Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Student attendance at UA game surprises Self

By Gary Bedore

Advertisement

Drama on the hardwood

On Sunday night Kansas survived Arizona in overtime. The game, however, narrowly missed being decided in regulation in one of the most dramatic endings in Allen Fieldhouse history.

B-Rush steps in to save Jayhawks

Twelve minutes in his first game back, 16 minutes in game two and 36 minutes last night. So much for the slow and gradual return of Kansas guard Brandon Rush.

At least 1,000 Kansas University students missed a highly competitive, marquee college basketball game Sunday night.

The northwest corner of Allen Fieldhouse - normally packed with enthusiastic KU students - was empty for No. 4-rated KU's 76-72 overtime victory over Arizona.

The Wildcats entered 3-1 and unranked, yet still boasted one of the country's top players in Chase Budinger and a budding star in Jerryd Bayless.

And on the revenge front, Arizona defeated the Jayhawks the last time the powers met in 2005 in Maui and also handed KU one of its most bitter losses in school history - in the Sweet 16 of the 1997 NCAA Tournament.

"To be candid, it was disappointing to our players. They pointed to this as THE nonconference game of the season, and there were fewer students than any game since I've been here," fifth-year Jayhawk coach Bill Self said.

He first discussed the student no-shows when asked about it on his Hawk Talk radio show, then expounded in a phone interview after the broadcast. He spoke in a matter-of-fact, not angry tone.

"The students that were there were great, absolutely great. I'm not saying anything bad about our students," Self said. "A lot of people (schools) wish they'd have as many as we had.

"But the game being Arizona and our players pointing to it as THE nonconference home game of the season ... obviously some of the student body didn't feel the same way.

"It's the smallest turnout of students for a game since I've been here. It was kind of frustrating," Self continued. "We had more students for the Northern Arizona game when the dorms were closed for Thanksgiving than for Arizona."

Self wants to make it clear he's not down on the students, just disappointed they skipped Sunday night's game.

"They'll come," Self said, referring to remaining games, including Wednesday's 7 p.m. clash against ex-Jayhawk Rex Walters' Florida Atlantic squad.

"I think a lot had to do with the timing of the game. It tells me Saturday wore out a lot of people. I was tired, and I watched it (Kansas-Missouri football game) on TV. A lot of people started at 10 a.m. (Saturday) and were rolling until 1 or 2 at night. Our players understood there were some reasons for it, but still were disappointed."

KU isn't the only school that has had some students skip out on games.

ESPN recently reported that more than half the home games at Duke last season were played before empty seats in the student sections. The fact students now have their IDs swiped electronically - instead of having a season pass - may have cut down on students giving tickets to friends on the nights they don't want to attend.

"We have great fans. Our students are fantastic. I love our fans," Self said. "I do hope that future games will be full. We have the best building in America, hands down. When our building is good (full and loud) most people say it's better than anywhere."

¢

Injury update: Freshman guard Tyrel Reed, who was injured in the closing seconds of the first half Sunday, suffered a sprained right ankle and is currently listed as day-to-day, Self said Monday.

The injury occurred under the basket as the clock expired in the first half. Reed was caught under senior Darnell Jackson, who elevated to swat a shot just before the buzzer.

"He (Reed) was better today. No way he would have been able to practice today," said Self, who gave his team the day off. "I don't know yet what his status will be for Wednesday."

Sherron Collins, who had surgery Nov. 12 to repair a stress fracture in his right foot, has had his cast removed. He'll have his foot in a boot this week and gradually will begin cardio workouts, Self said. Collins is expected to return to action in late December.

¢

Rex coming to town: Walters' Florida Atlantic team will take a 1-5 record into Wednesday's game at Allen. The Owls, who fell at UMKC, 77-66, on Monday, have played a rugged schedule, also losing to Rhode Island (90-63), Boston College (68-62), South Florida (100-69) and Cleveland State (77-66), while beating Stetson (68-62).

"Rex was so fast, so tough and competitive," Self said of Walters, a 1993 KU graduate. "I was at Oklahoma State at the time. At OSU, we had Corey Williams, the fastest player in the league. Rex was just as fast.

