THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN PAGE 5 FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012 opinion FREE FOR ALL Text your FFA submissions to 785-289-8351 Fact: On any given day there are more attractive women that go to the gym than The Hawk. I know where I'm going from now on. Kansas: I know you are sad about the Jayhawks loss, but your mourning period is getting a little long. Getting the paper only to read the FFA. I just walked past two fine ladies and overheard one of them say, "I just discovered a great new use for boobs." You have my attention. That awkward moment when you walk into the bathroom, sit in a stall and realize you saw urinals on the way in. Coffee: the only reason why I am currently surviving college. When I see a hot girl smoking on campus, I wonder if I could be her next poor decision. People actually floss? I cant tell if this bus smells like hotdogs, or if I'm still drunk from last night. I just discovered a secret stash of allergy medication the day before I go back home. I've been suffering for 2 weeks! Our school hall study party just involved Back Street Boys. We're either getting desperate or going crazy! Beer can in the library bathroom. Someone knows how to study! You know you're in college when you think you have a bad hangover, but it turns out to be the flu. Girl with shaved legs: I am still willing to put you on my shoulders. Has anyone seen Kentucky street? Just realized my next birth control pack starts on Easter Sunday. The professor said something about "ducks in the eye," then somebody quacked like a duck. We all love homophones. The tanning coupon you had in the paper yesterday was expired already. I am going to be pale forever. Fair-weather KU fans unacceptable EDITORIAL I love you Dr. Spritey Two Cans! If I want fresh air in Fraser, I stay inside. Without the FFA, I am useless. Your arms are longer than my legs. I literally cannot walk any faster. Stop getting angry with me and go around. Like oil and water, rain and white t-shirts don't mix. Think back to football season. For the first two games, the Jayhawks only two victories of the season, the fan support was incredible. The excitement in Memorial Stadium when our former quarterback Jordan Webb connected with D.J. Beshears for the game winning touchdown against Northern Illinois with only nine seconds remaining rivaled that of Allen Fieldhouse. Yeah I just saw you check yourself out in the bus windows. Busted. After that game, however, the football team traveled to Georgia Tech where they were thoroughly dismantled by the ACC's best Yellow Jackets. Just like that, the support was gone, and fans began the traditional wait until basketball season talk. Sure the fans still showed up and cheered, but only until half-time. I remember being one of about 10 students in the student section in the final minutes of the K-State game. This fair-weather fan nonsense carries into all other sports as well. How many of you could have named two women's basketball players before their NCAA tournament run, after which everyone and their mother was the team's "biggest fan?" Have you ever even been to a game at Hoglund? Do you game. But even more than that, this is a team that never once gave up on a single game all season long, regardless of the circumstances. How dare you give up on them? even know what sport is played at Hoglund? On the other hand, there were fans like my group, who continued shouting "Rock Chalk" to passing Kansas fans, even after the loss. Were we upset about the loss? Sure. Were we disappointed? Not a bit. Proud Jayhawk fans are dedicated and ever loyal. want to support a team during the good times, I challenge you to continue supporting through the rough patches. Trust me, it makes the success that much sweeter. Even men's basketball, one of the top three Division 1 athletic programs, has fair-weather fans. Look at the difference in turnout for the Mizzou lottery versus any other. While I was in New Orleans this weekend cheering on the Jayhawks, I got to witness firsthand both sides of the spectrum. After KU was defeated in the championship game by Kentucky, I turned around to see that most of the student "fans" had ducked out early, Really? This is a comeback team in the national championship We've got a football coach coming in who will turn the program around. Our women's basketball team is losing only one player off the Sweet 16 team. Next year will be a special year at KU and the support will be there. But what happens when the bandwagon stops? Will you still be a fan? I'm not saying everyone has to be a sports fan. For some people, sports just are not interesting, and that's fine. But, if you Ryan Schlosener for the Kansan Editorial Board TRADITION Fan pride, support elevate Kansas basketball Students celebrate in the bed of a truck parked in front of Pyramid Pizza on Massachusetts Street during halftime of the National Championship against Kentucky. Many Jayhawk fans watched the game downtown. We've been here before. The University of Kansas is steeped in tradition. Our first basketball coach invented the game and our current coach has taken us to two national championships in the past five years. The program consistently produces NBA-caliber players and legendary teams, and we have five national championship banners hanging from the rafters in Allen Fieldhouse. While we all wanted that sixth banner to be added this year, we