Did Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder and his players do Kansas University a big favor by delivering an embarrassing and brutal beating on KU’s Memorial Stadium field Thursday evening?

What happened Thursday evening was a statewide and national slap in the face to KU, particularly to people more knowledgeable than the casual television viewer about the university’s activities and programs. Many such people looked on the game’s outcome as verification of their concerns about KU’s overall leadership.

Maybe the many recent changes in various senior positions at KU have spurred this leadership question. It probably takes a certain amount of time for new hires to gain the respect of faculty, students and the public.

During the latter years of Robert Hemenway’s chancellorship, there was growing concern about a lack of leadership. KU seemed like a drifting ship with no one in control. Faculty members, as well as alumni and friends, were hungry for leadership and direction. Unfortunately, the Kansas Board of Regents was aware of the situation but did nothing.

A terrific beating on the football field may be a strange way to trigger widespread concern about the overall leadership at the university, but it has, indeed, forced this question to the forefront.

Currently, the university seems to be treading water.

The Endowment Association plays an important role for KU, but it too is in a transition and it is unknown whether its new leadership will be effective.

The frustrating factor in this whole question is that 99.9 percent of alumni and friends want the school and its leaders to excel, academically and athletically. There are many, many excellent, talented and nationally recognized scholars and researchers at KU, but they too are looking for leadership.

Obviously, there has been serious damage to the athletics department, and even the university, from recent disclosures and the actions of the departed athletics director and some of his associates.

The nagging and worrisome question is: When and where will true leadership emerge on Mount Oread?

The university, the city of Lawrence, the state of Kansas, its residents and taxpayers all deserve something better in the way of leadership than they have had during the past seven years.

Right or wrong, for many, the performance of the football team Thursday evening seemed to bring the overall leadership question to a head and may sufficiently excite those interested in the welfare of the university that they will call for remedial actions in Strong Hall, the athletics department and at the regents office.

Go KU!