Lawrence should be proud of what the nation didn’t see after Monday night’s NCAA championship game: Crowds of disappointed fans rioting in the streets.

Lawrence residents have many reasons to be proud of the Kansas Jayhawk basketball team. Losing in the national final by three points in a tremendously spirited comeback that fell just short was not the final word on the Jayhawk team.

We enjoy the 27 victories per year coach Roy Williams’ teams have averaged in his 15-year tenure, but that’s just part of the story. The past two years, the Jayhawks’ graduation rate has been tops among all teams reaching the Final Four. Team members and coaching staff have an outstanding record of honorable conduct in their personal and private lives.

Far too often, in the wake of a national championship contest in any sport, headlines tell of riotous behavior by upset or jubilant fans. The nation’s eyes focus on a community that has lost touch with right and wrong. Although few events reach such a visceral level of passion as Division 1 college basketball, that is not a license to act badly.

What the nation didn’t see a few days ago was an unruly gang in the aftermath of our national title effort. The streets were packed with cars and fans, but there were no riots, no serious incidents. The Lawrence Police Department, aided by the Douglas County Sheriff and other law enforcement agencies, took a measured approach to the situation, controlling the crowds but avoiding the kind of confrontation that can trigger violent reactions.

The relative calm following Monday’s game speaks volumes for Lawrence and the university. It is not immediately known how many people around the world formed positive opinions about Lawrence and the university because of this outstanding conduct. However, the good behavior will continue to distance Lawrence and the university from the average factional communities.

Lawrence residents have incredibly diverse opinions. There are groups of “us versus them” within our town. That’s what makes life great. What makes it better is that while we can have heated debate and passionate defense of beliefs, we can maintain courtesy and respect. Many communities are envious of what we have in Lawrence. True colors are often seen when times aren’t so good. Lawrence and KU showed the nation we have a lot to be proud of.