Kansas basketball players experience holiday blues
By David Gerhardt Special to the Kansan
At least one student at the University of Kansas knows when a holiday doesn't feel like a holiday.
It was the first time in Sanford's life that she couldn't spend extended time with her family for the holidays.
"It's absolutely so quiet here," said Nakia Sanford, Lithonia, Ga., sophomore and member of the women's basketball team. "It doesn't even feel like a holiday here because it's so dead."
"I was used to being back home with my family," Sanford said. "But here I have a different family."
Heather Fletcher, Wichita freshman, will experience what Sanford felt last year. She won't be able to enjoy all of her winter break at home because of basketball as well. Already, Fletcher has thought about what she will miss at home.
Unlike most students, Sanford and her teammates can't go home and enjoy all of the holiday break because of games scheduled during the holidays. Members of the women's team remain in Lawrence for most of the break. However, that doesn't stop some from making a quick trip home.
"It was really hard when I went home for Christmas last year," Sanford said. "I was home for about three days. That's just enough time to eat and do laundry."
"Our neighborhood has had the most lights for five years," Fletcher said. "We've been on the news before because of it. We also like to donate food for the homeless, and my dad always dresses up as Santa Claus."
Fletcher said that she would be able to spend a little bit of time at home, however. The day after Kansas' game at Connecticut on Dec.21, she will fly home to Wichita. Just four days later, she will fly to Philadelphia where Kansas will play in a tournament sponsored by St. Joseph University.
"I'll just be home long enough for some home cooking," Fletcher said. "I don't think I'll be able to get my laundry on the plane though."
Despite facing a short stay at home, Fletcher said she was glad she would be back on campus playing basketball.
"If I wasn't, I'd do nothing but sit at home and eat," Fletcher said. "It's really a good thing I'm playing ball or I'd be really unproductive."
Although Sanford wasn't able to see her old friends for as long as she would have liked, she did enjoy traveling with her teammates.
"We had some games out in California last year during break," Sanford said. "We didn't want to come home after our trip out there."
But Sanford and her teammates won't have that chance this year. Besides playing in Philadelphia and Storrs, Conn., the Jayhawks have scheduled games in Ames, Iowa, and Lawrence.
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Holiday On The Hill
The Hill December 5,1996