Good riddance to the Border Showdown

Posted on: May 3, 2012 at 10:44:56 CT

I never cared for the concept. Sure, we were heated rivals with kU, but when the athletics emphasis is completely different at the two schools, it doesn't make sense to showcase head to head competition in every sport.

I think Mizzou's emphasis has been on building an athletics program that is competitive across the board at the conference level...and we've invested with that goal in mind.

kU's emphasis is on having an elite men's basketball program only (or as FIJI would say, the best money can buy). Even when presented with an opportunity for long-term football competitiveness (after the wacky 2007 season), the Beaks chose to let it pass. Two coaching changes later, nothing from that moment remains.

A series competition with kU is like a series competition with an NBDL team...they'll give you a game in men's hoops, but they barely show up in anything else. And if that is what their fans value, why should the kU AD change?

For a long time, we struggled to commit what was needed to grow a quality athletics dept, and it showed, especially in football. Let's hope those days are behind us for good.

If we choose to participate in another series like this, I hope it's against a university that shares our emphasis - creating a rising tide to lift all boats. Let kU find a rival that shares their philosophy. Maybe UNLV from the late 1980s...