Emily Carlson's Football website

Kansas hires Rice's Beaty to coach running backs - Emily Carlson

2008-01-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

By Tom Dienhart, Sporting News

Sporting News has been told by two sources that David Beaty will be named running backs coach at Kansas.

Beaty coached receivers at Rice the last two years, helping develop Jarett Dillard into one of the top wide receivers in the nation.

Before joining Rice, Beaty was a successful head coach at MacArthur High in Irving, Texas, going 33-11 from 2002-05 and winning districts titles in 2004-05. He also was the head coach of North Dallas High in 2001.

Beaty, 37, is a native of Garland, Texas, who played football at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.

Beaty's deep connections to Texas high schools is key, as it will help Kansas continue to recruit a state that it relies on for talent.

AS I SEE IT: As did KU, Obama will overcome - Emily Carlson

2008-01-22T11:23:00.000-08:00

I thought this article was very interesting. Only KU football fans will appreciate it, thought. So for all you Jayhalkans, here you go!

By ANDREW MCDONALD, Kansas City Star

MacDonald Few in August projected the University of Kansas football team in a Bowl Championship Series game, while Virginia Tech entered the season in the Associated Press top 10, expecting to return for a fifth major bowl.

In December, though, the Orange Bowl announced the unlikely match-up between the Jayhawks and the Hokies. Pundits hailed KU’s inspiring Cinderella story. But even Lou Holtz agreed that the more experienced Hokies would crush the untested Jayhawks.

When Aqib Talib high-stepped into the end zone in the first quarter, it was clear that the Jayhawks possessed an intangible element that not even the vaunted Virginia Tech juggernaut could stop. The Jayhawks’ feeling of destiny trumped the Hokies expectations of inevitability in Miami.

Destiny and inevitability also squared off hundreds of miles away that night in Iowa. And from the tropical rains of south Florida to the icy tundra of rural Iowa, destiny bested inevitability. “Our moment is now” promises Barack Obama, encapsulating the unique essence of his campaign.

Unlike the incessant claims to experience coming from Hillary Clinton, which necessarily emphasize the recent past, Obama speaks to the hopes of a future inspired by collective myths of American destiny. Their post-caucus speeches juxtaposed not just campaign styles, but philosophies of history and politics.

Surrounded by former Cabinet members, Clinton ticked off the challenges facing the country and claimed that her political acumen uniquely enables her to cut the deals that can change policies. The visual and the verbal combined to form a rhetoric of steady but incremental change. Obama, in contrast, constructed a narrative of national unity in the face of national challenges. By evoking Washington, Roosevelt, and King, he contextualized present challenges in the story of the nation.

Clinton promises to implement Democratic solutions to policy problems while Obama offers democratic responses to national challenges.

Clinton recalls the mediocrity of the 1990’s while Obama has the audacity to tap into America’s latent feelings of Manifest Destiny. Unlike the 19th-century land grab, though, Obama promises to live up to America’s boundless potential.

The spirit of the age calls for a leader who can weave contemporary problems into a coherent and inspiring story of American possibilities.

Clinton may better navigate the halls of power, but Obama can harness the zeitgeist to power the ship of state in a new direction.

Inevitability relies on the past, but destiny promises the future. Destiny overpowered conventional wisdom on the football field in 2007, and I think it is fated to give an encore in the voting booths in 2008.

Andrew MacDonald is a history and political science major at the University of Kansas. He lives in Lawrence.

Kansas' Mangino caps big season in style - Emily Carlson

2008-01-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

Kansas coach Mark Mangino entered an elite group of coaches after winning the Bryant Award on Thursday.
KAREN WARREN: CHRONICLE

Surprising run by 12-1 Jayhawks earns Bryant Award

By BRANDON C. WILLIAMS, Houston Chronicle

Having already been named the Associated Press Big 12 Co-Coach of the Year and the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, the University of Kansas coach won the 22nd annual Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Thursday night at the Hyatt Regency Downtown.

"This is really quite an honor," said Mangino, who led the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record, including a win in the Orange Bowl, during the 2007 season. "To receive an award in the name of Bear Bryant is special to me. I'm really thankful that among these great coaches who were up for this award, I'm the one who received it."

The award, sponsored by the American Heart Association, went to a Big 12 coach for the second time in three years. Texas' Mack Brown received the honor in 2005.

A well-coached team
Kansas was one of the nation's surprise teams, winning its first 11 games before losing to Missouri and taking the school's first trip to the Orange Bowl since 1969. The Jayhawks finished seventh in the final AP poll, largely behind a well-disciplined philosophy that saw them have the fewest penalties and best turnover margin in the country.

Mangino, who coached under Jim Tressel at Youngstown State, Bill Snyder at Kansas State and Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, joins his mentors as Bryant Award winners. Tressel won the honor at Ohio State in 2002, Snyder in 1998 and Stoops in 2000 after a season in which the Sooners won the national championship with Mangino serving as offensive coordinator.

"The most important part of this award is the coaches and players who helped make this happen," said Mangino. "We have some very talented young men, and we have some who just go out and play hard. Any coach will tell you that the better the players, the better the coach."

Mangino talked about how he grew up reading all he could about Bryant, the former Alabama and Texas A&M coach who won 323 games and six national championships. It was a conversation with former Crimson Tide quarterback Joe Namath a day before the Orange Bowl that helped Mangino truly understand Bryant.

"Not only did he talk about how great a coach Bryant was, but also what he meant to him as a man," Mangino said. "It was truly an unbelievable conversation."

Glittering competition
Mangino won the award over Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer (who could not make it to Houston because of bad weather in Virginia), Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom, former Hawaii and current SMU coach June Jones, national championship-winning coach Les Miles of LSU, Missouri's Gary Pinkel and Illinois' Ron Zook.

Jones welcomes the challenge of rebuilding the Mustangs. SMU is already on pace to have one of its best recruiting classes in a decade.

"I've had a lot of 18- to 20-hour days, but I'm excited about it," said Jones, who coached with the Houston Oilers from 1987-93.

Because of NCAA rules, Jones could not comment on the status of Katy quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who currently is a part of Hawaii's recruiting class but has recently pondered a change to join Jones at SMU.

The night also featured former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne receiving the Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement award. Osborne, who won 255 games and three national titles with the Cornhuskers from 1973-97, was joined on the stage by more than a dozen of his former players, including current Texans Kris Brown and Ahman Green and former Oiler Jamie Williams.

"To have this number of players who came out is a great honor for me," said Osborne. "To coach against Bear Bryant was a meaningful experience. ... He was the gold standard of coaching."

