Morning Brew: Kansan was my dream job

Column photo

By Case Keefer

Friday, May 1, 2009

I told myself I would never write this.

I had no plans to go out on a sappy, sentimental senior column. Not my thing. Too bad I lied to myself.

Because the truth is, when I realized I only had a couple weeks left studying at the University of Kansas and living in Lawrence, I got reflective. I started thinking about everything I’ll miss.

I’m going to miss racquetball at the Recreation Center. I’m going to miss the chicken finger basket at Yacht Club. I’m going to miss shows at the Bottleneck.

But you know what I’m going to miss the most? What you’re reading right now. The University Daily Kansan. To say anything else at the University had near the impact on me that the Kansan did would be a straight lie.

My run with The Kansan started four years ago. I moseyed around the basketball courts at the Recreation Center with a notepad and pen back then, looking for intramural games to write stories about. Had no idea what I was doing. Didn’t matter.

I remember covering a semifinal intramural game and the celebration that ensued for the victors. Something clicked.

“I love this,” I thought. “I could do this for the rest of my life.”

It’s still to be determined if I’ll write about sports for the rest of my life. Who knows? But either way, The Kansan has provided me with enough memories of doing what I love to last me for the rest of my life.

I’ll remember being in the press box to watch Justin Gatlin fly in the Kansas Relays and how he tested positive for a banned substance after the race.

I’ll remember women’s basketball games three years ago when Shaquina Mosley’s buzzer-beater at Texas would be shown on the Allen Fieldhouse big screen five times per game because it was the only good thing to that happened all year.

I’ll remember Aqib Talib’s 100+ yard interception return that even coach Mark Mangino had to admit was special after a worthless non-conference football game.

I’ll remember being along for every step of the ride of the most improbable season in recent college football memory — 2007 Kansas Jayhawks — and seeing how it culminated in Miami.

I’ll remember dodging Kansas State fans as they rushed the Bramlage Coliseum floor after the Wildcats ended the Jayhawks’ 24-game winning streak in Manhattan and all the hate mail they sent me the next day for my column.

I’ll remember being sports editor and helping put together the most famous Kansan ever — April 8, 2008, after Kansas won the national championship.

I’ll remember something specific from each of the more than 50 basketball games I covered at Allen Fieldhouse.

I’ll remember shaking hands with Gale Sayers. I’ll remember meeting Charles Barkley.

I’m going to miss my spot on press row in Allen Fieldhouse. I’m going to miss my slot on Fridays in the Morning Brew. I’m going to miss seeing my name in The Kansan.

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