To hell and back

Monday, May 5, 2008

A fight outside Naismith Hall began Thor Nystrom's year-long journey into the depths of the mental health system.

Nystrom: Leaving early could have cost millions

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Thor Nystrom shares his thoughts with the University.

Nystrom: Repeat of ‘07 football success unlikely

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

A 10-2 record with ‘08 schedule should garner Mark Mangino sainthood

Nystrom: Women’s basketball team needs more support

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The women’s team is competing in the WNIT, but the lack of fans at Allen Fieldhouse is depressing.

The road to becoming a true Jayhawk

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Nystrom creates his own (hypothetical) Senior Night speech in which he reflects on his time as a die-hard Jayhawk fan.

NBA Jayhawks prove disappointing for Nystrom

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008

Thor Nystrom explains how former Jayhawk basketball players, like Wayne Simien and Julian Wright, are failing to show promise in the NBA.

Nystrom: Have faith in Mangino

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008

Mangino has proven that he is a good recruiter and an even better player developer.

Nystrom: The guarantee of a Wildcat

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008

Wildcat’s head coach supports his player’s guarantee to beat the Jayhawks, but can they live up to it?

Looking at both sides of the scalp

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008

The Athletics Department has begun to take legal action against ticket scalpers for KU events. Critics say the Department itself scalps tickets at auctions.

Nystrom: Judging a coach by his cover

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008

Mark Mangino has done wonders for KU’s football team, but offers from other colleges are slim in number. Nystrom tells his theory on how bigger coaches are getting smaller offers.

Orange Bowl bound

Monday, Dec. 3, 2007

This is the Jayhawks third Orange Bowl appearance and first BCS bowl game

Kansas fans, starting cheering for MU

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007

If Missouri beats Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship this weekend, Kansas will likely receive a higher-ranked bowl game.

University helps improve video game

Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007

The EA Sports March Madness 2008 game gives players the ability to change the ratings of athletes such as Darrell Arthur and Sherron Collins, who received scores of 77 out of 100.

Arrowhead ticket resale prices soar

Monday, Nov. 19, 2007

The Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri has received a lot of attention. Tickets for the game are being offered on various Web sites, with prices climbing as high as $250.

Media hype creates lofty expectations

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007

The Jayhawks are expected to win the Big 12 and keep playing late in March. Team members are not oblivious to the hype surrounding their talented team.

Jayhawks undefeated covering the spread

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007

The KU football team has impressed the nation with its 10-0 start, but some are taking notice of another record. The team has covered the spread of every game, a feat never accomplished in either the college football or the NFL.

Fans line up for tickets to Border Showdown

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007

Students missed class and bribed campers to get tickets for the Kansas-Missouri game on Nov. 24 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Winning T-shirt slogans revealed

Monday, Nov. 12, 2007

The contest to create new slogans to replace the “Muck Fizzou” shirt and to design a general gameday shirt has ended. 1,000 shirts will be distributed for free during ticket pickup this week.

Staff, faculty receive tickets on cards

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007

Students aren’t the only KU basketball fans who have their tickets on their cards now. The University placed faculty and staff tickets on access cards to prevent ticket scalping.

Turnaround: Suffering rivals getting green-eyed

Friday, Nov. 2, 2007

The success of Kansas football has schools such as Texas A&M and even Nebraska feeling a little jealous. The two schools find themselves freefalling as the Jayhawks and coach Mark Mangino skyrocket.

Alumni, advisory board urge game day ‘blue out’

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007

Nebraska fans travel in packs and always show up wearing red. Jennifer Alderice, homecoming adviser, and alumni ask those Jayhawk fans attending the game to wear blue, in an effort to unify the Jayhawk nation.

Volleyball team hits the floor for a cause

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007

Last year the team raised $2,700. The national goal for this year is $200,000.

Alumnus moves into the big leagues

Monday, Oct. 29, 2007

After graduating from the University in May, C.J. Moore received the opportunity to work for the Colorado Rockies as an assistant beat reporter. However, after the Rockies’ success this season, Moore realized the importance of his current situation.

University to replace ‘Muck Fizzou’ slogan

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007

Last year, ESPN announced that it would not show KU students wearing “Muck Fizzou” shirts on television. Through a T-shirt contest at kansan.com, students can pick a replacement slogan that they will still be proud to flaunt on their T-shirts at future KU-MU games.

Businesses protest Kansas-Missouri game

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007

Owners of the Red Lyon Tavern are encouraging people to stay home during the Nov. 24 Kansas-Missouri game. If people come to the tavern on that day with an unused ticket, they will get discounts on food and merchandise.

2008 nonconference schedule takes shape

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007

The 2008 Jayhawk schedule will feature competition more inline with the success the team is experiencing this year. KU will play Florida International, Louisiana Tech, South Florida and Sam Houston State.

Jayhawk fans a bunch of followers

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007

The basketball team is not the only KU team drawing fans to road games. The football team’s winning year has draw more and more supporter to road games.