Kansas Football Team To Be Recognized Feb. 23 - Emily Carlson

2008-01-17T18:57:00.000-08:00

Kansas head football coach Mark Mangino holds an orange from one of he trophies after their 24-21 win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl college football game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Thursday Jan. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Fans are invited to a public recognition of the 2007 University of Kansas football team, which set a school record with 12 wins, including a victory in the FedEx Orange Bowl this season.

The football awards presentation, which is free to the public, will take place in Allen Fieldhouse Saturday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Additional details will be released when available.

"Our coaches and players worked extremely hard this season, and together we accomplished many great things," KU Coach Mark Mangino said. "Our fans were also terrific throughout the year, and we wanted to have a celebration in a venue that could hold as many of those fans as possible. We're all looking forward to a great evening."

Press release from the University of Kansas

The 13 Greatest Hits of the 2007 KU Football Season - Emily Carlson

2008-01-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

With 6:08 left in the first quarter, Raimond Pendleton returned a Central Michigan punt 77 yards for a touchdown. The celebration got him an earful, but it also got him a standing “O.”

By Kevin Romary, LJ World

2007-2008 was easily the most successful season in Kansas football history. Tonight we look back at the most memorable play from each of KU's 13 games. Kevin Romary breaks down the list. Watch

Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas University cornerback Aqib Talib pulls in an interception with a smile. He returned the ball 100 yards for a touchdown against Florida International, and 6News sports director Kevin Romary deemed it the play of the game in the Jayhawks’ 55-3 rout of the Golden Panthers on Sept. 22, 2007.
The 6Sports, Journal-World and KUSports.com staffs combine to come up with a list of the most memorable plays from each weekend this fall during KU’s historic 12-1 run to the Orange Bowl title. Watch them all right here.

WEEK 1, KU vs. Central Michigan: We should have known it would be a magical season on September 1. With 6:08 left in the first quarter, Raimond Pendleton returned a Central Michigan punt 77 yards for a touchdown. The celebration got him an ear full, but it also got him a standing ovation.

WEEK 2, KU vs. Southeastern Louisiana: Marcus Herford stole the show in Week 2. Midway through the first, the Jayhawks’ kickoff return specialist raced 74 yards for the score.

WEEK 3, KU vs. Toledo: Aqib Talib showed he could do more than just shut down receivers. The proof came from 58 yards out, including a six-yard leap for pay dirt.

WEEK 4, KU vs. Florida International: A week later, Aqib did his thing on defense against FIU. A school record 100-yard INT return made KU 5-0 when wearing crimson tops.

WEEK 5, KU at Kansas State: The legend of Todd Reesing began. Moments after the Wildcats took the lead in the fourth quarter, the native Texan hit Dexton Fields in stride from 30 yards out to put the ‘Hawks up for good.

WEEK 6, KU vs. Baylor: After a slow start and a rain delay, Marcus Herford opened up the flood gates.

WEEK 7, KU at Colorado: A week later, it was senior Derek Fine capping a 15-play, 94-yard drive against Colorado. Turns out, KU needed those points to stay perfect.

WEEK 8, KU at Texas A&M: In College Station, Brandon McAnderson ran for 183 yards, including a three-yarder in the fourth quarter that put KU on top 19-0.

WEEK 9, KU vs. Nebraska: This one ushered in history. For the first time every, the Nebraska blackshirts gave up 70 points, with Brandon McAnderson doing the honors.

WEEK 10, KU at Oklahoma State: Marcus Henry returned to his home state, racking up 199 receiving yards and dazzling the home folks with a late 82-yard catch and run.

WEEK 11, KU vs. Iowa State: Seven days later, it was Dexton Fields’ time to shine. Against ISU, he caught a school record 11 passes, including a 17-yarder early to put KU up 7-0.

WEEK 12, KU vs. Missouri: The only down play of the season comes in the only loss. At Arrowhead Stadium, Todd Reesing’s throw to Dexton Fields in the end zone is two yards short, and Kansas falls for the first time and only time in 2007.

ORANGE BOWL, KU vs. Virginia Tech: And finally, the play that will define the 2007 season. Aqib Talib in the Orange Bowl. It’s a 60-yard play that Tyrod Taylor will never forget.

And there you have it, the top play from each of the 13 games played in the greatest season in the history of Kansas football.

Jayhawk football reaches new heights - Emily Carlson

2008-01-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

By Brad Banks, The Miami County Weekend

The University of Kansas is no longer a one-sport school. Coach Mark Mangino arrived in 2001 and promised to get the “Blue Wings Rising” — and he wasn’t talking boneless chicken. He has delivered, becoming bowl eligible four times. But this year, the Jayhawks soared to rare air indeed, making their first Orange Bowl appearance in 39 years and their first BCS appearance ever. In their last trip to Miami, the ’Hawks fell in overtime to coaching greenhorn Joe Paterno.

Many years of bad football later, Mangino has elevated KU to a winning program and has brought an excitement to the team that is usually reserved for the basketball squad. Big money is being spent on new practice facilities, and fans have finally started filling Memorial Stadium on Saturdays. Hoops-crazy Lawrence finally caught football fever. After KU’s first win in Manhattan since the early Bill Snyder regime, fans knew they wouldn’t have to wait until basketball season to see a winning team.

The Jayhawk faithful adored the gritty team, led by a quarterback and coach who are criticized for their size (although for vastly different reasons). Quarterback Todd Reesing draws comparisons to Doug Flutie because of his size, toughness and improvisational skills. The pocket-sized signal caller led KU through a dream season, becoming the first Jayhawk quarterback to exceed 3,000 yards passing in a season and become the school’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns in his first full season of play. Since Mangino pulled Reesing’s redshirt at halftime of last year’s Colorado game (in which he engineered a comeback), the Jayhawks have lost only twice, and Reesing has already begun rewriting the record books. Expect to see Reesing on Heisman award watch lists this off-season.

Virginia Tech entered the game as an established powerhouse, making its 15th consecutive bowl appearance under coach Frank Beamer. The success experienced in Blacksburg fed Tech’s confidence, who called themselves “America’s Team” from the support shown the Hokies after last spring’s tragic shooting, and generally overlooked Kansas, who many considered just lucky to be in Miami.

The experts thought KU might have been “Mangino’d” by its cupcake schedule and Beamerball would simply overpower the Jayhawks. Beamerball was coined to describe VT’s attack — win the turnover battle, play strong defense, and make plays on special teams — that is practiced against dominant East Coast powerhouses such as the likes of Duke, North Carolina and NC State.

