New Year’s Eve 2008 marked the end of an exciting Kansas football season as the Jayhawks wrapped up their first ever back to back bowl wins in school history.  Already fans, media and players alike are looking toward 2009, but I thought I would take one last opportunity to look back at the 2008 Insight Bowl and discuss 2009 sometime next week.

Full story after the jump…

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#6

The #6 performance of the Kansas football season comes against the Jayhawks in-state rival the Kansas State Wildcats.  In what would ultimately be the straw that broke the camels back in the short Ron Prince era at Kansas State, one Kansas defender stepped up in a big way and in a new role to earn his way to the #6 spot on the countdown.

The first defensive performance making its way into the countdown comes from a member of the senior linebacking corps of the Jayhawks that many felt had underperformed on the season.  In this edition of the Sunflower Showdown the Kansas coaching staff would unveil a new wrinkle in the defensive scheme and it would allow for one Jayhawk to make a big difference and one that would continue throughout the season.

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The Big 12 Conference coaches selections for All Conference Honors were announced on Tuesday with Darrel Stuckey among 10 Jayhawks named to the teams. 

Stuckey was the only Jayhawk on a loaded first team but several others received either 2nd team or Honorable Mention honors including:

• Dezmon Briscoe (2nd)
• James Holt (2nd)
• Caleb Blakesly (HM)
• Ryan Cantrell (HM)
• Jake Sharp (HM)
• Adrian Mayes (HM)
• Jake Laptad (HM)
• Mike Rivera (HM)
• Kerry Meier (HM)

Obviously the glaring missing Jayhawk would be Todd Reesing but with a stacked Big 12 it's not totally unexpected.  Things will likely clear out this season paving the way for Reesing to have a banner Senior campaign and a possible mention on the All Conference Squad.

Huge kudos to Stuckey for a well earned and much deserved honor.  Also felt like James Holt was a huge contributor on this team and in any other conference both Briscoe and Meier would certainly garner 1st team attention.

Also worth mentioning the oft rumored to be injured Mike Rivera for a gutsy Senior campaign and Jake Sharp another local boy for resurecting a non existent running game.

Jake Laptad, several key plays in the year and the lone bright spot for a pass rush that is beginning to see improvement

As for the big boys, Cantrell, Mayes, and perhaps most of all Blakesly.  It wasn't always pretty but they got it done and Blakesly certainly earned a lot of my respect throughout the season.

Jump into the post for the full story and entire list of awards...

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

• A look at early reports from the Sharp and Meier injuries.
• Talk of the Insight Bowl begins at Kansas.
• We talked about the biggest losses here earlier in the season and it looks like Mangino would have voted for Talib.
• Kansas regroups and prepares for Missouri.
• OT: Derek Fine feature on his career with the Bills.
• Showdown draws near.
• Border War notes...

My Thoughts...Well I wouldn't be able to consider myself a Kansas fan if I ever picked against us in the Border War so don't expect an unbiased opinion on this one. 

Against Texas the Kansas defense came out inspired and performed admireably against an impressive and balanced attack led by Colt McCoy.  This week in the final Border War for this linebacker corps I expect and equal showing but what will make this week different is the offense will be there to support it. 

Missouri's defense is by no means the Longhorns and Todd Reesing and the Jayhawks will get back on track, back up their defense and give them the support they need to maintain a strong showing throughout the game.  Make no mistake your not going to shutdown Chase Daniel but Kansas needs to find a way stop the big play and create a couple turnovers. 

All said and done Kansas is a better team than their record indicates and they put together their first complete four quarter performance of the year upsetting the Missouri Tigers.

Final Score: Kansas 35 Missouri 31

Full List of Supplemental Notes and Quotes after the jump...

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

• KU athletics game recap
• Game Notes
• Press Conference Quotes
• Kansas Senior Linebacker Corps wraps up a home career
• KUSports recap
• KC Star recap
• Whitlock Column talks about keeping things in perspective.
• KC Star Game Report
• Great Article on some of the Seniors

My Thoughts...The unthinkable happened yesterday, Kansas lost a football game because its offense was inept.  Todd Reesing appeared flustered and incapable of making the plays that we all know him for.  The pass protection was more than acceptable in many cases and there has been a clear improvement over the year with Jeremiah Hatch and Jeff Spikes, yet Reesing couldn’t seem to pull the trigger and couldn’t seem to keep the ball out of the dirt.  I say it again, the Kansas offense lost this game and it’s been awhile since I’ve had to say that.

