Thursday, March 6, 2008
I was disappointed Monday night when I was not asked to give a speech with the other seniors on Senior Night. After giving my heart and soul to the University of Kansas for four years just as Russell Robinson and the others had done, I was excited and prepared to take the microphone from Max Falkenstein and tell everyone just how proud I was to be a Jayhawk.
OK, so I knew I wasn’t going to get to give a speech and that nobody would have listened if I did, but as I talked with friends before the Texas Tech game, it dawned on me that a special and unforgettable portion of my life was coming to an end. Even though I plan on graduating in December, Monday night was the end of an era. It was probably the last night I will cover a game in Allen Fieldhouse as a member of the media.
Working for the Associated Press, I had the privilege of sitting in the best seats in the house for every home game for the past three years. My job was to give statistics and notes to my boss and then to interview the opposing team’s coach and players after the game. Whether it was irritating Bobby Knight two years ago for bringing up KU’s big rebounding margin, or being told by Kelvin Sampson to ask a better question, I had the thrill of interviewing some of the best sports figures of our time.
As a boy growing up in St. Louis, I always knew that I wanted to be a Jayhawk. But little did I know that choosing Kansas over Mizzou would wind up being one of the best decisions of my life. As members of the media, we are supposed to be un-biased and not root or cheer for a certain team. And as much as I bleed crimson and blue, not cheering was harder than you might think. After a Sasha Kaun lay-up and foul against Texas last year, I pumped my fist into the air on press row out of instinct before quickly realizing it and acting as if I was scratching my head so that nobody would notice.
While my friends camped out for hours and hours just to see the games, I was eating free food and sitting two seats to the left of Dick Vitale. Lou Gehrig once said in his famous speech that he considered himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth, but after my time here at the University of Kansas, I don’t know how he could be any luckier than me.
For four years, I watched game after game and moment after moment as my team, the Kansas Jayhawks, battled in historic Allen Fieldhouse. I try to explain to my friends and family just how amazing the passion and tradition of Kansas basketball is, but unless you see it for yourself, you don’t really know.
There are hundreds of memories that I made during my time in Allen Fieldhouse that I will never forget, but the best may have been during the pre-game video for the Kansas State game last Saturday. As the student section jumped up and down and fans yelled and screamed, goosebumps surfaced all over my body. As the music from the movie 300 glared over the loud speakers, for one of the few times in my life, I literally had chills. At that moment, I realized that I truly was going to miss being in Allen Fieldhouse for the rest of my life. And I made a promise to myself that night, that I will come back for a game at least once every season, because the passion and tradition that was instilled in me by this town and this university is something that I just can’t eliminate from my life.
As the final buzzer sounded following KU’s thrashing of Texas Tech, I realized that it was the last time I would ever be sitting in that seat again. As I listened to the players speak about what being a student at the University of Kansas meant to them, I did what any unbiased media member would do. I shed a tear.
And not because I was sad it was over, but because I was thankful that it happened. Anyone that has spent time in Allen Fieldhouse knows just how special of a place it is. It’s not just a place where you go to watch a basketball game. It’s a place that changes your life.
—Edited by Madeline Hyden
Editor's note: The J.H.P., 1-on-1, and Kansas ...
The Wave editor Scott Toland shares his take on this week's edition.
‘Mr. Jayhawk’ times five
Self honored all five Kansas seniors with the Danny Manning "Mr. Jayhawk" ...
Morning Brew: Shooting Kansas games provides new ...
Photo editor Ryan Waggoner says taking photographs for The Kansan has changed ...
Raise the roof
Allen Fieldhouse is named the loudest college arena in the country.
Sherron Collins prepares for senior night
Collins plans to "wing" his senior night speech after the game Wednesday ...
Wednesday’s home game could be Aldrich’s last
Junior center is projected to be a first-round NBA draft pick after ...
Kansas on my mind
A cross-country discovery
Forty-eight states later, I finally understand how life is different for everyone.
Saturdays with Bob
How KU football brought my dad and me closer together.
Robinett: Oranges still taste good in Allen ...
The Jayhawks defeated the Tigers 90-71.
Brew: A view from the student section
Jonathan Rosa describes his experience at his first University of Kansas basketball ...
Fieldhouse streak extends to 50
Winning out would put the winning streak at 59 games, still three ...
The road to becoming a true Jayhawk
Nystrom creates his own (hypothetical) Senior Night speech in which he reflects ...
A strong foundation: Campus architect builds legacy
After a 63-year career, Warren Corman, University Architect, will retire on Thursday.
Best enemies
A sisterly tale wrought with rivalry
Guest: Kansas basketball beyond definition
KU basketball is 40,000 people within five blocks, without one act of ...
For the love of the game
Several one-time KU basketball players have missed out on the riches of ...
Self limits speeches to seniors on Senior ...
Self says that Robinson should come back next year if he wants ...
One last time at Allen Fieldhouse
Five seniors will celebrate their final game in Allen Fieldhouse tonight at ...
Morning Brew: Kansan was my dream job
Case Keefer reflects on four years spent at the University Daily Kansan ...
Historic rally seals conference title
After falling behind by 22 points, the Jayhawks came back to win ...
Vitale's heart bigger than his voice
The story behind Dick Vitale's career and how it was extended to ...
Preparation for the away game
The Kansas women’s basketball team will have traveled to 11 away games ...
Book examines life of basketball inventor
Authors to sign copies, talk about work in Union bookstore.
Brew: Farewell Kansas Sports, I will miss ...
The experience of sports and the band is what has kept Jonathan ...
Lysen: Players like T-Rob make us thankful
Robinson's trials and tribulations make him uniquely a member of the Kansas ...
Dodd: One last run through Lawrence
You love the University of Kansas because...
Seniors celebrate time with the team
Kleinmann is the only Kansas basketball player to ever win five conference ...
Seniors aim for their last chance at ...
A tough game today against No. 14 Texas might damage the Jayhawks’ ...
Brew: Nothing will ever top the Missouri-Kansas ...
One KU student provides his perspective on the Border War game.
Student strives to be on stage
Shipley, a fan of acting and stand-up comedy for years, discusses her ...
The past and present of 'The Phog'
Constructing Jayhawk history and tradition since 1955.
Brew: An experience unlike any other
C.J. Matson describes the craziness on Massachusetts Street.
How to organize a basketball camping group
The Kansas basketball team’s first exhibition game is tonight, and the first ...
Fans need to show patience, class
Inside the women's basketball tournament selection
At 6:31 p.m. March 12, the Kansas women’s team went from silence ...
Senior night honors three, clouds Kansas' focus
Kansas defeated Texas 73-63 in its final game of the regular season, ...
Fans celebrate first game of season
Freshmen and graduates alike ready to participate in basketball traditions.
The tradition, history of KU men’s basketball
The Late Night at the Phog gives fans an insight to the ...
Rothman: Fans should remember Robinson’s courage
Robinson’s dedication to Jayhawks shines amidst repurcussions of Saturday’s loss.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID