Fun facts
An in-depth look at each team's media handouts provides a bit of insight.
December 28, 2007
By Asher Fusco
Cruising comfortably at about 30,000 feet somewhere between Charlotte, N.C., and Miami, I’m brushing up on the extensive notes packets each school’s media relations department has prepared for the writers and TV folks covering the game and the next week’s festivities.
Kansas’ packet of numbers, quick facts and (mostly) interesting statistical morsels weighs in at a hefty 86 pages, while the Hokies managed to fit all of their tidbits into a concise 32 pages. No matter who wins the Orange Bowl, Virginia Tech has already proven itself the more environmentally conscious of the two squads.
Browsing through the first few pages, I noticed some telling, and some not-so-telling, figures.
For instance, Virginia Tech is 5-6 against Big 12 Conference opponents. Kansas is just 2-16 against ACC foes. ADVANTAGE: Virginia Tech.
The Hokies have played 44 games in the state of Florida, and the results haven’t been pretty: Virginia Tech is 15-29 in Sunshine State matchups. No comparable statistic could be found in Kansas’ sprawling media handout. ADVANTAGE: Virginia Tech(‘s Media Relations Department).
How about this for some stark contrast: The Hokies have participated in a bowl game in each of the last 15 seasons. The Jayhawks have only played in 11 bowls. Ever. ADVANTAGE: Virginia Tech.
This season’s game will be the second time Virginia Tech has participated in the Orange Bowl. The Frank Beamer-led Hokies battled Nebraska in the 1996 Orange Bowl but lost to Nebraska, 41-21. Kansas has played in two Orange Bowls, but none in recent years. The Jayhawks lost to Georgia Tech, 20-14, in 1948 and lost 15-14 to Penn State in 1969. Kansas coach Mark Mangino enjoyed success in his first trip to the Orange Bowl as an assistant on the Orange Bowl-champion and National Champion 2001 Oklahoma Sooners. ADVANTAGE: Kansas.
Kansas women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson left Virginia Tech to take over at Kansas before the 2005 season. Henrickson built a powerful program during her tenure as the Hokies’ head coach, posting a 158-62 record and reaching the postseason seven times. At Kansas, Henrickson has started rebuilding a once-downtrodden women’s basketball program. The Jayhawks made a trip to the WNIT in 2006 and are currently 9-2. ADVANTAGE: Kansas
The Jayhawks and Hokies have never met on the football field. ADVANTAGE: Even.
After enduring a displeasing plethora of flights on standby and far too much time in the Charlotte airport – which has an absolutely disturbing NASCAR-themed restaurant; sorry, not a fan – I’m finally just a few minutes away from Miami; a pleasant 79-degree Miami, if the pilot of the plane is correct.
Not too shabby.
UPDATE: The pilot was most definitely correct. It’s warm – T-shirt weather at 10:37 p.m.(!) – and Fort Lauderdale is a little more happening than Lawrence is this time of the year.
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