Hawk Talk...Week 8 Pregame

A look at news and notes about Jayhawks and upcoming opponents...

The Good Guys...

• The pass defense seems to be turning a corner.
• Surpise...pressure on Sam Bradford will be key this week.
• Several current KU football contributors will be returning to their home state this weekend.
• KU Notes 1,  KU Notes 2,  KU Notes 3
• Here's why the KU offense is the wild card this weekend.
• KU faces an uphill battle in the minds of many this weekend.
• Coach shakes up the special teams.
• The Secondary has a tough task this weekend.
• KC Star game preview.
• Esteban posted this earlier in the week...but I thought it was so good I'm putting it in the pregame...Kerry Meier article.
• Coach Mangino prefers being the underdog.

The Bad Guys...

• The Oklahoma running game has seen it's struggles this year.
• More on the Native Oklahomans on the KU Roster.
• Brent Venebles talks about his relationship with Coach Mangino.
• Article about the bond between Stoops and Mangino.

A full list of supplemental notes released by the athletic dept...and here are some highlights...

A Kansas win would...

Give KU a win against the AP’s fourth-ranked team, marking the highest ranked opponent KU defeated since beating #4 Colorado 40-24 at Boulder in 1995.

Give KU six straight Big 12 road victories.

A Kansas loss would...

Be less good than a win.

Todd Reesing should add to KU Career Record Charts...

Reesing (462) needs just six completions to pass Frank Seurer (467) for the KU career completion record.

Reesing (6,074) needs just 39 yards to pass Frank Seurer (6,112) for the KU career total offense record.

Reesing (4) needs one 300-yard passing game to tie his school season record of five that he set last year.

Things to look for against Oklahoma…

Kansas has recorded at least 400 yards of total offense in five straight games.

Kansas has held its opponent to less than 200 yards rushing in 33 consecutive games.

WR Kerry Meier(53) needs six receptions to pass Bob Johnson (58) for third and 11 to pass Dexton Fields’ 2007 total of 63, for second on the KU season receptions list.

DE Jake Laptad has recorded a sack in three straight games.

Meier the go to Guy…

62 percent (33 of 53) of his receptions have been for first downs.

36 percent (12 of 33) of his first-down producing receptions have come on third or fourth down.

My Thoughts...Well my worst nightmare has come true.  I won't be able to watch as the Kansas Jayhawks defeat the mighty Oklahoma Sooners. 

Hawk Talk the morning after edition will not include my thoughts so I will post the articles and you all tell me what you saw. 

As far as before the game, this is what college football is all about.  Meaningful battles as a top 25 team.  Kansas will need to put together a complete game.  We have to win the field position battle through an improved special teams and continue to limit mistakes on offense.  The defense is playing their best football of the year the last game and a half and needs to carry that over against a truly top tier opponent.  If they do all these things the enormous chip on the shoulder of every Kansas player that should exist from being a three touchdown dog should take care of the rest. 

Make no mistake, Oklahoma is probably the more talented team, but then again when hasn't that been the case.  Mark Mangino does an outstanding job of keeping his team, his coaches and everyone focused on the task at hand and this week that just happens to be Oklahoma.  This is about as optimistic view and fluff of a prediction you've seen from me all week but I'm just really feeling like this is happening.

Final score KU 37...OU 31 (What? do you really want me to pick against them) 

Oh and another KU team kicks off their season tonight.  You may have heard of them...the defending National Champions Kansas Basketball Jayhawks.  We'll take a look at that later, it's still football season.