A Senior day inspired defense came out and did everything they could in the first half forcing several punts by the potent offense of the Texas longhorns.  The unit forced a turnover, the defensive backs seemed to continue to get more comfortable in their new positions, and even the defensive line put some token pressure on Colt McCoy.  The problem this week was we couldn’t capitalize from an offensive standpoint.  The longer the game went without us turning the stops into our momentum the more hopeless the cause and eventually it all broke down. 

This was a frustrating game yet again for Kansas fans and it’s clear we still have work to do in the talent department before we take the next step and beat these big time opponents at home.  I talked about it a little yesterday but it’s worth mentioning again, Kansas needs some more time to improve recruiting and development based on the recent success.  This senior class committed to Mangino on the heels of a 4-7 year so while one of the greatest senior classes in terms of on field success ever at the University they probably weren’t the most talented to ever walk through the door.  Hopefully that class is yet to come and when they do on a more consistent basis we’ll begin to turn the next corner.  Nonetheless, we will see a 2^nd straight bowl, we are bowl eligible for the fourth straight year and I believe we’ve got a good shot at Missouri in Arrowhead.

A couple of guys on this team do deserve special mention after yesterday.  Kerry Meier, this guy is a warrior and all hear, we need a few more healthy versions of him on the field.  Dez Briscoe, amazing catch, another great game, and he continues to develop into a star.   Jeremiah Hatch and Jeff Spikes, no they aren’t there yet and no they didn’t have the greatest game, but they have shown marked improvement and if we could play South Florida with this current version of these two I think we win the game.  The defensive line, the unit that has been frustrating all year got some pressure and didn’t get pushed around against a usually dominate Texas O-line.  Thornton and Patterson both seem to be developing and getting more comfortable at their new spots and while I hope we get Patterson back on offense, he looks like a serviceable corner. 

Those are a few of my thoughts for positives looking ahead now it’s an extended Missouri week and maybe this team can put together their first full complete game in this one and make us all feel a little better.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

Highlights from today's press conference w/Coach Mangino and KU Players...

Head Coach Mark Mangino

Opening remarks:

“Looking back on last week, Nebraska made more plays than we did to win the game. We had opportunities and didn’t always capitalize. We didn’t make stops when we needed to make stops. We have got to improve our tackling. We have got to play a lot more sound in our inside run game. There were a few bright spots. Dezmon Briscoe had a big day and looked really good. Todd Reesing had a good day, although his numbers didn’t show that he did. James Holt is really playing good defense for us right now.”

“This week we have Texas, who is a very good, ranked, top-five program. They have a lot of weapons on both sides of the ball and on special teams. Defensively they are very stout. They are only allowing 86 yards per game rushing. They have a very athletic defensive line with very quick, athletic guys who can move around. Their linebackers seem to be the heart of their defense. They are an outstanding group of linebackers. Their secondary is very athletic as always.”

“On the offensive side of the ball they run the ball with a number of different tailbacks. Their big playmaker is obviously Colt McCoy at quarterback, both running and throwing the football. He has a bunch of excellent receivers to throw to, led by Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby. Shipley is also a very dangerous player on special teams.”

“It is a very good Texas team that is coming here and we are planning on having a good week of preparation and getting ready to play them. It is an opportunity for us to play a top-five team here at home and we want to play well.”

More Coach and Player Quotes after the Jump...

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

• How costly a setback was the Nebraska loss.
• Big 12 North hopes begin to fade with the loss.
• KC Star Game Report.
• KU Athletics Recap.
• Final Stats and Box Score.
• KU Athletics game notes.

My Thoughts...Normally in a situation like this I would prefer to be a half full type of person but this morning as it all sinks in I would just assume get the negative out there.

Start with the offense.  Once again we regressed to our earlier habits offensively and an inability to establish a multi-dimensional offense.  The first half saw Todd Reesing as our most effective running option and that leads to injuries.  Clearly we weren't able to get a push in the middle as we did last week and that was apparent to nearly everyone watching very early on.  The blame lies with the lack of adjustment by the coaching staff to what would become an effective outside running game until the second half.  All that said we did get to halftime at 14-14 but with the turnovers we should have had a lead.

