Lawrence Journal World sports editor Tom Keegan
What a difference a year makes…
One year ago Lawrence Journal World sports editor and columnist Tom Keegan preached a doctrine of faith to the KU football faithful: Don’t be so gol dang negative.
Look at the cup half full – have some faith in the future. Clearly Keegan was reaching out to former Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams “whine and cheese” crowd.
That was then.
And now as the fall football season approaches (forget the Kansas City Royals the Journal World didn’t even send a reporter to cover the World Series) once again Keegan is peering into KU’s football future – this time with a startling projection. Startling in light of the fact that KU’s football future has been steeped in hype, hope and optimism in recent months based on the hiring of new head coach David Beaty.
Now it’s time to forget about Keegan’s previous call for optimism with now fired KU football coach Charlie Weis. Weis’ rewarded Keegan’s faith with a three win, nine loss season in 2014.
Today’s headline reads: “Blame Weis for 2015 Struggles”
And just like that, a year after chastising KU fans for their negativity, Keegan’s throwing in the complete towel.
“So little depth at so many positions combined with a brutal schedule puts the Kansas University football team in danger of going 0-12 in 2015,” Keegan writes.
That’s right, KU football may well go winless in 2015 according to Keegan.
Winless.
David Baety
So much for telling KU fans to keep the faith for the coach Keegan now blames for what could be the worst season in Kansas football history.
Believe it or not, there’s a common thread here.
In calling for fans to remain optimistic last year, Keegan was playing the role of a homer journalist trying to help the school sell tickets, hotdogs, etc.
And in his column today, Keegan’s asking for football forgiveness in advance, by blaming everything on the dude (Weis) he was sticking up for last year.
“The shame of that is that the players on the roster and the new coaching staff will get pinned with the blame,” Keegan continues. “In reality, it’s the previous coach’s quick-fix approach, coupled with the abundance of players who were either bad at life, bad at football, or both, who are to blame…The 2012 and 2013 recruiting classes are to blame for the underdog-every-week (at least for the final 11 games) season that awaits the Jayhawks.”
Keegan’s overall message: Don’t blame KU.
When the football program looks like dog duty, fans should remain optimistic and not be judgmental. And when the wheels are about to completely come off, they should go easy on the current coaching staff and athletics department because it’s that dude Keegan told everybody to believe in last year’s fault.
Yep, homer journalism at its finest.
0-12? I love it! Maybe add more games and break a record for one season 0-15?
or includes spring game 0-16….or bring the fat guy back (oh sorry …there were
at least 2 that filled that description.
Have them play the basketball team…that’s a sure win.
Maybe play Barstow…could be a close one but if you tease them with
ku-pembrooke you might have a winner.
too bad KU needs that money really badwith gov. cutbacks.
Here’ssom changes suggested tosave money.
1. chuck would eliminate all cheerleaders. He likes guys! And makeall
beers 50 cents like happy hour at bakers.
2. glaze could bring his troupe of washed upcomics in for halftime. The jokes
could all center aroun d the winless football team…
3. Bring in jr. to read some ancient british literary piece. The fans would
fall asleep but at least they wouldn’t head to the wheel at halftimes leaving
the stadim with 1 people
JUST SAW KU BBALL PROGRM WITH ALL HIS GLAMOR MADE JUST
2 MILION DOLLARS MORE THAN MU BASKETBALL PROGRAM. NOW…
HEARNE THERE’S A STORY THERE…WHERE’S ALL THAT REVENUE
GOING? WT MISSOURI’S HORRIBLE TEAM HOW COULD THEy MAKE
ALMOST AS MUCH AS KU’S ONE AND DONES?
as I said before…smoke and fire.
Put your news hound onthat asap!
ahahahahahah!
Well Keegan was wrong last year, but this time his approach is sound. David Beaty has had nothing to do with the current state of KU football. He gets a pass for this year, and possibly part of next year as well. A rebuild job the size of which is required at KU doesn’t happen overnight.
doesn’t happen in a lifetime!!!! Even vince Lombardi could chnge it!
Unlike Clinton, appears Keegan is inhaling, which is to say it could be worse at Kansas, and in fact was once upon a time.
Coming off consecutive 3-9 seasons now, the Jayhawks of almost 50 years ago won 4 games in 2 years before hiring a first time college football Head Coach named Pepper Rodgers. Rodgers arrived at Kansas in 1967, and by the end of his second season had them in the Orange Bowl, where they lost by a single point to finish ’68 ranked 7th in the nation. For that matter, Kansas State hired a new man too ’67, Vince Gibson, who (relatively speaking) turned that program around afore one Bill Snyder was heard of.
If success is measured by Championships won & not annual hype, Kansas has been no less successful than their pro brethren Chiefs, who like the January 1969 Orange Bowl Hawks haven’t been a blip on the football radar since Richard Nixon was tricky (in fact, the former ‘Futility U’ that was Kansas State has surpassed both those teams, since.)
Hope springs eternal as Chiefs, Browns, Jets, Royals, Indians and Cubs fans affirm…
“A couple months ago the U of N athletic director sent Coach Pelini back to Ohio, his pockets stuffed with millions of dollars, and at the same time shipped a pallet of hundred dollar bills to Oregon for a replacement. He said not to worry, because “…there are never concerns about money at the University of Nebraska.” The Board of Regents is now considering a hefty tuition raise. Congrats if your kid plays football; condolences if he/she doesn’t.” Roger Welsch, former boxing coach at Nebraska and CBS Sunday correspondent.