In a strange twist of fate, KU turned Beamerball on the Hokies. Indeed, the Hokies played tough defense, but the KU secondary intercepted two passes, and All-American cornerback Aqib Talib returned the first for a touchdown. And sure, VT made a few plays on special teams, such as the reverse-punt-return for a touchdown, but KU blocked a field goal that wound up making the difference. The Jayhawks exorcised the demons they had since losing the 1948 and 1969 Orange Bowls. Mangino proved why he was the National Coach of the Year, Talib proved his worth as the Orange Bowl MVP, and the Jayhawks proved they belong among the nation’s elite.

No. 8 Kansas Defeats No. 3 Virginia Tech in Orange Bowl 24-21 - Emily Carlson

2008-01-08T23:57:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a game. What a game. Sometimes sloppy, suprising, and weird, the Jayhawks sure did keep the Orange Bowl exciting. All you doubters, and you know who you are, suprised? Yes, Mangino is an excellent coach, and KU is for real.

By Bob Bensch

The University of Kansas beat Virginia Tech 24-21 in the Orange Bowl last night to finish the college football season with the most wins in school history.

Aqib Talib returned an interception for a touchdown and Todd Reesing threw for one score and ran for another as Kansas completed a 12-1 season at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

Kansas, the No. 8 team in the Bowl Championship Series rankings, was playing in a major bowl game for the first time since the 1969 Orange Bowl. The Jayhawks finished with a 6-6 record last season.

Justin Harper returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown for third-ranked Virginia Tech (11-3), which lost its fourth straight BCS game. Harper also caught a touchdown pass from Sean Glennon.

Kansas took a 7-0 lead when Talib intercepted a pass from Tyrod Taylor and ran 60 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. It was the first interception return for a score at the Orange Bowl since 1968.

The Jayhawks increased their lead to 17-0 in the second quarter as Scott Webb kicked a 32-yard field goal and Reesing threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Henry.

Virginia Tech pulled within 17-7 on Brandon Ore's 1-yard touchdown run 1:24 before halftime. The Hokies then used special team trickery to make it 17-14 early in the third quarter.

Eddie Royal caught a punt and started running to his right. He pitched the ball to Harper, who was running in the opposite direction, and he returned it 84 yards for a touchdown.

Blocked Field Goal

Virginia Tech drove to the Kansas 7-yard line on its next drive before Jud Dunleavy's field goal attempt was blocked. Kansas would get to the Hokies' one later in the quarter, but Reesing threw an interception after two penalties had backed the Jayhawks up to the 29-yard line.

Kansas's Justin Thornton intercepted a Virginia Tech pass early in the fourth quarter, returning it to the Hokies' 2-yard line, and Reesing ran for the touchdown that increased the Jayhawks' lead to 24-14.

Harper's 20-yard touchdown catch would pull Virginia Tech within 24-21 with three minutes remaining. Kansas's Raimond Pendleton then recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Jayhawks ran out the clock.

Bowl history vastly different between Virginia Tech and Kansas

2008-01-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - After much overanalyzing of Kansas' prolific offence and Virginia Tech's stingy defence and every other stat heading into Thursday's Orange Bowl, one distinct difference stands out.

Virginia Tech has been on the big stage before.

For Kansas, this basically is uncharted territory.

Oh, sure, the Jayhawks have reached the Orange Bowl before. Most recently, 1969. So that won't exactly provide Kansas much help when trying to determine how best to handle the atmosphere and pressure that can accompany a Bowl Championship Series game.

Meanwhile, the Hokies were in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game last month, have as many bowl trips over the past 10 years - 10 - as Kansas has in its first 117 seasons of football, and are in a BCS matchup for the fifth time since 1995.

But will any of that matter?

The eighth-ranked Jayhawks (11-1) don't think so, and the fifth-ranked Hokies (11-2) essentially agree.

"This is the Orange Bowl," Virginia Tech defensive co-ordinator Bud Foster said. "You don't get to the Orange Bowl without being a great football team and having a great season. So we've got to respect our opponent, and that is the one thing we've always preached at Virginia Tech."

Finding Virginia Tech in Miami this week is no big surprise.

The same absolutely cannot be said about Kansas, perhaps U.S. college football's biggest surprise in 2007.

Virginia Tech entered the season as a popular pick to win the ACC and earn the automatic Orange Bowl berth, and it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that the Hokies could have found themselves in the BCS title game.

Kansas, though, was barely bowl-eligible last year after finishing 6-6 - the Jayhawks were not chosen for a post-season game - and entered this season tabbed by many to finish toward the bottom of the Big 12 Conference North standings.

Shows how much those pre-season rankings are worth.

"Most people haven't expected this from a Kansas football team," offensive lineman Cesar Rodriguez said. "Most people thought our basketball team was pretty good, but nobody expected us to be here."

The numbers show exactly how the Jayhawks got here.

Kansas set a school record with 11 wins, scored 43 points or more eight times in its 12 games, climbed to No. 2 in the national polls, averaged a video-game-esque 6.4 yards per play. And maybe most impressively, the Jayhawks finished the regular season ranked second nationally in scoring offence with a gaudy 44.3 points per game and are fourth in scoring defence (16.0).

"Just look at the stats ... this is a really good football team," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said.

With a resume like theirs, the Jayhawks think they can dismiss the big-game intimidation theory.

"It really doesn't matter how big the game is," Kansas fullback Brandon McAnderson said. "At Texas A&M, they have 90,000 cadets going crazy but, no matter what, at the end of the day it's just a game. No matter how big the stadium is and how crazy the venue, it's just a game."

That's exactly the approach Kansas coach Mark Mangino wants his team to take.

"This is a very mature team," Mangino said. "Our players understand when it's time to work and when it's time to have fun. They've been able to do that all season long and this won't change."

Virginia Tech is aware of the qualms about Kansas' weak schedule, the hubbub over the Orange Bowl committee choosing the Jayhawks over Missouri - which beat Kansas - and the notion that a lack of big-game experience will somehow benefit the Hokies.

They don't believe a word of it.

The ACC champions insist they're treating this game like the biggest challenge of their season.

"I don't think it'll be a factor at all," Hokies offensive lineman Duane Brown said. "I think Kansas, not being in this position before, it makes them a little more excited anticipating that day. I'm sure they're preparing as hard as they can. We've got to match that. Being too comfortable can get you in trouble."

Added Virginia Tech tailback Kenny Lewis Jr.: "At this level, everybody can play."

