THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Students tear down the goal post after Kansas football defeated Iowa State 34-14 on Nov.8,2014, at Memorial Stadium.The Cyclones were 2-6 before the game.The goal post was also taken down after defeating West Virginia in 2013.
Athletics have given seniors plenty to remember
Through the peaks of success and the valleys of defeat, college sports serve as the ultimate source of pride and passion for students. They provide us with memories to last a lifetime — ones that help define our years at the University of Kansas.
As seniors prepare to graduate and reflect on their time at Kansas, what sporting events will they remember fondly? With humiliation?
From the embarrassment of one sport to the continued dominance of another, seniors have seen a lot transpire in sports during their four years at the University. Here are some of the biggest events we've witnessed.
WE SAW KQ WIN A NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP
MEDICAL IN THE DEMIUM
Spinner Diamond Dixon, as a 20-year-old, qualified for the 2012 London Olympics after running the 400-meter in a school-record 50.88 seconds at the U.S. Team Trials.
Participating in the 4x400-meter relay, Dixon ran in the semifinal race for the United States, running her split in 50.15 seconds — the second fastest on the relay team for that race. While she didn't participate in the finals, she
But not the type you may have expected. In 2013, after winning the conference title, the women's outdoor track and field team captured the national championship in Eugene, Ore., edging out Texas A&M and Oregon. The Jayhawks placed in the top six in 10 events, including a first-place finish by Lindsay Vollmer in the heptathlon.
WE SAW A JAYHAWK WIN A GOLD
MEDAL IN THE OLYMPICS
was still awarded a gold medal for her contribution.
WE SAW FOUR REGULAR SEASON
MEN'S BASKETBALL CONFERENCE
TITLES
The streak continues. Kansas has now won at least a share of 11 straight regular season Big 12 titles, which is tied for the second most in college basketball history behind UCLA (13). On Twitter, national college basketball analyst Jay Bilas wrote that the streak is "one of the most remarkable achievements in the game."
WE SAW AN IMPROBABLE RUN TO THE MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME During the 2011-12 season, when Kansas was supposed to be rebuilding, the Jayhawks caught fire in the second half of the season, winning the Big 12 regular season title and winning their first five games in the NCAA Tournament. They did it with defense, as the Jayhawks held opposing
After Kansas' victories in the Elite Eight and Final Four, many students flooded Mass Street, as they did after Kansas won the national championship in 2008. Some students took advantage of $25 student ticket prices, making the 14-hour trek to New Orleans to cheer on the team in the Final Four.
offenses to just 38 percent shooting for the year. At Late Night at the Phog before that season, coach Bill Self told fans to "enjoy the process," hinting the team might have some growing pains after losing seven players from the previous season.
WE SAW FOUR DIFFERENT
FOOTBALL COACHES AT THE HELM
FOOTBALL COACHES IN 2011
Turner Gill, Charlie Weis and interim coach Clint Bowen all took turns as the coach of Kansas football, which had a combined record of 9-39 overall and 2-34 in conference play since 2011.
In December 2014, former Kansas assistant coach David
Beaty accepted the position to become head coach and resurrect a program that hasn't been to a bowl game since 2008, when Beaty served as a wide receivers coach at Kansas.
WE SAW TWO GOAL POSTS
TAKEN DOWN
After each of the team's two conference wins, students stormed the field and tore down the goal post in the south end zone. While teams normally do this after a big upset over a nationally ranked team, that wasn't the case here. The teams Kansas defeated held a combined record of 2-16 in conference play.
WE SAW THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM MAKE BACK-TO-BACK SWEET 16'S
Despite having a losing conference record in 2012 and 2013, the Jayhawks squeaked into the NCAA Tournament both seasons. They made their trips worthwhile, upsetting two teams each year to advance to the Sweet 16. The
most notable tournament victory was a Round of 32 defeat of No. 3 Delaware and Elena Delle Donne, who would go on to be the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming 2012 WNBA Draft.
Unfortunately, these were the only two visits for the Jayhawks in the NCAA Tournament under coach Bonnie Henrickson, who was fired in March after compiling an overall 186-171 record and a 62-122 Big 12 record at Kansas. More than a month later, Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger named Brandon Schneider, the women's basketball coach at Stephen F. Austin, to the same position at Kansas. Schneider won the Division II National Championship as the Emporia State women's basketball coach in 2010.
Which one of these moments will you remember the most? Go to kansan.com and let us know.
Edited by Paige Lytle
Gretchen Beaver
Ciaire Breslin
Whitney Burnett
Jessica Clifford
Tori Couts
Kelly Freeman
Maddie Gaughan
Lauren Hale
Alison Kelly
Victoria Kirk
Nikki Koppers
Jessica Lebel
CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL FOUR YEARS. WE WISH YOU THE BEST!
Becca Medwin
Kelsey Mosher
Bailey Petrillo
Lauren Russell
Faye Schumacher
Jamie Sear
Carynn Valdez
Katherine Waechter
Hayley Westhoff
Hillary Willson
Pamela Carper
Chloe Fischgrund
OTHERS GOING ALUM
Abby Streit
Morgan Hughes
Jessica Bauer
Jessi Brewer
Maureen Wilson
Ashley Linaweaver
Stevie Stauffer
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