LONDON - Kansas took over a stretch of Oxford Street on Friday afternoon, turning the Adidas flagship store in Westminster into a Jayhawk outpost ahead of Saturday’s Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium.
The crimson-and-blue crowd filled the four-level store with Rock Chalk chants and “I’m a Jayhawk,” while plenty of passersby looked on with little clue what was happening. Some Londoners stopped anyone wearing a lanyard to ask for an explanation, including Andy Lobban, who had come in from about 25 miles outside Central London for his son’s birthday and accidentally landed in the middle of the festivities.
Lobban was familiar with Gary Woodland, but the idea of a college football game at Wembley was a different matter entirely. He was one of several local onlookers taking in a scene where Kansas and Arizona State gear drew the spotlight, while the store’s usual displays for Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid faded into the background.
For KU fans, the setup had plenty to offer. There were face-painting stations with Jayhawk logos, a throwing challenge, and a miniature football field for photos in front of a Union Jack Classic backdrop. And, naturally, there was plenty of Adidas merchandise moving through the store.
The crowd also drew a steady stream of familiar KU faces. Athletic director Travis Goff stopped by, along with deputy AD Jason Booker, director of football relations and former KU standout Darrell Stuckey, basketball commentator and athletic department fundraiser Greg Gurley and others.
The atmosphere got an extra jolt from the cheerleaders, Rock Chalk Dancers, Marching Jayhawks, band members, mascots and the people traveling with them. Jeff Polesky, who came from Fort Myers, Florida, said he had been a KU fan for just “as long as I’ve known the mascot, but I can’t say any more about that.”
Polesky said the turnout in London surprised him. “I didn’t realize everyone in London was from Kansas,” he said.
“I’m actually from Nebraska, so we got to play in Ireland,” he added, referencing the Aer Lingus Classic. “I didn’t go to that.
This is great. First time in Wembley - I’ve never seen Wembley.
My mother was British. I haven’t actually been to England since 52 years ago.”
Josh Pressgrove, who was already in London working on a music tour and happened to have Friday off, added his own touch to the scene with a giant Union Jack featuring his favorite Jayhawk logo, the skinny-legged 1912 bird. He said the design was created with the help of ChatGPT.
“I’m glad they like it, man,” he said.
The Adidas pep rally was one of several events leading into kickoff Saturday at 11 a.m. Central, which is 5 p.m. in London. The schedule also included a Friday night party at the Leake Street Tunnels and a tailgate before the game.
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