Kansas Week Press Conferences (updated: Wednesday with Bedford)

[Lukus Alderman]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[Matt Cotcher]

This evening's press conference can be summed up in these three quotes...

Charlie Strong: "Any time a player is dismissed from this program it hurts me because we are here to help young men. We are not here to run young men off; that's not our job. We're here to help them, and it just bothers me. When you're given an opportunity, you want to make sure you have every resource and everything available to help them be successful."

Charlie Strong: "You feel like somehow you failed him because you weren't able to grab him, put him under your wing, and then provide that right road for him to go down. That's what's tough when you don't provide that road for them. That's why it's so disappointing when you dismiss them. It's disappointing when I've had to dismiss players. It's hurt me more because I sit there and say 'What did I not do? What could I have done better to help this young man and help him with his future?' That's why they're here in college - to provide a better living for themselves."

Shawn Watson: "It kills him [strong]. I've seen this guy believe in so many people. I can remember times at Louisville, I knew there was something bad for the team and he saw something in some individuals. I can think of a couple of particular cases and he changed people's lives. But here's the key, they wanted their lives changed. Sometimes it doesn't work, that's the unfortunate thing about what we all do in life, when it's raising our kids. In our case, coaches, you want it to always work. He's the last guy to ever give up on a kid. The last. I can tell you that."

Tonight was as raw and emotional as I've seen Charlie Strong. Do not doubt that the words spoken above are very genuine. That man was hurting tonight.

You see the parent/coach comparison made quite a bit, especially when talking about the Core Values and discipline. After tonight, there is no doubt in my mind about how Strong feels about his guys.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

I'm glad he's come out and showed that emotion about this. After nine kids dismissed, many might see it as him just cleaning house and not caring about the kids. It was time we saw the caring/paternal side of him.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

The quote machine that is Vance Bedford will speak with media around Noon. We'll post live updates here.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[Lukus Alderman]

It's really hard not to like Bedford.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[Matt Cotcher]

This evening's press conference can be summed up in these three quotes...

Charlie Strong: "Any time a player is dismissed from this program it hurts me because we are here to help young men. We are not here to run young men off; that's not our job. We're here to help them, and it just bothers me. When you're given an opportunity, you want to make sure you have every resource and everything available to help them be successful."

Charlie Strong: "You feel like somehow you failed him because you weren't able to grab him, put him under your wing, and then provide that right road for him to go down. That's what's tough when you don't provide that road for them. That's why it's so disappointing when you dismiss them. It's disappointing when I've had to dismiss players. It's hurt me more because I sit there and say 'What did I not do? What could I have done better to help this young man and help him with his future?' That's why they're here in college - to provide a better living for themselves."

Shawn Watson: "It kills him [strong]. I've seen this guy believe in so many people. I can remember times at Louisville, I knew there was something bad for the team and he saw something in some individuals. I can think of a couple of particular cases and he changed people's lives. But here's the key, they wanted their lives changed. Sometimes it doesn't work, that's the unfortunate thing about what we all do in life, when it's raising our kids. In our case, coaches, you want it to always work. He's the last guy to ever give up on a kid. The last. I can tell you that."

Tonight was as raw and emotional as I've seen Charlie Strong. Do not doubt that the words spoken above are very genuine. That man was hurting tonight.

You see the parent/coach comparison made quite a bit, especially when talking about the Core Values and discipline. After tonight, there is no doubt in my mind about how Strong feels about his guys.

Contrast this ^^^, with this...