Best year ever?

Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins observes post-victory festivities at Allen Fieldhouse while chewing on a cigar.

Journal-World File Photo

KU forward Darnell Jackson hoists a piece of net after KU advanced to the Final Four on Sunday.

Journal-World File Photo

KU football coach Mark Mangino celebrates after the Jayhawks won the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3.

Journal-World File Photo

Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins observes post-victory festivities at Allen Fieldhouse while chewing on a cigar.

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Gridiron and Hardwood

Kansas is enjoying a super school year with its two high-profile sports, football and men's basketball. Here are some other schools with similar success this decade:

Florida, 2006-07

Football: 13-1, won national championship

Basketball: 35-5, won national championship

Notable: The standard. Two national championships within four months of each other is a dream for every school.

Ohio State, 2006-07

Football: 12-1, lost in national-championship game

Basketball: 35-4, lost in national-championship game

Notable: A tremendous year for the school, but outdone twice by Florida - including a stunner in the football title game.

Maryland, 2001-02

Football: 10-2, lost in Orange Bowl

Basketball: 32-4, won national championship

Notable: Juan Dixon-led basketball team beat Kansas in Final Four en route to basketball title.

Oklahoma, 2001-02

Football: 11-2, won Cotton Bowl

Basketball: 31-5, went to Final Four

Notable: Hollis Price and the OU basketball team topped Missouri to get to the Final Four. Meanwhile, it was typical 11-win Oklahoma in football.

Texas, 2002-03

Football: 11-2, won Cotton Bowl

Basketball: 26-7, went to Final Four

Notable: An average year by football's standards, but the T.J. Ford-led basketball team made it special for the wealthy athletic department.

NCAA Tournament

Rodrick Stewart watched the Orange Bowl as a big Kansas University football fan on Jan. 3. But after seeing the Jayhawks beat Virginia Tech, 24-21, Stewart's feelings of elation soon subsided.

They were replaced with a bit of anxiety.

"It felt like it was a little more pressure on us," chuckled Stewart, a reserve on KU's men's basketball team. "The football team went so far, and we were like 'Man, now we have to at least go to the Final Four. That's the worst we can do.'

"Now that we're here? We made it this far. Why not try to get the whole thing done?"

Might as well. Every other goal seems to have been met in this incredible year.

KU's two high-profile programs are teaming up to dominate the college sports scene in 2007-08. KU's football team finished a magical season with an Orange Bowl victory and 12-1 record. Not to be outdone, the Jayhawks' men's basketball team secured a Final Four berth on Sunday and will take a 35-3 record into Saturday's game with North Carolina.

It certainly is a special time to be a KU fan. The two revenue sports are a combined 47-4, and basketball still has a shot at capturing the national championship if it wins two this weekend.

Kansas never has come close to this kind of success before, and it makes life good at KU. People walk around the athletic department with smiles. Reporters across the country flock to Lawrence to tell the world about the Jayhawks. It's priceless exposure.

Up in his second-floor office, KU athletic director Lew Perkins calls the school year "just tremendous." Yet he sees 2007-08 as the beginning - not the aberration.

"I'm about as happy as you could possibly be right now because of where we are," Perkins said. "But we still have a lot of work to do.

"I want to make sure everybody understands: We're not finished."

Assembling a run

They have started, though. Perkins, for one, began to get hints of this year's promise last spring.

After KU hoops went 33-5 and fell just short of the Final Four last year, the entire team minus Julian Wright assembled for the 2007-08 season. One important piece, guard Brandon Rush, returned after injuring his knee preparing for an NBA career.

Basketball was fine. Many thought that if Wright's production could be replaced - and it was by Darnell Jackson - that Kansas would have a strong chance at a Final Four. That was realized when the Jayhawks won two in Omaha, Neb., and two more in Detroit to land their invitation to the final weekend.

But football? Now that was a stunner.

