KU students in Allen Fieldhouse put up tribute banner to Jayhawks coach Bill Self’s dad
The KU students in the lower-level, south endzone bleachers of Allen Fieldhouse on Monday night attached a massive sign that hung right in front of that student section during the Kansas-Texas Tech Big Monday men’s basketball game.
The sign, which read, “Just load the wagon,” served as a tribute to Bill Self Sr., the father of KU coach Bill Self, who died early Friday morning in Oklahoma at the age of 82.
The saying, “Don’t worry about the mules, just load the wagon,” is the one KU coach Self chose to be inscripted outside the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts in an area in which Hall of Famers are honored.
Self was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017. His dad attended the ceremony.
“I did not,” Self said after KU’s 94-91 double-overtime win over Texas Tech, when asked if he saw the KU students’ sign. “I saw a sign on the baseline. I couldn’t get everybody to sit down to see,” he added with a smile.
After he was told what the sign said, Self said: “Everybody has been so nice to us. I know everybody goes through similar things and so many people have been through so much more than I have and my family has. Everybody’s been so nice. We are very appreciative for all the well wishes, thoughts and prayers. I know my mom (Margaret) is overwhelmed by it. That’s very nice of them,” Self added of the students.
It’s been a whirlwind of emotion of late for Self, who traveled to Oklahoma to see his dad after KU’s home win over West Virginia on Jan. 15. He coached the game against Oklahoma, a 67-74 win, on Jan. 18 in Norman, then remained in Oklahoma to be with his dad until he died. Self returned to Lawrence for practice Friday afternoon, coached the Jayhawks to a win at Kansas State on Saturday and has been back with the team in Lawrence since then.
He said he was seriously considering giving his tired team time off until Thursday, then start preparing for Saturday’s 5 p.m. home game against Kentucky in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Monday’s win improved No. 5-ranked KU’s record to 17-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12; No. 13 Tech is 15-5, 5-3.
This story was originally published January 25, 2022 at 9:35 AM with the headline "KU students in Allen Fieldhouse put up tribute banner to Jayhawks coach Bill Self’s dad."
