To the editor:

Turner Gill’s two-year run as coach is over, but it’s important for everyone to remember, as I see the message boards blowing up with vitriolic and scathing criticism of this team, that it was a team made up of college kids. None of those kids out there on that field were making millions of dollars, and many of them were out there representing the school as best they could.

One of those kids was Stephen Johnson; one of KU’s starting inside linebackers. As a KU football season ticket holder, I saw Stephen bring it every game. He played his guts out and represented the Crimson and Blue with pride and passion. I just want to say thank you to Stephen for his efforts on the field and the great example that he put forth in showing that, no matter how badly things go, you never stop trying.

This season was a disaster, I’m not disputing that, but he still played as hard as he could and ended the season leading the conference in tackles. Unfortunately, with as bad as things went this season Stephen’s efforts have gone largely unrecognized. Not by those of us who were there every Saturday. Best of luck to you in the future, Stephen. Thanks for wearing the Crimson and Blue with pride.