Volume 124 Issue 128
kansan.com
Thursday, April 5, 2012
COMMENTARY
Reality not quite as crazy
Sports are woven deep in the fabric of society because they're an escape from reality. People who love sports love them because they're a captivating form of entertainment. We support entertainment that resonates with us — whether it's watching our hometown team, our school's sports teams, our favorite players and coaches, etc.
Sports have a way of getting the best of our emotions, and that was evident in Lexington, Ky., during Final Four weekend when students and fans committed heinous acts such as flipping cars over, burning couches and firing guns. Several people were injured and arrested after Kentucky's wins Saturday and Monday night.
One man required amputation after he was shot in the foot Monday night after Kentucky beat Kansas to win the NCAA National Championship.
Rioting after a game is an inexcusable act of incivility, but to riot after your favorite team wins a game is inexplicable and, quite frankly, stupid. Even though rioting after a sports game is as nonsensical as streaking, rioting after your team loses makes more sense than rioting after your team wins. Regardless, sports and rioting don't belong together.
I applaud the majority of Kansas fans who handled the loss Monday night gracefully. Losing in the National Championship game hurts, but Kansas fans took the loss in stride and turned a negative into a positive by showing united school pride.
Other aspects of life exist beyond sports. Sports are just games and sheer entertainment. Sports can be a way of life, but not the way of life. Your life, which consists of family, relationships, finances, sustenance and career aspirations, is more important than whether or not your team wins a ball game.
Kentucky basketball fans, similar to Kansas basketball fans, are enormously supportive. Kansas fans are passionate, but Kentucky fans; they're obsessed.
The Kentucky basketball players and coaches deserve the NCAA National Championship, but the Kentucky basketball fans don't deserve it, even though it's only a pittance of bad apples that ruined a good tree. Their classless acts during Final Four weekend in Lexington, Ky, are an embarrassment to sports and society.
Edited by Jeff Karr
How the Kansas fans and the Kentucky fans conducted themselves after their wins in the semi-finals reflect on their universities, local communities and athletic programs. For example, in Lawrence, when Kansas fans stormed Massachusetts Street Saturday night, they high-fived police officers and took photographs with them, but in Lexington, fans threw beer bottles at the officers.
I had respect for Kentucky basketball fans because they adore their team and will do whatever they can to support it, but I lost it after Final Four weekend because of the violent, despicable and unjustifiable riots. Basketball is not life or death, but Kentucky basketball fans believe otherwise — just ask the fan who lost his foot all because of a sports game. My life shouldn't be endangered when watching a ball game.
NEW RANKINGS RELEASED Where the Jayhawks might stand next year PAGE 8
FLYING SOUTH
MOVING FORWARD
ANDREW JOSEPH
ajoseph@kansan.com
The University of Tulsa introduced former Kansas assistant coach Danny Manning as the program's 29th head coach on Wednesday.
Manning first served as an assistant coach under Bill Self in 2007, and he will return to the program that Self took to the Elite Eight in 2000. Self's opinion of the Tulsa basketball program was a key factor in Manning's decision to leave Lawrence.
"The more I spoke with coach Self about the opportunity of coming to TU and being a part of this rich tradition, it became a nobrainer," Manning said. "To get a job of this magnitude — as my first job — is unbelievable."
When it came time for Tulsa athletic director Ross Parmley and the search committee to find a replacement for newly hired College of Charleston head coach Doug Wojcik, Manning's resume jumped out immediately.
Woicik left Tulsa as the program's winningest coach with a 140-92 record, but he never took
Manning's history and pedigree as a player made him a popular target for coaching jobs around the country, but Tulaa was ultimately the right fit. Since taking over a coaching role in 2007, Manning has coached five NBA forwards at Kansas with Thomas Robinson likely being his sixth.
"His 15 years in the NBA combined with the last nine years under one of the best coaches in the country have helped mold him into a great teacher and coach of basketball," Parmley said. He most definitely brings the excitement, the style of basketball and character that we were looking for in our head coach."
"It's a process, and we understand that," Manning said. "But we're going to put our best foot forward, build and work every day, like I said. Hopefully when you count them up at the end, we have the right number to be there."
