Editor's note

Thursday, April 3, 2008

My dad is a proud graduate of Kansas State University. He gets that nostalgic smile and those wistful, faraway eyes at any mention of his alma mater, be it Aggieville, Michael Beasley or farming equipment.

He took my brother and me to many a K-State football game when we were younger. Neither of us took the bait. Ever since I became a Jayhawk four years ago, my relationship with my dad hasn’t been quite as easygoing as it once was.

When I ask for money for something college-related, it always takes him a few days to bring himself to write a check to the University of Kansas. I don’t discuss KU sports with him, and I now realize that he leaves the room when I watch a KU game not out of disinterest, but because he’s cheering for the other team. Whenever he’s in Lawrence, he cops a defensive, suspicious demeanor, as though he’s treading on enemy territory.

Despite all this, I know my dad is proud of what I’ve accomplished in college, and though I’m sure he wouldn’t even eat off a paper plate with a Jayhawk on it at my graduation party, he understands that I chose KU because it was the better school for me.

Read Peyton’s personal essay about a more serious father-daughter clash and how she learned to deal with her father’s disapproval and its toll on their relationship.

I knew a boastful Final Four phone call to my dad wouldn’t improve our relationship, but I did it anyway. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Hiding Daddy

I tried to block the person I needed most

/news/2007/apr/26/hiding_daddy/

Minor decision, major impact

One choice shattered my relationship with my dad, but gave me the ...

/news/2008/apr/03/minor_decision_major_impact/

Saturdays with Bob

How KU football brought my dad and me closer together.

/news/2009/sep/03/saturdays_bob/

Athletes with children

These KU athletes must find time to excel in both sports and ...

/news/2008/jan/23/athletes_children/

Tragedy in transition: Lindy's story

Lindy Anderson had to deal with the death of her father mostly ...

/news/2011/may/10/tragedy-transition-lindys-story/

Striving for parental acceptance

Gay and lesbian students at the University of Kansas have revealed their ...

/news/2008/dec/09/parental_acceptance/

Trimble: Cherish this Father's Day

Spend time with your dad this Father's Day.

/news/2009/jun/17/fathers_day/

The Buc starts here

After troubled past, former Jayhawk Talib is ready to live his dream ...

/news/2008/oct/01/talib/

Red Raiders bring new name, same legacy ...

Texas Tech coach Knight makes his Allen Fieldhouse debut at 8 p.m.

/news/2008/mar/03/pat_knight/

My lil’ buddy

I promise he’s not an accessory. He’s my best small friend.

/news/2009/apr/23/my_lil_buddy/

Former Jayhawk football player sticks with Kansas ...

Jayhawk Radio Network’s David Lawrence played, coached, reported, and now analyzes KU ...

/news/2010/oct/18/former-jayhawk-football-player-sticks-kansas-sport/

Baseball roots run deep for Jayhawks

Family ties to MLB play a big part in the lives of ...

/news/2009/apr/21/baseball_roots/

Years apart

How my 37-year-old brother became someone I could count on

/news/2008/apr/10/years_apart/

Lawrence's landlord: a developer's story

Doug Compton, owner of First Management, has helped guide Lawrence's development for ...

/news/2011/may/05/lawrences-landlord/

Japan native excels in academics, athletics

Ryotaro Hayakawa came to the U.S. without knowing how to speak English. ...

/news/2007/apr/26/profile/

For the love of the game

Several one-time KU basketball players have missed out on the riches of ...

/news/2008/apr/28/love_game/

Coach starts small to dream big

Coach Ritch Price reflects on his experiences throughout the years that led ...

/news/2008/apr/29/coach_starts_small_dream_big/

Chase Buford works to create own recognition

Being the son of San Antonio Spurs G.M. can raise expectations for ...

/news/2007/oct/24/budford/

Q&A: Remy Ayesh

Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.

/news/2011/mar/31/QA-Chef-KU-Remy-Ayesh/

Jayhawks of many generations celebrate

Students share memories of the University from their younger days.

/news/2009/oct/05/jayhawks-many-generations/

Unexpectedly Expecting: Taé's story

Taé, broken-hearted and pregnant at 16, faces pressure from her family and ...

/news/2010/apr/21/unexpectedly-expecting-taes-story/

Sophomore defensive tackle balances football and fatherhood

When Jamal Greene discovered he would be a father, he knew his ...

/news/2008/sep/03/press_conference/

Unlicensed: A T-Shirt Tale

Meet Larry Sinks, the man behind JoeCollege.com and its controversial T-shirts.

/news/2008/dec/08/joecollege/

Classes don't provide only homework

/news/2005/oct/17/ne_student_parents/

Nowhere to run

Former KU running back June Henley couldn't adjust to life without football. ...

/news/2008/apr/25/henley/

Facebook + family = DISASTER?

What to do when you get a friend request from your mom.

/news/2010/jan/21/facebook-family-disaster/

Growing Together

How one Jayplay writer's relationship with her brother went from just siblings, ...

/news/2012/mar/29/growing-together/

C.J. Henry steps from brother’s shadow

C.J. Henry is looking to prove he’s more than just Xavier Henry’s ...

/news/2009/aug/20/cj_henry_steps_brothers_shadow/

Finding family

Adopted students and their choice to search.

/news/2009/nov/12/finding-family/

Tragedy in transition: Ed's story

Ed Schroer cared for his ailing father while he was alive and ...

/news/2011/may/10/tragedy-transition-eds-story/

Once warriors, now students

Veterans wounded in combat fight to find a "normal" life on college ...

/news/2011/jul/27/once-warriors-now-students/

Behind the breakup

Moving on after a broken relationship

/news/2010/oct/28/behind-breakup/

Meeting of the minds

I used to hate my father for becoming a pastor, but now ...

/news/2008/may/01/meeting_minds/

Dispatches from Reed

In today’s excerpt from “Reed All About It: Driven to be a ...

/news/2011/nov/14/dispatches-reed/

The New Back in Town

After a long path to KU, Jocques Crawford is ready to run.

/news/2008/aug/28/all_eyes_are_crawford/

Worlds. Here and now. Together.

When two people from different cultures date

/news/2009/mar/05/worlds_here_and_now_together/

Guest: Kansas basketball beyond definition

KU basketball is 40,000 people within five blocks, without one act of ...

/news/2008/apr/28/column/

‘Confrontational Evangelist’

Brother Jed, a self-proclaimed preacher, travels around to college campuses in order ...

/news/2007/nov/29/brother_jed/

Father and son, glove and ball

How a simple game made all the difference

/news/2008/sep/11/father_and_son_glove_and_ball/

The unsettled life of Sarah Bregman

How one student's tumultuous past gave her a chance for a better ...

/news/2011/may/09/unsettled-life-sarah-bregman/

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