"He was just a fabulous player. I'm sure it will be thrilling to Rex to bring his team to Allen Fieldhouse where he had so many good memories. I hope we acknowledge him in pre-game introductions to let him know how much we respect what he did at KU."

¢

KU helps Big 12's cause: KU's victory over Arizona not only made the Jayhawks the winner of the round-robin Jayhawk Invitational, but gave the Big 12 a 1-0 record in the Big 12-Pac 10 Hardwood Series.

Other games in the challenge between the two conferences: Thursday: Oregon at Kansas State, Oklahoma at USC; Dec. 1: Washington at Oklahoma State, Missouri at California; Dec. 2: Arizona State at Nebraska, Stanford at Colorado, Texas A&M at Arizona, Texas at UCLA; Dec. 22: Texas Tech v. Stanford.

KU will play USC on Sunday in Los Angeles in a game not considered part of the challenge.

"It was important for our league to win that game," Self said of the Arizona game. "Since most of the authorities feel it (Pac 10) is the toughest conference in America, it'd be great for our league to show well against them."

¢

Budinger shines: Self on his radio show applauded the play of Chase Budinger against KU. The 6-foot-7 sophomore burned KU for 27 points off 10-of-23 shooting, including 6 of 12 3-pointers. He had six rebounds, two steals and five turnovers.

"Durant ... that's a different level," Self said of Texas' Kevin Durant, who had 32 against KU last year in Allen. "Other than Durant, who has really put on a better performance in the fieldhouse than Budinger did? He's good."

Comments

JuliansWright (anonymous) says...

Go back to paper tickets for the students and the problem is solved.

November 27, 2007 at 2:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

beakemhawks (anonymous) says...

Give me my paper tickets back.

November 27, 2007 at 2:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ttoulouse (anonymous) says...

I'd be more worried about the fans that the athletic department have "discovered" with their new policies in the center sections of the stands than the students. Watching the game on TV, I was extremely disappointed with how unenthusiastic the floor seats were when we were down/tied in the second half. I remember bitching at the same people during my tenure there but those people weren't THIS bad. Just because you paid more money to be there doesn't mean you're above getting loud for your team. Suck it up and help the team out a little.

As far as Self is concerned, he needs to start worrying more about the fact that this team has NO pure shooters. FT% and outside shooting is probably the worst I've ever seen for a KU squad. Recruiting athletes is necessary but you've got to get a few shooters every year too.

November 27, 2007 at 6:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

Dear ttoulouse (anonymous). The AD at KU is about money. If more fans mean more money, he will do it. If more money means less fans, he will do it. Forget it. If you are interested in American collegiate sports, read Walmarts balance sheet.

November 27, 2007 at 6:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

I don't see this turning into a trend. I think it was more of a perfect storm-type situation. Tough, late loss with football team, which numbed many fans, including myself, coupled with students coming back from a long weekend. Also, the game really wasn't that hyped due to continued success of football. And while I consider the students to be some of the best in the country, the fact is that many of them aren't that knowledgeable about the state of the game, so if a game isn't hyped that much, many of them can't grasp the significance. The fans will be back and as good as ever.

November 27, 2007 at 7:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KoolKeithFreeze (anonymous) says...

What is the purpose behind the electronic Third Reich ticketing system again? So that one student can't give his/her ticket to another student? I don't understand this. Someone please explain the Athletic Dept.'s reasoning for me. Appreciated...

November 27, 2007 at 7:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jacobpaul81 (anonymous) says...

You want to play to packed houses Bill? Don't bitch at the fans. Bitch at your craptastic, AD. Put the students down on the floor, and bump the jerkoff companies with front row seats back. There's more holes in Allen than in Swiss Cheese, thanks to Corporate Seating. That's a much bigger issue than students missing a game right after the biggest football game in KU history. It's saddening, everytime I turn on the tele to watch a game, to see that the seats right behind the team are empty.

November 27, 2007 at 8:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

The ID's are an attempt at preventing students from giving tickets to NONstudents. The tickets are easily transferrable to a fellow students ID. All you need is the person's ID who has the ticket, and your ID, and they will honor the ticket at the door. This prevents students from giving paper tickets to friends who aren't students when they don't want to attend games.

