Bill Self - Splurge Magazine

[gamefan]

...

I think Self has a lot more holding him back from scheduling a WSU v. KU match up than what people know.

Last baseball season me and a friend went up to Lawrence to watch the KU v. WSU baseball game. It was bitter cold, yet I noticed a couple high profile WSU athletic department officials in the stands. KU's baseball field sits right in front of Allen Field House (for those of you who don't know).

The guy sitting next to me was a alumni of both schools and had a lot to say about their athletic departments. (Not to mention any names) But, one of the WSU athletic department officials walked right by us and the guy next to me asked him "Hey, Mr. *******, I know KU is mean in basketball, but why don't the Shockers ever play them?".. The offical replied "It's not my problem." shook his head and walked off. So we assumed that maybe it wasn't the right time to ask that question.. Then the offical came back to us, pointed up at Allen Field House and stated "HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS THE PROBLEM.".. Then he walked off again.

The way the offical went about handling that question left me and the other fan sitting next to me in amazment. You could hear the frustration in his voice and the fact that he came back and made it clear the frustration was toward KU and not us seemed even more startling. So, it was a cloudy 25 degree day in Lawrence, WSU was losing 5-0 to KU and WSU athletic department officials were walking around pointing fingers at Allen Field House, wich was looming in the back ground. At that point in time it struck me that Allen Field House doesn't have a problem, Bill Self probably doesn't even have a problem.. My guess is WSU's old A.D (who's currently the KU A.D) has a problem with playing WSU in basketball, or possibly someone even higher than him does.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

Nice rug.

thats what she said

[martymoose]

The way the offical went about handling that question left me and the other fan sitting next to me in amazment.

I wonder who these "officials" were...

[ShockerGorilla]

The way the offical went about handling that question left me and the other fan sitting next to me in amazment.

I wonder who these "officials" were...

I remember reading a thread about this game that said ADES was there among the crowd, talking to many people.

[martymoose]

The way the offical went about handling that question left me and the other fan sitting next to me in amazment.

I wonder who these "officials" were...

I remember reading a thread about this game that said ADES was there among the crowd, talking to many people.

It was mentioned in the game thread that Sexton was there...but that's it. I find it hard to believe that he was pointing and shaking his fists at Allen Field House.

[tw805]

Now that we've been down this road 1,000 times, it is again worth repeating that this probably has very little to do with Bill Self. It's been painfully clear from the get-go that the athletic department at Kansas is not interested in playing any non-conference games away from Allen Fieldhouse if not on national television, as they get to keep too much revenue from those games. Can't say I blame them, nor would I want WSU doing anything different if in a position to do so. Furthermore, WSU has rightfully said they are not interested in playing KU away every year. I would absolutely hate them if they sold out like that. I just don't see how it's going to happen, because it doesn't make enough financial sense on either side.

That said, I hate KU with every fiber of my being, and pray every day that someone finally uncovers what must be a myriad of NCAA violations committed over the past 20 years, and that they are finally put on the death penalty probation they deserve. Unrelated rant, I know. Just needed to get it out.

[shock-it-to-me]

Now that we've been down this road 1,000 times, it is again worth repeating that this probably has very little to do with Bill Self. It's been painfully clear from the get-go that the athletic department at Kansas is not interested in playing any non-conference games away from Allen Fieldhouse if not on national television, as they get to keep too much revenue from those games. Can't say I blame them, nor would I want WSU doing anything different if in a position to do so. Furthermore, WSU has rightfully said they are not interested in playing KU away every year. I would absolutely hate them if they sold out like that. I just don't see how it's going to happen, because it doesn't make enough financial sense on either side.

That said, I hate KU with every fiber of my being, and pray every day that someone finally uncovers what must be a myriad of NCAA violations committed over the past 20 years, and that they are finally put on the death penalty probation they deserve. Unrelated rant, I know. Just needed to get it out.

best post ever on this subject.

