Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Before 2007, the Kansas football team had lost at least five games each season for 12 straight years.
This year, the University of Kansas’ two revenue sports squads, the football and men’s basketball teams, lost a total of four times.
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‘The Chalmers Shot,’ which will be remembered for decades to come, could be repeated for five minutes straight without ever getting old for Jayhawk fans.
Four losses—just think about that. That means about 92 percent of the time when the Jayhawks walked on the field or court, they won. If you were that proficient in the classroom, you’d have a 4.0 grade point average. If the president ever received that high of an approval rating, we’d be living in euphoria.
That’s why Kansas’ 75-68 overtime victory against Memphis in Monday night’s National Championship did more than simply bring Lawrence its first title in 20 years: It capped off the greatest year in Kansas sports history.
CBS’ traditional ‘One Shining Moment’ highlights montage, which is played at the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament to commemorate the champions, just doesn’t do what happened here justice. Nope, the network’s head honchos would have to create ‘A Year’s Worth of Glowing Memories’ video to do that.
And there would be more than enough content to fill it. ‘The Chalmers Shot,’ which will be remembered for decades to come, could be repeated for five minutes straight without ever getting old for Jayhawk fans.
How about sophomore forward Darrell Arthur blocking national darling Tyler Hansbrough’s shot in the first half of Saturday’s game? Let’s not forget the Sherron Collins-to-Sasha Kaun alley-oop in the same game that re-energized the Jayhawks for the final seven minutes. Add Mario Chalmers’ eight three-pointers in the Big 12 Championship or jumping out to a 32-11 lead in the opening nine minutes against Kansas State at Allen Fieldhouse. This list could stretch on.
Oh, there’s football triumphs, too. Maybe sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing directing the Jayhawks up and down the field against Nebraska en route to 10 straight touchdowns and 76 points. Junior linebacker Joe Mortensen’s burst through the Virginia Tech offensive line that led to a blocked field goal in the Orange Bowl needs to be immortalized.
This year was incredible for Kansas sports fans. More than that – this year was dominance. Even the most bitter defeats had their silver linings. Kansas State might have beaten Kansas for the first time in 25 years at Bramlage Coliseum, but the Cats were beaten into submission in Lawrence. Not to mention, they squandered a third opportunity to face the Hawks by losing in the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
Missouri might have ruined Kansas’ football national title aspirations, but the Tigers ended up in Dallas playing in the Cotton Bowl. Kansas was rewarded with a more exotic location and a more notable trophy at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Neither the football or basketball teams lost a home game all year. And while we’re at it, KU Athletics Director Lew Perkins dominated airtime during the Super Bowl because he was sitting right below Peyton Manning. But nothing can be better than the fact that there’s going to be a new banner in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse.
Did the stars just align correctly over Lawrence? Is Perkins just truly Buddha? We’ll never know why it happened.
But one thing is for sure – something magical took place here this year. Enjoy it.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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Comments
Keefer: KU sports something to be proud of
This transplanted Jayhawk couldn't be prouder! It's hard to get anything but web or newspaper accounts of KU sports here in Alberta, but I did get a chance to watch the final game of the NCAA. Almost gave an old man a heart attack! I saw a webcam of 10th & Mass. Wish I could have been there. Way to go, 'Hawks!
Keefer: KU sports something to be proud of
I wouldnt attribute it to the stars or Buddha as much as I would the quality and quantity of work that our athletes put in day in and day out. To say otherwise belittles their efforts.
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