Coach Mark Mangino's squad finished a disappointing 2006 season with a 6-6 record and a slew of injuries. A new offensive coordinator came in. A quarterback competition lingered into the summer. Still, Mangino and Perkins talked often, and the coach seemed to brim with confidence about the 2007 prospects.

"He kept saying to me, 'Lew, this is a pretty special team. I really like these kids. I really like what we're doing. I think we can have a great year,'" Perkins said. "Now, did I think in my wildest dreams we'd go on to be 12-1 and play in the Orange Bowl? No. But I thought we could be very good. Mark's done a great job."

Tight family

It's a weekly tradition on Saturdays in the fall. The third quarter of a KU football game rolls around, and basketball coach Bill Self stops by the Memorial Stadium press box to say hello to those he knows.

For the most part, Self obeys the golden rule: No cheering in the press box. But he's slipped once or twice, getting juiced when a big play unfolds or a big hit is unleashed in KU's favor.

Self is a big Jayhawk football fan. Mangino sends the love back to basketball, even showing up in Omaha for the first round of the NCAA Tournament two weeks ago.

"We've really worked hard," Perkins said, "at making this a family."

And of course, giving fans are welcome to join the circle. KU's budget has increased by roughly $25 million since Perkins was hired in 2003, and is around $51 million now.

In addition, facilities have been upgraded as a result of donations, including the building of the Anderson Family Strength Center, the Booth Family Hall of Athletics and the Anderson Family Football Complex.

All are now recruiting tools used to lure in more talent.

"I couldn't be any happier," said Dana Anderson, the namesake of several athletic facilities. "I jokingly told Lew Perkins, 'You know, my investments have certainly paid off. I wish my other investments in this world were doing as well as what KU has done with the money we've gifted there.'"

Anderson and Perkins both point out the obvious: More winning will bring more gifts from jubilant boosters. More money conceivably could lead to even more winning.

It's a cycle KU is happy to be joining.

"If we lose on a Saturday or a basketball game, the bathrooms are bad, the parking is bad, the concessions are bad," Perkins said. "When you win, everything is fine.

"Obviously, people really enjoy giving back when you're winning. But the one thing about Kansas I've really respected is the tradition and history and commitment that our alums at this university have. We couldn't have gotten this far without them."

Sustaining it

Needless to say, Joe Fan is loving this too.

After Kansas football beat Oklahoma State to move to 10-0 last fall, Perkins walked toward the locker room next to the KU cheering section at the corner of Boone Pickens Stadium. The joyful crowd cheered so loudly for him that he had to respond with a pump of the fist.

Perkins is the first to pass the credit on to the coaches and players, saying "all we are is support people."

But Perkins certainly doesn't mind the love.

"I'd rather they be yelling 'Lew, Lew, Lew,'" Perkins says, "than 'boo, boo, boo.'"

Perkins is quick to point out that KU as a one-year wonder is an undesired achievement. Consistency has been talked about constantly in football and proven constantly in basketball, and Perkins is on board.

"We can't sit back and say 'OK, we're here now and it's a one-time thing,'" Perkins said. "We have to be real consistent to have a really good athletic program. We're going to have to work harder and do more things than we've ever done before in order to really be a good athletic program."

That's the future's concern, though.

For now, fans are soaking in KU's historic run, one that surely will be remembered fondly as it ages in memories down the line.

But the incredible thing is, it's not even done yet. KU's basketball team traveled down to San Antonio on Wednesday to prepare for Saturday's Final Four tilt with North Carolina.

It's the last step. The cake has been baked with 47 victories, priceless media exposure and all that joy. The icing could come late Monday night if the basketball team finishes its season with a victory.

Considering how things have played out so far, don't bet against Kansas. It hasn't worked yet.

"The athletic department is really happy and pleased with the way things have been going," KU basketball guard Mario Chalmers said. "Now we've got to go out there and finish it."

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SFBayhawk (anonymous) says...

Why is this guy sticking a cigar in his mouth? Perkins didn't have any major influence in creating either football or basketball success. One could even argue the even more clueless Bohl lucked out in that football hiring decision.