[ShockerFever]

Now that we've been down this road 1,000 times, it is again worth repeating that this probably has very little to do with Bill Self. It's been painfully clear from the get-go that the athletic department at Kansas is not interested in playing any non-conference games away from Allen Fieldhouse if not on national television, as they get to keep too much revenue from those games. Can't say I blame them, nor would I want WSU doing anything different if in a position to do so. Furthermore, WSU has rightfully said they are not interested in playing KU away every year. I would absolutely hate them if they sold out like that. I just don't see how it's going to happen, because it doesn't make enough financial sense on either side.

That said, I hate KU with every fiber of my being, and pray every day that someone finally uncovers what must be a myriad of NCAA violations committed over the past 20 years, and that they are finally put on the death penalty probation they deserve. Unrelated rant, I know. Just needed to get it out.

Nice post...

..but... what about that 2006-2007 rumor that KU was given a one-time home game on national television against WSU with no strings attached and was quickly turned down by Billy?

[tw805]

Now that we've been down this road 1,000 times, it is again worth repeating that this probably has very little to do with Bill Self. It's been painfully clear from the get-go that the athletic department at Kansas is not interested in playing any non-conference games away from Allen Fieldhouse if not on national television, as they get to keep too much revenue from those games. Can't say I blame them, nor would I want WSU doing anything different if in a position to do so. Furthermore, WSU has rightfully said they are not interested in playing KU away every year. I would absolutely hate them if they sold out like that. I just don't see how it's going to happen, because it doesn't make enough financial sense on either side.

That said, I hate KU with every fiber of my being, and pray every day that someone finally uncovers what must be a myriad of NCAA violations committed over the past 20 years, and that they are finally put on the death penalty probation they deserve. Unrelated rant, I know. Just needed to get it out.

Nice post...

..but... what about that 2006-2007 rumor that KU was given a one-time home game on national television against WSU with no strings attached and was quickly turned down by Billy?

I really don't think it ever happened, but if it did I imagine the call was from the top. (Here comes a name/position drop!)

I actually got the opportunity to debate this subject last winter with the second in command over at KU's athletic department (long story.) I brought up the subject of a WSU/KU home and home, and I didn't even get the sentence out of my mouth before he responded with, "why would we do that?" (It appears he's heard this before!) He proceeded to say that KU is not interested in playing non-conference games that: 1. Are on the road; 2. They are not certain to win; and/or 3. Are not on national TV. He estimated that they get around $500k every time they play at Allen Field House, and would play anyone at home, as long as there was no return. They'll only play returns against perennial powerhouse teams that will be likely ESPN games. He said they would occasionally play one away in order to get into a recruit's home zone, but he felt they need not do that with WSU because they already "own" Wichita for recruiting purposes. (I almost threw a punch, but I suppose he's right to a point.)

I offered the possibility of neutral site games at Sprint in KC and a return at Intrust in Wichita, and he actually said they wouldn't do that because they can't fill the Sprint Center, which would be their "home" game. That surprised me, and that seems a little suspect.

Simply put, they are basing this all on a financial picture (and the fact that they are dirty, cheating cowards. At least they admit they don't want to play WSU because they're afraid they might lose.) I can't say I blame them on the finance side, but it's just not how I would do business. You have to remember that this is a university whose entire football operating costs are actually exceeded by the amounts they pay out to non-conference patsies who come in and play home games. They pay out more in "guaranteed wins" than they do to run the football program. That is sad.

So this was a long rambling post to get to the point. If a national TV game was offered to KU in regard to any team, I have serious doubts as to anyone turning it down. Even if Self didn't want to do it, I have to believe the AD would have overruled him because of the line of thinking I outlined above. It would have been a financial windfall which couldn't be denied.

I'm now going to let the Moose beat my ass for having spent more than five minutes talking to someone at KU. If it's any consolation, I had to spend about eight hours in the shower trying to get the "dirty" off.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

I had to spend about eight hours in the shower trying to get the "dirty" off.

pause















:D

[rZ]

Nice rug.

And the 5 o'clock shadow makes him look a little like Don Johnson. :)

the loafers with no socks didnt help (a la Miami Vice).

and how could this not lead to a Sonny Crockett quote:

"You've got to know the rules before you can break 'em. Otherwise, it's no fun. "