due to homecoming, the number of fans outside of the stadium was absolutely stunning.
9:30 a.m. - The College Store Crown Center Shops
Kansas City, Mo.
The first thing I knew I had to do before attending this game was to get dressed for success. Luckily there was a mall connected to the hotel that had a store that sold strictly KU, K-State and Mizzou apparel. Immediately, I purchased both a KU T-shirt and a Missouri T-shirt - why you ask? Because regardless of the outcome, I planned on celebrating with someone afterward.
10:30 a.m. - Hertz Rental Counter Westin Crown Hotel
Kansas City, Mo.
Anyone who tells you that you need to be 25 to rent a car is either a liar or completely clueless. Car rentals begin at age 21, but taxes and additional fees apply from that age through 24. Subsequently, I was forced to pay $81 dollars in rental fees as opposed to $51 dollars - and I couldn't even get a convertible.
The good people at Hertz rented me a Hyundai Sonata, a very nice luxury car but a complete gas guzzler. Lawrence was only 30 miles away, yet in one day I managed to burn through half a tank of gas going to KU and back.
11:45 a.m. - KU Memorial Stadium - Lawrence, Kan.
Along with two fellow DC writers I parked my car illegally at the library, put on a KU T-shirt, took a swig of Irish coffee and went out to the stadium. The scene outside the stadium was absolutely awesome. If you think the tailgating scene at Rentschler is intense, you need to take a trip to Lawrence, Kan. In addition to a gigantic lawn that overlooks the stadium, numerous fraternities and other organizations had setup tents that contained both food and drink. While the tents may have been numerous due to homecoming, the number of fans outside of the stadium was absolutely stunning.