Positives on offense continue to be the same story line week after week.  Todd Reesing has a ton of heart and now stands alone as the top passer in Kansas history.  Jake Sharp quietly had a solid game, I think any struggles he may have seemed to have were more a result of poor playcalling than him.  Dezmon Briscoe is establishing himself as the playmaker we need and now sits atop the KU career touchdown reception list with 18 and he's only a sophomore.  I pains me to say but I think Kerry Meier is hurt more that we know, he seems a bit hampered out there and not nearly as effective as early in the year.

Defensively we just aren't there yet.  Kansas doesn't have the athletes or the players to compete against the pass happy Big 12.  The linebackers a group which I have long enjoyed watching were built for a different Big 12 and even more dissapointing yesterday is they didn't seem able to stop the run which has long been their strength.  Anytime a quarterback has 7 seconds to throw the football your not going to cover everybody and that's the frustrating reality of Kansas on defense this year.  Giving up 500+ yards isn't going to win a lot of games and the final two have some juggernaut offenses lining up.

One Positive is clearly James Holt.  A smaller, leaner, quicker linebacker that has shown the ability to rush the passer, play traditional linebacker and cover the pass.  This guy might be the mold for what we need to see in the future. 

Special teams...well I don't even want to talk about this one.

Overall this game stings a bunch.  I've never felt good about this one and always felt it would be a very possible stumbling block but it had become so much more critical for us that I had hoped as well.  Kansas will still be bowling this year as the country is short on even mediocre teams.  Still this is 4 years in a row without a losing record in Kansas football so if I can just keep it in perspective and avoid the sky high expectations that I think were so tempting after the Orange Bowl there is still a lot to look forward to with Mark Mangino and the Jayhawks in the future.  If there is one thing that is clearly different now from in  our past it's that this school and the athletic department are committed to making this a viable program and we can all rest a little easy when you think about the fact that we are angry because we didn't beat Nebraska in Lincoln.  I say that again, when in my lifetime did I expect to be angry about not beating Nebraska in Lincoln...Never!  We have still come a long way from the first 2-10 season under Coach Mangino, but I'm sure he'd be the first to say we have a long way to go.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

                                                                                     image source: KUSports.com

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

The Good Guys...

• Daymond Patterson continues to adapt to his new responsibilities.
• KU Notebook
• A look back at last years incredible game against NU. 
• KU Prepares for a new look Husker team.
• Jeff Spikes learning from last years All American Kansas tackle.
• Tyler Lawrence and brother Blake will be on opposite sidelines this weekend.
• Jacob Branstetter shows off tackling skills.
• Kansas' offensive line is beginning to gel.
• Game Preview.

The Bad Guys...

• Huskers doing their best to block out last year.
• Some concerns this week over Coach Pelini's temper.
• Husker view of five keys to beating Kansas.

My thoughts...Coach Mangino has this team coming off its strongest performances of the year.  The Kansas State game saw an offensive line dominate from the outset and help to put up some huge numbers on the ground.  Defensively Kansas had by far it's most effective scheme of the year disrupting Josh Freeman and the Kansas State offense and forcing turnovers. 

This weekend the Jayhawks head to Lincoln and play a tougher opponent overall and certainly will be in a far more hostile environment.  There is a lot of history on the line and pressure for both sides.  If Kansas comes out again establishes a ground game and a balanced offensive attack I don't expect the Huskers will be able to stop them consitently.  If they can do this and again exceed expectations defensively look for Kansas to come out of Lincoln with the win.

The most important thing the Jayhawks can do is come out strong like they did last week and keep the Husker faithful out of the game.  While both teams will be playing strength against weakness the whole game I think Kansas' strengths are more of a mismatch for the Huskers weaknesses than vice versa. 

Final Score:  Kansas 37  Nebraska 31

Also here is your friendly reminder to join fellow Hawks in the open thread if you don't already have plans...I will be sporting blue in a sea of red as I per tradition will be watching the game at a Husker bar with a friend.  It's his home game so I have to go to his turf...sucks.

Full list of supplemental notes...and highlights after the jump...

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1968, that was the last time a Kansas Jayhawk football team went into Lincoln and emegred with a victory.  Could this year be different?  Mark Mangino brings Kansas' best team in a long time to face the Cornhuskers and Bo Pelini and the Huskers are a team rebuilding.  Make no mistake though beating Nebraska in front of 80,000+ rabid Husker fans will never be easy and Kansas certainly has it's work cut out for themselves.