This will be happening soon with football, unfortunately. FU Lew.

Just another way to enable the over-selling of tickets.

November 27, 2007 at 8:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawker35 (anonymous) says...

The ID's make it very hard to transfer tickets. Sure, it's easy if you are giving the ticket to someone you know. You can meet them at the Fieldhouse to transfer the ticket or give them your KUID. But what if you don't know the person? Are you going to trust them with your KUID? I doubt it. The paper tickets could only be used by someone with a KUID. If a few of those tickets were given to students who recently graduated, so what? They were still paid for by the student, and it's better than having 1000 empty seats. More money isn't better for the school at all costs, especially if tradition and home-court advantage have to be sacrificed.

November 27, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

ttoulouse......I think you're over-stating the "poor outside shooting", don't you? One off game from the perimeter doesn't mean there's a huge problem.

Chalmers, Rush and Collins are all good outside shooters. RussRob has really improved his stroke. Tyrel and the walk-on from Rockhurst have both demonstrated that they can shoot the 3.

November 27, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

WilburNether (anonymous) says...

Jacobpaul81 wrote: "It's saddening, everytime I turn on the tele to watch a game, to see that the seats right behind the team are empty."

That is an outright falsehood. I have season tickets, on the opposite side of the floor, and attend every game. Those seats are full every game. Mindless rants do not contribute to intelligent discussion of a meaningful issue.

November 27, 2007 at 9:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

clintt (anonymous) says...

I also don't think this is a trend. Being in KC and not a student, I throw down hundreds (through scalpers) to go to one game a year. A guy I work with--huge KU fan--never gets to go at all but always watches on TV. I was shocked to find out he didn't even remember they were playing on Sunday. He caught the highlights on the news and then cussed himself for forgetting. My point is: a lot of fans were kinda still in a daze on Sunday. The sun and the moon and the stars all lined up and the result was a crappy turn out.

November 27, 2007 at 9:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wi_jayhawk (anonymous) says...

That walk-on's name would be Conner Teahan.
I would hope that crazy fans on this board would at least care to know that much. Especially when they are local boys.

November 27, 2007 at 9:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Roadkill_Rob (anonymous) says...

If the football team would've won, the Fieldhouse would've been packed.

Also, go back to paper tix...when I was a student, I went to a lot of games w/ tix passed along by friends. I'm sure this played into it for the AZ game as well, especially Thanksgiving weekend.

November 27, 2007 at 9:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

areyouserious (anonymous) says...

Jacobpaul81:

Well Said, couldn't agree more..........Perkins sold his KU soul a long time ago........actually I don't think he ever had one!

November 27, 2007 at 9:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sss4ever82 (anonymous) says...

I think people are also forgetting that Dane Cook was in town as well.

November 27, 2007 at 9:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

Im not really sure I understand here. You would rather have empty seats because someone that isnt an actual student might get the seat? If the man or woman is gonna wear blue and make noise, who cares if its a real student or a tourist from Bangkok? Am I missing something here?

November 27, 2007 at 9:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I was thinking the same thing, KU... but I wasn't going to humor it with a response. Glad you said something.

I hate that stupid term... "pure shooter". Can someone please define that? What makes someone pure? Do they have to be knighted or blessed with holy water or something? That's a rhetorical question, don't need to hear some BS about innate ability.

Everyone has the physical ability to shoot the ball. Some people are just better than others at it, there's nothing "pure" or "true" about it.

November 27, 2007 at 9:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

If KU students don't care to go then make more reserved tickets available to the public.

I would make the 45 minute drive from Lee's Summit to be there for every game if I could get reserved seats.

November 27, 2007 at 9:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Lew Perkins is alienating KU fans as fast as Steve Pederson alienated Nebraska fans. He should be fired and replaced by someone who cares about KU's tradition more than he cares about money.

November 27, 2007 at 10:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

Like the tradition of going 2-10 in football every year. Nope. Lew isnt going anywhere. KU athletics has been in desperate need of a fresh face since the Bob Frederick days and even before. Bob Frederick will go down as the Jimmy Carter of KU athletic directors.

