International SAAC: A Night to Highlight KU's International Competitors

This past Monday, November 22 the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted a night dedicated a night entirely to highlighting the group of International student-athletes. International athlete and SAAC member Sara Lazarevic tells us more...


SAAC international night was a fun event were several student athletes got together and brought home cooked meals and talked about their native land. The setup was a little different from the usual SAAC meetings, which made the night especially interesting. Students exchanged there cultural experiences as they told stories about home while answering questions about their culture.

For some of the international students it was their first time to a SAAC meeting, and after they defiantly felt more comfortable. Being part of the event allowed them to learn more about SAAC and SAAC’s atmosphere. Many of the tennis girls said they looked forward to attending more SAAC events now that they know what it’s about and how it all works. Overall, I think everyone that attended had a great time trying different foods, laughing, and learning more about their fellow student-athletes.

-Sara Lazarevic (tennis)

Jayhawks Keepin’ It Green

FACT: Jayhawk Student Athletes are the hardest working athletes in the country.

Several of the University of Kansas coaches use the words “Blue Collar Work Ethic” to describe the philosophy of the hard work put into preparation in many of our sports. We prepare physically and mentally, with our team and alone, when no one is watching. We sure do get thirsty from all that training!

FACT: Gatorade. It’s ACTUALLY IN the Jayhawk Student Athletes (and lots of it).

The football team in particular goes through cases of Gatorade like Joey Chesnut goes through hot dogs. In a recent order, 250 cases were purchased with 24 bottles to a case, and estimates show that the team will go through eight times that amount in a year.

FACT: Plastic Gatorade bottles are made from recyclable PET #1 plastics

When former line backer, Mike Rivera, brought to he attention of our SAAC executive board the amount of Gatorade bottles being simply thrown away at the new football facility we knew that this was an issue worth investigating. Turns out, during two-a-day practices the football team was drinking more than 150 a day and not a single bottle was being recycled.

With the help of Mike Harrity I got in contact with Celeste Hoins, leader of the Environmental Stewardship Program at KU. Celeste was stoked to hear that the athletics department was interested in getting involved in the green efforts on campus and we were thrilled that she was willing to help. We then began meeting with Murphy Grant, Director of Sports Medicine and Head Football Trainer at KU, to work out a plan of attack that would prove the least disruptive for the football team. Recycling receptacles were picked out, pick up times were arranged and then two-a-days began to the delight of the football team.

Since the recycle program has been implemented, Kansas Athletics has recycled over 3,000 bottles from the football practice fields alone! It’s remarkable because the plan has been executed so flawlessly it’s probably even unknown to the hard working athletes on the field. See, recycling is a piece of cake guys.

The football practice fields are only a small step in the green direction for KU Athletics. We have many more areas in which we can become a more sustainable athletic department but were moving quickly in the right direction. Hopefully, if we keep this progress we can become a leader amongst athletic departments nationally as we create a more healthy and sustainable environment to compete in.

FACT: Kansas Jayhawk rock… at recycling. BOOYAH BABY!

