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Lions shouldn’t be hard to beat

Jayhawks have history of FCS victories

By Asher Fusco

Thursday, September 6, 2007

This weekend’s match-up against Southeastern Louisiana is not the first time the Jayhawks have squared off against a Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division 1-AA, opponent. In fact, the Jayhawks have scheduled an FCS opponent in all but one season of the Mark Mangino era. During Mangino’s tenure, Kansas has never fallen flat on its face against a lower-division foe. Here’s a look back at the Jayhawks’ last four games against FCS teams:

2002

Missouri State

Mangino had lost his first two games as coach at Kansas when Missouri State came to Lawrence in week three of the 2002 season. Kansas did not pummel Missouri State, only out-gaining the Bears by 29 offensive yards. Kansas quarterback Bill Whittemore threw two interceptions, but running back Clark Green tallied 131 rushing yards and the Jayhawks triumphed, 44-24.

2003

Jacksonville State

The 2003 season went a bit better for Mangino and the Jayhawks. When the Jacksonville State Gamecocks rolled into Memorial Stadium, Kansas was 2-1 and coming off of a victory against Wyoming. After the Gamecocks rolled out of Lawrence with a 41-6 loss on their résumé , Kansas was 3-1. The Jayhawks somehow accrued 641 yards of total offense, nearly three times the amount the Gamecocks could muster. Whittemore threw for 319 yards and wide receiver Brandon Rideau recorded 106 receiving yards.

2005

Appalachian State

The Mountaineers went on to win the FCS national title but were no match for the Jayhawks on Sept. 10. In front of 37,070 spectators, running back Jon Cornish battered Appalachian State, picking up 103 yards in the first big game of his Kansas career. The famed 2005 Jayhawk linebacking corps enjoyed a great day as Banks Floodman, Nick Reid and Kevin Kane combined for 28 tackles en route to a 36-8 win. The victory helped Kansas reach seven wins in 2005, good enough to earn a trip to the Fort Worth Bowl.

2006

Northwestern State

Jon Cornish once again feasted on an opponent from the FCS ranks, collecting 140 rushing yards in the season opener. It was an auspicious debut for quarterback Kerry Meier, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more. Kansas racked up 49 points to Northwestern State’s 18 and outgained the Demons on the ground by 147 yards.

This year’s foe, Southeastern Louisiana, might be the weakest of the FCS teams Kansas has faced recently. The Lions went 2-9 last season against largely unheralded competitors from the Southland Conference and lost the 2007 season opener to a low-level FBS team. Southeastern Louisiana lost to New Mexico State, 35-14, last week despite keeping the game close through the first half.

Speaking in a teleconference earlier this week, Coach Mike Lucas did not sound optimistic about his team’s chances at Memorial Stadium. He spent much of the conference call touting Kansas’ personnel.

“Kansas has two absolute monsters who are very athletic anchoring a very good offensive line,” Lucas said. “They have two very good running backs and their quarterback has a quick release and is throwing to a pair of big, athletic receivers.”

Lucas went on to speak highly of senior tight end Derek Fine and junior cornerback Aqib Talib. He said his team was intending to improve and sharpen its skills this weekend against Kansas. If past results provide any indication, the Jayhawks may not have their hands full against the Lions.

— Edited by Elizabeth Cattell

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