will never lose hope in Kansas basketball. This year, a team that returned with only one starter was able to prove the entire nation wrong. Jack Harry didn't think we could possibly win the Big 12 title for an eighth straight time with the big bad Missouri Tigers on the prowl, but we did. Massachusetts Street in a state of pride and ecstasy. JESSICA JANASZ/KANSAN Everyone said this would be a rebuilding year and that we shouldn't get our hopes up, but we did. The heart and determination of our players and coaches made us the second best team in the nation. Intoxicated antics will undoubtedly break a couple of car windows, but we will stand united as Jayhawks. We'll lift each other up onto our shoulders to see over the crowd, we'll start cheers at every intersection, and we'll give high-fives until our hands hurt. The bottom line for the Jayhawk nation is this: we'll be back. We've been to the championship before, and we'll be there again. Students at the University of Kansas will have countless more opportunities to sprint out of houses, bars, the doors of Allen Fieldhouse and run to What we won't do is be classless. We won't riot after big wins, maliciously destroying property, starting fires, and getting into fights. We'll celebrate together, and we'll mourn together, only to return the next season to the hallowed halls of Allen Fieldhouse to participate in our traditions. Jayhawk basketball will never be about making goofy Internet videos that talk smack we can't back up. It will never be about shooting fellow fans during a celebration, which happened in Kentucky on Monday night. We simply don't need those things. We win together, we lose together, and we stick together. The celebration on Mass. Street last Saturday night was the true embodiment of Jayhawk pride. Flags were everywhere, the band was playing, fans lined the rooftops, and everyone was having the time of their lives. People who had never met were exchanging celebratory hugs, thousands of high-fives and singing the Alma Mater at the top of their lungs, even if it was a little off key. As long as there is tradition this strong at the heart of Kansas basketball, we will always be one of the best teams in America. — Lovelić is a Sophomore in Creative Writing from Overland Park CAMPUS CHIRPS BACK What's the best hashtag you have ever seen? Follow us on Twitter @UDK_Opinion. Tweet us your opinions, and we just might publish them. @DUK_Opinion My personal favorite is ticketsovereverything @fakeKUParking @Nickexclamation @UDK_opinion k#koobs there is no other. @Chels_Hines @UOK_Opinion #WitheyBlockParty or WitheyBeijingWithey @mswag47 @UKK Opinion #LexingtonPoliceScanner. Following UK's win, it was a trending topic in the US. Those poor couches. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Jayhawk, Nation. This past weekend has been incredible! I had the most phenomenal time in New Orleans cheering on my favorite basketball team in the Superdome. But even though I am sad for our loss yesterday, I came home with a new sense of pride because this weekend I learned what it truly means to be a Jayhawk! A friend and I hopped in cab with a couple KU fans to get into the city on Sunday morning, as we were about to exit the car one of the guys said, "I got the cab fare today, you guys go have fun and pay it forward when you are in my position." Sunday evening on Bourbon Street, two great KU Alum were more than willing to have a good time on the dance floor with us; singing and dancing to every song played by the local band. When they bought us drinks, we were again told, "Just pay it forward when you get to be our age!" The most exasperating feeling though, was walking out of the Superdome, Monday night. It was pouring rain, and still all across the streets of New Orleans chants of "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" could be heard. Our fans stayed classy and held their heads high despite the loss to a phenomenal Kentucky team. Almost 1,000 miles from campus, in New Orleans, I learned that being a Jayhawk means sticking together; being proud of your team; and helping each other out whenever you can. I will never forget the lengths that Jayhawk Nation spreads across this country and this world; and who knows, perhaps someday, this universe! Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! And thanks to all of our past, present and students for making Jayhawk Nation the greatest of them all! — Joci Hansen is a sophomore from Deil Rapids, SD. HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR LETTER GUIDELINES Send letters to kansanopdesk@gmail.com. Write LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the e-mail subject line. Length: 300 words The submission should include the author's name, grade and hometown. Find our full letter to the editor policy online at kansas.com/cletters. Ian Cummings, editor 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com Lisa Cunning, managing editor 864-4810 or lcurandi@kansan.com Jon Samp, opinion editor 864-4928 or jaamp@kansan.com Garrett bent, business manager 846-3358 or glen@manus.com Korland Earl, sales manager 844-4777 or linda@manus.com CONTACT US Malcolm Gibson, general manager and news adviser 864-7687 or mighton@kansan.com Jon Schlitt, sales and marketing adviser 864-7666 or schlitt@kansan.com THE EDITORIAL BOARD Members of the Renaissance Board are Ian Cummings, Lisa Curran; Jon Samp; Angela Hawkins and Ryan Schichtenz.