'I still believe those are the best kinds of stories in college athletics'

There was a special moment during the recent Kansas men’s basketball win over NC State at Allen Fieldhouse that had nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with what the KU athletic department believes its mission is in today’s crazy college athletics climate.

There, at center court during a timeout in the game, KU quarterback Jalon Daniels and outside hitter Caroline Bien were honored and introduced to the crowd for recently being named the Big 12 Scholar Athletes of the Year in their respective sports.

There was a standing ovation from half the crowd. A loud roar from the rest. And nothing but smiles on the faces of the two proud Jayhawks, who have done as much for their respective teams during their four years in Lawrence as anyone.

“Definietly a little bit of bias in here, but I still believe those are the best kinds of stories in college athletics,” KU Athletic Director Travis Goff told R1S1 Sports during a recent interview about the two Jayhawks. “Not that we don’t love transfers or other journeys; those are all special in their own right. But for two mainstay, four-year-plus kids to have committed to a place, to have seen that commitment through and then to truly have elevated their programs the way those two have, that is still the very best of college athletics. And it’s a reminder that those things still happen. Jalon Daniels and Caroline Bien, they still exist. And they’re special and they’re different and their commitment and their development is pretty uncommon these days.”

Goff said he makes it a point to make sure that KU’s student-athletes know how important the academic part of their mission is during their time on campus. But he also noted that an honor like this is not just handed out for good grades.

“The scholar part is very clear and that’s hugely important. I think it’s always either subtlely woven in to our message or less than subtlely emphasized as the critical driver of this journey, Goff said. “But, ultimately, you don’t win that award unless you have incredible talents on the field or on the court.”

For four years, Bien was a team-first, do-everything starter for Ray Bechard’s volleyball team.

She racked up all kinds of individual accolades (Big 12 rookie of the year and first-team all-conference in 2021; KU’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2022; and second-team all-Big 12 and first-team all-Region in 2024, among others) but never at the expense of doing what her team needed her to do.

For years, Bien thought she was going to be a libero. But a late growth spurt just before she came to college made her a force in the front row, as well. She leaves KU as one of the best 6-rotation players to ever play for the program, and as a four-time NCAA Tournament qualifier.

She becomes KU volleyball’s fourth Scholar Athlete of the Year award winner and first since 2021. A native of Overland Park, Bien carries a 4.0 grade-point average while majoring in accounting.

While Bien operated with a quiet consistency and constant smile, Daniels earned his honor under a much bigger spotlight.

The veteran KU QB, who missed parts of both the 2022 and 2023 seasons because of injury, returned in full force in 2024, starting all 12 games for the Jayhawks during his fourth season with the program.

One of four captains on this year’s roster, Daniels finished the 2024 season much better than he started it. After struggling to take care of the football during KU’s first five games, Daniels flipped the script and limited both his fumbles and interceptions drastically during the home stretch, which included Kansas becoming the first unranked Division I program to defeat three ranked teams in three consecutive weeks.

Daniels’ improved play and leadership were a big part of those wins, and his fire, tenacity, charisma and pride have been a huge part of his run with the Jayhawks.

“He has continuously, even through adversity and roadblocks, so to speak, committed to making himself better in every facet,” Goff marveled. “And I think this honor just says he’s elite. He’s an elite student-athlete, he’s an elite face of a program. In the sport of football, I wouldn’t trade him for anybody in the country. He’s all things, and he’s demonstrated such an amazing commitment and loyalty to the University of Kansas. And, at the position of quarterback, that has become even more uncommon.”

Daniels is the first KU football player to earn the Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor after throwing for 2,454 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

In 2022, after helping lead KU out to a 5-0 start, Daniels was named an Academic All-American and a second-team all-Big 12 selection.

Unlike Bien, Daniels has one season still to play.

A native of Lawndale, California, Daniels has committed himself as much to the classroom as the football field while majoring in computer engineering.

While the two will go their separate ways from here, Goff said he’ll always remember what each of them meant to KU and how special their journeys as Jayhawks were. Not just because of the awards of the wins in competition, but because of the way they went about achieving both.

“One’s from suburban Kansas City and Johnson County (Bien) and one’s from the middle of Los Angeles, second biggest city in the country (Daniels). But I think there’s a lot more similarities than differences,” Goff said, noting that support from their families, humility, drive, loyalty and those smiles were at the top of the list.

“That’s gotta resonate with our entire student-athlete community,” he added. “When we brought them out onto the court at Allen Fieldhouse, I think it made a statement to everybody in the fieldhouse. Like, wait, this is uncommon.”

“The other thing is, we all know them. We know the personalities, the character, their stories, where they’re from, their families. That’s students on our campus, that’s fans, that’s faculty and staff. And I can tell you without hesitation that our entire department feels like they’re part of their families. I think they’re two of the most humble stars you could ever ask for.”

— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com