Wednesday, October 11, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Letters
Negative responses not representative of K-State
I read last Friday's column in the Kansan about the Kansas State game. As a K-State alum, I would like to think that the e-mails you received after last year's column were not real K-Staters, but some simple-minded Nebraskan posing as a 'Cat. But I realize there are a few, probably from both universities, whose family tree does not have any branches on it, and those people have to be taken as who they are and not as representative of the entire student-fan-alumni base of each school.
I also would like to assure you that the vast majority of K-State fans do not preach violence against the media, unless your name is Brent Musberger or Terry Bowden. I truly enjoy the light-hearted exchange before the annual Sunflower Showdown and most of us see it for what it is — fun. Please tell the columnist of this year's exchange that most K-Stater's realize it's in fun, so please, bring on the trash talk!
Dee Warren
Salina
School rivalry should be bold in the spirit of fun
I am a 41-year-old hybrid: K-State undergraduate and KU law school graduate. You need to know that I bleed purple, especially in football season, and used to hate everything about KU and Lawrence. Then I spent three years there and came away feeling that KU and Lawrence (or the "Flaw on the Kaw," as my Dad used to say) were not really that bad after all.
I have three daughters and if they were to tell me that they want to attend KU instead of K-State, I would tell them to go ahead.
I read the column before the K-State game and couldn't have agreed more. The rivalry is supposed to be fun. That's what a rivalry is. That's why I read the *Kansan* that day: to see what was being said.
How boring is it if nothing inflammatory is written? Back in my day, it seemed that the rivalry was a little more rabid, perhaps because both teams stunk, but all the taunting seemed to be in fun.
There were some great signs hanging all across Lawrence when K-State came to town and vice versa in Manhattan. My personal favorite from Lawrence was, "K-State: where men are men and sheep are nervous."
But I digress. Back to the point.
Keep trying to keep the rivalry alive.
Keep stirring the pot. But be nice.
David Rogers
K-State Class of '81
KU Law Class of '81
Column is welcome fuel for traditional rivalry
First of all, smile!
As a Wildcat alumnus, I have always enjoyed the rivalry between KU and Kansas State. Shawn Linenberger's column last Friday in the K-State Collegian was quite the piece of work. There were only two truths in it, the advantage you gave to K-State in the two rather intagible areas, but the rest, as usual in the spirit of the rivalry, you totally distort or misrepresent
But more importantly, I enjoyed the reading. Glad to see this thing being carried on. Nothing like keeping the showdown in perspective, or lack of it in your case.
Keep it up! It's all in vain, but keep it up!
John Rodriguez Peoria, Arizona.
School rivalry kept alive with T-shirt collection
Shawn, I enjoyed your column and opinion. I attended K-State from '84 to '88, and yes, I do still have a "I'm a Stan Fan" button, a Lee "Moon the Sooners" homecoming shirt and a "You can beat our Wildcats but you'll never Lick our Dickey" shirt as well. I love the rivalry. Oh, I forgot to mention that I also attended the Toilet Bowl tie between our teams back when we went 10-1-1, and I also breathed the tear gas at the Aggieville riot. I'm wearing Wranglers right now.
Darin J. Hoover Little Rock, Ark.
Fan thinks Kansan column displayed respect, pride
Hello, my name is Eric Stafford and I am a junior in public relations at Kansas State University. I am writing regarding the written article by Seth Jones in the *Kansan* last Wednesday about the KU/K-State rivalry.
My girlfriend of two years goes to KU, and I get to see the best of both worlds as the saying goes. I am not writing to badmouth the University of Kansas nor the writers at the Kansan. I am writing because I thought that last Wednesday's page was a great display of respect, courage and pride and
I would like to commend you for that.
I remember clearly how upset I was after I read the article last year as Mr. Jones appeared as a guest columnist in our paper. As my girlfriend read the article that appeared in today's paper to me, I found myself with a great feeling of respect for Mr. Jones. In fact, just the other day, a writer from our school wrote an article about the KU/K-State rivalry and I was just as upset as I was last year. It wasn't just the fun trash-talking that fans do. The writer took the same cheap shots toward us last year, such as stereotyping students and listing "10 ways that KU students are jealous of us." I can only think of one, our football team. I don't want the memories of my college years to consist of the ignorance that plagues many of the students who I attend this prestigious institution with. I am willing to bet that most of our students don't go to Lawrence on a regular basis, so they really don't have an idea what they are writing about. It is all stereotypes on both sides.
