+
Volume 128 Issue 2
Wednesday, Marchvember 50, 2015
kansan.com
±
COMMENTARY Kansas should schedule Wichita State every year
Gretchen Wieners
@SoooFetchGretch
ROCK CHALK RENOVATIONS
Kansas and Kansas State already have the Sunflower Showdown, and it's one of the longest ongoing rivalries in the history of college athletics.
Kansas Athletics to reallocate student seats behind baskets to donors
What about Kansas and Wichita State? Sure, Wichita State blew Kansas out of the water in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, but it wasn't always like that.
The two schools used to play each other back in the day. And Kansas was on the dominating end during that series.
Kansas students throw confetti to show support for Kansas' starting lineup against TCU this season. Kansas Athletics has decided to remove more seats from the student section to accommodate more donors.
On Jan. 8, 1992, Kansas crushed Wichita State 81-51. Same story on Jan. 23, 1991, when Kansas defeated Wichita State 84-50. How about on Jan. 4, 1990 when the Jayhawks annihilated the Shockers 93-66? The year before that, on Jan. 25 1989, Kansas defeated Wichita State 86-66. In 1985, Kansas defeated Wichita State 81-56. Need I continue?
Wichita State has only defeated Kansas twice in 1981 and 1987, the year before Kansas won the national championship. And in 1987 the Shockers only won by five.
One game can't determine the Kings of Kansas. If you look at the track record, Kansas is obviously better than Wichita State.
To determine the true Kings of Kansas, KU, Kansas State and Wichita State need to play in a triangular tournament every year. That way, there is no debate who wins the state. There will be no tomfoolery by state officials who think it's OK to wear a shirt with all the mascots on it.
What should we call this rivalry? Like mentioned before, Sunflower Showdown is already taken. The winner could be called Guardians of the Wheat or something like that, because when Kansas wins (which happens more than for Wichita State) the fans "Wave the Wheat." And everyone knows that the Shockers' mascot is actually a shock of wheat.
What kind of mascot is a Shocker anyway? Is a shock of wheat really that intimidating? I don't think so. Everyone (unless you're gluten intolerant) eats wheat. There is nothing scary about wheat. A Jayhawk on the other hand is one of the most prolific mascots in the history of college athletics. A mythical bird that is based on how Kansans basically tore apart the state of Missouri in the civil war is much, much scarier than a little shock of wheat.
Even if the triangular idea falls, through, Kansas and Wichita State need to play every year. Kansas needs some sort of rivalry that can try to replace the Border War. Lord knows Kansas State doesn't live up to that.
ELIZA THORNBERRY
@ExcitedEliza
Similar to Kansas Athletics' decision to remove Section U from the student section almost a year ago, Kansas Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger announced on Tuesday that the University will be knocking out the student section seats behind each basket in order to accommodate more donor seats.
In the press release, Zenger said the current plan is to move the students to the upper bowl in sections 1, 11, 12 and 22, saying that he thinks it will help the students' basketball IQ as a whole.
"It's a much better view anyway," Zenger said. "Students will appreciate the perspective and learn the game better. Maybe then they'll quit with their incessant booing and overall ignorance."
Realizing Athletics could make even more of a profit than last season. Zenger jumped on the opportunity. He plans to charge $10,000 per seat for a season ticket to the new club-level donor sections, which will result in more than $500,000 of added revenue.
"It's too good of a deal to pass up." Zenger said.
The new club-level sections will include an open bar and a gourmet buffet. Donors must donate at least $50,000 a year
to the Williams Fund to be eligible to purchase a ticket for these sections.
Zenger also announced plans to limit student entrance by offering a mandatory basketball rules test in order to enter the stadium. One of the NCAAs top referees, John Higgins, will administer the test.
Higgins is currently leading the nation in technical fouls given with 41, and he sits at sixth out of all referees in total fouls called this season, with 3,397.
Higgins was said to be ecstatic about the new job, adding that he would relish "any opportunity to yell at college kids."
