Kansas Unveils Underground Railroad Uniforms

The University of Kansas basketball program has worn so many different uniforms over the past decade, from one offs, to throwbacks, to faux-backs, to red at home, that you kind of get used to it when they reveal a new uniform. But the university announced something totally different a few days ago. 

KU has had special uniforms to honor Black History Month in the past, but these new uniforms go beyond a simple gesture.

The hype video that accompanied the all blue strip was more like a history lesson, teaching us about Lawrence's history against slavery and its role in the Underground Railroad. Most KU fans know about the state's legacy as a free state and the pivotal role that Lawrence played in fighting against the confederacy in the Civil War, but what many might not have known was Lawrence's role in helping enslaved individuals find freedom and the historic sites that helped freedom seekers. 

The side panels of the uniform are designed after quilt patterns that were used as signals for freedom seeking former slaves as they made the treacherous route from the south to freedom. The video explains that these quilts, hung from clotheslines along the path, would help guide enslaved freedom seekers to places of refuge. 

When uniform hype videos tell a story, most of it is fluff. This isn't. This is history and learning about the history of Kansas and the fight for freedom is as important now as it has ever been.

From a uniform perspective, these new duds are pretty sharp and they hold two key elements that we haven't seen on a Kansas basketball uniform in a long time, maybe ever.

The first is the fact that the player's number is on the right side of the shorts, in addition to the number on their chest. This is new, and I kind of like it. Is it necessary? No. But it doesn't look bad.

The second is that this may be the first uniform in KU history without the word Kansas or Jayhawks on it. In fact, I think this is the first basketball uniform that KU has ever worn that doesn't have a word mark. The Jayhawk logo is firmly planted on the upper right chest of the uniform.

I really like this feature. It's brand new, something totally different, and combine it with the fact that Kansas is wearing blue at home, you have a winner of a uniform.

The KU men will wear these uniforms on February 11 against Colorado while the women will wear them on February 15 against Iowa State.