November 27, 2007 at 10:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

caddie733 (anonymous) says...

I'm more concerned with the fact that premium seats get sold to the opponent's fans. Did anyone notice the row of AZ fans sitting right behind Franklin and Bilas? Nothing is more disconcerting than turning on ESPN to see a big, national tv game that should be showcasing the Fieldhouse, and then seeing that AZ fans are sitting right in camera view in the first row. How about the rich blowhards stop selling or giving tickets away? The one good thing about Duke is that they put the most important fans (not financially speaking, but in terms of passion and enthusiasm) front and center.

November 27, 2007 at 11:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk_Jerry (anonymous) says...

The way people bitch about Lou Perkins makes me laugh. All I hear is how he is money hungry and how he only cares about making it. What he cares about is the overall success of the athletic department. The basketball program actually makes less money in a year than the football program. So if you can get more money out of basketball to go towards the new football facilities, that down the line only helps the entire athletic department. Perkins is doing what every AD at every major school has done for years. KU is just behind the curve. He discovered where a major source of untapped income was for the department and he went after it. That doesn't mean he doesn't care about KU, in fact it shows that he cares more than his predecessors.

November 27, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

live4h2o (anonymous) says...

To ttoulouse (anonymous) on November 27, 2007 at 6:22 a.m.
Don't be suprised, when I was at KU during the mid 90s it was the same thing. We (the students) were always wondering why we didnt get those seats - a la Duke. It really has nothing to do with the change in seating policy or people with money. It is just the difference between people who want to watch a game, and people who want to participate as much as possible in a game.

November 27, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

All very good points on here. If I've noticed one thing in all of this debate, it's that I don't envy Lew one bit.

It's so hard to please everyone if you're Lew Perkins. It's clear that everything he's doing right now is being done to make $$. Well, when you are an Athletic Department competing with the likes of Texas and Oklahoma and Nebraska in the Big XII money-wise but without anywhere near the resources they have for generating $$, you have to resort to doing things that may piss people off, just the way it is right now.

One thing those three aforementioned schools have in common is a rich football tradition, and football is a proven cash cow for any university. Also, KU is a public state University, so they don't have the privileges of Duke or Baylor's tuition $$ coming in. Knowing that as well as knowing that college athletics is a business and must make money to stay afloat, what do you do????

There have been a number of decisions that I don't particularly agree with, but understand must be done in order to keep up with the jones' in our conference. My only hope is that someday soon our football team brings in a ton of $$ on it's own with sellout crowds and more luxury suites at Memorial, etc...so Lew can ease off on his policies and change things around to make the Basketball atmosphere what it used to be (i.e. allowing people who have had seats for years to have priority in choosing theirs, as opposed to businesses and corporations that we are forced to be nice to.)

One thing's for sure, KU has been one of the last in the BigXII in terms of Athletic budget for too long, and something had to give. It's unfortunate that all sides can't be happy, but in order to increase our budget and overall status of Athletics at KU this will have to continue for the forseeable future unless someone comes up with a better way to make $$ and keep everyone 100% happy.

November 27, 2007 at 11:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

pj_hawk4life (anonymous) says...

This game was sold out when i went to pick up my student tix...pretty ashamed that the people that had tickets didn't go when I was dying to be there but couldn't.

November 27, 2007 at 11:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

I think what people are missing here is that just because the venue is sold out doesn't mean that all ticket holders will show. Regardless of the reason, some people just can't make every game.

In the days of the paper ticket, those 'passes' could be handed off to just about anyone and those seats would be full.

Now, however, the electronic process was introduced... not to keep students in the seats but to mitigate the threat of scalping. Scalping. That money is going to go into pockets that have nothing to do with the Athletics Dept. and that has made the administration mad. So mad that they shot themselves in the foot in order to avoid having anyone else profit from 'their' tickets.

Plain and simple.

November 27, 2007 at 11:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawk909603 (anonymous) says...

can somebody rig it so I can win the Powerball? that'll solve it.

November 27, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Displayhawk (anonymous) says...