It takes a lot of strength to write what you did, Mr. Jones, and I commend you for that. Maybe the small number of us that sees the world the way that you and I do can fix the way our rivalry is played out. I think that something needs to change because it is the best damn rivalry in the whole country.
Whoever receives this, I would like to get a reply just to make sure that me and my fellow Wildcats are heard. Thank you for the article.
Kindest Regards.
Eric Stafford K-State junior
'Cats fan thinks column supported stereotypes
I hesitate to write you because by doing this, I'm giving you exactly what you want: a response.
1. K-State = Hick school.
I'm only going to comment on a few things about Shawn Linenberger's column on Friday.
If you are going to bust out the stereotypes, then let's not forget the Phish-following, acid-dropping, rainbow-happy, liberal hippies running around in Lawrence. I'll take a tobacco-chewing K-State girl any day of the week.
You slip this into your column ever so craftily. I bet you assumed KU would beat Southern Methodist too, right?
2. Nebraska = Big 12 North Champ
Ok, this is just bad journalism. It's "Every Man a Wildcat."
3. "Everyone a Wildcat."
I remember what home field advantage did for KU on a wet, rainy day two years ago. I doubt Zac Wegner remembers anything at all from that day. Is it still considered a home game when the stands are filled with the visiting team's colors? I was just wondering.
4. Memorial Stadium = KU advantage.
5. KU has played a top-15 team. They can add getting spanked by a top 5 team to their resume after Saturday.
Jeff Elliott K-State senior
'Hawks disappointing with poor sportsmanship
To the school down I-70: Another Sunflower Showdown in the books, and although history is on KU's side for the total number of victories in the history of the event, it's time to look to the future. As a Wildcat alumni, I know the competitive spirit between the two schools in everything between the two schools — not just football.
But there is a difference between our football team and yours. In interviews after the game, Wildcat players had good things to say about the KU team, which played much better against us this year than last. They didn't say it was easy, or that Kansas was a terrible team. Respecting one's opponent is a sign of a class-act program — one Bill Snyder has built from the ground up.
However, I saw several interviews with KU football players who said the Jayhawks should have won, and that KState is not a high-caliber team. In my book, I'd call them sore losers. It takes courage for a player to admit he or she was outplayed on the field, apparently something Kansas has failed to admit for some time now. What concerned me the most was how the Kansas players have somehow fallen into the "victim mentality" when it comes to their losses.
"We should have been able to get it into the end zone."
"We could have made those catches."
"If we would have done this or that."
Could have / should have / would have. If you should have been doing it, then correct your mistakes and execute your game plan.
Everyone has mentioned the weak K-State non-conference schedule. Well, we're into conference play, and we are 2-0, both wins being sizable margins, and both on the road. And something
about K-State, each week they fine tune the plays and get better and better.
As for the comments about not being a national champion contender, I'd say our chances of getting to the big game in January are better than KU's basketball team getting past the second round of March Madness.
But the best thing that could happen for the state of Kansas would be for both schools to work on their other sport — K-State on basketball and KU on football.
As for the rest of the season for KU give 'em hell and hope you make it to a bowl game! As the Wildcats bowl bound for sure — and with recent losses in the Southeast Conference, our chances for the Bowl Championship Series Big Dance are getting better.
Adam Galyon K-State class of 1996
'Cats should have kept Ahearn and school spirit
Shawn
Being a student at K-State and a Wildcat fan, I can't say as though I agree with your prediction for Saturday's game, but I would like to agree with you on one point—"the mistake known as Bramlage Coliseum." I know that it won't mean a great deal to you coming from a stupid K-State freshman, but thank you for pointing out what is painfully obvious to everyone in the state except the "powers that be" at K-State.
Notice the connection between K-State's last highly competitive basketball team 1987-88 (also the year Kansas won the national title), and the last year playing in traditional Ahearn Fieldhouse.
Coincidence? I think not. For all its niceties, Bramlage has no atmosphere, and any home court advantage is gone. If K-State was smart it would move back into Ahearn and blow up Bramlage. If KU's administration has anything between its ears at all, it will continue play in Allen Fieldhouse until the place literally falls in on top of Roy Williams and his team (maybe K-State would have a shot against KU that year).
Sorry to waste your time, but I thought your article was interesting and well written, except for the sub liminal messages about silos and chewing tobacco, and of course your prediction for the game. It was nice to see that someone else agrees with me about Bramlage.
Grant Helmers K-State freshman
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