WRITER: Matt Tait

Matt Tait: From the first story to the last, work has been a dream come true

Eighteen years ago, when former Journal-World Sports Editor Tom Keegan showed up to work for his first day on the job in Lawrence, I fired off an email that would change the next two decades of my life. In it, I explained to Keegan who I was, why I was emailing him and how, for as long as I could remember, I always had aspired to write for the Journal-World and cover sports in the town in which I grew up. It ...

Kansas football lands commitment from 3-star tight end from Iowa

The Kansas football program has picked up an oral commitment from three-star tight end Carson Bruhn, who chose the Jayhawks over Kansas State and Minnesota. Bruhn took several visits to KU — official and unofficial — and told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com that he loved getting to see “a different side of KU” during each visit. “The academics were great, the college atmosphere is amazing, Jayhawk ...

Kansas football spent part of spring trying to make QB Jalon Daniels 'bulletproof'

One of the things that made Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels so effective last season was his ability to take off and run. That also made him vulnerable. With that in mind, and with Daniels still building strength after the shoulder injury that forced him to miss four games a season ago, KU strength coach Matt Gildersleeve crafted a very focused plan for the junior quarterback’s offseason. His message to ...

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self seeking to fill specific needs as transfer portal rages on

Friday marked the 20-year anniversary of Bill Self’s hiring at the University of Kansas, and it’s a safe bet that the KU coach did not think when he was hired that college basketball would be what it is today. Whether you’re talking about the recent rise in transfer portal popularity or the name, image and likeness opportunities that have changed the entire landscape, things are certainly different than ...

Report: KU officials participate in IARP hearing; final ruling could be next

Representatives of the Kansas men’s basketball program and Kansas Athletics last week participated in a long-awaited hearing with the Independent Accountability Resolutions Process regarding the NCAA’s infractions case against KU, according to a report from SI.com. The hearing has been viewed by many as the last major hurdle in reaching a resolution in KU’s case. The SI.com report indicated that both KU ...

Huge spring has Kansas safety Jalen Dye on the brink of a big role with the Jayhawks

One of the biggest stories of spring football at the University of Kansas was the emergence of sophomore safety Jalen Dye, who has firmly worked his way into the mix in the KU secondary and figures to be a key part of the Kansas defense this fall. The opportunity to do so presented itself right away, when starters Kenny Logan Jr. and Marvin Grant were ruled out for spring ball before it even started. ...