One thing that definitely needs to change is that only Williams Fund members can buy tickets through the KU ticket office! This is a joke!
There are KU fans out there (myself included) who would buy single game tickets, but can't afford to belong to the Williams Fund. Why can't KU sell the best tickets to the Williams Fund members, and announce a set time period for getting the tickets, then the rest of the available tickets can be purchased by the rest of us. It's a lot better than sending tickets back to the other school, like KU did for the K-State football game. KU people would also then be sitting with KU people. I read where one KU fan had to buy tickets for the Arrowhead game from MU, and ended up getting pelted with ice by MU fans in that predominately MU section!

November 27, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUMatt2001 (anonymous) says...

This is good discussion... I couldn't believe my ears during the first half when Bilas or Franklin said it sounded quiet!!!

I know the FB game hangover & lack of hype had a lot to do with it this time, but overall, Allen Fieldhouse is not like it used to be before Perkins and Self. Here's why...

1. Reshuffling the seats. The student section is always going to be loud. But it used to be you had the same lifelong, diehard fans right down in front, year after year. Now those fans are sitting up higher, behind the fans who paid more money. These fans are not as familiar with the traditions and are less passionate about KU Basketball. Generally, more money= higher class, well-behaved folks who don't get as loud and rowdy, and it's these fans who are front and center, setting the tone for everyone else. And on top of that, a lot of these people were given these tickets by their friends, or worse yet, they were given company tickets as a business gift and they don't know the first thing about KU Basketball!

2. Video Scoreboard. They play the live action of the game as it's happening, so a lot of the fans in the upper third sit back in their seats and enjoy the show on the big screen. There's a disconnect when you're not following the action on the court and you're not quite into it as much. It's like you're looking up at a screen, and glancing down every now and then at the live action. Kind of distracting and not as effective as 33,000 eyes all looking at the same thing.

3. The band. They're about half the size and moved over into the corner. They used to be behind the student section directly behind the goal, and really loud... not anymore.

4. Style of play. I'm not suggesting a change here, but there's no doubt that tough, grind-it-out, frustrate-your-opponent basketball is not as exciting as watching a well-oiled machine run their opponent out of the gym.

5. Other changes in traditition. Red uniforms, no more souvenir cups... Okay, this one's a stretch, but F Lew Perkins for taking away the cups!!! Stadium cups were started in Lawrence by Packer Plastics in the '70s, ending that tradition is a travesty!

A loud fieldhouse is one that has a mob mentality, acting as a whole. Start breaking down or lessening the intensity of part of the mob, and the rest will be affected.

November 27, 2007 at 1:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

wats211 (anonymous) says...

good points.....the video ruins tradition...i hate it

November 27, 2007 at 2:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kevbo (anonymous) says...

paper tickets!!!!

November 27, 2007 at 2:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cobweb (anonymous) says...

Since the students don't protest against the stupid war they choose to protest against stupid ticket policies.

November 27, 2007 at 2:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

soobawls (anonymous) says...

blaming the students for the team's piss-poor performance....classy.

November 27, 2007 at 3:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speckleddog (anonymous) says...

Paper tickets would cost the athletic department money. We would not want Lew to have stroke. Because, as you know, it is all about the money.

Good comment by KUMatt2001. Kicking loyal fans out of their seats and replacing them with ticket buyers who may not be loyal fans has hurt the noise level and crowd intensity.

I sit up in the rafters on the west side. I can barely hear the band. Oh well, I guess the corporate suits in the front row don't know the words to the songs anyway.

Fill the house, go back to paper tickets!

November 27, 2007 at 3:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

sooballs...

What article did you read?

I never read once where Self said the smaller than normal crowd had anything to do with what happened in the game. He just mentioned that the players, as well as himself, noticed it was not the normal crowd and was disappointed.

November 27, 2007 at 4:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

Jayviking - "The tickets are easily transferrable to a fellow students ID. All you need is the person's ID who has the ticket, and your ID, and they will honor the ticket at the door. "

You would really give up your ID? What if you needed it elsewhere (which is why you couldn't go to the game). And in this age of identity theft I wouldn't give up my ID to anyone (most identify theft is actually committed by people who know the victim).

