Like many other fans, I have always wondered what happens behind the scenes after a game. As we sit in the stands singing the Rock Chalk chant, we watch the team shake hands with the (usually disappointed) opponents and then the team leaves the court. What happens then?

After the record-setting victory at Kansas State, I had a first-hand look at what transpires after a game. What I observed has made me an even more ardent Jayhawks fan and Roy Williams supporter than before the game.

I had accompanied my older brother (who is in a wheelchair) to Bramlage. There are two sets of wheelchair seating at Bramlage - either in the top row of four different sections or right on the court. By buying our tickets at the earliest possible time, we were able to get seats literally on the floor about ten feet from the end-line. To exit the stadium from our seats, we had to go through a large hallway (on television it looks like a tunnel) and go right by the locker rooms and press briefing area. In part because it was crowded and in part to observe what happens after a game, we hung around in the tunnel.

In watching a game at Bramlage, you may have noticed that the ends of the court are different. One end is filled with seats for K-State students. The other end is a large opening with no seats behind the basket. K-State has a big banner covering most of the opening. That forms a large hallway or tunnel. About 20 feet past the opening, there are two smaller hallways leading to the home and visiting locker rooms and press briefing areas. Dr. Frederick stood outside the hallway leading towards KU's locker room and media area. The press were setting up for their interviews, and a K-State sports information person was a polite but efficient traffic cop. K-State's band packed up their equipment; K-State cheerleaders and dance team pulled on their sweats to go brave the cold weather; all the college kids were talking about various plans and parties for the evening. Family members of players started to gather in the large hallway.

Dr. Frederick acted like a very gracious host. I presume that the team and coaches were meeting privately immediately after the game. A couple of assistant coaches emerged from the smaller hallway. The Collisons politely asked Dr. Frederick if it was okay for them to go down the smaller hallway. It did not appear that they actually went into the locker room, but they may have been right outside the press briefing room. Kirk Hinrich's mom waited in the larger hallway near Dr. Frederick. There likely were other parents there, but I did not recognize them.

The media interviews of KU coaches and players happened in a media room down the smaller hallway. Two K-State players were interviewed in the large hallway. I have no idea why K-State uses two different locations. In general, K-State's players left the locker room area first. The KU assistant coaches started getting things organized to leave. After a 29 point road win against a traditional rival, they obviously were in a good mood and were very friendly. My brother and I had a nice, short chat with Jerod Hasse. He is a nice young man, and seemed bright and articulate, and I expect that he will be a good coach someday. Next, the players started coming out. Each had box lunches. I noticed one said "ham, wheat" so I would guess that they had an assortment of sandwiches.

My brother and I talked for a few minutes with Eric Chenowith. I am sure that everyone (including Eric) is disappointed and frustrated that his season is not up to All-American performance standards. Nonetheless, from having spoken to him first-hand, I am convinced that he is a good kid. You can tell that he generally wants his play to improve. Some assistant SID-type must have assumed that I was a reporter, and had handed me an official scoresheet. Eric politely asked to look at it. While we were standing there, Eric, Max Falkenstein, my brother and I discussed the scoresheet. Eric noted that Kenny and Jeff really had great shooting games. Max told Eric that the coaches had him with three blocks in the first half and that Max thought that Eric should have been credited with four. Eric seemed disappointed that the state sheet only credited him with one.

Having met Eric in person, it genuinely bothers me to see the press and fans rip Eric on a personal basis without ever meeting him. If a National Merit Scholar (the academic equivalent of a McDonald's All-American) starts getting B's and C's in an advanced physics class (the academic equivalent of playing basketball at this level), does that mean that the student is lazy or no longer cares about their grades? Before fans rip Eric, I hope that they will recall any personal frustration in getting a C on a college exam after getting mostly A's in high school. Personally, I can recall calling mom and dad complaining that I just was not getting it my freshman year in calculus, not from a lack of effort, but things just were not clicking.

After speaking with Eric, my brother and I briefly talked with Kenny Gregory. Like Eric, he came across as a genuinely nice kid. Neither he nor Eric acted the least bit aloof or arrogant as one might expect for former McDonald's All-Americans. Both Eric and Kenny posed for pictures with my brother. Since my brother is in a wheelchair, the top of his head only came up to about Eric's stomach. Boy, up close, Eric really is tall. Coach Williams often says that in recruiting he first evaluates a player's basketball skills and second he looks for good people. Based on Eric and Kenny's treatment of these two fans, I have no doubt that Coach Williams succeeded in recruiting two good young men.

If Norman Rockwell painted a modern picture of Americana, then this overall post-game scene would have been perfect. As the media and fans praise and criticize KU's team, we should all keep in mind that these are just kids who are facing immense pressure and scrutiny. You could sense that Kirk's mom was proud of her son for having won a big game and having played so well, and you could also tell that she (like any other parent) was concerned about his finger (he was wearing a splint). Though the stakes are raised and the attention is much higher, behind the scenes, it was much like a high school game - happy coaches, proud parents, aw-shucks mom I'm okay attitudes from kids. It was a real example of the Jayhawk family.

Though Coach Williams obviously was very busy, he took the time to speak with me and my brother. I hope that Dr. Frederick is a good photographer because he gladly snapped pictures of us with Coach Williams. Both of them seemed genuinely appreciative of KU fans following the team to Bramlage. I replied (only partly in jest) that it is easier to get tickets to watch KU in Bramlage.

On a deeply personal level, I will always appreciate the memories that Coach Williams and this team have provided for me and my brother. When I was young, I liked nothing better than getting to play ball with my big brother. I fondly recall football games and basketball games against two other neighborhood kids. Since my brother was the oldest of the four kids, he could have scored every time, so we had rules where only I could shoot for our team (being the largest he could set a great pick); or that only I could run with the football (while he tried to block both of them).

Many years ago, he was in a very serious accident while driving back to KU for school, leaving him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Though we could no longer play ball together, we wound up sharing our mutual love of sports by watching countless games on television. Most years, I get to join my brother to share our love of KU hoops and watch a KU game in person rather than on television. Each of those opportunities are special times for me, and are part of why I am a fan. I will always cherish the kindness displayed by Coach Williams and this team for helping make this particular game even more memorable.

Though I will cheer as long and as loud as anyone else for this team to win it all, I honestly can say that regardless of how the season ends, I am proud to have this set of individuals representing my alma mater.