Tulsa finished the 2011-12 season with a 17-14 record, and the Golden Hurricane did not make any postseason appearance. Manning is immediately faced with the task of bringing high-level talent to Tulsa. Manning said that he doesn't think name recognition would play any role in immediately attracting recruits, but it might be a way to start conversations.
the Golden Hurricane to the NCAA Tournament in seven seasons at the helm. Manning would like to see that streak end right away.
In his time at Kansas, Manning worked almost exclusively as a mentor to the big men, but he said that the Golden Hurricane will look to play an up-tempo, transition style of play.
"We're going to be respectful young men and humble, but hungry," Manning said "Hungry to get better as young men and as individuals on the team committed to one goal, which is going out and representing TU to the highest honor that we can."
Manning's departure from the Kansas coaching staff leaves Self with the task of finding a replacement, but the Kansas coach couldn't be happier for his long-time protégé.
Edited by Christine Curtin
"He'll represent the school in a first-class way." Self said. "He'll recruit good kids that can play and he'll coach their tails off. He'll have Tulaa competing for championships in a very short time. I personally think it will be a great marriage for both parties."
CONTRIBUTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
Danny Manning made his first appearance at the University of Tulsa as the new basketball coach. Manning has been Bill Self's assistant coach since 2007.
FOOTBALL
Vacation over for football team
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
PLAYERS PUT ON THE PADS
The Kansas men's football team will wear pads for the third time this spring as it resumes practices Thursday after having Wednesday off. Thursday will be the Jayhawks' fifth spring practice after they started conditioning the Monday after Spring Break. Weis announced via Twitter that he was giving the team Good Friday off from practice because of a physical week that they had endured. The players will be in full pads for the rest of the spring, except for the April 13 practice. Instead of full pads, players will wear only helmets and shoulder pads.
PLAYERS PRACTICE INSIDE MEMORIAL STADIUM
For the season's third practice, the Jayhawks worked inside of Memorial Stadium. The move from the practice field was because the team hosted recruits on campus for "Junior Day." The Saturday practice marked the first time the team practiced in full pads this spring and under coach Charlie Weis.
COACH WEIS RETURNS FROM NEW ORLEANS
Wels returned from New Orleans Tuesday. After Monday's practice, he flew down to support the men's basketball team in the National Championship game.
Since he was hired in December, Weis has been very supportive of the basketball program. He has attended many games and frequently tweeted support for both the men's and women's teams throughout their NCAA tournament runs.
Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Julius Green has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules. He was a first team all-district, all-area and all-city selection his senior year of high school. Green redshirted last season.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
DISMISSED FROM TEAM
DEFENSE WILL PLAY
A BASE 4-3
At his press conference last week, Weis announced the defense listed in the initial depth chart was a 4-3 base defense. He said this does not mean they will always play with four down linemen and three linebackers, but that they will also show some different formations. Most of the time, though, the personnel on the field will translate into the 4-3.
MAURA SWITCHES POSITIONS
Sophomore Brian Maura is the only player to switch from one side on the ball to the other now that Weis and his staff have moved him from receiver to safety this spring. Maura played in four
The Jayhawks are still waiting to hear if the NCAA will grant sophomore receiver Justin McCay a waiver that allows him to play immediately. McCay transferred to Kansas from Oklahoma in January. In last week's press conference, Weis said he was informed that the case would be presented before the caseworker left his office last Thursday. The Jayhawks should have the result soon. If McCay's waiver request is granted, he will be allowed to play immediately. If he isn't, he will have to sit out one year before being able to play for the Jayhawks.
FOUR PLAYERS LIMITED IN THE SPRING
STILL WAITING ON MCCAY DECISION
Sophomore running back Brandon Bourbon, junior defensive tackles John Williams and Kevin Young and Maura will be limited during this spring practice season. Weis said at last week's press conference that none of the players are out for the spring, but will be limited in the contact drills.
games last season, mostly on special teams. He returned one kick for 16 yards against Missouri after redshirting his freshman season.
Edited by Christine Curtin
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Running back James Sims swiftly moves to avoid getting tackled. Coach Weis has been changing things up during spring practices this semester.
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