So what should we expect when the Kansas offense takes the field? How about the defense?  Special Teams?  Here's a look at what team takes the ede in various scenario's on the field.

Why Kansas?	Edge	Scenario	Edge	Why Nebraska?
Kansas put together it's most balanced attack of the year last week and confidence appears to be at an all time high.  I look for Kansas to again establish the run against a middle of the pack defense and that will allow Todd Reesing the room to make enough plays against the 11th ranked pass defense in the conference to win this game.  The black shirts aren't back yet and Kansas get's the edge in this matchup.		KU Offense vs. Nebraska Defense		Nebraska can gain an edge here if they do two things.  Reign in the rediscovered Kansas running game and then force Todd Reesing and the Kansas passing game into mistakes.  The first one is possible but don't expect the Huskers who rank 96th in pass defense, 80th in scoring defense and 103rd in turnover margin to hold down the Kansas passing game
For several weeks this was an easy edge to the other team.  However the defensive scheme and success last week have led to a little extra thought.  I think as a whole at Lincoln the Nebraska offense which ranks 20th in the country does have the edge but I think if the James Holt move sticks, we get Richard Johnson back in the rotation and the revamped secondary shows equal improvement from K-State to Nebraska as it did from Tech to K-State, Kansas could cause Joe Ganz some fits and force a turnover or two to win this game.		KU Defense vs. Nebraska Offense		I'll give Nebraska the nod here as they do field the 20th ranked overall offense and 14th ranked passing offense.  They also gave a Tech defense that shutdown both Kansas and Texas for a good chunk of the game trouble.  I don't expect Joe Ganz to implode like he did last week and while Kansas should contain the running game I'm not yet sold on our ability to stop a pass happy quarterback.  Edge here to Nebraska although the margin was slimmer.
While Kansas seems to have plugged the holes here to some extent they still rank last in Kickoff returns and without a couple touchdown saving tackles last week by kicker Jacob Branstetter things might have been a little different.  Still not ready to say Kansas has an edge here.		Special Teams		Nebraska has put together a decent return game this week and an excellent piece on their return man on Gameday last weekend.  At the same time they are average on coverage but that shouldn't be a factor against a KU team that doesn't return well.  If anyone is going to change the game with this category it's the Huskers so in terms of special teams, edge Corn.
Mangino & Company accomplished a 180 following the Tech loss with a masterful gameplan against K-State.  Oh yeah did I mention he took Kansas to the Orange Bowl last year		Coaching		Defensive minded Bo Pelini has a bright future in an offense happy Big 12.  However his self professed anger problem shows he still isn't a polished head man.

Here's the thing...winning in Lincoln is never going to be easy, at the same time Kansas may never have this good a chance again.  While looking at the analysis it seems split pretty evenly, but I expect where Kansas has an edge it is a bigger edge than where Nebraska has an edge.  The matchup to me that ultimately determines if we Kansas handles business is when the KU defense is facing Joe Ganz and the Husker offense.

After the way the defense performed last week I am again confident in them and see a Kansas win by a close margin in the end.  The hawks are not favored in this one anymore but again in staying with our election week theme.  Yes We Can!!!

Highlights from today's press conference w/Coach Mangino and KU Players...

Head Coach Mark Mangino

Opening remarks:

“We had a great effort from both the offense and the defense (last week vs. Kansas State). We played well. We played sound, fundamental football. I was pleased overall with the performance. There are still things to build off of, but certainly it was a good springboard as we head into the home stretch of the season.”

“This week we travel to Lincoln to play Nebraska. They are a good football team and they are much improved from a year ago. Defensively, they are much improved. They have a different system. They are teaching their kids good, fundamental football. On offense they have been very effective. Joe Ganz is a quality quarterback. He is sometimes forgotten in this league, but I haven’t forgotten about him. I think he has passed for about 2,500 yards this year. They have quality receivers to throw the ball to in Todd Peterson and Nate Swift. To put things into perspective, Nate Swift passed Johnny Rogers on the all-time reception list at Nebraska. He is moving in here to take over as the all-time leader in career receiving yardage at Nebraska. You are talking about a quality football player when you mention somebody in the same breath as Johnny Rogers.

“They are running the ball pretty well. They have a couple of really good running backs. (Marlon) Lucky is a talented kid and so is (Roy) Helu. We are preparing hard and hopefully we will continue to have a good week.”

New This Week...After the Jump get player quotes, notes and quick look at some team statistics.

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