Kansas Jayhawks is the name used by sports teams of the University of Kansas, which is active in many collegiate sports for both men and women. Their official mascot is called Big Jay, with a smaller version dubbed as Baby Jay. The team is further represented in colors blue and crimson.
The jayhawk is actually a creature of myth, merging the sparrow hawk and the blue jay. The choice of mascot has a historical background to it. Jayhawkers came to describe the people of Kansas, dating from the Civil War days. The Kansas Jayhawks boast ten NCAA Division I championship titles from a combined range of sports including basketball, both indoor and outdoor track & field and cross country. Their last triumph was in basketball as the tournament champions in the Big 12 Conference. Kansas Jayhawks enjoy a fierce rivalry with University of Missouri.
Women Jayhawkers also have teams in rowing, golf, soccer, softball, bowling, swimming and diving. Famous alumni of Kansas Jayhawks include Danny Manning, Paul Pierce, Justin Hartwig, Mario Chalmers and Wilt Chamberlain.