April 3, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ttoulouse (anonymous) says...

Let's not forget 1993 when the football team went to the Aloha Bowl, the basketball team went to the Final Four and the baseball team went to the college world series. In recent memory, that has been one of the best sports years in KU history.

April 3, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

flipborder02 (anonymous) says...

SF maybe he like cigars cause I do. You have to admit he has done alought more then are last A.D.

April 3, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

SFBayhawk, I respectfully disagree.
Players and coaches are the key actors in college sports, but ADs and many other people play a role in creating an environment that allows these players and coaches to perform and make us proud.

April 3, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

How can you say that The AD had no major influence on the success of KU in the 07-08 academic year? He's both Bill Self's and Mark Mangino's boss. He's worked harder than what any of us know in order to be able to spend millions of dollars on renovations and new facilities. These facilities and renovations combined with the fact that we have great coaches (who Lew keeps happy with big paychecks) and great coaching staffs are what make our program attractive.Lew Perkins has everything to do with the success of KU Athletics

April 3, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Lew is great for KU. He's gonna have to ante up with Bill Self after the season, win or lose in San Antonio. Crean just signed at Indiana for $18million over 8 years.Because of the superior job of fund raising this athletic director has done, we're in a position where we can do it.

April 3, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

Agreed Plastic. I work for the Athletic Department (in a very small, seasonal/part time capacity) and things are just very different. It's a more professional environment and there's a focus on making sure that the teams/departments have the resources they need to do things the right way.

Lew runs a pretty tight ship, but that gives the teams the freedom to have what they need to get the job done.

April 3, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

Realistically, the basketball program will be just fine, with or without Perkins. However, a 100% increase in the budget is an astronomical figure and is the key to the future of the football program. Many question how that money was raised, but I'll just say that I don't mind not knowing.

April 3, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

Say what you will about him, but to double the athletic department budget in 5 years is amazing. At $51M, we're still light years behind Texas, etc, but it will help make us competitive in the conference in all sports.

April 3, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KUMatt2001 (anonymous) says...

Yeah, from $21 to 51 million in 5 years?

That's amazing.

April 3, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HawkFanEddie (anonymous) says...

thank you! thank you! thank you! Mr. Perkins. Keep doing whatever it is you do!

April 3, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KUMatt2001 (anonymous) says...

Just no more changes to AFH for a while.

April 3, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

G (anonymous) says...

Now if the women come through next year in basketball we could be on to something here. Top men's and women's teams means more money for AFH and the teams.

April 3, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

He doubled the athletic department budget, got the Booth Hall of athletics built, helped establish the new football complex, negotiated a better athletic apparell contract with Addidas and has been one of the most visible ADs in the country by going to all of the team's games. I think Lew has done more for KU than pretty much any AD in the history of the school. If you think all of the improvements to the facilities don't help land recruits, especially in football, you're crazy.

April 3, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

I would never count on any women's program to even break even.

April 3, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rhino11 (anonymous) says...

Doubled the budget, built facilities and had the good wisdom to stick with HCMM. Don't ever compare Lew to the Al Bohl.

April 3, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Lew Perkins didn't hire either Mangino or Self, but he is providing them with the wherewithal to succeed, and it's paying off at last. Hopefully we will continue to sustain our success in both sports for a very long time. After all, will the Orange Bowl win mean that much if we have a losing season in football in 2008, or will the Final Four mean that much if (God forbid) the 08-09 basketball team winds up in the NIT?

April 3, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...

Agreed rhino11!! You can't compare Al Bohl to Lew Perkins. I'm so glad we got rid of that scumbag.Great work Lew! It's great to see not only our basketball team do well, but also our football team. Hope to see this type of success for years to come!rock chalk jayhawk go ku!!!!

