KU players pay tribute to ex-recruit Maloney

By Matt Tait     Jul 25, 2015

Sixteen members of Kansas University’s 2015 football recruiting class, which included former Shawnee Mission West standout Andre Maloney, who passed away in 2013 after collapsing on the sideline during a game with the Vikings, recently made a surprise visit to Cafe 29 in Overland Park, the restaurant run in Maloney’s honor by his mother, Rosaelida.

Maloney always told his mother that he would like to open a restaurant for her someday, and after his passing, she moved to make the dream a reality. The restaurant features all kinds of KU and Maloney touches and dubs itself as a “fine bakery and deli.”

“To have all of his boys here, it was just so special to see all of them,” Rosaelida said in an interview with Time Warner Cable Sports Channel.

But the surprise appearance was not just special for Maloney’s mother.

“It felt good to come in here and surprise her and put a smile on her face,” KU linebacker Josh Ehambe told Time Warner. “And let her know that she has more sons that play on the Jayhawk football team.”

Added Free State High graduate Joe Dineen, who will wear No. 29 in honor of his late friend and former foe: “She was really surprised. I think it was awesome. He’s as much a part of this as anybody is.”

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.