I am writing to you concerning the cartoon from "artist" Brent Meier in the Monday issue of the Daily Nebraskan. I have a hard time believing anyone could find humor in something so tasteless.
Most fans realize during the game that any injury can be life-altering, and mocking an injured player is simply a disgrace. I am not sure who should be more ashamed: the "artist" who submitted such a disgusting piece or the editors who allowed it to print.
Nebraska fans should know that Daily Kansan readers will never see something like this printed after a game in Lawrence.
Matt Willems Lawrence, Kan.
Brent Meier's cartoon is disgusting! I'm all for poking fun when our Jayhawks win, but this crosses the line. Washington left the field completely paralyzed!
By the grace of God he is OK, but there is nothing funny about the situation.
Nicole Ryan Kansas City, Mo.
I cannot even find words to express how obscenely offensive Brent Meier's cartoon poking fun at an injured Kansas football player was. That injured football player could have been any player from either team and is in no way cause for humor. In that situation, the player's uniform is irrelevant.
Nebraska is held in high esteem by fans across the conference, as well as fans across the college football landscape, for not only great football, but also great football fans who not only win, but win with class and honor. That reputation is what makes Memorial Stadium great - don't cheapen that!
Chuck Unger Overland Park, Kan.
Football is just a game, and fans at most schools take it a little bit too seriously in the grand scheme of things. Even so, I believe that most recognize that imbalance at critical times, when reality strikes a little too close to home.
One such moment occurred during Saturday's Nebraska-Kansas game, when Eric Washington of Kansas was taken from the field paralyzed. The stadium was silent, the players of both teams were seen praying, and the fans applauded one of their opponents to wish him well as he was taken off. It was a sobering moment for everyone, one that thankfully had a happy ending when Washington recovered feeling in his extremities.
The word "sobering" applies a second time in this instance as well, because clearly the editors of your newspaper need to sober up a bit after allowing Monday's wretched cartoon by Brent Meier to run. Clearly, since there was no poignant message provided in the illustration, the intent of it was humor.
Exactly what is funny about 85,000 people thinking they had just seen a young man paralyzed? Please provide the punch line, because it's not apparent to me.
What about Mark Mangino's behavior on Saturday, not only in coaching his team well but also in showing great concern for his fallen player, was fodder for his weight to be mocked yet again, only this time in conjunction with a near tragedy?
While your intent may have been to humiliate Kansas's overweight coach, you actually managed to embarrass yourselves and thousands of NU alums. Too bad you didn't act as honorably as most NU fans did when the injury occurred.
Paul White Shawnee, Kan.
I was disappointed in the decision to run a cartoon that attempted to find humor in a player nearly being disabled.
Nebraska has long been my second favorite team to my beloved Jayhawks. I've always been impressed by NU sportsmanship. This paper owes an apology, editor. You've insulted a friendly rival and embarrassed your great program.
John Ridlon Auburn, Calif.
Ignorant. Self-absorbed. Armpit of America.
Yep, America's stereotype of Nebraska certainly came true with that foolish cartoon.
Skip Skahan Lawrence, Kan.
I was writing in response to the cartoon that ran in your paper about the injury suffered by Kansas player Eric Washington.
First of all, I'm a journalist - and Kansas graduate - so I respect the free press. But this cartoon is an absolute travesty.
Hey, I have an idea. Let's poke fun at a Kansas player who could have been paralyzed! Yeah, that seems like fun! And then let's be original and make fun of Kansas's fat coach! I bet nobody has done that before!
Please. Washington is a fine football player who could have never walked again. At the time, I felt like Washington would be lucky to play football again. Like Trent Green, he's lucky to be thinking of playing football again soon.
I simply cannot think what would drive a newspaper to print this stuff. To piss off some people? Great journalism there. I fault the editors at the paper as much as the cartoonist.
I would never wish an injury upon any player. Maybe Nebraska fans do, especially after a player for a team they've hammered for so long is now competing with them. Maybe Nebraska can't deal with Kansas improving at football. I don't know why anyone in his or her right mind would run a cartoon making fun of a kid who - at the time - was looking at never playing football or even walking again.
Stay classy up in Lincoln. And rest assured, if a Nebraska player ever suffers a similar injury in Lawrence, Kan., fans will show what class is, and the press here will show you what good, clean journalism is.
Brad Hallier Hutchinson, Kan.
How sad a day it is to "dine on the less fortunate." This cartoon sure did gather the vile humor of a few, be it those who are paralyzed by playing Division-I football or those who may be obese.
Rictoria Bober Parsons, Kan.
I recently saw a cartoon put out by your paper. I am a Kansas fan, and I'll never forget the feeling I had watching this motionless player lay on the field, knowing that his family and friends were most likely watching, not even knowing if Eric Washington was breathing.
Still, the most offensive part was not that you put him in a tasteless cartoon or even that you'd make fun of an overweight Kansas coach whose team has dominated the once-dominant Cornhuskers in two of the last three Kansas-Nebraska games.
The part I find most offensive is that the cartoonist, who obviously lacks common sense let alone a sense of humor, is employed in this line of work, even if it is the Daily Nebraskan. His time would probably be better served as the replay official for the Big 12. Even he could see Husker sophomore wide receiver Nate Swift fumbled into the end zone in overtime.
Shad Hawkey Tea, S.D.
While watching the KETV Channel 7 news, I was astonished to see that the cartoon by Brent Meier in the Monday issue of the Daily Nebraskan was coming under fire.
Those interviewed and our own Chancellor Harvey Perlman said that the cartoon was in "bad taste." As a student watching the game firsthand, I can say that the only thing in bad taste was our fans' disrespect towards an injured player.
When we can't give a player who might be paralyzed for life five minutes of respect, are we really the best fans in college football? Though certain fans clap for the opposing team as it walks into the locker room after a game, does that excuse the bottle-throwing, arrests and "boos" throughout it?
I think that we should take a few steps down from the high pedestal we have built for ourselves and see what is really going on. Maybe we should stop simply calling ourselves the best fans in college football and instead prove that we are through our actions.
As for the jab at Kansas Coach Mark Mangino, let's look to the Kansas fans who were wearing shirts saying, "Our coach can eat your coach" before we start criticizing Meier.
Robb Hiatt Senior history major