Jayhawks glad to arrive in sunny Florida

2007-12-29T16:05:00.000-08:00

MIAMI (AP) -- Eighth-ranked Kansas, greeted by fire trucks spraying water on its airplane, arrived in sunny Florida on Thursday in preparation for the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl against No. 5 Virginia Tech.

Despite doubts by critics who question the selection of Kansas in a BCS game, coach Mark Mangino insists his team deserves to be there.

"Since when is 11-1 not good enough to play in a BCS bowl?" said Mangino, the AP Coach of the Year.

Kansas will be playing in its first January bowl game since 1969. The Jayhawks were chosen over rival Missouri, which beat them 36-28 on Nov. 24 in the regular season finale.

Though Missouri was ranked two spots higher than the Jayhawks in the final BCS standings, Kansas received the BCS bid while the Tigers, who lost to Oklahoma twice, found themselves in the Cotton Bowl.

"I can't be concerned about other teams because I don't have control over other teams or the process," Mangino said.

The 11 wins are a school record for Kansas, which was ranked as high as No. 2 by all four major polls on Nov. 18 before the loss to Missouri. Kansas has won 14 of its last 16 games dating back to last year.

"It's been a great season," said Mangino, in his sixth year at Kansas. "It's arguably one of the best seasons ever, maybe the best ever at the University of Kansas, but it's not over. We got one more game to play. This game is really important to our players. They want to play well and win on a national stage."

Kansas traveled with only 33 of its 104 players Thursday on flight from Forbes Field in Topeka, Kan. The rest of the Jayhawks were allowed to fly to Miami on their own after spreading out across the country for the holidays. The team practiced Monday morning before getting time off.

The players were all smiles when they landed after leaving the 27-degree weather behind them in Kansas.

"The sun is hot, people were spraying water on the airplane, it was nice," said fifth-year senior running back Brandon McAnderson. McAnderson, who rushed for 1,050 yards and 16 touchdowns while earning All-Big 12 second-team honors, is a key to a Kansas offense that ranks second nationally in scoring with an average of 44.3 points per game.

Virginia Tech (11-2) earned a spot in the Orange Bowl after beating Boston College 30-16 in the ACC Championship game. The Hokies have the nation's second-best defense, allowing 15.5 points a game.

"They're athletic, speedy, play very well on defense, great special teams, some really talented kids on offense, and it's a very good team," Mangino said.

Mangino compares his Kansas program to Frank Beamer's Virginia Tech program as it began its rise in college football.

"We're trying to change the way people think about Kansas football just the way coach Beamer changed the way people think about Virginia Tech football," he said.

Mangino hopes the Orange Bowl is a sign of things to come for Kansas, which is 4-6 all-time in bowl games.

"It's a start," he said. "A lot of people think going to the Orange Bowl is the destination, but we'd like to think this is just the beginning for our program."

Forbes send-off planned for KU football team

2007-12-26T13:24:00.000-08:00

Gathering will be Thursday morning in airport terminal
The Capital-Journal

University of Kansas football fans will be able to see their team off Thursday morning at Forbes Field, where the Jayhawks are scheduled to depart at 10:15 a.m. on a flight to Miami to play in the Orange Bowl.

The public will first be able to say goodbye to the Jayhawks Thursday morning at the south end of Allen Fieldhouse, where the team will leave between 8:30 and 9 a.m. on a bus that will take it to Forbes. Parking will be free and available in the parking garage north of the fieldhouse or in the baseball and softball lots at its south ends.

At Forbes Field, fans will be able to greet the team in the public area of the terminal. Parking will be free for fans in an area west of the terminal, said Michael Humberd, president of the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority.

Staying the course

2007-12-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

Big year doesn’t change recruiting strategy

By Ryan Wood Lawrence Journal World and News

Aqib Talib and Anthony Collins gave their best pitch earlier this month.

Kansas University’s two All-American football players, each lightly recruited coming out of high school, were interviewed on national television during the ESPN College Football Awards Show on Dec. 6. Given the opportunity, Talib spoke eagerly into the camera about what Kansas can provide recruits that the tradition-rich programs can’t — namely, early playing time.

You see, recruiting never, ever ends. But at Kansas, it never seems to change, either.

If you need any more proof on how confident KU’s football coaches are in their plan, look at how recruiting has evolved since the Jayhawks’ magical 2007 season started to take shape.

From their end, it hasn’t.

“When we made it to a BCS bowl, we didn’t say, ‘OK quit recruiting these guys. We’re going to go recruit all these other guys,’” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “We’ve stayed on the type of kid that fits the profile of our program, that wants to be at Kansas, that has some of those values that we talk about all year here. The value of hard work, teamwork, wanting to be a good citizen, wanting to earn a college degree.”

From the other end, though, it is getting better.

Kansas locked up another popular recruit Friday, when Rivals.com reported that touted cornerback Greg Brown out of Cedar Hill, Texas, committed to the Jayhawks this week.

Brown, a former teammate of current KU receiver Dezmon Briscoe, picked Kansas over Kansas State, Virginia, Arizona and Arkansas. Cedar Hill High coach Joey McGuire said the Jayhawks’ new shiny resume had something to do with it.

“When you are 11-1, that sure does help,” McGuire told Rivals. “When you are doing that, you can get kids like Greg. … Kansas is catching up.”

But like many aspects of the KU football program, recruiting will take baby steps toward greater heights.

Right now, Kansas is noticing increased interest from their top targets more than anything. More commitments from the top targets — especially over schools that can thrive off name alone — is the next step they’re approaching.

“We’ve always recruited great players,” Mangino said. “But some of the great ones, by September, tell you to get lost. This year, some of them are visiting, have visited and are really interested.”

One is Cyrus Gray, a 6-foot, 190-pound running back out of DeSoto, Texas. Gray is being recruited by several of the traditional powers, including Notre Dame and Florida. The Jayhawks offered early and have since stuck around in the top five of Gray’s lengthy list. He took an official visit to KU earlier this month.

Examples like Gray are slowly starting to become more common at Kansas.

The Jayhawks are more than halfway home on their 2008 recruiting. Brown’s commitment on Friday gives KU 16 known pledges for the class, with signing day on Feb. 6.

The 11-1 regular season and Orange Bowl berth certainly don’t hurt. But the Jayhawks aren’t getting over-inflated heads over it, either.

“People ask me all the time if recruiting gets easier. It never gets easier,” Mangino said. “That term doesn’t fit with recruiting. But we have kids that maybe would’ve dropped off earlier in the season.

“We are competing with more successful programs in the country. It never really gets easier, but more doors have opened and more kids have kept their interest with us.”

Bowl ticket allotment sold out!

