Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
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PAGE 1B
Self, players address brawl, related behavior
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
At 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Men's head basketball coach Bill Self and a few of his players addressed the media regarding the dispute earlier this week between basketball and football team members.
Sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor, who dislocated his thumb in the scuffe Tuesday night, is ashamed and apologetic for his actions.
"I am embarrassed about the situation," he said. "It was a situation none of us should have got ourselves into. We embarrassed our campus, our university, our team- both teams. It's a situation that shouldn't have happened. Looking back at it, I feel it was stupid. I wish I could take it back."
He was not the only one taking responsibility for the stir. Senior guard Sherron Collins was also aware preventative actions could have ended the quarrel.
"It was a group of individuals on both sides who let egos and pride get involved in something that could have been resolved and made something small become big," he said.
Lots of questions were raised about Taylor's inappropriate Facebook status updates, and he confirmed he quotes song lyrics and has been for months. None of the quotes he posted, Taylor said, were directed toward any football player.
"I made some comments that I shouldn't have made," he said. "It wasn't my intention on it being bad but that's how it was taken."
As far as more disputes in the future, the players hope to have it behind them. In a meeting with
@KANSAN.COM
To read Dick Vitale's reaction about the quarrel between teams, read The Full Monty.
The FULL MONTY
football and basketball players held by athletic director Lew Perkins Wednesday, Collins said both parties "let everything go."
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Self acknowledged Taylor's actions were wrong. He knows him as somebody contrary to what the last few days have displayed.
"For him to be portrayed as anything other than a good kid, that really made an ignorant play on doing that with his Facebook," Self said. "I
think would totally be inaccurate."
Junior Center Cole Aldrich was just as high on Taylor's character.
Self would not elaborate on any disciplinary actions, but made one thing clear about the situation.
"Tyshawn is one of the guys on the team that everybody loves," he said. "There's not one guy on the team you can't go up to, from the top to the bottom, and say What do you think about Tyshawn? They say 'You know what? He's a fun guy'."
Self flew in Wednesday night to deal with the dispute, cutting short a recruiting trip. He said it wasn't the fact Taylor was injured that was upsetting. It was the fact Taylor put himself in the position.
"I will tell you this," he said, "We are taking it very seriously."
Edited by Abby Olcese
Senior guard Sherron Collins, junior center Cole Aldrich and sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor (from left) answer questions about the scuffle between the basketball and football team on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Taylor addressed the issue about a Facebook comment saying that they were only lyrics to a song.
FOOTBALL
Tough guys
Cornerbacks face exposure that can open them up to scrutiny.
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
As soon as it happened two years ago — as soon as Aqib Talib picked off the pass and high-stepped into the end zone on that strangely cool night in Miami — the play settled into a part of Kansas football lore.
That it happened on national television, for all to see, in the tradition-rich Orange Bowl made it highlight-worthy. What happened later made it classic and illuminated the mind set of football's most brash position: cornerback.
On the field after Kansas' 24-21 victory against Virginia Tech, Talib, who now plays on Sundays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, erupted into a soliloquy backed by an ever-apparent belief in his own abilities.
"That's why he's playing in the NFL," cornerbacks coach Je'Ney Jackson said.
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 5B
COMMENTARY
Students should take advantage of fitness opportunities on campus
know about the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. Chief among these unknown facts is the offered service of personal training. The fair price of $24 will get a first time participant a fitness assessment and one hour session. Returning students are able to sign up packaged deals at a reduced price. The personal trainers are certified by the American Council on Exercise. Being certified, trainers at the recreation facility are allowed
even as a fifth-year senior there are things I didn't know about the Ambler
to dispense advice on nutrition, proper form and technique.
Other notable services at the recreation facility are fitness classes.
Just like personal training, these classes are led by students who have gone through certification and training to be eligible to work at the facility. Some classes offered are meant to refuel and recharge the mind as much as the body. For instance, yoga and pilates are taught on Mondays and are great ways to stretch and lengthen tired muscle fibers.
However, those students looking for a sweat will find plenty of classes to tire them out. A new class this fall, cardio cross train,
puts participants through interval strength training mixed with high and low intensities of cardio. Or the internationally popular zumba class may get people's feet moving to latin and pop beats.
I have to admit, I had always known that students could swim to get exercise but I never knew what times students were able to use the swimming facility. Unfortunately, some students may not even know where one can swim recreationally. The facility in question is Robinson Gymnasium which is
located behind the tennis courts on Naismith Drive. Swim hours are open to students and faculty: Monday through Friday 5:30 p.m.
to 8:45 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 2:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Avid recreational swimmers should take note to check with the facility ahead of time because swim meets take place there.
Anyone who would take a stroll through the Ambler Fitness Center should take notice of fun diversions like table tennis set-ups, two racquetball courts and the popular basketball court. Also worth mentioning is a martial arts studio where members of sports clubs like judo and karate practice their craft.
At a school where sports excellence is celebrated and well-entrenched in its history, it's refreshing to know that there is workout facility where everyone can feel like a champion.
— Edited by Megan Morriss