It’s a saying you’ve probably heard a hundred times. And you might have even taken some time on occasion to really think about what it means and why it resonates with you.
But no one — no athlete, coach, administrator or icon — lived up to the phrase, “that’s what it means to be a true Jayhawk” quite like Scott “Scooter” Ward.
Ward, 59, died on Saturday, his wife, Robin, shared on social media, after struggling to recover from a recent surgery that left him once again fighting for his life.
His passing was sudden because Scooter, a native of Kingman, Kansas, showed throughout his life that there wasn’t much that could get him and there weren’t many people who were tougher.
In 1986, during his freshman year at Hutchinson Community College, he was paralyzed from the waist down after a freak accident reshaped his future.
Thirty years later, while undergoing emergency surgery to repair a tear in his aorta, Scooter again showed his fighting spirit by making it through that scare and living another 9+ years, nearly all of them spent in support of athletes and coaches at the University of Kansas, from which he held three degrees — a bachelor’s (1991), a masters (1993) and a Ph.D in education (1996).
Confined to a wheelchair after being paralyzed while in college, Ward never let the restrictions of that chair keep him from living the life he wanted to live and, more importantly, making the impact he wanted to make.
What he lacked in mobility he made up for with his smile and never-ending positivity. When his legs would no longer allow him to do what many take for granted, he used his brain to do more.
He was a friend to everyone, always one of the smartest guys in the room and he carried himself with the humility of someone who never wanted anything from anyone in return other than a smile and maybe a quick minute to talk.
He had hundreds of stories and one-liners and many of them helped endear him to the athletes he helped as an academic adviser, working most closely with men’s basketball and volleyball during his time in the KU athletic department.
It’s impossible to measure the impact that Scooter made during his time in this world.
While the men’s basketball and volleyball athletes whom he called family — and vice versa — certainly had the closest connection to him, his support of Jayhawks knew no bounds.
More recently, when he stepped into a role with KU LEADS as “director of Jayhawk peak performance and leadership,” where he focused on mental health performance for all KU athletes, Scooter was able to connect with athletes in all sports, sharing his wisdom, passion and drive to help make them the best students, people and athletes they could become.
Scooter would’ve told you that he was the lucky one to work with so many bright young Jayhawks.
But those who knew him, including many of those KU athletes, would tell you that they were the lucky ones.
Take the words of KU football wideout Keaton Kubecka to illustrate just how far Scooter’s presence reached and how big of an impact he made.
“Scooter was one of the best (men) I’ve ever met,” Kubecka wrote on social media on Saturday night. “Strive to have an attitude like that every day. RIP.”
By midnight on Saturday, just 5 or so hours after Robin posted news of her husband’s passing on Facebook, the post had nearly 400 comments. It seems likely that it will reach quadruple digits in the days to come.
Here’s a sampling of some of the most heartfelt comments on the post from some names you might recognize.
“Scooter’s memory will forever be a light for all of us that had the honor to know him and laugh with him and learn from him, and a reminder of what goodness should look like.”
- Michael Wade Smith, who served as KU’s student president in 2010.
“Hands down the best man I know and how I strive to be thought of by people. I’m so sorry.”
- Danny Lewis, former KU football player
“Robin, I wish there were words to express how very sorry I am for the loss of Scooter but every comment on here and what you will receive in the coming days can be multiplied a million times over to express everyone’s love for you and Scooter. He truly was one tough person and also kind, sweet and caring. He was the best!”
- Margaret Self, mother of KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self
“Great man, huge heart and great role model. Wishing you comfort & peace during this difficult time.”
- Brett Ballard, former KU player & current Washburn head coach
“How can this be? The man, the myth, the legend. What a remarkable man and beautiful example of compassion, authenticity, courage, and grace. He lifted all he knew in so many ways.”
- Christi Posey, former KU volleyball assistant coach
“Scooter was a father figure to me in college. I needed him more than he ever knew. Will be forever grateful that he was in my life.”
- Sara McClinton, former KU volleyball player
“He was the best of the best. We all love you so much Robin. To know Scooter was a privilege to all, to be taught and loved by him was really something special. So much love being sent your way.”
- Andrea Geubelle, former KU track star & future U.S. Olympian
“RIP to Scott Ward! A real Jayhawk! Took care of so many of us. From Wayne Simien’s class to Class of 2025.”
- Former KU basketball forward Mario Little on Twitter
“He’s a remarkable human being. He’s the best role model the guys can have. He’s as tough a human being as I’ve ever been around. He’s been through more than most of us will ever go through. And to throw a torn aorta on top of everything else, it’s remarkable that he’s doing as well as he’s doing. It’s a miracle. But it’s also a sign of his toughness, too.”
- KU men's basketball coach Bill Self, in 2016, who added before Saturday's KU game at UCF, "Scooter, as people who have followed us for years know, has been an original staff member. He has probably done more for our athletes maybe than anybody. This is something that will impact our players, especially the ones that basically are holding degrees because of the work Scooter did with them from 2003 to about 2016 until he had his first torn aorta. Even though we’re playing ball today, there are things more important and none more important than Scooter and Robin."
