LAWRENCE, Kan. - I landed in Kansas City early Friday afternoon. After swinging by the hotel to check in and drop my stuff in the room, I hopped back in the rental car and went in search of College Basketball Mecca.

With Rutgers in town to play Kansas on Saturday, the plan was in place for months. Get to Allen Fieldhouse. As this trip neared, I really became fascinated with the juxtaposition taking place within that athletic department. A title-contending men's basketball team, and the worst Power Five team in all of college football. That subject was on my mind throughout my flight in from Philadelphia.

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As I reached the Kansas Turnpike and moved within 15 minutes of campus, I passed a very large interstate sign on the side of the road. It made clear that KU could be found off Exit 204. It featured a large picture of the iconic Jayhawk logo, then made mention of the basketball team's five national championships, plus the debate team's six national championships. No mention of football, though.

The lower level of Allen Fieldhouse is dedicated to the school's Hall of Athletics, a space that is filled with timeless, priceless artifacts across all sports, but yes, the basketball team is featured prominently. National-championship trophies, Final Four programs, a Danny Manning game-worn jersey, unused tickets from various Final Fours. It is a college sports history wonderland and should be on your bucket list.

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Up front, there is a courtesy desk with a student sitting there to greet you. I introduce myself and ask her if football is a big deal here. I already know the answer, but I want her take, so I line it up right.

A junior, she shrugs, then admits she hasn't been to a football game since she was a freshman. The football team is bad, and she and her friends have no interest. On the rare occasion the Jayhawks win, campus gets wild at night, but that's only happened a small handful of times since she arrived.

Upstairs, there are tours of Allen Fieldhouse ongoing. At this off-hour, 3 p.m. on a September Friday, there is one entryway open where you can duck into the arena. The place is a relic. I initially thought Boston Garden, then The Palestra came to mind and, well, you get the idea. The wooden seats, the bleachers and the banners all offer an historical look into one of college basketball's storied programs.

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Back on the concourse, down the hallway is Rally House, which is the Kansas team store. Inside are more students working.

"Is football a big deal here?"

"The only reason to go to a football game is to get your card scanned."

"I'm sorry, what do you mean?"

She goes on to explain that at Kansas, students can buy an all-sports combo pass, which includes access to football and men's basketball. Student tickets for hoops is obviously an extremely tough get. It includes a lottery system and camping out at Allen before home games. As part of thelottery system, the more times you get your pass scanned at nonhoops events, the better your standing for basketball tickets will be.

Do you have all that? To at least one student, showing up at a football is merely a vehicle to have a better chance of getting basketball tickets. This feels like a good time to remind you Kansas plays in the Big 12, and the home football slate this season includes Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas.

I filled my basketball nerdom quota for the day, a few students schooled me on the football dynamic on campus, so I ended the afternoon at Free State Brewery, which came highly recommended.

I chat with the bartender, who says Rutgers fans have been filing in steadily most of the afternoon. This guy doesn't seem so big on KU football either, so I go for it.

"Is football big at Kansas?"

"They're playing Rutgers tomorrow? The only thing I know about Rutgers football is they're the Kansas of the East Coast."

Ouch.

Staff Writer Josh Newman: jnewman@app.com; @Joshua_Newman