The Jayhawker

Bob Davis' classic call of KU's win over Iowa State on February 25, 2013!

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Hakeem Adeniji had it all planned out. He was going to play college football at Air Force, following in his brother’s footsteps. It was a dream. And then, a harsh dose of reality: A food allergy popped up on his medical, and that discovery meant Hakeem was no longer eligible to attend the military academy. His scholarship offer was rescinded. All of a sudden, he had nowhere to go. So what led to him ending up at Kansas and emerging as an indispensable part of the team—someone who started every single game of his Jayhawk career? This is the story of how a kid who never planned to be in Lawrence would end up becoming one of the best linemen in KU history, and how has a chance of fulfilling a new dream: Playing in the NFL.

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Bob Davis' classic all of KU's 3OT win over Oklahoma in 2016.

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Bob Davis' classic call of KU's 2008 Orange Bowl win!

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It hasn’t always been an easy road for Udoka Azubuike. And that might be an understatement for a guy who’s already been through as much as some deal with in a lifetime. Growing up in Nigeria, Azubuike lost his father when he was 10 years old. We talk about how his relationship with his mom would become a source of strength, especially after he moved to the U.S. to pursue a basketball career. He ends up committing to Kansas, but even then, it wasn’t always easy, as injuries wrecked havoc on his early career. And with injuries, of course, come doubters—those who wondered if he’d ever live up to his potential. So how did he do it? This is the story of how he overcame every obstacle to become the Big 12 Player of the Year, and silenced the critics in the process.

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Bob Davis' call of KU's Big 12 Championship win over Texas in 2008.

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Bob Davis' classic call of KU's comeback victory over Mizzou in 2012.

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How did Mario Chalmers—a kid from Alaska who wanted to go to North Carolina—end up hitting the biggest shot in Jayhawk basketball history? Kansas would win that 2008 national championship in overtime, and Chalmers would be instantly immortalized for his role. But his story doesn’t end there. Chalmers was overlooked by NBA teams, falling into the second round of the draft before eventually ending up with the Miami Heat. And he would win back-to-back world championships with the Heat, playing a major role on both teams. So, how’d he do it? How did he go from Anchorage to Lawrence to Miami—winning titles at every stop—and showing up in a big way when it mattered most? This is one clutch story.

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These are unprecedented times. Dealing with mass cancellations and a sports world on hiatus isn't exactly something you can anticipate. Yet college and university leaders—like Kansas athletic director Jeff Long—have been tasked with figuring it out. So where do you even start? There are a lot of details to work through, and everything is on the table. So how do you plan for the unplannable? What goes into guiding an entire athletic department through a historic shutdown? In this special episode of The Jayhawker, Long answers those questions and more, as we sit down with the KU AD.

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Nobody wanted the season to end like this. The unprecedented decision to cancel the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments stung Kansas players, coaches and fans more than most. After all, we’re talking about a team ranked No. 1 in the country at the time the season ended. But as disappointing as the end was for all involved, this was still one of the best Jayhawk teams in recent memory. And that is something worth celebrating. But what made them great? And how did this team help carry their head coach? With the help of Bill Self, we’re bringing you the story of the 2019-2020 Jayhawk basketball team.

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