November 27, 2007 at 4:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

avaholic (anonymous) says...

I agree that the timing of the game stank. I'm a student and I've gone to almost every game during my stay here. However, I've been caught up in football. I woke up at 5:30am on Saturday to go to College Gameday and didn't get back from the game until midnight. The point should also be made that in the past for big basketball games, if you want good seats you have to spend a large part of the day at the Fieldhouse to camp. With no camping going on over the break, I think students, like me, thought that by the time they got up to the Fieldhouse, the seats would be full. I felt bad for not going but, It's hard to devote that much time with finals coming up.

November 27, 2007 at 4:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jujubean (anonymous) says...

Who in their right mind would give up their ID so another student could have it to validate their entry to the game? That's not what I would call a simple process. The administration has done many good things to help with generating revenue, but when they make it tougher for students to pack AFH, they've committed an unforgivable error. And this isn't the first issue, just the most glaring. Get it fixed already.

November 27, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...

i go to school in wichita, and i can tell you, i would give anything to be able to go to EVERY ku basketball game. i made it up to the UMKC game this year and it was amazing. ku has to have the best fans of anybody (try going to a home Arizona game: it's pitiful) so please, for all of us who WISH we could go to a ku game......GO!!!

November 27, 2007 at 4:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

frompekka2sasha (anonymous) says...

I'm going back to Soviet Russia. Pathetic that the kids don't appreciate what they have and I'm glad Self said something. There are only so many opportunities for each student to attend games before they realize that tickets are pretty tough to come by in your adult life. Bitching about a paper ticket vs. an ID means that some students didn't feel like going. When did this attitude arrive at KU? Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic.

I spend $250- $300 per game to sit in the 1st 8 rows on the floor. Come on students. Let's fill up AFH and give ol' Rex some memories of why he transferred to play in the best arena in the NCAA.

November 27, 2007 at 5:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

prairie_dog (anonymous) says...

It was the football game hangover (literally and figuratively). From the parking to the cold to the crowds to the foul-mouthed, drunken MU fans, it was an ordeal in every way. Losing the game didn't help either, of course.

AFH won't be quiet or empty at any game the rest of the year. Just warmin' up, folks.

November 27, 2007 at 5:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lorelei (anonymous) says...

DisplayHawk - FYI - You CAN buy single-game tickets from the KU Ticket Office. especially during Winter Break when the students are home and the crowds are a little lighter... The Athletic Department sells GA tickets. I'm a student, but my family is coming in to see the OU game on the 14th and we all went to the OSU game last year. The tickets aren't cheap, and you have to get there early to find a seat, but they are available nonetheless. You can purchase them in the ticket office on the KU Athletics website.

November 27, 2007 at 5:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

avaholic (anonymous) says...

RockChalkAZ - if you would give "anything" to go to every ku game then you would be going to school at KU. Don't feed me that line. We all have lives to live and lets not forget that we are talking about a basketball game.

November 27, 2007 at 6:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

avaholic (anonymous) says...

frompekka2sasha - You're right. What a waste for kids to concentrate on other things like academics. And if your so enthusiastic about the game, why is it that the students have to beg the people where you sit to get off their butts and cheer. Like I said before, don't give me lines about "kids don't appreciate what they have." We know what we have. A great basketball team at our school. But when was the last time we had a great football team? Do you think we have time to do everything?

November 27, 2007 at 6:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jahawkdave (anonymous) says...

W's cost $$ bottom line. FB W's cost more $$$$$$. Keep getting that money Lew. For those of you that don't like it there are other options: Haskell, umkc, ksu....

As hard as that SI Jinx MU loss was to take, 11-1 possible Fiesta Bowl is awe$ome! And is worth every penny. I'm actually up'ing my contribution to the next level.

#5 #4
Rock Chalk!

November 27, 2007 at 6:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bayareajhawk (anonymous) says...

I always thought that the term "pure shooter" referred to someone is "purely" a shooter. That is, someone who is great at shooting a jump shot but not so great at other aspects of the game. Maybe I made that up, though.

And can I be the first to suggest that if the football game had been played in Lawrence more fans would have made it to the basketball game? Way to go, Lew. You messed up both big sports at once by moving the game to Arrowhead.

