Family members of the players and managers came together for the brief, merry ceremony.
The staggering roar of “Puuuuuuuugh” was too much for Jan Pugh.
That whimsical expression of admiration for her son before the Kansas Jayhawks’ Senior Night matchup Monday against the Oklahoma State Cowboys had an impact on his mother, as well. Grasping a bundle of red roses presented to her by KU senior T.J. Pugh, she wiped tears from both cheeks.
Jan Pugh thought back to the 6-foot-8 child she brought four years ago to Lawrence from Omaha, Neb.
“I feel we dropped off a very nice boy and now we have an excellent young man. A grown man,” she said.
Four seniors on the men’s basketball team — Ryan Robertson, Jelani Janisse, Chris Martin and Pugh — were honored at halfcourt before tipoff along with four senior team managers — Molly Denton, Amy McClintick, Ladd Richesson and Stephanie Temple.
Family members of the players and managers came together for the brief, merry ceremony.
Biff and Debbie Temple, a Lubbock, Tex., couple with deep KU ties, relished the achievements of their daughter.
“Steph works her fanny off,” said Biff Temple, who played baseball at KU for his father, Floyd. “She’s head manager this year. She’s traveled so much with the team I had to ask once, `Do you ever go to school?'”
Johnny Robertson and Tim Pugh, fathers of the two senior starters, agreed on the defining game of their sons’ careers. It was Dec. 1, 1995, in Allen Fieldhouse. Ryan and T.J. were somewhat terrified freshmen playing against powerhouse UCLA.
KU fell way behind the Bruins in the first half but rallied for an 85-70 victory.
“That game typified what Allen Fieldhouse and Kansas basketball is about,” said Tim Pugh. “T.J. and Ryan played a lot. I’ve never seen anthing like it.”
Johnny Robertson of St. Charles, Mo., continued: “Over four years, that’s the loudest I’ve ever heard the crowd.”
He said few could comprehend the stress players endure to be part of Jayhawk basketball.
“It’s an awesome thing to play here because of the tradition,” he said. “Nobody but the players and coaches know the weight they carry. But everything they do here will help them down the line.”
— Tim Carpenter’s phone message number is 832-7155. His e-mail address is tcarpenter@ljworld.com.
