4A SPORTS
COACH (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
"I don't know if that's what you wanted to hear but that's the way I see it. That's the difference between winning and losing in a lot of cases. It's also the difference in a coach
keeping his job and being fired"
In case you're wondering how one of Kansas football's most recognizable figures can so unabashedly support the same school that fired him — twice — Fambrough says it's not hard.
Sure, there were times when he was frustrated with the hand he was dealt as a head coach. But that's well past him now, only remaining as a distant memory.
After all, Fambrough said, he's still a Jawhawk.
"This is the team and the school that I dearly love. I wouldn't ever want to be anywhere else."
"I always say that I'm probably the only coach that ever got fired twice from the same school," Fambrough said. "And that's not a record that you want to have. Has that turned me against the University? No, absolutely not."
--part of KU football for so long." Cantrell said. "If you met him once, he remembered your name. It didn't matter what position you were. You were there, you were wearing the
For a couple days a few years back, something wasn't right. There were pads, whistles blowing and football players zigzagging across the field. From an outsider's perspective, it looked much the same as any other practice.
But it wasn't.
Ryan Cantrell said something — or rather, someone — was missing. Fambrough, who Cantrell said nearly suffered a heat stroke during an exceptionally hot stretch of weather, wasn't able to attend practice that week.
DON FAMBROUGH Former coach
"It's just weird when he's not out there because he's been such a big
uniform and he loved you for that."
Cantrell stepped onto Kansas' campus six years ago with little perspective. He was a Texas boy who knew little about Kansas vs. Missouri, about any rivalries really, and back then he didn't really care.
Then Cantrell met Fambrough perhaps the most passionate participant of the Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri.
For years, Fambrough has delivered a pregame motivational message before the Jayhawks play the Tigers. And with each year the tales
of Fambroughs talks grows a little more.
"His speeches before Missouri are absolutely legendary," Cantrell said. "He called me out one year and he was saying, 'Dammit Cantrell, it was your damn uncle that came
over here and burned down this city!"
Added Allen, who also allowed Fambrough to speak before Missouri games: "It sent goose bumps up and down everyone who listened to him. He has a great passion for the rivalry and a great love for Kansas. He could have convinced you that Quantrill played for Missouri."
Kansas' players during practice.
On most days, though, Fambrough is more than happy to be on the sideline, simply observing
But there's more to the story than a love for football.
For Fambrough, who has been so heavily involved in football throughout his life — and who has been long removed from his coaching days — the ability to remain around the game means more than simply watching football.
"For an old man and an old coach, that means a lot," Fambrough said. "This is the team and the school that I dearly love. I wouldn't ever want to be anywhere else. From somebody coming from Texas, that's speaking pretty good words."
"He had that ability to bring you along and really make you feel like you were home."
While Fambrough is walking back toward Memorial Stadium one morning, a man in a Kansas football shirt walks up and introduces himself.
The man is giddy, saying it's a pleasure to meet such a Kansas football legend. He then points to
RYAN CANTRELL
Former offensive
lineman
a nearby apartment complex.
"If you're here before the game Coach, you're more than welcome to stop by our tailgate if you want," the man says.
Fambrough laughs, pats the man on the back and graciously says he'll be there on Saturday. 'It's all
part of the connection between Fambrough and the football program.
"The way that he portrays being a Kansan, it's almost like 'we'll take anybody,' That's the mind-set of the whole football team," Cantrell said. "As soon as you're there, you're a Kansan, you're a Jayhawk. He had that ability to bring you along and really make you feel like you were home."
Edited by Betsy Cutcliff
NBA
Knicks hope to make run at free agents like LeBron
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Mike D'Antoni could be forgiven if he sometimes catches himself daydreaming of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire executing the perfect pick-and-roll.
When he opens them again, he sees a New York Knicks team that is given little chance of winning big this season.
Yet D'Antoni vows to stay patient and positive.
"You have to have a plan," D'Antoni said Wednesday.
The plan Mike D'Antoni alluded to was the Knicks' game of being in
position to make a run at LeBron James or some other free agent next summer, when a deep class of free agents will be available. To do that, they traded away their top two scorers, then did little to upgrade this summer, choosing to save their money instead.
Associated Press
However, the boot camp is not all doom and gloom. Senior guard Mario Little provides much needed humor. Reed said Little's stomach does not respond well to mornings. He will occasionally visit the bathroom during practice and have to make up the sprints he missed.
"It just cracks me up because Mario's always got some ailment or something not feeling right with his stomach." Reed said.
The intense and early mornings also take a toll on the team's energy during the day. Most have early classes and few have time for midday rests. With a tumultuous freshman schedule as well as tutoring, Johnson found a way to sneak in his first nap Tuesday and he found it accomplished very little.
"If you know Mario, he's a funny character," Morningstar said. "He'll say some off the wall stuff that you won't expect which makes everyone start laughing."
"Today was the first time I was able to go take a nap for about 40 minutes and I don't feel like I went to sleep," he said. "It felt like I just blinked and got right back to the day."
Senior guard Sherron Collins, freshman guard Xavier Henry and sophomore forward Marcus Morris have all impressed their teammates so far, but the boot camp has yet to yield any significant standouts. The whole team is standing out together.
"I think everyone has had a good two days," Morningstar said. "There's not one player that's holding us down."
The above statements have not been evaluated by The Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
CAMP (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
Sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor hits an off-balance jumper banking it off the glass in a game last year. The team started boot camp this week.
Edited by Megan Morriss
Weston White/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Bradshaw joins injured list
NFL
New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw jumps over Washington Redskins safety Reed Doolough during a game Sunday. Bradshaw is suffering from an injured knee.
With 10 players already on their injury report, coach Tom Coughlin found a new name on the list Wednesday: backup hallback Ahmad Bradshaw, who rushed for 104 yards in New York's 24-0 win over Tampa Bay this past weekend.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The banged-up New York Giants have another injury to worry about.
Bradshaw walked to practice wearing a boot on his right foot to protect sprains to his ankle and foot. He did not work out.
It's an old college injury, Bradshaw said, remembering his initial injury — a high ankle sprain — came on a toss play during his freshman year at Marshall.
"You know what. I have played through a lot of pain during college, when I first injured it." Bradshaw said. "I have just been able to do that ever since. It always
hurts during the game. There is a lot of pounding in the game, somebody might fall on it a different way."
Bradshaw said the injury forced him to miss two games as a freshman, but he has dealt with the pain ever since.
If that's the case, free agent Gartrell Johnson would back up Jacrell. He was signed a week into the season after Danny Ware dislocated his elbow on the opening kickoff in the season opener.
"I do a lot of cutting and I am always on the edge of my feet and it is a lingering thing for a running back," said Bradshaw, adding the pain he was feeling Wednesday was nothing compared to what he felt in college.
While the Giants remain optimistic Bradshaw will play, the reality is that most players who have missed practice this season have not played on Sundays.
Building a Healthier Lawrence
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
1:00-3:00 pm
Lawrence Arts Center
Free & Open to the Public
For more information visit www.livewelllawrence.org
First 100 attendees get $10 tokens to spend at the Downtown Lawrence Farmer's Market!
Mark Fenton
A persuasive, entertaining walking and bicycling advocate, Fenton hosts the PBS series "America's Walking" and helps communities across America launch public initiatives to encourage more walking and bicycling.
PRESENTED BY:
Sara Snow
Green Living expert Sara Snow is a TV host and author who serves on the board of directors of The Organic Center. She travels the country presenting practical, effective ways for communities to promote healthy, sustainable eating
Kansas Health Foundation
Douglas
County
Community
Foundation