Birdseye View...a fanatics thoughts from this weekend.

Okay. This is a running blog. I know. Odds are, that's why 99.99% of you visit my little neck of the woods. But in case you didn't get it from the name...I am the Running Jayhawk. And right now...this very moment...I want to stress the Jayhawk part, even though I ran a suprisingly amazing race this morning.

Being a Jayhawk fan, you kind of go through the run of the gamut with emotions. You have seasons full of a lot of highs where you destroy top-ranked teams on the hardwood...and seasons of heartbreak where you're gone in the first round of the big dance to some mid-major team where you don't even know where they're located (although I will admit, up until a few years ago I had no idea that Bucknell was in Lewisburg, PA).

Unless you're living under a rock or hate college hoops, I'm sure you've all read the press about Roy Williams leaving KU for UNC and all of the dizzying ties between the two schools. Yah. You get it. But I promise you, you don't get it, unless you lived it like I did. In a way, it's kind of like running. You've got friends that "get" your obsession of running mile after mile and working your tail off to shave those extra 10 seconds off your pace, but they don't truly get it.

Back in 2000 when I was a freshman/sophomore in college, I listened to Roy tell Jayhawk Nation that he was here to stay. He said things like "I'll die a Jayhawk" and "I'm staying!" and pretty much solidified his long-term future with Kansas.

Then in 2003, my senior year...after losing the championship game to Syracuse (I still feel the sting of this one), Roy was asked about the open UNC position after Doherty had been fired...to which he promptly responded: "I could give a [BLEEP] about North Carolina right now."

Another three cheers for Roy.

But a few short weeks later...that bleep changed. One press conference and a high-speed chase to the airport later...the Roy Williams era ended.

Abruptly.

Without warning.

And it hurt.

He left us...for that other school out east. His alma mater. North Carolina.

It was the kind of hurt you feel after you break up with that first real love in your life. Your insides feel hollowed out and you go through the motions aimlessly. There may have even been a few moments of hopelessness...who could ever fill the shoes of Roy Williams?

Bill Self. That's who.

Now, I know you're sitting there thinking, "C'mon Barb...this is only basketball."

Oh...to you, this may be the case. But to you, me and my fellow Jayhawks say you just don't get it.

When Bill Self came, I'll admit, many of us were a bit...uneasy...at first. He performed well in conference play. Coached the team to impressive victories in hostile arenas on the road. But within three years, we had two first round losses. Some of us scratched our heads wondering if KU had made the right decision. This wasn't the Kansas legacy we held with such high honors.

But soon enough, Self found himself in a soft spot in our hearts. We grew to adore him. His mannerisms, endearing. His tenacity, infectious. His smile, like your favorite uncle. We even came to terms with the losses to Bucknell and Bradley, although if we never have to face another B-named School in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, I'll be one happy Jayhawk.

So when the brackets came out several weeks ago, I admit, I was secretly hoping we would have the opportunity to meet Roy Williams and his Tar Heels in the Final Four. I knew it'd be a long, challenging road for both teams...but I had a very good feeling about it all.

I went into Saturday's game comparing the situation to that of the 1980 U.S. Hockey team. The semi-final round, they were the underdogs facing the Soviet Union. The U.S. team, the purveyor of all things good and right. The Soviets...well...you know how the story goes.

And so...we, the Kansas Jayhawks, were the underdogs against the Big Bad Tarheels. And like the 1980 Hockey Team...we prevailed.

The semi-final game against North Carolina may as well had been the Championship game in my mind. It was incredible. Sweet victory! An embarassing 28-point lead...and we let Roy and his boys come back to be within four points, like taunting the carrot in front of the rabbit, before pulling away one final time to solidify that we are indeed the better team. The better program. The better coach.

It was a beautiful moment. And I may or may not have shed a tear or two in overwhelming pride.

Monday night, I'd love to have a Kansas victory against Memphis. I would be tickled pink if we can mark the 20th anniversary of Danny Manning and the Miracles' tournament win with another championship banner.

But if the cards don't add up, I'm okay with that.

Because no matter how intense the championship game may or may not be, to many Jayhawk fans it will pale in comparison to the KU/UNC match up. That was the game the fans had been craving for years. And that was essentially the championship game in my mind.

Granted, that sentiment is likely a completely different mindset for the current students, players and older alumni.

And I think if you were to ask any Jayhawk that witnessed Roy proclaim his eternal loyalty to Kansas...and then hop on a jet plane for North Carolina three short years later...I think many of us would agree...

We would rather have the opportunity to destroy Roy Williams and the Tarheels on the hardwood than take home a national championship.

Bold. I know.

But that's something you just don't get. And that's okay.

You didn't live it.

I did.


Now that that is settled. It's time to wrangle some Tigers and claim another national title.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk. Go KU.