2007-12-18T11:56:00.000-08:00

Hawks hunker down, prep for Hokies

It's officially time to start talking about the Hokies. Today Mark Mangino and his Kansas football team began to insert a game plan for the upcoming Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech.

For the Kansas football team, it's all about the wait. Kansas last played on November 24. Since then, 23 days have elapsed, and it will be another 17 until KU plays in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech.

The procrastinators are going to have to find another way now.

Kansas University sold out its allotment of Orange Bowl tickets Monday, meaning the quadrant of Dolphin Stadium reserved for KU fans should be full Jan. 3 when Kansas plays Virginia Tech.

KU announced that its share of 17,500 tickets all were accounted for Monday afternoon, about two weeks after they went on sale.

“We knew Jayhawks fans would be excited about supporting their team,” athletic director Lew Perkins said. “Miami is not an easy place to get to at the last minute during the winter. But our fans persevered. We’ll have a large, loud and excited fan base in Miami, and we can’t wait to get there.”

Kansas fans will be located around the northwest corner of Dolphin Stadium, extending from the 50-yard line to the west end zone. That accounts for 17 sections in the upper deck and 12 in the lower level.

Virginia Tech will be on centered on the southeast side of the venue. As of Monday evening, the Hokies still had upper-deck tickets available out of their 17,500 allotment.

Kansas fans still looking for tickets have plenty of avenues. Ticketmaster had Orange Bowl tickets available Monday evening, as did a number of online ticket brokers like StubHub.com and TicketsNow.com.

Idol cameo: The Orange Bowl Committee announced Monday that American Idol television star Katharine McPhee will sing the national anthem at the Jan. 3 game.

McPhee was the runner-up on season five of American Idol, with Taylor Hicks winning the contest. McPhee has since signed with RCA Records and released a self-titled album.

In addition to McPhee, rock band ZZ Top will perform at halftime of the Orange Bowl.

KU football coach Mangino has enjoyed the whirlwind of attention

2007-12-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star

LAWRENCE | Barry Alvarez knows turnarounds. So when Alvarez, the former Wisconsin football coach, visited the University of Kansas campus Friday and caught up with KU coach Mark Mangino, he could sense that something special had happened here.

It was the same feeling that Alvarez had in Madison, Wis., years ago when he built a program with little to no tradition into a perennial Big Ten power.

“You take over a losing program, you have to change a culture,” said Alvarez, in town to prep for his duties as an Orange Bowl commentator on Fox. “It’s very hard to do, which is why most people can’t get it done. You have to change the attitude of everyone that touches the program, and I can sense that Mark has done that here.”

Alvarez and Mangino shook hands and chatted for a few minutes on Friday before Mangino had to cut it short. Surely, the reigning consensus national coach of the year had somewhere important to be. It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Mangino, who spent part of last week down in Orlando, Fla., receiving the Home Depot coach of the year award. He was back in Lawrence on Friday and had a chance to reflect.

“To be quite honest, I appreciate the awards that have been given to me,” Mangino said. “I’m humbled by them. I’m not an intellectual giant, but I’m smart enough to figure out that it has to do with the players. I’m coaching the same way in 2007 as I did in 2002. We were 2-10.

“Here’s what I’ve told everybody: Head coaches get far too much credit for winning, far too much blame for losing.”

There is no doubt Mangino is right. After all, it was just five months ago that KU athletic director Lew Perkins told The Star that six wins wouldn’t be good enough. It became clear that Mangino needed to win seven games at the very least to feel secure.

Of course, the Jayhawks used an easy nonconference slate to build confidence and then rattled off seven Big 12 wins in a row. Now they’re headed to the school’s first BCS bowl game, and Mangino is getting all the credit.

“I’m just taking it all in stride,” Mangino said. “I am thankful for it, but it really reflects the entire program. I couldn’t do it alone. I don’t have the ability or the talent to do it alone.”

It’s that attitude that made a large group of KU players gather around the TV at the Burge Union last Thursday night for the awards show on ESPN. When Mangino was announced as the coach of the year, the place went nuts.

“That was a crazy moment for all of us,” KU cornerback Chris Harris said. “It’s a great experience to be coached by the best coach of the year.”

KU cornerback Aqib Talib and offensive tackle Anthony Collins were in attendance at the show.

“Coach Les Miles was in there,” Talib said, “Coach (Jim) Tressel, (Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones, so many people. And then our coach won coach of the year. Me and AC kind of looked at each other like, ‘Yeah, that’s our coach up there.’ ”

On Friday, Mangino was as jovial as he’s been all season, generating several laugh-out-loud moments. He was busy again explaining that all of the milestones KU has set this year just roll off his back.

“This is a program that has not been able to sustain success in football for nearly a century,” Mangino said. “When we do something good, our (sports information director) tells me after the game, ‘This is the first time since Christopher Columbus landed here that KU did this.’

1899, 1876, we’re just glad to do it. I can’t tell you I run in and tell the team, ‘We have to win this Orange Bowl because we never won one, and in 1969, we had 12 men on the field. So I’m taking a calculator with me and I’m going to count to 11 every snap.’ ”

Mangino has come a long way since his days as a lowly assistant on Kansas State coach Bill Snyder’s staff. Alvarez, a close friend of Snyder and Bob Stoops from their days under Hayden Fry at Iowa, knew Mangino had the right pedigree for success.

“I know what kind of grinder Bill Snyder is,” said Alvarez, now the Wisconsin athletic director. “For Bob Stoops to hire him and give him a title tells me what kind of coach and what kind of person he is.”

Years later, on Friday, Alvarez and Mangino got to talk, architect to architect.

“The thing I see from watching him from afar and knowing him, he never compromised what he believed in,” Alvarez said. “He’s engrained in them a team spirit. They talk about team. They win and lose as a team. They hold each other accountable. Those are the reasons you win, and that comes from the head coach who devised it that way.”

Orange Bowl ticket sales limp towards finish

2007-12-12T06:59:00.000-08:00

Both KU, VT have plenty of tickets left
By Ryan Wood

After a furious sprint out of the gate, Orange Bowl ticket sales are limping toward the finish line with just more than three weeks to go.

Both Kansas University and Virginia Tech have tickets remaining for the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl. Virginia Tech assistant athletic director Sandy Smith said Tuesday the Hokies had sold around 15,000.

KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony, meanwhile, said at Tuesday’s Kansas Athletics, Inc., board meeting that the Jayhawks had sold about 16,300 tickets.

Both schools are allotted 17,500, which are all together in Dolphin Stadium.

