Rightly so, great attention is being focused on college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks about to enter the post-season Big 12 Tournament, followed by the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas University has an excellent team and deserves the enthusiastic support of its fans. This basketball fever is likely to be intense for as long as the Jayhawks have a chance for the national title, but the support and interest in KU basketball is a year-round affair.

KU fans, however, should be alert to what is going on with the Jayhawk football program.

KU officials are promoting the upcoming season and the 2008 home games in Memorial Stadium. One of KU’s “away” games this year, the Missouri game, will be played again in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. This was to be a two-year deal with KU and Missouri officials discussing the possible extension of the Arrowhead experiment.

Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel made it clear he did not want to continue the KU-MU game in Arrowhead but acknowledged his athletic director and chancellor would make the decision.

KU officials talked about how great it would be for the players to have the experience of playing in Arrowhead, how Kansas City area residents would be able to see the Jayhawks in action and how it would be a financial bonanza for the KU athletic department.

It was a good game; KU played well following the first quarter and, with both the Tigers and the Jayhawks ranked in the top 10 of college teams, attendance was good. Many of those who attended the game, however, said “never again,” and there was much talk about the negative aspects of Arrowhead.

Now, KU and Missouri officials must decide whether to continue playing the game in off-campus, professional facilities in Kansas City.

Although Pinkel has said he doesn’t want to return to Kansas City after next fall’s game, KU coach Mark Mangino has remained silent. He knows the decision will be made by Athletic Director Lew Perkins and Chancellor Robert Hemenway. Money and strengthening Kansas City connections will be the primary factors in determining whether the 2009 KU-MU game will be played in Memorial Stadium or in Kansas City’s Arrowhead.

There sadly is the growing belief among many in Lawrence that university officials have far less concern about the welfare of Lawrence than has been the case in past years. Right or wrong, the manner in which KU officials pushed the KU game in Kansas City gave Lawrence-area residents, as well as many others throughout the state, reason to believe that KU administrators are not that concerned about the welfare of Lawrence or even western Kansas. It is not a good situation.

Even though attention now is focused on basketball, chances are there soon will be – or perhaps already are – serious discussions about the 2009 KU home football schedule and where the KU-MU game will be played. Also, don’t be surprised if Kansas City officials try to sell some sort of a plan to have more KU basketball games played in the new Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City.

Dollars and trying to please Kansas City interests will determine what happens.