CRIMSON & BLUE HANDBOOK ARTICLE, 1980

KU lost to Kansas State 61-52 in Lawrence on Jan 19, 1980, in a game that featured loud booing from the fans in Allen Fieldhouse – mostly directed at the Jayhawks.  But KU assistant coach Bob Hill had it all figured out.  After a practice and just a couple of days before Kansas beat Missouri, Hill said: “What this team lacks is love.  There’s no love.  And you can’t teach love.  You have to recruit it.”

Even road teams, such as Missouri, got in on the Owens-bashing, according to a wire story on Feb. 14, 1980:

“There were derogatory signs draped over the balcony of the Hearnes Center and even a flier being passed out urging Kansas Athletic Director Bob Marcum, “Don’t Fire Ted.” (“Is it right for one school to deprive the other seven schools in the conference of a valuable asset to their programs? Said the handout.)”

Oklahoma went after one of its native sons and former players in 1980 to fill its coaching vacancy.  The word was that the job was Owens’ for the taking.  Any many thought he would head south to Norman.  The heat had been on Owens at Kansas, and rumors persisted that he would be fired.  According to the Wichita Eagle on March 19, 1980, Owens had practically demanded that KU officials issue a statement of support two weeks earlier.  He said that the rumors were hurting his recruiting efforts.  His ties to Oklahoma basketball were strong.  He was an all-conference player at OU from 1949 to 1951.  but Owens chose to stick with KU, and the Sooner job went to Billy Tubbs.  “I have developed a deep love for KU over the last 20 years, and I look forward to the challenge of next year returning our team to the level of excellence that it has enjoyed,” Owens said.