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GEORGE KENNEDY: Determination To Turn Trends Around Shines Through

Missouri School of Journalism

Two big meetings at our university this week made the news.

One was celebratory, the other cautionary. They could hardly have been more different in setting or tone, but I took away from both an important common theme. I haven’t seen that theme reflected in the news reports, so I’ll explain.

On Monday, several hundred fans gathered in Mizzou Arena to welcome our new men’s basketball coach. It was a happier crowd than I’ve seen at actual games this season.

The huge scoreboard repeatedly flashed a set of impressive numbers: Playing in 6 of the last 9 postseasons, 23 conference championships, 26 all-time NCAA tournaments, four Elite 8’s. The last three seasons, for obvious reasons, weren’t mentioned.

 


When Coach Cuonzo Martin “came home,” as he put it, we stood and applauded. Mini-Mizzou played; the cheerleaders cavorted. Questions from the assembled sports writers were all friendly. We walked out smiling into the record warmth.

Wednesday afternoon in Jesse Wrench Auditorium, about 150 faculty members met our new boss, President Mun Choi. No band; no cheerleaders. Not much, in fact, to cheer.

Dr. Choi, just arrived from the University of Connecticut, gave what I thought was an impressive and sobering lecture. He showed his audience a lot more numbers than the Mizzou Arena scoreboard had and they were a lot less positive...

Read the complete column at the Missourian.