How can KU Football Motivate the Casual Football Fan?

Its no secret that the 2014-2015 basketball season is around the corner. Come Midnight Madness football will take a backseat to the anticipation and excitement that surrounds the basketball season. For alot of fans this is the way it has always been and its hard to see things changing.

No one can deny that Kansas is a basketball school. It has been for a long time and, barring a catostrophic turn of events, it will remain that way for the foreseeable future.

Providing a long list of facts and stats in support of this statement would be fun, but a waste of time. Most educated sports fans recognize the impact KU basketball has had on sports history and appreciate the program's consistent success.

That isn't to say that the KU football program is irrelevant or hasn't had a few days in the sun. Let us not forget the historic seasons of 1891 (7-0-1) and 1899 (10-0). You could make the case that the 1899 team should have been crowned National Champions! In all seriousness, there have been stretches where the program has enjoyed moderate success. They experienced reasonable success in the mid-to-late 60's, and again during the Glen Mason era (1988-1996). The Mangino regime put the program in the national spotlight and briefly restored some hope for sustained success. Those days are gone and recent history has not provided many moments to hang a hat on.

As a basketball fan in general, it goes without saying that my passion is KU basketball. I grew up in Nebraska so my rooting interest has always been Cornhusker football. (Yes - I am a KU basketball and NU football fan. Some might say I cherry picked my teams and I probably did, but I was eight years old when I made these life decisions so chill out!) The KU football program was one I always rooted for, but mostly because I wanted success for the KU athletic department more than the football team specifically.

It seems that more and more lately, the relevancy of a college athletic administration is directly tied with the success of the football team so I've become more invested in KU football.

That being said, it is hard to invest the time it takes to become a true fan of the program when it continues to struggle. Like many out there, I keep my eye on the first few games and with success comes more interest and with failure comes more apathy. I guess I need some more motivation to stay tuned in.

I would like to hear from all the diehard KU football fans out there. What is the argument for KU basketball fans to dedicate time to the football program? What about the current state of the program makes you believe this thing is getting turned around? Why should the causal fan take the time to become a diehard? Mikeville, Rivethead, show "fans" like myself the light.