Volume 124 Issue 147
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
kansan.com
COMMENTARY
Jayhawk, student, Bronco
Steven Johnson arrived at the University like most of us. Will you be kind of like us
Well, he was kind of like most of us. And the unique thing about Johnson is that he'll leave the University still, "kind of like most of us," even though his first job will be playing football for the Denver Broncos.
Johnson lived at Oliver Hall his freshman and sophomore years. He was a walk-on linebacker for the Kansas football team. He once said that people would laugh when he told them he was going to play for the Jayhawks. Who would believe that about a kid living in a regular dorm?
Johnson got to experience the traditional student life at the University, and for that reason. Johnson is the player to remember from Kansas Athletics this year. He stood out not just for his talents on the field, but for his personality off of it.
Johnson described his freshman self as a "fat kid," even though he'll soon leave the University as a piece of muscle. Most of us would probably say that the opposite happened to our bodies after four years in Lawrence.
Even with that slight difference, Johnson is the perfect representation of what it "means" to be a Jayhawk. And it's all because of one of Johnson's muscles in particular — his heart.
Johnson was not the most talented player on the field for Kansas. But what Johnson did lead the team in was caring. If you saw Johnson struggling to walk after the Oklahoma game this season, or if you saw the absolute disappointment in his eyes after the Baylor game, you would understand this.
You would understand the enormous pride Johnson took in wearing his Kansas Jersey every game — Kansas was the only school that gave him a chance. You would also understand Johnson's disgust with losing, and why he put so much effort into trying to win.
Before that Baylor game, his last at Memorial Stadium, Johnson gave a pregame speech that was captured by the "Gridiron" series for KU Athletics. Johnson often gave pregame speeches, but few cause shivers like this one does. Johnson was crying as he pleaded for one more victory with his teammates.
"When you're tired, you've got to get up and go," Johnson said. "You've got to go because losing hurts, man, and I'm not trying to lose today. I'm determined to win. And I hope y'all are with me. This is in my heart, I believe in this thing."
Johnson had 10 tackles and recovered a fumble in a game that was one of Kansas' best in conference play. The Jayhawks gave up a 21-point fourth-quarter lead to lose 31-30 in overtime to the Bears. It would've been Kansas' only Big 12 win.
You see, it's the spirit that makes Johnson like most of us at Kansas. In 10 years, Johnson will be the guy who sees a Kansas shirt on the street in a foreign place and says, "Rock Chalk."
We're fortunate Johnson has had an opportunity to represent our University and will continue to do so in the NFL. So, when you look back on your time at Kansas and you remember the athletes that defined it, remember Johnson, because he'll be one of the few who will remember it like you do.
Edited by Ian Cummings
Morning brew: the new face of the Kansas football team PAGE 11
UNPROVEN TALENT
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Freshman guard Ben McLemore and freshman forward Jamari Trajlor watch nervously as the Jayhawks battle for the lead against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the final minutes of the 2012 Final Four game. McLemore had to sit out this year but will be eligible to play in the 2012-2013 season.
A STAR-IN-WAITING
Freshman guard Ben McLemore, who was ineligible this year, is eager to prove himself in 2012
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
But when Kansas was in the house, McLemore said, something
Ben McLemore saw them sitting on a stage by the court at Wellston High School in St. Louis. During a district postseason game, Kansas assistant coaches Kurtis Townsend and Joe Dooley were in attendance. Warming up before the game, McLemore saw their Kansas shirts. Scouts from all over had watched him play in his junior season, when he switched positions from a forward to a guard.
was different.
On the first play of the game,
McLemore finished an alley-oop
dunk and screamed toward the crowd.
Townsend and Dooley noticed from the stage.
"I played good that night," McLemore said.
McLemore noticed that once Kansas took interest in him, Missouri faded as a possibility. He soon chose to play at Kansas, but the NCAA obstructed his path by ruling him a partial qualifier after he attended three high schools — Wellston, Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and Christian Life Center in Houston.
