Kansas hopes to win Big 12 North

By By Daniel Berk

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

If you’re a big-time college football fan or a big-time Kansas football fan, you’ve heard the talk.

The Big 12 North is terrible. No team stands out, and only two of the six teams made it to a bowl game last season.

This year it doesn’t look much better. All six teams have a legitimate chance at winning the division, and all six teams also have a legitimate chance to have losing records.

With all that said, I think the North is going to be great. Maybe not great talentwise, but it’s going to be great to watch.

Every week, any team could beat any other team. Kansas proved that last year by having big victories against Kansas State and Missouri, but losing to Iowa State and Nebraska.

When Kansas football coach Mark Mangino addressed the media for the first time this season, he said the Jayhawks would throw their hat in the ring for Big 12 North champions.

Well, coach, your chances are as good as anyone’s. Your team also has just as good of a chance of finishing last and missing out on a bowl game.

Right now, it’s hinging on a bunch of ifs.

If Adam Barmann can continue to separate himself from the competition and have a big season, it will mean more wins for Kansas.

If the running game can again take some pressure off Barmann, it will mean more victories for Kansas.

I could present more scenarios, but you get my point.

This could be a special season for Kansas football. Or it could be a really bad year.

Oct. 8 is a big date for Kansas, when it will play at Kansas State. If the Jayhawks win that game, confidence will be high in the locker room, and big things could follow.

The players know they have as good of a chance as any team.

“The North is wide open,” Mark Simmons, senior wide receiver, said. “The media picked Colorado and Iowa State to be on top, and we played both of those teams to the wire last year. I don’t see why we aren’t being picked.”

Berk is a St. Louis senior in journalism.

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