“It’s slowed down,” Smith said of Virginia Tech’s sales. “I’m sure it has for (Kansas), too.”

Athletic director Lew Perkins is confident that the tickets — which go for $125 each — will be gobbled up soon, perhaps within a week.

But just in case, Kansas has marketed the availability of seats for the game. Thousands of KU fans received an e-mail from “Mark Mangino” on Tuesday, which actually was an Orange Bowl reminder and an opportunity to announce that tickets remained on sale. The team’s marketing campaign was adjusted to “This is what January was made for.”

In addition, Kansas has started a small Web site, orangebowlbound.com, to promote the game.

About 10 percent of KU’s ticket sales so far have been to students, and KU has offered student tickets for just $50. Perkins said KU plans to pay the difference.

Though the game expects to be a relatively full crowd in the 72,000-seat venue, online ticket brokers still have many available. Ticketsnow.com reports that the average price for Orange Bowl tickets through its site has dropped from $212 to $188 in recent weeks.

If Kansas doesn’t sell its full share, the Big 12 Conference covers the cost of the remaining tickets. But both Kansas and Virgnia Tech are hopeful that all 17,500 will be scooped up at each school.

It just won’t be in a hurry.

“It’s a long way for everybody,” Smith said. “It’s really difficult to get a flight. That’s a big tourist destination this time of year.”

Mangino one of Kansas' Top Ten Most Fascinating

2007-12-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

Top 10 fascinating Kansans
Posted by Kasha Stoll

David and Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham may have fascinated Barbara Walters, who is presenting her annual "Top 10 Most Fascinating People" of the year on ABC tonight, but they never did much for me.

So in the spirit of Ms. Walters' special, this column is dedicated to the Top 10 Most Fascinating People of Northeast Kansas in 2007.
And as is the case with the national special, you will probably agree with some of my choices and think I am totally off my rocker with others.

Feel free to let me know what you think, but this is my opinion.

10. Paul David Meek — The Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center nurse was named one of the nation's Top 10 nurse heroes in 2007.

9. Darren Canady — The Topeka High School graduate and former Topeka Capital-Journal intern won a national award for one of his original plays.

8. Eldon Ray — The Kansas Board of Technical Professionals fined the 83-year-old man $500 for doing work on the Mayetta Christian Church, claiming he was providing architectural services without a license, but Ray got the last laugh when a legislative committee said he should receive $3,122 because of the trouble the board gave him.

7. Dorianne Rees — This local actress in February played the title role in the Topeka Civic Theatre's production of Neil LaBute's play "Fat Pig" so she could bring attention to the issues facing large women.

6. Jaide Ramirez-Jennings — The 8-year-old Topeka girl received the Yahoo! Purple Act of Kindness award for her "KICK paper and plastic to the curb" campaign.

5. Mark Mangino — The University of Kansas football coach raised the standard of KU football.

4. Deborah Rose — She made Kansas military history in April when she was promoted to brigadier general in the Kansas National Guard.

3. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. — His bid for the presidency was unsuccessful but definitely newsworthy.

2. Mary Magdalene Lorang — The owner of the Topeka RoadRunners says she is more concerned with bringing hockey to Topeka than in making a profit.

1. Anthony Cox — The 21-year veteran of the Topeka Fire Department died Aug. 13 after collapsing while battling a two-alarm apartment fire. About 1,000 people, including more than 500 firefighters, attended his funeral at the Kansas Expocentre.

His sister, Dottie Cox Karnowski, told the crowd: "Why did Tony risk his life for you, and you, and you? ... Because he believed you were worth the risk. He believed that the human life, friend or stranger, was worth risking his own life."

KU to play in Orange Bowl

2007-12-03T14:52:00.000-08:00

BY KIRK SEMINOFF
The Wichita Eagle

The Jayhawks were selected to play in their first Bowl Championship Series game. Kansas will play Viriginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Jan. 3 in Miami, Fla.

How fitting.
Kansas' record-setting football season will end in the same bowl game as the school's previous most successful season -- the Orange Bowl.
The No. 8 Jayhawks were chosen Sunday night to play No. 5 Virginia Tech in the Jan. 3 game in Miami.
The nationally televised game will be KU's first appearance in the 10-year-old Bowl Championship Series and the first appearance in a bowl game Jan. 1 or later since the 1969 Orange Bowl.
"We want to come to South Florida ready to play the game and we'll have great fan support following us," KU coach Mark Mangino said.
During the days leading to Sunday's selections, reports indicated KU had a good chance to be chosen for the Fiesta Bowl. But when Fox revealed bowl pairings during a national telecast Sunday night, the Fiesta had Oklahoma facing West Virginia. Kansas fans had to wait until the Orange Bowl to see the Jayhawk logo.
"I was optimistic," said Mangino, who will take a team to a bowl for the third time in his six seasons at KU. "We're an 11-1 team and we played consistently well most of the year. In fact the entire year, except for the last game.
"But you just don't know until you get the final word."
The Orange Bowl provides a sense of deja vu for KU football followers. In 1968, the Jayhawks climbed as high as third in the polls before reaching the Orange Bowl. That game is known as "the 12-men game," when KU had an extra player on the field for Penn State's failed two-point conversion try late in the game. With a second chance, Penn State scored, and won the game.
Getting to Miami from Wichita isn't tough, but airline tickets seemed to be going fast Sunday night. Prices on online travel services increased as the evening wore on, though airfares of less than $500 were possible if the traveler isn't picky on arrival and departure times.
Orange Bowl ticket costs range from $110 for upper-level seats to $210 for club seats. They are available by logging on to http://www.ticketmaster.com/, or by calling 305-341-4701.
KU is also working on fan travel and tickets to the game. Call 877-713-1982 or check www.doddsathletictours.com/kansas.
The final BCS standings, released Sunday night, determine the top two teams to play in the Jan. 7 national championship game. The standings also determine schools eligible to play in the four other BCS bowls: Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta.
Kansas, which suffered its only loss in 12 games to Missouri on Nov. 24, qualified as an at-large candidate by finishing eighth in the BCS standings.
"I don't know that we're looking for vindication," Mangino said. "We've played a conference schedule here and won some games in tough venues like Texas A&M and Colorado.... I think you're judged on the merits, on how you play week in and week out."
Virginia Tech won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Saturday, defeating Boston College to earn the league's automatic berth to the Orange Bowl. The Hokies finished third in the BCS standings.
KU's rival, Missouri, was ranked No. 1 before Saturday's Big 12 Championship loss to Oklahoma and was left out of the 10-team BCS on Sunday. The Tigers will settle for the Big 12's best non-BCS bowl, the Jan. 1 Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

