Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Todd Reesing is a better-known and more productive quarterback than Brian Luke or Adam Barmann. Dezmon Briscoe is certainly a more athletic receiver than Mark Simmons, and Kerry Meier is unlike any player in recent memory.
But just how much better — if any — is this year’s Kansas football team than the 2005 version?
This year, the Jayhawks won all the non-conference games they were supposed to, falling on the road against a decent South Florida team. In ’05, Kansas played one less out-of-conference game than this season and never slipped up. It even defeated national darling-to-be Appalachian State by 28 points.
Both the 2005 and 2008 teams faced the same Big 12 Conference slate. Three seasons ago, the Jayhawks took three drubbings at the hands of their Big 12 South opponents — sound familiar? Three seasons ago, Kansas fared well (3-2) against North division competition. A season-closing loss to Missouri would give this year’s team the same record.
In 2005, Kansas finished the regular season 6-5, gaining bowl eligibility by narrowly defeating Iowa State. The Jayhawks went on to dominate Houston thoroughly in the Fort Worth Bowl in a victory that was, at the time, the best moment of coach Mark Mangino’s tenure.
This season, Kansas will probably finish 6-6 and earn a trip to the Insight Bowl. In that case, the 2008 campaign would be a near-mirror image of the 2005 season, but few fans would feel content with that.
On a related note, Kansas basketball officially starts Sunday.
Anthony Collins: pro football player, women’s basketball enthusiast
What do NFL players do on the rare occasion they get a weekend off? Do they head to the islands for a few days of rest and relaxation? Do they stay in their home city and hit the clubs every night? Do they attend women’s basketball exhibition games?
Chalk one up for the third option.
Former Kansas star and current Cincinnati Bengal Anthony Collins spent his bye weekend in Lawrence, taking in the Jayhawks’ Sunday afternoon exhibition matchup against Washburn. It was a good game between two promising squads, and Collins’ favorite team came out on top, but I’m sure it wasn’t as exciting as what he normally does each Sunday.
Speaking of women’s basketball...
While we’re on the subject of women’s hoops, the Jayhawks deserve some accolades. They got the short end of the scheduling stick this preseason and handled it well.
Kansas first faced an atrocious Fort Hays State squad (final score: 93-37). Next up for the Jayhawks was another opponent from the esteemed Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association — but not just any D-II pushover. Washburn, ranked No. 3 in the nation among Division II teams, came to to Allen Fieldhouse.
No biggie, it turns out. The Lady Blues hung with the Jayhawks for a half, but the potent combination of post Krysten Boogaard and wing Danielle McCray carried Kansas to a 16-point victory with dual double-doubles. The regular season begins Friday when Kansas hosts Sacred Heart.
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Morning Brew: 2008 Jayhawk football resembles 2005 season
One small difference between 2005 and 2008: The 05 team actually had a great defense. If you put that defense with the 08 offense, we would be national title contenders.
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