The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Friday, August 29, 2008

With Kansas football kicking off its season this Saturday, there are several things to expect. If you plan on attending the game, there will be some good things and some bad things about the spectacle of college football at Kansas. To brace you for this event, I present to you the good, the bad and the ugly of Jayhawks football home opener.

The Good:

Great Expectations

When the band The Zombies, sang “Time of the Season” in 1968, they were certainly not referring to Kansas football, but the words apply. Coincidentally, the Jayhawks had their best season in 2007 since the year the hit song was released. Given that the preseason AP No. 14 ranked Jayhawks had such success, this year may be the most anticipated in Kansas football history. With this in mind, it is definitely the time of the season for college football in Lawrence.

The atmosphere

From the student body singing the alma mater to Big Jay and Baby Jay, to the warm weather, everyone in attendance is excited for the season to start. From the overzealous fan that has been antsy for football ever since the Orange Bowl in January, to the casual fan who is along to enjoy the game with their friends, it will definitely be a joyous occasion for Jayhawk fans.

If you don’t believe me, just wait until November 29, when Kansas plays Mizzou at Arrowhead Stadium when it is no longer t-shirt and shorts weather. Imagine yourself freezing to the core standing next to a tall burly, tobacco chewing Mizzou fan in camouflage overalls named Bubba. It will be at this point that you’ll long for games like the one this Saturday.

The bad:

Drunk fans

In the 1966 film “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Clint Eastwood’s character Blondie said, “I’ve never seen so many men wasted so badly.” He was referring to the carnage of war. You, on the other hand may be referring to the group of guys standing next to you that are obliterated on Natural Light freaking out over a rare incomplete pass by junior quarterback Todd Reesing.

“Put in Tyler Lawrence, that pass was garbage!” says the guy next to you wearing a “Muck Fizzou” t-shirt.

“You suck Reesing!” says his smelly buddy who’s blood alcohol content at the moment is probably higher than his GPA.

If you do happen to get stuck next to this group of fans, simply ignore them. If it gets too out of hand, it may be best to move to another section.

“Rip his f***ing head off!”

For whatever reason, it has become tradition at Kansas home games for students to scream this phrase at kickoff. This Saturday, you may be tempted to join the majority and belt out the words yourself, but think about this. Would you want to be the little-known guy for Florida International with the jersey No. 6 returning kicks in a stadium where everyone wants to rip your head off?

The ugly: The score

Oddsmakers in Las Vegas favor Kansas to beat Florida International by 36 points. If Saturday’s game is anything like the 55-3 blowout the Jayhawks put on the Golden Panthers last year, things will get ugly.

With this in mind, the theme to “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly,” which sets the mood for a prolific showdown between two guns, will not apply until Kansas plays AP No. 19 ranked South Florida in week three. Instead, the game should be more reminiscent of the bloody ending to the 2007 film There Will Be Blood.

— —Edited by Brieun Scott

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