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2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

K-State president sends congratulations to KU

By By Jon Wefald - President, Kansas State University

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Coach Self, on behalf of K-State, I want to congratulate you and your excellent 2007-2008 University of Kansas men's basketball team for winning the NCAA championship. Anybody who is involved in team sports realizes how difficult it is to win a national championship. But to win the NCAA national championship in men's basketball is a monumental and extraordinary achievement. Coach, you did, quite simply, a brilliant job in coaching your team to the NCAA national championship. I know that you have always emphasized a team concept, and the KU men's basketball team is a classic example of building a great team and winning the championship as a great team.

I also want to congratulate Chancellor Bob Hemenway. Since Bob became chancellor of KU, he and I have become very good friends. I know how important this win is for Bob and the whole university. Bob and I - and university CEO's everywhere - understand how important sports are to our respective universities. We all know that when our basketball and football teams do well that our alums are incredibly happy and enthusiastic. I know that this national championship win over Memphis University is one of the most important basketball wins in the storied history of KU basketball. There have been very few shots that were as timely and important as Mario Chalmers' last-second shot to force the game into overtime. KU fans will never, ever forget that last-second shot. Bob, I am very happy for you and the entire KU family.

Lew, I want to congratulate you as well. You are an outstanding athletic director. You have indicated to all of the coaches at KU that you expect a commitment to excellence. I am sure that you are one of the most capable and outstanding athletic directors in America today. Even though it was other athletic directors that hired Bill Self and Mark Mangino, you have been exceptionally supportive of not only those two KU athletic teams, but you have been a great backer of all the men's and women's teams in the KU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. I know that you presided over several championships in men's and women's basketball at the University of Connecticut, but I venture that the KU win over Memphis ranks right at the top for you - and rightly so.

The three of you make for an outstanding team at the University of Kansas. And I wish all of you the very best in the months and years ahead.

Comments

okiedave (anonymous) says...

It must be very frustrating to be a Wildcat. We should each spend at least 10 minutes each day on our knees in humble prayer thanking God that we were not born or raised Wildcats.

April 15, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

I once read a story--one that is true--where the American and German soldiers halted fighting during World War II and came together to sing Christmas songs and hymns. The fighting resumed later, but for a brief time bitter enemies set aside differences to celebrate a festive occasion together.

April 15, 2008 at 2:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

carterpatterson (anonymous) says...

I am sure the Mizzou letter is still in the mail.

April 15, 2008 at 5:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

panhandle2 (anonymous) says...

All Big12 CEOs should do the same. That title helps the entire league.

April 15, 2008 at 6:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

blackhawkjayhawk (anonymous) says...

First Big 12 National championship ever. Yes.....it's very good for the league. Congrats to the KSU president for his show of class.

Really, though, other that Dick Vitale who in America doesn't really appreciate what a great win that was?

Never say die. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

April 15, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUGreenMachine (anonymous) says...

If there is a Mizzou letter out there, I bet it is having trouble getting by the proof reading proccess. So, in that case, we may never see it. : )

April 15, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

raprichard (anonymous) says...

When I read this I thought what a total class act. Then I read the first comment and I thought, are we really that classless?

We had the greatest season I can ever remember. My MU friends (I work in KC) are still in denial, and I love it. But, I don't want to be a jerk about it. Let's act like we're the greatest university around and show some class in victory.

rock chalk jayhawk!!

April 15, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUbsee69 (anonymous) says...

I hear that the Misery letter is hung up while they figure out how to make sure that none of the U.S. postage can possibly benefit anyone or anything in the state of Kansas.

April 15, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoHawks1 (anonymous) says...

I wonder if Wefald sent any sort of congratulations directly to Bill, Bob, & Lew? Why have a public congratulations? This is typical Wefald trying to milk every bit of publicity out of a simple congratulations as possible. For those of you that aren't familiar with his antics this guy is the Used Car salesman of college academics.

April 15, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rhino11 (anonymous) says...

Nice gesture by President Wefald, very gracious and unexpected.

April 15, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Shazam (anonymous) says...

It sounds like the sentiment across the Big 12 has been happiness over the title, but unhappy that it was Kansas. I think we can quietly agree that we are better off having quality teams in the conference, even if they are our rivals. Here's hoping K-State has some sort of quality without Beasley.

April 15, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cklarock (anonymous) says...