Instead of beginning his time in Lawrence as a slashing scorer for the Jayhawks, McLemore watched from the sidelines as a redshirt freshman who would be eligible to play in the 2012-13 season. Forward Jamari Traylor joined him there after he was also ruled a partial qualifier.
Bradley Beal, McLemore's former teammate in St. Louis, starred at Florida as a freshman this season, and Beal could go as high as No.2 in this summer's NBA Draft. McLemore also knows Duke's Austin Rivers and Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who are off to the NBA as well.
But he didn't want a situation like that. McLemore saw what happened to Thomas Robinson at Kansas. He saw how Robinson braved tragedy with his school by his side. Then, this season from the sideline, he watched Robinson morph into one of the top players in the nation.
"It's kind of weird that all the people I came in here with are leaving now." McLemore said.
"I want to be one of those players." McLemore said.
McLemore tried to make the most of the opportunities he had this season.
He and Traylor watched their
teammates make mistakes, then they talked about it. They rapped or joked in the locker room when the team needed a laugh. They digested what their coaches preached.
"Sitting on the sideline with Larry Brown every game," Traylor said. "He's telling you tips all the time."
Coach Bill Self has been pleased with how both players have handled the irregular situation.
"I'm really proud of them," Self said. "The NCAA put some very strict stipulations on them, and
SEE MCLEMORE PAGE 7
BASEBALL
Kansas wins in back-and-forth game
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Freshman outfielder Connor McKay runs into the fence as he races to catch a foul ball hit by his opponent during a game against Creighton earlier this season. Kansas walked away with a victory Tuesday night in Little Rock, Ark.
ANDREW JOSEPH
ajoseph@kansan.com
The Kansas baseball team (18-27, 4-13 Big 12) broke out the bats Tuesday afternoon in a 16-12 victory against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.
After scoring just three runs in a weekend series against Oklahoma, the Jayhawks only needed an inning Tuesday to match that total.
The UALR Trojans ranked first in the Sun Belt Conference in batting average, runs per game and home runs, so coach Ritch Price thought that the Jayhawks would need a shutdown-performance from junior pitcher Thomas Taylor.
With the Jayhawks leading 5-0 heading into the fourth inning, Taylor ran to trouble, allowing four runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth. The Trojans went on to score seven unanswered runs to take a 7-5 lead, but the Jayhawks offense came back with a quick response.
Junior infielder Jordan Dreiling cut the lead to one after a long
single with the bases loaded. Dreiling said that the offense plans to build on the performance heading
"It's big for our team to come out and put up that many runs," said Dreiling, who finished the game hitting a team best
into the weekend against Air Force and Missouri State.
RITCH PRICE Kansas coach
"It was perfect conditions for an offensive day[...] I couldn't be happier for our guys."
Suiter belted a three-run home run with no outs in the eighth inning, and junior catcher Alex DeLeye hit
four-for-six with three RBIs. "It will help a lot as we look forward to the weekend series down at Hogland."
Kansas went on to score three more runs in the sixth inning, taking a 9-7 lead. UALR would cut Kansas' advantage to 10-9 in the seventh inning, but the Jayhawks' six-run eighth inning secured a much-needed road win. UALR entered the game ranked fourth in the country with 50 home runs. Even though Kansas has only 18 home runs this year, the Jayhawks made use of the long ball in this game.
Freshman left-fielder Michael
"It was perfect conditions for an offensive day." Price said. "With the wind blowing in and the short fences, we took adven-
a three-run shot of his own four batters later.
tage of a great hitter's park, and I couldn't be happier for our guys."
Kansas' 16 runs surpassed the team's previous best of 14 on Feb. 26 against Mississippi Valley State. The Jayhawks' three home runs were also a season high as Kansas earned itself a pleasant drive back to Lawrence.
"You don't want to lose games and have to drive on the bus for eight hours," Dreiling said. "It feels pretty good for us to have high energy. It'll be a good bus ride back."
Edited by Taylor Lewis