Kansas’ Bill Self speaks on shooting at Chiefs Super Bowl rally: ‘Awful, horrific’
Kansas men’s basketball players had regular responsibilities as student-athletes to fulfill on KU’s campus Wednesday, thus didn’t attend the Chiefs’ victory parade or Super Bowl rally in downtown Kansas City.
“Thankfully, everybody was here. Fortunately for us we had practice around 2-ish, so it was going to be hard for guys to go and come back,” KU senior center Hunter Dickinson said Thursday. “Thankfully, none of us were over there for that.”
The festive parade and rally Wednesday ended in tragedy — a shooting at the conclusion of the rally that has resulted in one death and many injuries.
“Awful, just horrific,” said KU coach Bill Self, who indicated, “I’m sure I know a ton of people who were at the parade, but I haven’t talked to those people, asking them, ‘Did you go?’”
Self at a news conference held in advance of Saturday’s 3 p.m. contest at Oklahoma was asked about the tragic events of Wednesday.
“We’re in such such a sad state as everybody knows, that the most family-friendly, wholesome thing that you could do to make your city look good and show your support of people (Chiefs players, coaches, staff members) that bring joy to so many, now it’s been minimized so much because of all the safety issues that go along with it,” Self said. “Whether it’s a concert or parade, even attending a movie or going to school, these things certainly aren’t looked at in the same way that it was back when I was growing up. It’s sad that it has become that.”
KU has had two victory parades in Lawrence so far during the 21-year Bill Self era — celebrations in response to KU’s 2008 and 2022 national championships.
“I think winning the games actually rank right above the parade, but the parades were good,” Self said with a smile.
He has thought about the future of events such as parades.
“Even something that’s been transpiring in a grocery store, a post office or in a school, or now a parade — or things like that — it makes you wonder if doing those things are really worthwhile,” Self said. “I certainly hope that it can be improved and corrected and there are some things that can be done to make people more comfortable and wanting to live in a way where they don’t have to worry about the most innocent of things. But it certainly will change the outlook of many people and already has. Certainly yesterday was another indication we are not moving in a very good direction (as society).”
This story was originally published February 15, 2024 at 4:49 PM.