Ally Stanton, Softball

Long Overdue

Well, this post is long overdue. I am slightly embarrassed for making my comedic debut and then hiding behind schoolwork and summer for the past few months. The good news for you is that I have lived through another quick summer to bring you my second post. Unfortunately, this won’t redeem me for my claims of incredible comedic relief as I have been meaning to put my thoughts and feelings into words for some time now, and I guess they could more accurately be described as reflections.
I am beginning my senior year here at the great University of Kansas. The spring semester really got me thinking about life and my future, and my experiences this summer continued that trend. These next few paragraphs are my thoughts from May through now (September), and are different events that influenced me in some way.
This year I had a wonderful opportunity to serve on the committee that chose the recipient of the Del Shankel Teaching Excellence Award. The award is the highest honor a student-athlete can give a teacher at KU. Students nominate their teachers and then a committee comprised of student-athletes interview the candidates and deliberate until they can finally come to a decision for the winner.
We had some very inspiring candidates this year and each one motivated me in some way or another. Just talking to these teachers made me want to immediately go sit and listen to one of their lectures, even though it was Friday afternoon of Easter weekend. I am an accounting and finance major, and none of the nominees taught a business course. They were intellectually stimulating even in an interview setting with nothing specifically academic in our questions—we just wanted to get to know them better. I could have sat there all day listening to each one about their respective subject and enjoyed every minute of it. They absolutely loved their job and enjoyed creating relationships with students even if there were several hundred in the class. I was extremely impressed with how much effort a teacher went to just so he would be able to say a student’s name to his face in a 300-person lecture. Sometimes students think their teachers don’t care and have no idea who they are, especially at a large university like Kansas. These teachers didn’t just set the bar, they exceeded it. Heck, after interviewing them, I was tempted to switch majors and become a teacher because they had such passion for it. Most of them never even planned on teaching at a university, but yet they are obviously very good at it for a student-athlete to nominate them.
Every year the athletics department hosts a Senior & Scholar Athlete Banquet and this is the occasion where we honor the nominees and award the winner. Other than the fact my heel was stuck between the cracks on stage, it went smoothly and I was so excited to present the award. It was a time, though, when I wanted to be cliché and give them all the winning plaque because it was a tough decision and I felt each deserved it in a different way.
Another reason the department holds the banquet is to honor the seniors for putting in 4 (sometimes 5) years of hard work to make Kansas Athletics great. This year was more emotional for me because a larger number of my friends were moving on to the next chapter in their lives. Also, it’s the last time I will look up at the stage and say, "well, it’s not me yet," which definitely makes you think about things. I’m an extremely organized person and always have everything planned—I’ve had my school schedule planned out by class since the beginning of my sophomore year. Seeing my friends and teammates up there this year just made me wonder if I’ve accomplished what I want during my years in college (I’m blaming all this contemplating on our Del Shankel nominees stimulating my thought process). It made me wonder if I have any regrets. It definitely solidified me in my decision over three years ago to come to KU. Looking at all the accomplishments of my fellow student-athletes made me so proud of what they’ve done while they were here and how much they added to my experience. It was surreal when I ran down Massachusetts Street to celebrate winning the National Championship. I was in awe as our football program had such a great season in 2007 and even though we lost some key players, came back and had another good season with a bowl win. I had chills during the Missouri game this year (and I was at home, warm, instead of freezing like I was last year) when somehow our guys gutted it out, buckled down, and made one of the most thrilling games into more than just a game, but a breathtaking win (plus the pictures looked really cool with the snow falling). Our women’s basketball team had a season to remember as they made it to the WNIT Championship game and had the honor of hosting it in the hallowed Allen Fieldhouse. I had never even been to a swim meet in my life until I came here to cheer on the girls who lived on my floor freshman year. Sometimes on our way to or from a run, we see the rowing team on the Kansas River and the way they glide just mesmerizes me. One of my favorite components of my participation in KU Athletics is SAAC and the incredible events I have experienced with some of the most creative, caring, energetic, and friendly people. I will truly cherish every memory I have from here.
As I am re-reading what I just wrote, it kind of sounds like I am the one graduating. Fortunately, I have another year, plus my masters (well that isn’t entirely bad because who really wants to have to go into the "real world"). I guess I need to clarify. I basically just want to thank the Class of 2009 for everything they have done for Kansas Athletics, their teammates, and for any small way they impacted me and wish them good luck in their next endeavors. You will be missed, but not forgotten.
As for the Class of 2010, we have our work cut out for us as we embark on our final year(s) here in Lawrence. For some, our seasons are just beginning and the air is filled with goals and dreams. For others, their time is coming and we all know preparation is key. We have gone through countless hours of hard work and sweat and this is our time. Our time to prove to the college football world that we are serious contenders for the Big 12 title; that we are passionate enough and willing to do everything possible to get to the NCAA Cross Country meet; that we have the drive to stay focused and make a run for the National Championship in men's basketball; that we can repeat in the NCAA Soccer Tournament; that our women’s basketball team will dominate in the NCAA tournament just like they did in the WNIT last year; our time to show the rest of the country what it means to be a Jayhawk. Wear your uniform proudly because we have a rich history out here in Kansas, but we should attempt to make it not just a rich history, but a rich present.

Rock Chalk

--Kaitlyn Coen (Cross Country/Track & Field)

Two Poems by Darrell Stuckey II

Poetry is a hobby I love to do to release emotions that are built up inside, whether it's fear, joy, sadness. Or just a way to keep myself motivated.

"My Hero" I wrote as a reflection of the positive influence my Grandpa had in my life to bring me out of mourn.

"Blind Fear" I wrote as an inspiration of the inner thoughts before competition.

My Hero
As a child we tend to take things for granted.
We think we can fly, or that we’ll live forever.
Not realizing the value in life nor the sensitivity of it.
Not even how easy it can be lost through decisions, time, or neglect.
I use to think that mother could do anything,
Yeah she was my role model.
Her determination, passion,

and selflessness have made me who I am.
But there was a time that I was living aimlessly,
My faith was careless and my direction was pathless.
It was like I was trying to count the stars before night fall.
I remember when my night fall came and my stars were visible.
It was the first time I saw my grandpa’s name,
On the Wall of Fame at the Ranch for bowling a 300.
Or the first time I saw him hit a homerun at 50 years old.
Or maybe it was when he injured his neck going into 2nd base
And still returned to the field again.
It was these moments that gave direction,
Seeing him reach perfection bowling a 300 gave me hope,
And the desire to be the best in all that I do.
Seeing him hit multiple homeruns at 50 years old,
Made me realize that size and age is not only what matters,
But sound judgment, technique, and heart can get you further…
Gentle, Proud, and Loving,
My Grandpa is my Hero

Blind Fear
Sweaty palms, stomach turning, vision blurry
What is this feeling
Is it a result of something bad
Or the build up of something good
I don’t want to miss my opportunity
Especially if I know I should
Do I run, walk, it doesn’t matter
I just need to get there
Wright, wrong, maybe it can influence my character,
My integrity, or my reputation
I can’t risk it,
It was hard to build up,
Yet so easy to lose it
Sweaty palms, stomach turning, vision blurry
What is this feeling
Is it the result of uncertainty
Or the anxiety of being so anxious
I’ve done it before
So why does it always feel like the first time
Should I smile, yell, or frown
And hold my grin firm
It’s either me or him/her
Which one of us will be the better player
Is it the one who plays harder
Or the one who worked the hardest in preparation
If so maybe I shouldn’t have skipped those reps in the weight room
Or maybe I should have ran a little harder during conditioning
Okay here we go, come on get ready…
But why am I so nervous
Why so scared
What is this feeling
Ah, I know, it’s… it’s…
The fear, yeah that’s it
The fear of the unknown

- Darrell Stuckey II, Football