April 3, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...

jhwkfan1625, yes the Orange Bowl victory this year and the final four this year will still mean a lot even if we don't do well next year. Our basketball team is NOT going to the NIT next year. I will guarantee you that! Where did that come from anyway? We just read an article about how great we're doing in football & basketball & you're already thinking about the possibility of us losing in football & maybe going to the NIT in basketball???

April 3, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Looks like the Carolina fans are getting over-confident.http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1023310.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1023310.html

April 3, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

BCRavenJHawkfan (anonymous) says...

To coin part of a lyric from a pretty good band with an awsome name:"Carry on my wayward sonThere'll be peace when you are done"KANSAS rules.

April 3, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

cigars are not in fashion except if you are trying to be a bigshot! set a better example for the younger generation. what does it take to convince somone that tobacco is going to KILL you sooner or later. its been almost 50 years since the warning went on the pac. and if polications can agree to that then its a fact it will kill kill you! smug big cigar phooie.

April 3, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Here is the correct link to that second articlehttp://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/unc/story/1023040.html

April 3, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Here is another crazy article from the Chapel Hill news "In my Opinion". http://www.chapelhillnews.com/sports/...

April 3, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hawk_bred20 (anonymous) says...

Why is it the first comment someone makes on here is always irrational and doesn't make sense? Thanks for setting the haters straight guys.Lew is the man and I would be smoking that cigar right along with him if I were there.

April 3, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

Lew didn't hire Mangino or Self, but has everything to do with the winning athletic program, because it takes more than just coaches to build successful programs.FB & MBB are the only revenue sports anywhere - with very rare exceptions, but it would still be great to have the WBB program join the men's at the top.We have the possibility of winning the FF and losing the top 8 players on the BB team. That would be huge loss, and leave a very young team. (I think at least a couple of those guys will be back regardless.) The first month of the 08-09 MBB season could produce an entire season's worth of losses, which would have some programs headed toward the NIT. By the end of the season tho, I'd expect the coaching staff to turn around the team, and lead them to at least a BigXII Tourney championship. The next group isn't going to have quite as much talent/NBA potential, but it should be an intense team, that the coaching staff will have playing smart by the end of the year. Hopefully the fans have the patience to let next year's team grow before calling for their heads.

April 3, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Frankenstein (anonymous) says...

Speedy, relax dude. so he has a cigar in his mouth....so what. i am not a smoker, but I occasionally smoke a cigar for special occasions. It's kind of a tradition ya know? After great achievements some people smoke victory cigars. I know that after my first child is born I'll be smoking a celebratory cigar. It's fine and dandy that you don't like tobacco, great, that's your thing. There's no reason for you to lecture everybody else about it. If somebody wants to smoke a cigar let them and keep your opinions to yourself. Obesity and obesity linked illnesses kill 3 times as many people yearly as tobacco....yet if he had a big mac in his hand I seriously doubt you'd be b!tching right now.

April 3, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Hey Coach Mangino is holding an orange ... give the Big Guy some credit! :D

April 3, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

kushaw - crazy...Chapel Hill paper doesn't even know the Championship game is on Monday.

April 3, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

e93bigd (anonymous) says...

Well put, Frankenstein.Adidas contract is a significant factor in the increased revenue. That was negotiated under Lew's regime, correct?

April 3, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jayhawk1956 (anonymous) says...

On Tuesday, I was listening to ESPN News on Sirius Radio. They were discussing the vacant basketball coaching positions at Indiana and L.S.U. with Mike DeCourcy who is a writer for Sporting News. DeCourcy was critical of the athletic departments at both Indiana and L.S.U. and used Kansas as an example of an outstanding athletic department. He said that Lew Perkins had assembled the finest athletic department and staff in the nation and he believes Perkins deserves some of the credit for our football victory in a BCS bowl and our basketball team's trip to the Final Four.

April 3, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Oh, not that I think that the football and basketball programs will go to pot next year. But than again, Florida fans didn't expect to find their team in the NIT after back-to-back national titles, did they? And has KU football ever followed up one bowl season with another the next year?

April 3, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )