Happy Trails....Sean Sutton

[kbsooner21]

I am assuming Pickens is a booster, how did he make his money??

Oil and gas

[kbsooner21]

This argument was posed to me last night and I can't say I disagree. Why not shell out this kind of money for a FOOTBALL coach? Football is where the big money is anyway right? And why is it ok to go 6-6 in football yet they're gonna pay top notch for a basketball coach instead?

[Bill the Thrill]

This argument was posed to me last night and I can't say I disagree. Why not shell out this kind of money for a FOOTBALL coach? Football is where the big money is anyway right? And why is it ok to go 6-6 in football yet they're gonna pay top notch for a basketball coach instead?

IMO - They think that they have always been more of a Basketball tradition school than football and they won't be bucking a as solid program at Boomer U with the Bball as they would if they tried the same in football.

[kbsooner21]

IMO - They think that they have always been more of a Basketball tradition school than football and they won't be bucking a as solid program at Boomer U with the Bball as they would if they tried the same in football.

I agree with that, but with the amount of money they are spending on a new stadium and opening on national TV, I just question the move. Course I question about everything done in the OSU athletic department

[Fast Eddie]

..well...well...i do remember that Eddie was the 1st to respond that Coach Bill Self would leave KU and go to Oklahoma State...i took all the bashing...KBSooner21 mostly...but i am standing firm now baby...he may be a big Cowboy again ??? stay tune...

[kbsooner21]

Self looking for 'security' from Kansas

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Kansas coach Bill Self slept for less than an hour after the Jayhawks stunned Memphis in one of the more memorable finals in NCAA tournament history, wrapping up their first national title in 20 years.

The details of the Jayhawks' 75-68 overtime victory will soon be etched in Kansas lore. After Memphis missed a series of free throws, Kansas guard Mario Chalmers hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to send the game to overtime, where the Jayhawks overwhelmed the Tigers.

Now Kansas fans may begin losing sleep over whether their coach is headed for Oklahoma State. Less than 12 hours after cutting down the nets, a bleary-eyed Self returned to the Alamodome on Tuesday morning and faced questions about whether he's interested in the job at his alma mater, which parted ways with Sean Sutton on April 1.

As he has for a week, Self said he plans to meet with Kansas officials soon about a contract extension.

"What I'd like to have is like everybody'd like to have," Self said. "I'd like to have some security. I don't know what even Kansas would remotely be talking (about). We haven't even talked about that. When I say security, I mean years, so hopefully that'll happen."

Citing factors such as Kansas' rich hoops tradition, Self said, "I'm not looking for more than what Kansas provides on a daily basis."

The school gave Self a five-year contract extension last season, increasing his annual compensation to more than $1.3 million with a chance to make another $350,000 each year if he meets incentives.

But Self could likely command far more money from Oklahoma State, whose billionaire alumnus Boone Pickens, gave $165 million to the school's athletic department.

Self said he hasn't met Pickens and wasn't familiar with details about Oklahoma State's program. But he drew a chuckle from reporters when he said, "From the outside looking in, it appears that they have great resources."

Kansas fans have become accustomed to a certain amount of anxiety over losing a talent coach. Roy Williams flirted with, and eventually left for, his alma mater, North Carolina.

Kansas followers exulted when their team defeated Williams and the Tar Heels in the national semifinals, but Williams turned up at the final wearing a Jayhawks sticker on his shirt.

Self awoke Tuesday morning to a congratulatory call from President Bush, who invited the Jayhawks to visit the White House.

"He said something that was pretty cool," Self said. "He said, 'You need to get here soon because you've got great seniors. If you don't get out here soon, then they won't get a chance to come because they'll all split and go different ways.' "

The veteran-laden Jayhawks likely will lose junior Brandon Rush, who declared himself eligible for the NBA draft last year but returned to campus after injuring his knee.

"I would anticipate losing five great seniors and possibly a couple more," Self said.

Player turnover is common in college basketball. The bigger question is whether Self will be back.

He said he hadn't heard from the Cowboys but would talk to them if they call.

"I would answer the phone," Self said. "Good gosh, I know all those people. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not going to answer the phone. But I certainly wouldn't answer the phone unless everybody at Kansas knew exactly what was going on."

Self said he's "positively not interested" in the Oklahoma State job but added that he wants to sit down with Kansas administrators. "I'm sure we'll meet and iron some things out," he said.

Asked what he considers important when he evaluates a job, Self replied, "I've got the best job. I have tradition and history and I love the people I work with. It's a great place to recruit to and my family's happy. I've got the best job, so I'm not evaluating anything else. I'm really not."

Ten days ago, Self had been considered one of the finer coaches who hadn't reached the Final Four. Then one desperation 3-pointer missed and another swished.

In the regional final, Davidson missed the potential winning shot from beyond the arc, stamping the Jayhawks' ticket to San Antonio.

