Speaking to Lawrence Rotarians on Monday, Sheahon Zenger, Kansas University athletics director, didn’t hold back when asked whether he would consider playing Wichita State University in basketball.
He said that any scheduling decisions would be done in consultation with Coach Bill Self and his staff.
But Zenger said an email that someone had sent him — which said Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall had called KU “chickenhawks” — wasn’t helpful.
“You need to think about what you say, Mr. Marshall,” he said. “Don’t be flippant about your remarks about the flagship institution.”
Larry Rankin, an assistant athletics director at Wichita State, detailed the nature of the coach’s comments, which were made during a pep rally after the basketball team won the postseason National Invitation Tournament.
“During the rally a fan got Coach Marshall’s attention by yelling ‘chickenhawks’ during a lull in the speech, and Coach Marshall acknowledged him by reading the fan’s sign which also said chickenhawks on it,” Rankin wrote in an email.
Comments
Yogi 2 years, 1 month ago
The Shockers have been blowing and going in the Wichita paper recently, calling KU cowards who are afraid to play WSU. I hope KU never gives them the honor of meeting on a basketball court. Wichita needs to learn ow to win with class before they should be allowed on the same floor with KU. The last time they played and WSU won, in New Orleans about thirty years ago, they proved how classless they are by putting large billboards all over town crowing about their victory in NO.They had a fine season, winning the NIT. but they weren't good enough to make the NCAA Tournament and have no business taunting a team who made it to the Elite 8 and is only a couple of years out of a National Championship.
Phogfan86 2 years, 1 month ago
And they still talk about that win. It's funny and sad at the same time.
One team wins a tournament to be the 65th best team in the country and they lose their minds. Another loses in the Elite 8 and looks at the season as a disappointment. One of these things is not like the others.
nzsoccer726 2 years, 1 month ago
^ Correction: 69th best team
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 2 years, 1 month ago
Maybe Zenger should grow up a little himself, rather than sniping back about an alleged comment.
justajoe 2 years, 1 month ago
Exactly.
SFBayhawk 2 years, 1 month ago
So...isn't the point to play an opponent instead of the multi-directional, religious schools that usually compose half the pre-season? It beats seeing them pristine in March, which hasn't exactly been a KU long suite.
What kind of "honor" comes of cowardice? Which country club do you belong to? The cheese and whine one?
justajoe 2 years, 1 month ago
Excellent!
DaBellaDaBall 2 years, 1 month ago
I agree w/ bozo-doesn't Zenger have more important things to think about? The mere fact that he took note of the alleged "chickenhawk" incident, as if it were some sort of depredation, surprises me. How childish. I think it is flattering that the WSU-ers have such things on their minds.
More importantly, the last time that the Shockers were on a good roll, we lost the recruiting battle for Wichita products like Antoine Carr, Aubrey Sherrod, Greg Drieling, Ricky Ross and a few others. Sure, WSU was cheating in recruiting, but the best way to make sure that talent coming out of Wichita comes to KU is to occasionally beat the snot out of the Shockers.
faceit 2 years, 1 month ago
You do realize it was KU that hired Perkins after he eliminated the WSU F-ball program? After KU/Self dismal tournament record of losing to lessor teams, I certainly don't think bragging about a game in the future is appropriate.
hbjayhawk 2 years, 1 month ago
Wichita St. 2011 NIT Champions. HAHAHAHAHA!! That sounds so funny and pathetic. You should see the shirts they are selling. Almost as bad as our 2005 KU win vs. Nebraska inFootball shirts that said "we shucked the world" . . . HAHAHAHAHAHA. So if Wichita beat KU in Basketball, it would probably just read, "We shocked ourselves!"
rgh 2 years, 1 month ago
So let's put them on the schedule and shut them up. Why shy away from an in state rivalry? It would be good for the state. Heck KU is already going to play at game in Wichita so why not play WSU home and home the next two years.
snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 1 month ago
Maybe Thomas Robinson will go down there & rough some people up for dissing the Chokehawks.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.