Jayhawks ensure spot in bowl game

Monday, Oct. 22, 2007

Last season, after finishing 6-6, the Kansas football team was not selected for a bowl game. Because of their victory against Colorado on Saturday, the Jayhawks have a definite spot in the postseason and could play in their most respected bowl game since 1969.

College football

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007

Kansas State reports own rules violations to NCAA

“Late Night” streaming live on Internet

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007

For the first time, basketball fans can see “Late Night in the Phog” from the comfort of their own homes.

Jayhawk fans break attendance record

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007

The Jayhawks success in their early nonconference games has caused a spike in attendance. However, some fans are still leaving at halftime.

Vulgar kickoff chant draws criticism

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007

‘Muck Fizzou’ is on its way out, and the Athletics Department thinks ‘Rip his f--cking head off’ should be the next to go.

Sunflower Showdown goes national

Friday, Oct. 5, 2007

Kansas has a 7-33 record in the last 40 televised games.

Jayhawk plays center in new movie

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007

Marcus Owen, former Kansas offensive lineman, plays in front of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the new film “The Game Plan.” Owen played for Kansas from 1997-2000 and plays in the Arena Football League.

Wins justify soft nonconference schedule

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007

Though Kansas’ four opponents have a combined record of only 4-15, the athletics department is standing by the light schedule because the Jayhawks are already close to the six wins needed for bowl eligibility.

Oklahoma State coach’s rant targets KU graduate

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007

Carlson, a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalist and columnist for The Oklahoman, was the target of Gundy’s angry comments about her negative depiction of OSU quarterback Bobby Reid in an article.

Alumni group bashes new font

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007

This summer the KU Athletics Department decided to adopt the official KU font Trajan for use on its uniforms. Two former KU students and fans of the previous font created a Web site to express their opinions on the change: trajansucks.com.

Two games for the price of one

Monday, Sept. 24, 2007

Florida International University was scheduled to play the University last season, but canceled the game to play the University of Miami instead. In exchange, FIU agreed to play the University in 2007 and 2008 for $250,000 a game. The going rate for a one-game FBS guarantee is usually $500,000 or more.

Hard season needed to subsidize programs

Friday, Sept. 21, 2007

The number of teams willing to play guarantee games is fewer than the demand requires, which increases the price of a guarantee team

Mangino’s sideline rant goes public

Monday, Sept. 17, 2007

At the end of his 77-yard punt return touchdown against Central Michigan, Kansas’ sophomore wide receiver Raimond Pendleton dove into the end zone and drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a tongue-lashing from coach Mark Mangino. Topeka’s WIBW-TV aired Mangino’s yelling on YouTube, forcing the Athletics Department to re-evaluate its sideline videotaping policies.

Award recognizes female leadership

Monday, Sept. 17, 2007

The Athletics Department received the Corporate Champion of Women’s Leadership Award Friday from The Central Exchange, a Kansas City organization devoted to women’s leadership and development.

Chabad Jewish Center to host Jewish new year celebration

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007

Jewish students began gathering last night in the Burge Union to celebrate the coming of a new year. Services will continue at 10 a.m. Thursday and Friday and the Burge.

Auburn student starts college sports poll

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007

College sports fans have the opportunity to pick a national champion through a new site designed by an Auburn student, which recognizes college teams through the fans’ eyes.

Football lines up FCS teams to ensure wins

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007

The Athletics Department will continue to schedule FCS opponents for nonconference games. Some fans would prefer to see more high profile games in the KU schedule.

Rock Chalk Rewards advocates sport attendance

Monday, Sept. 10, 2007

Students who show up at sports events other than football and men’s basketball this year will have the opportunity to earn points through Rock Chalk Rewards. The program was designed to boost attendance at these events.

Contest could bring free DMB concert to campus

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007

AT&T will choose a winner based on the number of votes submitted either online or via wireless phone. If KU wins, the Dave Matthews Band will perform at a pep rally for the Nov. 17 game against Iowa State.

Game day goes smoothly despite construction

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007

The Athletics Department said navigating construction was not a problem for most fans at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Some fans were unhappy that they couldn’t tailgate in their usual parking spots.

Fans face game day construction

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007

Changes to parking and tailgating will affect pregame activities before Saturday’s season opener, but the University is hoping to prevent complications by helping the fans adjust in advance.

Battle over unlicensed T-shirts proceeds

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007

The University sited trademark infringement against a local T-Shirt vendor in a early-March lawsuit. A mediation has been scheduled for Sept. 28.

NBA referee scandal affects Big 12

Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007

Officials’ performance is already evaluated on every single play. New security measures will help prevent a gambling scandal from ocurring in the conference.

Thor Nystrom

Sports Columnist

Thor is a sportswriter from Brainerd, Minn. He has worked as a general assignment writer for the sports section, reported sports administration news and currently writes a sports column once a week. Thor is a movie buff who enjoys playing sports. He will return to his native Minnesota this summer to cover the Twins for mlb.com as an associate reporter.

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