KU and MU are locked in a border war over license plate emblems

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas and Missouri are no longer athletic rivals, but a new rivalry is brewing about emblems printed on state license plates.   

A measure was introduced in the Missouri legislature last week that would allow residents to purchase a specialized license plate with the Jayhawk emblem on it. 

Missouri State Representative Stephen Webber successfully lobbied to prevent the Jayhawk image from being printed on Missouri license plates. The issue is triggering strong reactions from Jayhawk and Tiger fans.

During his speech in the Missouri House of Representatives last week, Representative Webber described the Jayhawk symbol as “dreaded and disgusting.”

KU fan Anita Bly called Webber’s comments disgusting.

“If somebody wants to display a Jayhawk  plate in the state of  Missouri, they should have  the opportunity,” said Bly.

Longtime MU fan and former President of the MU Alumni Association Paul Blackman is glad Missouri lawmakers rejected the Jayhawk emblem idea.

“The state should not be having out of state, other universities on Missouri license plates.”

The opposing fans do agree on one thing.

“To me there’s a lot more important business that our legislature should be dealing with,” said Blackman.

Bly agreed.

“I just think it’s a big waste of legislative time,” she said.

Kansas does not allow the MU Tiger image printed on its license plates, either.

Fans of any university or cause can always get license plate frames with the name of their school or cause.