Weekend Scraps: The Rivalry, Border War, Angus Quigley

Missouri fans are upset that KU fans have trotted out John Brown as a heroic symbol for Kansas during this decade. Listen, we all understand what John Brown was, but after years of watching Mizzou fans come to Lawrence touting the virtues of William Quantrill with their "Burn KU" or Burn Lawrence" signs, well there's going to be a backlash. You set the terms and unfortunately we have to step down to that level. One thing that is certain, yes you don't get it. Also, it may be time to brush up on your left and right skills.

As for the poster itself, I thought it was awesome ... but I still put it as a runner-up to John Brown-gino.

Watched a little of the Insight Bowl over the weekend. In the first half, Jocques Crawford and Angus Quigley teamed up for a pretty big hit on a Gophers' kick return. One of the most interesting aspects of spring practice will be watching AQ at linebacker. Oh yeah, that play gave me a vision of Angus (6-2, 222) as a pass rush specialist -- you know the role Brandon Perkins (6-1, 235) played back in 2005.

Speaking of Perkins, here's a good link on KU players in the pros I'd never seen before.

Comments

[fabio]

I know I'm in the minority but I wish we wouldnt try to glorify John Brown. I think that is going too far. Before the Border War in November I was watching the documentary with some friends. There is a Mizzou fan being interviewed in the documentary that shows off a shirt and a painting of Lawrence burning. My friend said, "I cant believe he is glorifying that". The next morning when we were leaving for Arrowhead she comes out in a tshirt with John Brown on the front. I think if she knew what John Brown actually did though, she would feel disgusted. I think that is the situation with most people. I think they just dont understand how ruthless the man really was. He was probably this countries single biggest terrorist of the 19th Century.

[DJ]

I think you are right, but you have Quantrill put in your face often enough and it's pretty natural to reach for the anti-dote. It's really a good case study in collective human behavior and the un-ending cycle that is created. As you get older though, you get better at putting it into a little bit of perspective. After all at this point, it's just down to young men playing each other in football and basketball.

[tequilaprophet]

I'll agree that at times any rivalry can get a little over the top but people (especially people not from Kansas or Missouri) who say it's inappropriate to have Civil War-era references within our rivalry don't actually understand it.

Missourians and Kansans just legitimately don't like each other and that all stems from the Bleeding Kansas days. The sports rivalry is merely the current vehicle of that enmity, not the source of it.