Kansas' basketball team may have an early-season problem, but Kansas' athletic department may have an even bigger mess on its hands.The Kansas football and men's basketball teams are at odds, resulting in at least two skirmishes Tuesday and another early Wednesday morning. Sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor suffered a thumb injury in one of the altercations and likely will not be available when the Jayhawks begin practicing next month.
The situation is serious enough that it demanded the attention of the school's administration, as well as basketball coach Bill Self and football coach Mark Mangino, on Wednesday.
"We are aware of an incident that occurred last evening that involved members of the football and men's basketball teams," said KU athletic director Lew Perkins in a released statement Wednesday. "I am disappointed that some of our student-athletes put themselves in this position, and it's something that I am taking very seriously.
"I continue to gather facts about this incident, and I plan to address this issue personally with both teams. I also know that Bill Self and Mark Mangino are working together to address it, and I am confident that they will handle the situation appropriately with their teams."
It's unclear what started the disagreement, but it's clear things have escalated. The initial skirmish took place Tuesday afternoon at the student union building, but the trouble spilled over into some of the dorms.
According to the website of the The Daily Kansan, the student newspaper, basketball players Sherron Collins, Mario Little, brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris and Taylor were placed at the scene, as were members of the football team, including receiver Dezmon Briscoe and starting cornerback Chris Harris.
Taylor, who was sent to the hospital and treated for a dislocated thumb, was the only athlete known to need medical attention. The police were called but no arrests were made.
In attempt to defuse the explosive situation and show some type of unified front, the Kansas athletic department met with several members of both teams Wednesday, and they released a combined statement about the incident. The combined statement comes from basketball players Cole Aldrich and Collins and football members Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing, Jake Sharp and Darrell Stuckey.
"We realize that over the past couple of days we've let a disagreement between a few guys grow bigger than it ever should have," the statement read. "We're embarrassed about that.
"Now we want everyone to know that we have met and talked it out. We realize we're all Jayhawks. We're proud of what both teams have accomplished."
This is certainly a first step with the members of each respective programs' leadership speaking out against the altercations. But the school has yet to reveal what will happen from here and how the players involved will be disciplined.
"We will handle any discipline regarding this incident internally, and we will have no further comment about it," Perkins' statement said.
Taylor is expected to miss three to four weeks of action due to his injury. Basketball practice is set to begin in the middle of October.
But Taylor's injury could be the just the beginning of the problem Mangino and Self have on their hands. Feuding athletic teams on campus is hardly new, but both of these programs have a great deal riding on their current and upcoming seasons.
The football program is 3-0 in non-conference play and has a chance to win its first Big 12 North Division title this season. The men's hoops team, with a bevvy of returning talent and another big-time incoming class, is expected to start the season as the No.1 team in the country. The 20th-ranked football team hosts Southern Miss on Saturday.
The gathered members of the respective teams pledged to squash the bad blood and move forward.
"We appreciate the support these teams give each other," the players' combined statement continued. "We'll be in the stands rooting for each other like we always have.
"We all wear Kansas on our uniforms, and we're proud of that. We need to act like it. We've met; we're all on the same page, and we will move forward together. The football team is ready to get back to work, focused on Saturday's game against Southern Mississippi, and the basketball team will continue to prepare for another great season."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Haha good...KU sucks, go MIZZOU!
The second fight should have never happened, let alone the first. Some of these big name programs hire and recruit suspect coaches and players just for a few more wins. This shows a lack of discipline on the players and coaches part. Suspend all of them for good. But, all you will see out of this is we talked to them.