KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Power and Light District was packed full of college basketball fans Wednesday, as the Big 12 Men’s College Basketball Championship continued at the Sprint Center. FOX 4 caught up with several fans from both ends of the age spectrum.
Sixth-graders Tyler Orth and Colten Joseph are best friends, but not when it comes to basketball.
“We have our fair share of rivalries, but most of the time, we can get along,” Kansas State University fan Orth said.
“It’s very difficult having to come with this guy,” Joseph, who supports Kansas University, countered back lightheartedly.
The boys and their dads have come out for the Big 12 for the past three years.
Joseph’s father, Josh Joseph, said both he and his longtime friend take their sons out of school for the championship each year.
“Go ahead and tell your teachers you’re not going to be there and go ahead and get your homework,” he said.
The four stay loyal to their teams and loyal to tradition.
“It’s something we’ve instilled in the boys, and they enjoy it. They love basketball, they love the Big 12,” Josh Joseph said.
The tournament draws fans from several generations. Seventy-three-year-old Henry Jeanneret graduated from Kansas University more than 50 years ago.
“I’ve been everywhere else, might as well go here too,” he said.
He and his wife flew in from Florida for their first Big 12 experience because they said it was on their bucket list. Donna Jeanneret explained that the couple has remained faithful to Henry’s alma mater all these years.
“We always tape record it or watch every game, so we keep very active with what’s going on up here,” she said.
Henry said his children know where his support remains.
“All my kids know. They might’ve gone to school at Florida, or Florida state, or UCF, but they all know where dad’s at,” he said.
Henry finished his chat with FOX 4, with a loud, “Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk!”