Heh, the Mizzou letter would have white powder in it.

April 15, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

This article is so funny! This was on the cover of the sports page today here in Charlotte, NC. Got to love the Tar Heel fans.

http://www.charlotte.com/508/story/58...

April 15, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mcrozb (anonymous) says...

I'm a '91 hawk living just outside Columbia "behind enemy lines" and from what I can tell here, the powers at MU are too busy keeping the MU football and basketball players out of jail and out of trouble to be writing letters.

FYI: when i wear my orange Bowl Champions t shirt around Columbia, it always starts an interesting conversation, but when I wear one of my 3 National Champions shirts, what few MU fans there are in Columbia are very silent. (it's true, while they won't admit it publicly, Apathy reigns among MU fans although their hatred for all things KU remains.

Rock Chalk ChampionHawk !!!

April 15, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawk02 (anonymous) says...

I, for one, think it was a very classy move on his part. I don't care if it was a public letter or they received private messages, it was a class move either way. Hey, he didn't have to make this nice gesture. Nice move President Wefald.

April 15, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawk02 (anonymous) says...

I love it mcrozb. Keep proudly wearing your blue!
I thought President Wefald showed a lot of class in writing this letter, whether it was public or not. Afterall, he didn't have to make this nice gesture. I just hope our fans can stay classy and win with dignity. As my old coach used to tell us, "Act like you've been there before."

April 15, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

a very positive gesture. I honestly have no problem with those K-Staters, I've always seen it as more of a sibling rivalry. Though some of my friends who are Wildcats seem to hate KU more than I hate K-State.

Honestly though... I wouldn't even accept a congratulations from Mizzou

April 15, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

RckChalkJeff (anonymous) says...

Don't expect one from the Oklahoma schools... OSU won't (at least not now ) or the Gonners (they have NO class and never have)

April 15, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

jross, it was during WWI that the night of cease-fire was held... for a holiday celebration.

For more information, go to:
http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/...

April 15, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

MILFdestroyer (anonymous) says...

I like that move by the KSU director. MU is pure trash, don't expect any moves of class from them.

April 15, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kylecisnum1 (anonymous) says...

also... mike beasley declares for the draft as well as bill walker (walker is not getting an agent). ksu sucks again!

April 15, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dukehester (anonymous) says...

WOW......a class act from a kittie biggie!! What a change of pace. would what they will now do ref mousse Martin?! he's going to have to really coach now!!!!!

April 15, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

jross - I believe Garth made a song about that. Bella Wood I believe is the title.

I thought it was a nice gesture as well. Other Big XII fans should realize that this is a great thing for the Big 12. I think they do. Up here in Huskerland they have been very respectful and were actually cheering pretty loud (from what I remember) for KU when the game got close against UNC. Everybody's a closet KU basketball fan, they've just been too darn fun to watch for the last 20 years. It was just pretty hard to find anything to dislike about the group of guys this year. I went to 4 road games this year for bball and everywhere it just seemed like people had an honest respect for this team. Except I guess at KSU where the guy beside me had this really strange hate for Russ Rob. I just kept looking at him and shaking my head every time he would yell something about how bad Russell was and how he must suck so bad because he's a senior and he's still in school.

April 15, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

OmahaKUAlum (anonymous) says...

Leikness, I agree...here in Omaha, I think a lot of "Husker football fans" are closeted KU basketball fans. It's not like they've had a lot to cheer about for NU basketball in recent memory. I've had a lot of people congratulate me on our win. I think except for Mizzou fans and some K-State fans, most of the Big XII is happy for us. I also agree with another post above that most KSU fans hate us while we are mostly apathetic towards them...just like the little brother who is jealous of the big brother. I like to save most of my hatred for Mizzou! :)

April 15, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

GoHawks, even if you're right about Wefald's motivation, it's still a classy thing to do.

I see nothing wrong with showing class and making yourself and your school look good and get a litttle publicity in the process. Those things don't have to be mutually exclusive.

April 16, 2008 at 1:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mcrozb (anonymous) says...

It's funny reading about peoples hatred for ksu and mu, like i said above, I live outside columbia MO, I always explain the rivalry thing to MU fans like this: KU gets all of MU's hatred while our hatred is split between ksu and mu, so while we get all theirs, they only get half of ours. For some reason this pisses them off. Anything to get under the skin of an MU fan !!!!!

April 17, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )