K-State coach Jerome Tang shares heartfelt message after mass shooting in Kansas City
Jerome Tang has a message for anyone who was affected by the mass shooting that occurred at the Super Bowl rally in downtown Kansas City earlier this week.
“First of all, my thoughts and prayers go out to all the families that were affected by that,” Tang said on Thursday. “My admiration goes out to those heroes that jumped on the shooters and didn’t consider their own well-being to protect so many. I’m grateful for men and women like that.”
Tang, who is in his second season as the men’s basketball coach at Kansas State, went on to say he was heartbroken for everyone who attended the parade.
News of the mass shooting at Union Station, which left one dead and 23 injured, was discussed by the Wildcats this week as they prepare for their next game against TCU on Saturday inside Bramlage Coliseum.
“With our guys, I feel like, as a staff we do a really good job of teaching them the value of every day,” Tang said. “Tomorrow is not promised. We can look around our own room and see that we’re missing guys that used to be here. So we’re very aware of that.”
At the beginning of the 2023 NFL season, Tang showed some love for the Chiefs when he agreed to bang the team’s drum high above the playing surface at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium before a home game against the Chicago Bears, though he later expressed some regrets about the experience.
Tang shook his head as he thought about the thousands of fans who showed up for the parade. What was supposed to be a celebratory event for the Kansas City Chiefs turned into a gathering that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those families,” Tang said. “And we are thankful for the first responders that were there to protect in a time when you’re celebrating a championship by an incredible team that showed unbelievable guts and character and brought a whole state together. You hate to see those things happen, but I’m thankful for those who were there to help protect.”
This story was originally published February 15, 2024 at 4:11 PM with the headline "K-State coach Jerome Tang shares heartfelt message after mass shooting in Kansas City."