KU’s ranking not adding up in academics

2007-12-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

By Jonathan Kealing

It’s a good thing for some schools that the Bowl Championship Series, or BCS, rankings are computed based on athletic performance and not academics.
While Kansas University is ranked No. 5 in the BCS standings, its theoretical “academic BCS” puts KU at No. 17.
The academic rankings are based on a formula that relates team graduation rates to the university’s graduation rates, with allowances for disparity among races. That total is added to the difference between the NCAA-computed Academic Progress Rate and the average APR for all Division 1A football teams.
The formula was created by the New America Foundation, the group that seeds the 65-team March Madness bracket based on team academics. This is its first football ranking.
KU’s numbers add up to about 34 points, better than Big 12 school Texas and about the same as rival Missouri. Texas picked up 7.85 points, and Missouri had 34.25 points.
The poll was led by Boston College with 127.8 points, Cincinnati with 97.25 points and Auburn with 73.15 points.
KU came up short primarily in that its 2005-06 APR was 16 points below the national average. In the most recent year, KU’s APR moved up dramatically; however, the APR is based on a multiyear average.
In its analysis, Lindsey Luebchow of the foundation wrote that for some schools, including Missouri, a racial disparity was a major factor in weighing down the school’s point total.
“Its overall football graduation rate masks a large black-white gap: 40 percent of Missouri’s black football players … graduated, compared to 68 percent of its white football players,” Luebchow wrote.
Kansas was cited in the report, but merely to illustrate a broader point and not because its data was particularly high or low in any area.
The foundation pointed out that a team full of Todd Reesings — an economics and finance major — is hard to compare with a team made up entirely of general studies majors.
KU Associate Athletic Director Jim Marchiony said he was pleased with the direction the football team’s academics were taking.
He pointed out the team’s rising APR as well as the fact that two Jayhawks, Russell Brorsen and John Larson, were named among ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-Americans on Thursday.
“I think it shows the emphasis in the program and of the coaches on academics,” he said.

Kansas fans, starting cheering for MU

2007-11-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

By Thor Nystrom

How bad do you want it, Jayhawk fans? Most Kansas supporters would rather eat glass than root for Missouri. On Saturday, if they have the Jayhawks’ best wishes in mind, they won’t have a choice.
If Missouri beats Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship, and subsequently reaches the National Championship, it will markedly improve the Jayhawks’ shot at a BCS game, according to most bowl projections. Should Missouri lose on Saturday, Ohio State will ascend into the top two of the BCS standings and reach the Championship Game. Oklahoma, obviously, would make the BCS as the Big 12’s representative. This would take away an at-large spot, because Missouri is expected to be a lock regardless of Saturday’s outcome.
If the Sooners are victorious, Illinois, who will likely move into the required top 14 of the BCS standings next week to grab an at-large bid, would likely become the Big 10’s representative in the Rose Bowl and probably shut Kansas out of a $14 million BCS payday, according to projections.
If the Tigers, who opened Sunday evening in Las Vegas as three-point underdogs, avenge their only loss of the season and defeat Oklahoma, the Fiesta Bowl has widely been speculated as the most likely Jayhawk destination.
The final BCS standings and bowl pairings will be announced on at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 on Fox.
Some Jayhawk fans are worried about a nightmare scenario where the Cotton Bowl would select home-state and tradition-rich Texas — which could drop Kansas to the Holiday Bowl.
Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said there was no sense worrying about scenarios and that the Athletics Department wanted to watch the process play out. That didn’t, however, prevent them from looking at projections.
“The process is fun to go through,” Marchiony said. “Who is going to go where and all that stuff. Of course we hope to go to a BCS Bowl. That is our number one goal right now.”
Larry Wahl, an Orange Bowl representative, said that despite speculation that Kansas’ most possible BCS destination is the Fiesta Bowl, the Orange Bowl was still considering them.
“There are a lot of schools that we are still considering. KU is in that mix,” Wahl said. “They did everything that was asked of them. They won every game that was asked, except for the last one. They are worthy of their standing, there is no question.”
Wahl said Kansas’ lack of historical success in football would not prevent the Orange Bowl from selecting them — last year the Orange hosted Wake Forest, who does not have a great football history and is a smaller university than Kansas. Wahl said Wake Forest sold out their ticket allotment.
Charlie Fiss, a Cotton Bowl representative, said his game is looking at Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Fiss said he didn’t know what would happen this weekend and didn’t know which way his group would vote.
“We’ve done our homework,” Fiss said. “We know Kansas fans will travel great, regardless of whether it is basketball or football. They are top-five — that speaks for itself. We know the fans will follow them.”
Fiss said the Cotton Bowl, which pays $3 million per institution, has been in contact with the Kansas Athletic Department. He declined to specifically address the issue of his bowl possibly taking a three-loss Longhorn squad over the one-loss Jayhawks, saying the group would look at a bevy of factors including record, team strength, fan base, television attractiveness, and more.
Fiss did say Kansas rates high in the fan department: “KU, name the sport, whether is football or basketball, we know they have great fans.”
Kansas has hosted representatives from every BCS Bowl except for the Rose this year. The Cotton and Holiday Bowls also both sent representatives to the KU-MU game on Saturday. The Fiesta Bowl has sent more representatives to Kansas games than any other bowl.
Fiesta Bowl representatives did not immediately return University Daily Kansan phone calls seeking comment for this story.
Marchiony said the Athletics Department was not concerned that a lack of prestige would hurt the football team in bowl selections and said, “we think the process will play out fairly.”
Marchiony said the high rating of the Kansas-Missouri football game on Saturday spoke for itself.
CBSsportsline is projecting Kansas into the Fiesta against Arizona State: “With our prediction of Missouri in the title game, we think Kansas will still be an at-large pick with only one loss, especially if the Fiesta Bowl loses the Big 12 champion. With the Fiesta Bowl’s other selection, it will take the Pac-10 runner up, which will be Arizona State. Illinois could also sneak in here instead of the Sun Devils.”
MSNBC projected the same Jayhawk-Sun Devils matchup. “If Missouri goes to the title game, a one-loss Kansas team will be an attractive at-large choice for the Fiesta.”
In other words, for possibly the first time ever, Jayhawks fans on Saturday will become Tiger fans.

KU Assistant Young Among Finalists For Broyles Award

2007-11-27T18:06:00.000-08:00

Kansas Defensive Coordinator Bill Young has been named a finalist for the Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coach in college football every year. The finalists were announced Tuesday by the Downtown Rotary Club in Little Rock, Ark.

