Being a Kansas football fan has been tough for many following the program for dismal season after dismal season. Wins rarely are witnessed by the home fans, so when the Jayhawks put together a comfortable win against Rhode Island on Saturday night, the students felt rushing the field was a worthy celebration. The public address announcer felt otherwise.
As the students took to the field, an announcement asking them to return to their seats or leave the stadium “for the respect of this program.”
KU students rush the field. Are told by the PA to go back "for the respect of this program."
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) September 4, 2016
KU fans celebrates their football team first win in 22 months. pic.twitter.com/Scl6BRp3HG
— Allison 📸 🖖🇺🇸🇺🇦💔🐾 Pro-choice, Vote 💙 (@AllisonTampaBay) September 4, 2016
For a quick refresher on the respect this Kansas football program has in recent years…
Kansas has had three winnings seasons dating back to 1996, the first year the Big 12 existed. The most recent coaches they have had before current coach David Beaty were fired over controversy related to treatment of players (Mark Mangino) and winning five games in two seasons (Turner Gill) so you could make room for another coach who was on the lookout for one last never-ended payday (Charlie Weis), who would only win six games before being let go after four games in year three. But sure, prevent the kids from celebrating on the field following a win over lowly Rhode Island. That’s where you draw the line.
The win for Kansas broke a 15-game losing streak. Sure, it came against one of the worst teams they could schedule from the FCS ranks, but a win’s a win, damnit, and Kansas deserves to experience the thrill of victory to the fullest degree, don’t they?
KU students on field but goalposts stay standing. pic.twitter.com/rO0QuWvnNx
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) September 4, 2016
“I didn’t know what to think of it when I first saw it, but man it made my heart drop to see where they went. They didn’t go over to the goal post,” Kansas head coach David Beaty said after the win. “We have to have higher standards here. We would never rush that court at Allen Fieldhouse. Other places do that, but we don’t and we don’t need to do that here.”
In fairness, Beaty has a point. The standard for success at Kansas should be much higher than winning a game on your home field against an FCS program that won one game in 2015 and last had a winning record in 2001. Winning at home against a ranked Big 12 opponent? Of course. Storm the field. Heck, had it been a win over North Dakota State, sure, go nuts. But this was Rhode Island. Even for Kansas, that comes across looking embarrassing for the university and the program. But Beaty wasn’t mad. In fact, he was just happy the Kansas fans got a reason to go home satisfied with what they saw.
“As happy I am for our kids, I’m happy for our fans,” Beaty said. “They deserve it. They’ve been through a lot.”
Kansas failed to win a single game last season, but right now they have a better record than Oklahoma and LSU. Take what you can get, Kansas. Take what you can get.
