I remember it all very vividly. When K-State donors found out the previous AD was playing fast and loose with their money, they, and the fans, were in an uproar. The media had a heyday. They were eating it up because they could really dance over the grave of K-State Athletics. You would expect the media would be having the same heyday over the state of KU basketball with it's crime spree and, subsequent, cover ups. But I digress. It was big news as the media ridiculed the state of Kansas State Athletics.
Enter one John Currie. A man of principle. A man of integrity. He saved Kansas State Athletics by gaining, first of all, the trust of the big donors. He raised donations to levels unimaginable. He oversaw vast improvements in infrastructure, which all K-Staters will benefit from for years in the future.
John made one mistake. This man of integrity dared say no to a widely venerated man who had been brought in by the same regime that had been playing fast and loose with the money in the first place. The man of integrity insisted on integrity in his Athletic Department. That would be okay if a coach was a loser, like Prince. It was a death sentence when the coach had been winning with a shady DC pipeline. Currie was finished because integrity takes a back seat to winning.
A big load has been lifted from this poster. My money is staying in my pocket. From here on out, I will buy tickets on a per game basis. Donations will stop. I shall see how things develop over the coming years. If integrity remains in the program, I'll reconsider. If, however, the win at all costs mentality takes hold, I'm right where I want to be. There is a slim chance that K-State can bring in an AD, and coach, who will play honestly and provide the type of success that will please the ravenous fan base. It can be done, but there aren't a large number of coaches who could do so in a Power 5 conference. Let's hope the force is with us this time.
