KU 'ambassador' Fambrough dies

LAWRENCE — Former Kansas football coach Don Fambrough will be remembered by many for his perceived hatred of a rival school that sits 160 miles to the east. But, among those who know Fambrough best, his undying love for KU will endure the most.

Fambrough, who coached the Jayhawks during 1971-74 and 1979-82, died Saturday after taking a fall and hitting his head near his Lawrence residence. He was 88.

Reached Saturday afternoon, hours after news of Fambrough's death had begun to spread through town, former KU offensive lineman David Lawrence was emotional in talking about his old coach. Lawrence, one of many former Jayhawks who looked at Fambrough more as a father figure, fought back tears as he explained just how special Fambrough was to the KU family.

"You know," Lawrence said, "this guy gave his life to the program after being fired twice. He loved this place so much. I really think that's a tribute to the university."

This love story was an unlikely one. Fambrough grew up in Texas, starring for Longview High as a fullback and linebacker. He headed for the University of Texas and played there during 1941-42 before he was called to serve his country.

It was during World War II that Fambrough's life took its first turn toward Lawrence. In the Air Force, Fambrough met Ray Evans, who had played two years at Kansas. Evans and Fambrough became friends, and, when the war ended, Evans convinced Fambrough that he should finish his career with him at KU. Fambrough went to Texas coach Dana X. Bible to ask for permission, which Bible granted, even though Fambrough would have started for the Longhorns.

At Kansas, Fambrough earned all-Big Six honors at guard in 1946 and '47 and helped Kansas reach the 1948 Orange Bowl. From there, Fambrough was hooked on KU. He coached under J. V. Sikes during 1948-53 but moved on after Sikes was fired. Fambrough returned to coach under Jack Mitchell during 1958-70 and finally got the job of his dreams the next season.

At some point, Fambrough had fallen so hard for Kansas that it was like his time in Texas didn't even exist.

"Sometimes, when I would bring up questions about him playing for Texas, he would almost scold me," said Lawrence, who played under Fambrough during 1979-81, "and he'd say, 'That's not my school!' And this is after a lifetime of exposure to Texas football, which is a bigger deal. But this was his school. It didn't matter if it didn't match up."

Fambrough coached KU to two bowl games, both losses. His 1973 Liberty Bowl team with All-American quarterback David Jaynes finished 7-4-1 and his 1981 Hall of Fame Bowl team with Lawrence as a captain was 8-4. Fambrough finished with a 36-49-5 record overall and even after being fired a second time, he was never bitter. Fambrough stayed in Lawrence and became a fixture of the KU football program.

"KU football lost its biggest supporter and greatest ambassador with the passing of Don Fambrough," former KU coach Mark Mangino said in a statement. "Our players and coaches greatly appreciated his enthusiasm and words of wisdom. Each practice for eight seasons he greeted me on the practice field, told a good joke and said 'Have a great practice.' He will be truly missed."

Fambrough will be missed the most during Border War week, when he gave players a legendary fire-and-brimstone speech about the Missouri Tigers.

Lawrence says promoting disdain of Missouri wasn't necessarily Fambrough's point.

"Yeah, he didn't like Missouri," Lawrence said, "but I think that really got blown up toward the end of his life. I think the hatred part was kind of a sideshow to help bring the game up to the level it once had."

Fambrough's health had been deteriorating well before his death. Lawrence, who spoke with his coach a few times a week, says Fambrough was never really the same person after the death of his wife, with whom he shared a "marriage that would probably make everyone envious."

Luckily for KU, Fambrough made plenty of room in his heart for the Jayhawks.

"I know for a fact he was offered other jobs," Lawrence said, "and he wouldn't even entertain a phone call. I think it was just an unselfishness, and that's what love is all about."

This story was originally published September 4, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "KU 'ambassador' Fambrough dies."