Kansas Jayhawks

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ROCK CHALK CHANT

An effort by a Kansas chemistry professor to create a cheer for his Science Club has had long lasting effects on the excitement generated at Kansas games. What is now widely known as the Rock Chalk Chant was first developed by Professor E.H.S. Bailey and his associates who patterned the yell after the rhythmic cadence of their train rolling along the tracks.

The cheer developed on the train ride back from Wichita in 1886 originally was worded

“Rah Rah, Jayhawk, KU,.” and was repeated three times. However, in an effort to rhyme the chant, Rah Rah was replaced by “Rock chalk”. Not only does “Rock Chalk” match up better with

Jayhawk, but it’s also symbolic of the chalky limestone formations found in the area.

Today 50,000 Jayhawk fans shower their team with the “Rock Chalk” chant. Teddy Roosevelt once described the cheer as the best he’d ever heard.