The Kansas Jayhawks faced UConn last night in Lawrence, and Allen Fieldhouse was as loud as ever.
What stood out?
A large part of the student section chanted “F*** Dan Hurley” at the Huskies’ head coach. It happened several times, and many people heard it clearly. I’ve attended KU games for over twenty years. The atmosphere is always electric, but I can’t recall hearing such direct insults aimed at a coach before. It felt different from the usual “You suck” or “Overrated” chants we often use.
Kansas fans quickly took to the official Jayhawk Facebook page. One of the top comments came from a longtime season-ticket holder: “I get that Hurley acts like a baby sometimes, and he annoys me too, but those chants were a bad look for us.” Many compared it to Kansas State fans’ behavior. “We don’t act like that. That’s a KSU move. Stay classy, Jayhawks,” one woman wrote. Another echoed similar sentiments: “Sounds like something KSU would chant. Let’s cheer for our guys instead.”
Some fans admitted they don’t like Hurley either, but still thought the chants crossed the line. Joseph Loganbill expressed it well: “He’s hard to like. Fine. But personal attacks are beneath us. Be loud, be crazy, just don’t be mean.” A few people worried it motivated UConn more than it hurt them. One guy noted KU looked flat after the first fifteen minutes and suggested the chant probably backfired.
Of course, some fans laughed it off. One admitted, “It’s a terrible look, but I still thought it was funny.” Someone near the court claimed they heard “Sit down, Hurley” because he kept stepping onto the floor and almost got a technical foul twice. That might have contributed to it, but most people heard the other chant.
Longtime supporters seemed almost hurt by it. Neva Allison wrote a lengthy comment expressing pride in KU’s reputation for class. She said Coach Self would have been embarrassed and that he deserves better from the students. Another woman summed it up: “Show more class, KU. That’s what we expect from everybody else.”
The timing made it sting more. KU ended up losing after blowing a significant lead, making the whole incident feel even more pointless. One fan remarked, “Chanting that and then losing the game is a terrible combination.” A younger guy told everyone to relax: “Let the kids have fun. It’s just one word. Getting upset about it seems old and grumpy.” Still, most comments leaned in the same direction. Even those who dislike Dan Hurley felt the chant didn’t reflect Kansas basketball appropriately.
I ran into a friend after the game who has seats right behind the visitor bench. He said Hurley didn’t even react, just kept coaching as if he didn’t hear anything. He’s from Jersey and has probably faced heckling his whole life; it was likely water off a duck’s back for him. KU Athletics hasn’t made an official statement about it yet.
In the end, the fieldhouse was buzzing, and the students brought the energy. Everyone can agree on that. Most of us wish energy had been used to support the Jayhawks rather than to target the opposing coach with harsh language. We’ve always prided ourselves on doing things the Kansas way. Last night didn’t feel like the Kansas way. You may also be interested in: $4,000+ Softball Gear Stolen from Locked Circus Circus Reno Room – Hotel Refuses to Pay Despite Clear Security Video of Thieves