Young is one of five finalists for the award along with Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, and West Virginia offensive coordinator Calvin Magee.

The winner will be announced next Tuesday at the Broyles Award Banquet and Dinner in Little Rock. The winning coach will then travel to Orlando for the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 6.

Young, who has been at KU since the 2002 season, has quietly helped turn the Jayhawks' defense into one of the best in the country.

The Jayhawks rank fourth in the NCAA in scoring defense (16.00), tied for seventh in rushing defense (91.42) and 14th in total defense (318.25). KU leads the Big 12 in each of those three categories, while also ranking second in pass defense at 226.83. That figure ranks 59th in the nation.

The KU defense has been an opportunistic group ranking fourth in the country in turnovers gained (32), while tying for fourth in the nation with 20 interceptions. KU has had 11 different players record the 20 interceptions.

Young also coaches the defensive line and three of his players have recorded interceptions this year with John Larson grabbing two and James McClinton and Russell Brorsen each getting one pick.

Three Kansas defensive players earned All-Big 12 First-Team honors under his tutelage this fall. McClinton, linebacker Joe Mortensen and cornerback Aquib Talib were all tabbed to the league's list. McClinton was named the league's top defensive lineman as well by the coaches.

Each NCAA Division I head coach has the opportunity to nominate one of his assistants for the Broyles Award. The Broyles Award panelists include nine former winners of the award. Current KU head coach Mark Mangino was the 2000 recipient of the award while he was serving as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.
Kansas (11-1) awaits its bowl selection, which will take place on Sunday.

Kansas loses:(

2007-11-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

Tough loss.

Here an article from The Univeristy of Kansas' website.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -
Despite 349 yards passing from sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing), No. 4 Missouri upended second-ranked Kansas, 36-28, in the annual Border Showdown game played Saturday evening at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
KU and MU tied for the Big 12 North title with the Tigers advancing to the Big 12 Championship game. Kansas finished the regular season 11-1 and 7-1 in the Big 12, while the Jayhawks complete their best regular season in program history at 11-1 overall and 7-1 in conference play. Missouri improved to 11-1 and 7-1 in league play.
Trailing 28-7 heading into the fourth quarter, Reesing led the Jayhawks on three consecutive scoring drives to cut the lead to 34-28 with 2:05 remaining. However, KU could not recover the ensuing onside kick and Missouri ran the clock down to 17 seconds. Missouri's Loren Williams killed any hope for a Jayhawk comeback when he sacked Reesing in the end zone on KU's first offensive play following a short punt pinned the Jayhawks inside the 10.
The loss ended KU's 11-game winning streak, the longest in school history.
Reesing finished the game 28-for-49 for 349 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, his first interceptions since Oct. 6. The sophomore quarterback also ran for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
After Missouri built a 21-0 lead in the third quarter, the Jayhawks took flight.
The Jayhawks answered MU's first touchdown drive of the second half as McAnderson slammed into the end zone on a one-yard run around the left end with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter. The scoring drive was set up by a 34-yard completion from Reesing to freshman Dezmon Briscoe and a 15-yard facemask penalty on the same play.
After Chase Daniel's third touchdown pass of the evening, KU cut the deficit again to 14 on Reesing's five-yard touchdown run, a bootleg around the right end. It was the sophomore's second touchdown run of the season.
The drive was set up by a pair of fourth down conversions. The first, an 11-yard completion from Reesing to senior Marcus Henry on a fourth-and-three from the MU 35, while Reesing's scoring play was also a fourth down conversion.
Missouri stretched the lead to 31-14 on a 43-yard field goal by Jeff Wolfert, however the Jayhawks responded again.
This time, Reesing crafted a seven-play, 57-yard drive, which took just a minute and 32 seconds off the clock. The sophomore quarterback hit Fields for a 10-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 31-21 with 8:28 remaining.
After another Wolfert field goal, Reesing again led the Jayhawks down the field to cut the lead to 34-28 with 2:05 remaining.
Missouri ended any hopes of a Jayhawk comeback when Lorenzo Williams sacked Reesing in the end zone with 12 seconds remaining and gave the Tigers the eight-point margin of victory.
The Jayhawks will await their bowl bid, which will be announced on Dec. 2.

BCS Ranking

2007-11-20T18:45:00.000-08:00

Week 12 rankings:

GO JAYHAWKS!

BCS Standings
1. LSU 10-1
2. Kansas 11-0
3. West Virginia 9-1
4. Missouri 10-1
5. Ohio State 11-1
6. Arizona State 9-1
7. Georgia 9-2
8. Virginia Tech 9-2
9. Oregon 8-2
10. Oklahoma 9-2
11. USC 8-2
12. Florida 8-3
13. Texas 9-2
14. Boston College 9-2
15. Hawaii 10-0
16. Virginia 9-2
17. Illinois 9-3
18. Tennessee 8-3
19. Boise State 10-1
20. Connecticut 9-2
21. Wisconsin 9-3
22. Clemson 8-3
23. South Florida 8-3
24. Cincinnati 8-3
25. BYU 8-2

Emily Carlson cheers on KU!!

2007-11-18T20:14:00.000-08:00

KANSAS IS RANKED #2 IN THE COUNTRY!!

It was am AWESOME game yesterday. The Jayhawks scored 45 points and KILLED Iowa State. They once again showed their dominance by putting up some serious points. Reisling was great at Quarterback, completing nearly 80% of his passes. Wow. Kansas looks really good going into next week's game against Missouri. Tough game. Missouri is ranked #4. Go Jayhawks!

Big Game Tomorrow

2007-11-16T10:27:00.000-08:00

Emily Carlson knows it's a Big Game Tomorrow!
KU verses Iowa! And... OREGON LOST last night! That means... if KU wins, they will be ranked #2! (Hopefully, it seems that Kansas is having a hard time earning respect. They were ranked 3 last week, although they are undefeated. And who knows, if LSU looses, KU could shoot up to #!) How exciting would that be?
The game is at 3:30 Central Time. And for all of you living in the Twin Cities, the game isn't televised here for some reason. You have to order it off satellite! Well worth the extra cost, though@

Emily Carlson loves football!!

2007-11-15T20:34:00.000-08:00

Emily Carlson is a HUGE fan of college football. I look forward to Saturdays, when I can watch games all day long! I went to a small Division III school, so big stakes games with thousands of fans watching is very exciting.
I am currently swept up in the success of the University of Kansas' run. They are currently 10-0.. the only undefeated team besides Hawaii. Plus, my brother goes there. He is so excited... I am excited... football is a great spot:)