"That's why I do it," Higgins said. "Life wouldn't be worth living if I couldn't give 19-year-old kids technical fouls for flexing after dunks. That's the American dream."
Kansas basketball big men Jamari Traylor and Landen Lucas also said they felt the rule was for the best. Lucas said if it were up to him, the Jayhawks would "play in an empty arena," whereas Traylor felt that it was a simple matter of fairness.
"We already have the refs in our back pocket, and having a crowd that's on our side just doesn't seem fair," Traylor said.
The two said they hope to see some of the other sports
follow in the direction of basketball, removing all student seats and pushing them as far away from the action as possible, although it remains to be seen what more dominos will fall.
Right now, there are no more plans to remodel the historic Allen Fieldhouse, but Zenger said he wouldn't rule out the possibility of demolishing the Fieldhouse and converting Amber Student Recreation Fitness Center into a full-time basketball arena.
"I don't see there being any resistance to that," Zenger said. "It's not like we have that rich of a basketball history here anyway."
Kentucky 2012 championship vacated
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
NCAA: Calipari broke recruiting rules; Kansas now receives title SLIM SHADY @WhasMyName?
The 2012 Kansas basketball team has now been declared the NCAA champions.
Even though Kansas lost 67-59 to Kentucky in the 2012 national championship game, the Wildcats have been forced to vacate the championship win after the NCAA found recruiting violations.
The decision came after the NCAA reported John Calipari bought current New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis a 1994 Ford Tempo during Davis' senior year of high school.
"I thought the car was cool enough to persuade Davis to Kentucky, but not expensive enough for the NCAA to find out," Calipari said. "I guess I was wrong and now I have to forfeit another championship."
Calpari said he isn't disappointed in his actions but having his third Final Four trip vacated really taught him a life lesson. He said he won't cheat
"This loss really hits home," Calipari said. "I thought I was going to get away with this one, but it scared me straight. I won't give another player a car or dollar again."
Davis, who won the most valuable player of the 2012 championship game, will have to forfeit that accolade as well, and Davis isn't happy about it.
again.
"Man, this is some straight BS," Davis said. "Cal gave me a Ford Tempo. If I knew this would happen, I would have asked for a better car. I deserved a Benz or something like that."
Davis said that he won't talk to Calipari ever again because he feels as if Calipari let the Kentucky team down, but he's the only one that feels that way.
The rest of the 2012 Kentucky team feels like they came out on top even without the 2012 national championship.
"What can I say? I made more money at Kentucky than I do in the NBA," former Kentucky guard Michael Kidd-Gilchrist said. "Coach Cal gave me the chance to go to the NBA, and I left college with a degree and a bunch of cash in my pocket."
The Wildcat fans might be upset about losing, but the Kansas fans are estatic.
"This is the best day ever," said senior Tim Jones from Lawrence. "I thought I would never see a national championship before I graduated, and now, I can say I was part of a championship season as a student."
Coach Bill Self was shocked and excited that he can add a second title to his resume, and the sixth national title will hang in Allen Fieldhouse
The 2014-15 season wasn't a success in Self's eyes, but he said reclaiming the 2012 title brings a twinnle to his eye.
I was wondering when this would happen", Self said. "It look a little longer than I expected."
"In 2012, that was one of the most disappointing ends to
a championship run that I've ever experienced, but now I can enjoy it," Self said. "I just can't wait to see that new 2012 NCAA banner in the rafters."
The team will be welcomed back on April 18 to celebrate the championship by parading down Massachusetts Street with a closing ceremony in Memorial Stadium.
Former Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, who posted a double-double in the championship game with 18 points and 17 rebounds, will be the master of ceremonies and speak to the Kansas fans in attendance.
"I had such a good game against that Kentucky team, and I thought we deserved the win anyways," Robinson said. "I'm glad I can look back on how my career ended and say it ended on a winning streak instead of a big fat L."
Former Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor, who had a team-high 19 points in the game, was shocked at the nature of the NCAA violation. "That stinks that [Anthony Davis] didn't get something more out of the deal," Taylor said. "At least he can afford a nice car now."
△
+