Marching Jayhawks to debut new uniforms in the fall

LAWRENCE — For more than a century, the University of Kansas Marching Jayhawks have added spirit and music to KU football games. Next fall, the 270-member marching band will return to Memorial Stadium with yet another crowd-pleaser in store — new uniforms in KU’s colors — crimson and blue.

In fall 2013, the School of Music, KU Athletics and KU Endowment launched a campaign, The Tradition Marches On, to raise $300,000 for new Marching Jayhawk uniforms. To date, the campaign has generated $289,000 in funding. More than 400 KU alumni and friends stepped up to help, making gifts totaling more than $161,000. KU Athletics contributed $67,500, and the offices of the Chancellor and Provost have each allocated $30,000 from unrestricted private funds managed by their offices. While the uniforms will be ordered in time for the fall, fundraising continues to complete the campaign.

“We are all very excited about the new uniforms for the Marching Jayhawks and the return to a more traditional look for the band with an emphasis on KU colors and up-to-date school logos,” said Paul Popiel, director of KU Bands. “This fall will be a great time to unveil the new uniforms with all of the excitement around KU football. We’re especially grateful to our donors, Kansas Athletics and the university community for helping raise the necessary funds to make this happen.”

Matthew Smith, director of the Marching Jayhawks, expressed his gratitude as well.

“Thanks to the generosity of our many donors, Kansas Athletics and university administrators, we will be thrilled to unveil new uniforms for the Marching Jayhawks this fall,” he said. “It is an exciting time for KU football, and we look forward to a sharp new look that honors our great university and its fine band tradition. Rock Chalk!”

A family-owned Kansas firm, Fruhauf Uniforms, of Wichita, will manufacture the band uniforms, continuing its 60-year tradition of creating KU band uniforms.

The gifts count toward Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaign. Far Above seeks support to educate future leaders, advance medicine, accelerate discovery and drive economic growth to seize the opportunities of the future.

The campaign is managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.