On Monday night, Chalmers' shot fell and Self soon had a national title on his resume. Still, he said he didn't think of himself as a different coach.

"I don't think just because a guy makes a guarded shot with 2.1 seconds left makes me any different than if he hadn't made the shot," Self said.

[kbsooner21]

Kansas donors willing to pay to keep Self

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - If big bucks are needed to fend off Oklahoma State and keep Bill Self as the Jayhawks' basketball coach, wealthy Kansas donors seem ready to reach for their wallet.

"If they're going to need to raise a lot of money, I'm sure there will be many people step forward," Dana Anderson, a businessman/developer and prominent Kansas donor, told The Associated Press. "Bill Self is a great individual and a great coach and he's perfect for Kansas."

Immediately after Kansas beat Memphis in overtime Monday night for the NCAA championship, speculation intensified that oil and energy magnate T. Boone Pickens might be coming after the Jayhawks' coach on behalf of Oklahoma State.

An Oklahoma native who played for the Cowboys and was an assistant coach at the school, Self remains popular there.

Pickens, who once gave Oklahoma State's athletic department a $165 million donation, could probably outbid any single Kansas booster. But with an extensive alumni base and a love of athletics, the Jayhawks are not without financial firepower of their own.

Wealthy boosters already are paying for an extensive state-of-the-art football facility set to open this summer, including the Anderson Family Football Complex. Since Lew Perkins arrived as athletic director five years ago, the Jayhawks have raised millions for other capital improvements as well, including to Allen Fieldhouse.

Plus, Kansas fans are tired of losing coaches whose teams play in NCAA championship games. Larry Brown left for the NBA after winning the 1988 national championship, and Roy Williams heeded North Carolina's call just days after Syracuse beat Kansas for the 2003 title.

"I don't think people would want to see that happen again," said Monte Johnson, another prominent Kansas booster. "Everybody wants to see Bill Self stay at Kansas."

Self has said he does not want to leave Kansas, but that he wants security in the way of a long-term contract. He also said he would at least talk to the Cowboys should they call.

Under a contract that was extended last year and has three years to run, Self makes $1.375 million annually. But he would be in line for a hefty raise after winning a school-record 37 games and capturing a national championship even without Oklahoma State in the picture. Income from endorsements, basketball camps and speaking appearances will also escalate.

Self was expected to meet with Perkins and Chancellor Robert Hemenway soon, perhaps later this week. But Perkins said nothing was brewing as of Wednesday.

"We just got in last night from the Final Four," he told AP. "There's really nothing to comment on right now. My advice is for everybody to just relax for a couple of days and let us enjoy our national championship."

It's not the first time Perkins has faced such a challenge. While athletic director at Connecticut, he managed to hold onto Geno Auriemma, the Huskies' successful women's basketball coach.

"Lew is very competitive," said Johnson, the athletic director who hired Brown. "He will do all he can to make sure our athletic programs maintain their momentum."

After the Danny Manning-led Jayhawks won the '88 title, Johnson led a successful capital drive that brought millions into the athletic department.

"I haven't had anybody call this week and say, 'Boy, we've got to pony up and make this happen,"' said Johnson. "But I'm sure if they're called upon, our people will be there.

"If they're asked to make contributions, they will make contributions. Our athletic director and chancellor know the value that Bill has to our program. Bill has created a situation where he needs to be compensated for what he's done for this university, and he's done a lot."

Anderson said from his office in Santa Monica, Calif., that Kansas fans would be ready to step forward.

"I think we'll do all we can to retain him," he said. "I'm comfortable we will do our very best."

He declined to speculate on how much it might take to keep Self at Kansas.

"All Oklahoma State has to offer him is money," Anderson said. "We're going to do our best to make him comfortable in staying. You work out a way to retain great people."

[Kaptain]

kb

This argument was posed to me last night and I can't say I disagree. Why not shell out this kind of money for a FOOTBALL coach? Football is where the big money is anyway right? And why is it ok to go 6-6 in football yet they're gonna pay top notch for a basketball coach instead?

remember this----Gundy was hand picked by Pickens, jammed him down OSUs throat, and got him cheap.......

Now he's opting to try and buy out self, so he can also be hand picked....

what's next for Pickens, BaseBall, Track, Womens BB, it may never stop....

He dictates who coaches, who is the AD, you know the one who wipes the sweat off his balls during their workouts.......

It's come to a point, where Boone and his money, has built beautiful fields and arenas for the OSU team to play, but if they don't win, who in the fvk is gonna go see em......

He needs to back off some.....IMO...

Boone Pickens is to College Sports at OSU as Steinbrenner is to the Yanks....THE $$$$$$$$$$$$

[kbsooner21]

..well...well...i do remember that Eddie was the 1st to respond that Coach Bill Self would leave KU and go to Oklahoma State...i took all the bashing...KBSooner21 mostly...but i am standing firm now baby...he may be a big Cowboy again ??? stay tune...

How do you like your crow served Eddie?