KU relies on basketball team for prestige

Monday, August 13, 2007

Sit back and let it soak in. We live in a world where Oregon State can win back-to-back College World Series and Florida is a budding basketball dynasty. Boise State can win the Fiesta Bowl and George Mason can make it to the Final Four. And the one thing I thought I would never say: Rutgers football, national title contender, baby.

It’s a new era. Parity, rules and tradition are rendered meaningless.

What does it all mean? First off, University of Kansas fans need to look in the mirror. You might not like what you see. Our identity as a school and a student population are hanging in the balance. It goes without saying that between the ages of 18 and 22, your status in life is directly related to your university. Well, maybe not totally, but this is college, and reputations are important. Raise your hand if you haven’t secretly measured yourself up against an old high school buddy at a different college. That’s what I thought.

It’s sad to say, but right now KU students have their reputations at stake. Let’s break it down. Kansas is one of the finer academic institutions in the Midwest, but it doesn’t matter how many times Kansas is referred to as “Harvard on the Kaw,” we’re still not Ivy-league. That’s okay, though. We’re focused on other things at Kansas. Namely, being named in Playboy’s list of top 10 party schools. Let the record show that Kansas students are very good at this. Kansas was ranked ninth in Playboy’s 2002 list of best party schools.

I know what you are thinking. Why all the Kansas bashing? We have solid academics, and we’re a top 10 party school. What gives?

Yes, but the one trump card that separates Kansas from all the other cool-college wannabes is slowly fading away. Yes, I’m talking about athletics. The cornerstone of Kansas is slowly eroding into a very shiny pebble.

How many times have you heard this conversation?

KU Fan 1: “What’s up with Baylor?”

KU Fan 2: “Yeah, why are they even in the Big 12? Let’s kick them out and add Arkansas.”

Well, I hate to break it to KU phans, but in the past 15 years, tiny Baylor has won more national titles than athletic juggernaut Kansas.

What happened? Just last year, the KU football team lost to Toledo, KU basketball and baseball lost to Oral Roberts, KU women’s basketball lost to South Dakota State and our women’s soccer team lost to the Ladybugs. Alright, I made that last one up, but the point is, KU sports have lost their luster.

Did you know in 1993, Kansas teams went to the Final Four, College World Series, and played in a bowl game? Now those are accomplishments a college student can brag about.

Now the good news. As bad as things are around here, they are worse at Kansas State and Missouri. But things must get better. Kansas must become relevant again on the national scene. There is a glimmer of hope. Bonnie Henrickson has been making major strides with the women’s basketball team. The team returns five strong sophomores who played major minutes as freshmen.

The women’s soccer team has slowly been molded into a power under the guidance of coach Mark Francis. They need to step up this year.

The football team has the best cornerback in the nation in Aqib Talib. It also has a favorable schedule and a coach with something to prove. They need to break out. But really, it all comes back to men’s basketball. The school needs a national title. No, scratch that.

People are craving for a championship. I mean people are actually foaming at the mouth. Please Bill Self. Make us relevant again. Put Kansas back on the map. Most of all, give us something to brag about.

— Edited by Eric Jorgensen

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