P.S. Before people rip my head off, I'm just kidding about the Arrowhead/basketball game connection. I am still mad, however, about the Arrowhead/football game connection. Never liked that from the beginning and after Saturday I like it even less.

November 27, 2007 at 6:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

frompekka2sasha (anonymous) says...

avaholic- Are you serious re: academics vs. being too tired from partying? Come on. That may be the case for a few students but I doubt that "hitting the books" had much bearing on students missing out on a game. I was in college once and found time to prioritize everything. I apologize if you were one of the few that really had to study.

Also, I am on my feet in the lower seats every time I attend a game. Don't throw me into the mix of others who can afford season tix on the floor and don't root for the team. I sure as hell wouldn't spend my hard earned dollars to sit on my hands watching b-ball in the greatest venue ever created.

November 27, 2007 at 8:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...

avaholic, all i'm saying is that if you students have the tickets, then you should go to the game. i know i've read posts where some students who wanted tickets couldn't get them because they were sold out. and just to let you know, the only reason i don't go to ku is because i'm on an athletic scholarship at newman u. just saying, if you got the ticket, go.

November 27, 2007 at 10:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

avaholic (anonymous) says...

frompekka2sasha - I'll I'm saying is that (and it apparently wasn't the case Sunday) When KU has a big game, students have to deal with campers (yes, I am one) that have been there for days and that going to a game can be an all day event. For last years Texas A&M game, I was there from 8am til like 10pm camping if I remember right. With Finals less than two weeks away, Yeah, I think alot of people were studing. It's the last full week of classes this week and projects and papers are due. Procrastanation over the holiday left the Sunday busy. Yes I do think people were tired. I was in KC for 16 hours Saturday. I didn't go out and party (I didn't even drink on Saturday, I was the Designated Driver) and I was still very tired that night. Also the fact that it was Thanksgiving weekend and many students didn't come back until late Sunday. All of those factors played a roll. I'm sorry to lump you in with the people that don't stand and cheer all the time. I shouldn't generalize like that. I just don't like it when I'll spend up to 20 hours a week camping for a game to then come here and have people say I don't appriciate what I have. Sometimes ticket holders don't appriciate what they have. I'm glad you have the money to spend to go to these games. They are expensive. But that's why we are in college so when we are out we can afford to live like you do.

November 27, 2007 at 10:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

avaholic (anonymous) says...

rockchalkAZ - Congrats on your scholarship. As stated in my last post, there were alot of reasons why students didn't go. If it were any other weekend the place would be packed. But I can't commit 2 full days for athletics when finals are less then 2 weeks away. I've seen several big basketball games at KU, but I've never seen a big football game. I was planning on going to the game Sunday. I decided not to after waking up so late and having a paper to write. With the paperless ticket system that KU has, I just can't give my ticket away anymore. I know that stinks for people who can't get ticket. But there isn't alot you can do if at the last minute you decide not to go.

November 27, 2007 at 10:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...

valid point there. but really, did you watch the UofA game on tv? or were you writing your paper? (i know it's not really that big of a deal, i just like to carry things on)

November 27, 2007 at 11:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

avaholic (anonymous) says...

I understand, I'm the same way. To be honest, I worked on my paper until about 8:15pm. I watched the game and worked on the paper during commercials the rest of the way. If I decided to go to the game, I would of had to go up there at 5:00pm at the latest. I know that sounds wierd with there being empty seats but at the time I didn't know that. All I knew is that it was a bigger game and I hadn't been camping for it so if I went up there at 5 I would have had seats way up in the corner. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess.

November 27, 2007 at 11:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...

can't fault you on that one

November 27, 2007 at 11:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUFan90 (anonymous) says...

Move the handicapped seating to the middle tier of seats (they can still see all the action from there) and restore the behind the goal rows of seats to come all the way down to the floor like the used to (and all be student seating). I cant stand how the rows of seats behind the goals are now 30 feet from the court and are 6-8 feet off the floor. Another horrible change. This would also allow more room for the band to move closer and take up more space like the used to.

November 28, 2007 at 11:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )