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.
Coach Mangino Continued:
On playing in Lincoln:
“Memorial Stadium is a fun place to play. Kids play in the Big 12 Conference for a number of reasons. One of them is that they like playing in all of these storied venues. Our kids will go there and play well and will not be intimidated. We respect the Nebraska fans and the Nebraska program, but we have played pretty well the last couple of times we have gone there.”
On the election:
“I told (the team) to vote. I told them that it is their right and that they should exercise that right. Who knows, maybe their vote will make a difference.”
Senior Offensive Lineman Ryan Cantrell
On what the offensive line can improve on:
“We can be more consistent coming off of the ball. We can understand the defense a little bit better, getting in there and really studying them and recognizing certain formations. I think that is going to be a big key the rest of the season.”
On what he remembers about KU’s 76-39 victory over Nebraska last season:
“I can hardly remember what I had to eat for lunch today, but I do remember that it was a lot of fun just like all of last year. It is hard to accept a defeat like that, just like it is hard to accept a loss to Texas Tech like we had at home. Any good program is going to move on and keep building on what they have.”
Junior Running Back Jake Sharp
On if the game against Kansas State was like being back in high school:
“I was definitely exhausted like I was back then. Like I said, the offensive line had a great day, they opened up holes and I was able to do a lot of running.”
His thoughts on Nebraska:
“It’s going to be tough. They’re still Nebraska, and we’re going to be in Lincoln and it’s definitely a tough place to play. We’re going to have to have another great week of preparation and hopefully take care of business on Saturday.”
Sophomore Wide Receiver Dezmon Briscoe
On how the team has gotten better week to week:
“It’s the approach we’re taking. We’re one of the most competitive teams in the nation. Of course no one likes losing, so we always go out there with a competitive edge.”
On last year’s victory over Nebraska:
“We dropped 76 on them on our homecoming so that was a great accomplishment. But we can’t look back on that. They are a much improved team. Their coaching staff and players know what happened last year and they don’t want that to happen again.”
Freshman Cornerback Daymond Patterson
On the switch from wide receiver to defensive back:
“It’s been pretty good for me so far. It hasn’t been too tough of a switch. Going from offense to defense, you kind of know what the other receiver is thinking because you were a receiver. That definitely helps me. I’m liking it so far and I’m just looking to improve each and every week.”
Notes…
QUICKLY -- Kansas (6-3 overall, 3-2 Big 12) will head to Lincoln, Neb. to face Nebraska (5-4, 2-3) on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m... The game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis (details will be made available later in the week)... Kansas played eight straight games on network or cable television before this week... The Kansas-Nebraska series is the nation’s longest uninterrupted series as the teams will meet for the 103rd consecutive year... KU has won 18 of its last 22 and 21 of its last 26 games... KU is 1-2 on the road this season after going 4-0 in road games a year ago... KU has won 16 consecutive games against un-ranked teams.
BOWL ELIGIBLE -- With a 6-3 record Kansas has become bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive year, marking the first time the Jayhawks have won at least six games in four straight seasons since actually winning six striaght five times from 1902-06. The Jayhawks were 7-5 and played in the Fort Worth Bowl in 2005, 6-6 and did not play in a bowl game in 2006, and 12-1 and played in the FedEx Orange Bowl in 2007. A bowl trip in 2008 would give the Jayhawks bowl games in consecutive years for the first time in school history.
TWO YEARS IN A ROW -- For the second season in a row, Kansas enters the Nebraska game with a better overall record than the Huskers as the Jayhawks are 6-3, while Nebraska is 5-4. Last year KU entered the game with an 8-0 mark, while Nebraska was 4-5. Prior to last year, the last time the Jayhawks entered a meeting with Nebraska with a better record was 1974 when KU was 4-1 and Nebraska 3-2. The teams had identical records in 1981 (both 5-2) and 2006 (both 3-1).
Stats Special…
2008 INDIVIDUAL BESTS
Rushing
181 Jake Sharp vs. Kansas State
118 Jake Sharp vs. Colorado
103 Jake Sharp at Oklahoma
Passing
412 Todd Reesing vs. Louisiana Tech
381 Todd Reesing at South Florida
356 Todd Reesing vs. Sam Houston
Receiving
269 Dezmon Briscoe at Oklahoma
179 Johnathan Wilson at South Florida
146 Dezmon Briscoe vs. Louisiana Tech
Tackles
13 Mike Rivera vs. Texas Tech
13 James Holt vs. Texas Tech
13 Kendrick Harper at Oklahoma
13 James Holt at South Florida
2008 TEAM BESTS
Offense
Rushing
280 vs. Kansas State
161 vs. Texas Tech
161 vs. Sam Houston
Passing
412 vs. Louisiana Tech
381 at South Florida
357 at Oklahoma
Total Offense
538 vs. Louisiana Tech
528 vs. Sam Houston
491 at Oklahoma
Defense
Rushing
45 vs. Sam Houston
66 vs. FIU
86 vs. Colorado
Passing
73 vs. FIU
119 vs. Louisiana Tech
147 vs. Colorado
Total Defense
139 vs. FIU
233 vs. Colorado
267 vs. Louisiana Tech