Senior Jayhawks prepare for their final home football game

Friday, November 14, 2008

The 18 members of the 2008 senior class will play their final home game Saturday when they play No. 3 Texas at 11:30 a.m. on FSN.

It may be one of coach Mark Mangino’s best classes ever at Kansas, who together helped turn a struggling program into one of respectability.

Photo by Jon Goering

Junior safety Darrell Stuckey trips up Oklahoma kick returner DeMarco Murray during the opening kickoff return Saturday. Coach Mangino said after the game that special teams was one area where the Jayhawks improved this week.

“We have kids who have been here for, some of them, four or five years,” Mangino said. “A lot of guys that came in here weren’t highly touted recruits and they worked hard and made themselves better and were productive in the program.”

The 2008 senior class has a record of 31-16 in the past four years, the second most victories in a four-year period in Kansas history. They had at least six victories in each season for first time since 1903-06.

They also helped get Kansas back into the national polls for the first time since 1996 and played in the school’s first January bowl game since 1969, when they won the FedEx Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, 24-21.

“Dedicated, hard-working kids that wanted to be apart of this program and help it get better,” Mangino said of his 18-member senior class.

Among the seniors playing their last game are wide receiver Dexton Fields and offensive linemen Chet Hartley, Adrian Mayes and Ryan Cantrell.

Defensive ends Russell Brorsen and John Larson will suit up in the home blues for the final time, as will linebackers Joe Mortensen, Mike Rivera and James Holt. The trio of linebackers has been the core of the KU defense for three years and will likely be the greatest loss heading into next season.

“When I first got here I think their record the season before was four and something,” Holt said. “The growth has been outstanding. My experience here has just been one of greatness. I got all these great guys around me and they have been like my brothers. Hopefully I can keep in contact with them because we’ve built a friendship and hopefully it will last a lifetime.”

— — Edited by Kelsey Hayes

Senior moment

Kansas' seniors rise to the occasion and end stellar careers with a ...

/news/2008/dec/31/senior_moment/

Kansas football defense must rebuild

New recruits and returners may struggle to take graduates’ places

/news/2009/aug/21/football_defense/

Dodd: Not much joy on Senior Day

The last home game of the season was tough but the team ...

/news/2008/nov/17/Dodd_Column/

Season’s twists and turns lead to Senior ...

Kansas’ seniors still attempting to finish strong in their last home game ...

/news/2009/nov/13/season-twists-turns-lead-to-Senior-Day/

Credit seniors for bowl bid

/news/2005/dec/08/sp_football_seniors/

Holt will play in collegiate all-star game

Senior linebacker hopes to impress NFL scouts at the Western Refining Texas ...

/news/2009/jan/22/holt/

Tempe triumph

Kansas wins second straight bowl game with 42-21 victory against Minnesota.

/news/2008/dec/31/tempe_triumph/

Co-defensive coordinator fills Bill Young’s shoes

Kansas coach Mark Mangino shows his support for Bowen’s takeover of the ...

/news/2008/may/06/codefensive_coordinator_fills_bill_youngs_shoes/

Despite losses, top recruiting classes have potential

Kansas’ recruits, though inexperienced, have the potential for success with the proper ...

/news/2011/oct/26/gill-focus/

KU plans ahead for K-State rivalry

With the Sunflower showdown only a few days away, the Jayhawks reveal ...

/news/2007/oct/04/KU/

Others’ trash is Kansas’ treasure

Schools such as Oklahoma and Texas looked past Kansas players Tood Reesing, ...

/news/2007/oct/26/football/

Hawks have uphill battle against OU

The Jayhawks don’t have many friends outside of Kansas when it comes ...

/news/2008/oct/15/football/

Mangino lays out his plans for the ...

Some players shuffle positions, fill holes left by graduation.

/news/2009/mar/09/football/

State pride, bragging rights on the line ...

Kansas football players discuss their feelings toward KU’s purple-clad neighbors.

/news/2008/oct/29/rivalry/

Justin Thornton suspended, Kendrick Harper to start ...

Cornerback Justin Thornton did not travel to Arizona for the Insight Bowl.

/news/2008/dec/29/justin_thornton_suspended_kendrick_harper_start_in/

Mangino says Perkins communication minimal

After a six-game losing streak, Mangino, players say focus is on Missouri ...

/news/2009/nov/24/mangino-perkins-communication/

Mangino facing higher expectations

Despite, or maybe because of, the progress Kansas football has seen during ...

/news/2007/aug/21/perkins/

Jayhawks will face Minnesota in the Insight ...

Kansas will take on the Golden Gophers at the New Year’s Eve ...

/news/2008/dec/08/football/

Football fans show optimism for upcoming season

/news/2005/aug/25/sp_fan_appreciation/

Johnson: Mangino should be national coach of ...

This year is Mangino’s defining, career-making season.

/news/2007/nov/14/johnson_mangino_should_be_national_coach_year/

Kansas to face another stiff defense

The Kansas football team lost its perfect season when it played Missouri ...

/news/2007/dec/06/KUGameday/

Jayhawks reflect on season, losing streak

After Nebraska defeated Kansas 31-17, players called fifth-straight loss “frustrating” and “disappointing.”

/news/2009/nov/16/jayhawks-reflect-season-losing-streak/

Kansas football program has improved

The success of the team stems from Whittemore and improved facilities.

/news/2009/sep/18/football/

Minnesota's 'scrappy' game lacks wow factor

Underdog Minnesota doesn't bring much firepower into the Insight Bowl, but Kansas ...

/news/2008/dec/29/scrappy_minnesotas_game_lacks_much_wow_factor/

Football team has key spots to fill

Linebackers, offensive line need new players to step up and fill gaps ...

/news/2009/mar/31/football_team_has_key_spots_fill/

Football Notes: Oct. 29, 2007

Another week means another set of school records for the undefeated Jayhawks ...

/news/2007/oct/29/fbnotes/

Seniors anchor linebacker position

/news/2005/aug/26/linebackers/

Mizzou we no likey: The rivalry lives ...

/news/2005/oct/27/sp_rivalry/

Seniors’ careers end with last-second loss

Missouri defeated Kansas 41-39 in the Border Showdown at Arrowhead Stadium.

/news/2009/nov/30/seniors-careers-end/

Linebacker mixes strength and speed

James Holt’s versatility makes him lead the nation in forced fumbles.

/news/2008/nov/13/linebacker_mixes_strength_and_speed/

Game unravels for Kansas in last quarter

Offense struggles, Reesing benched

/news/2009/oct/31/game-unravels-kansas-fourth-quarter/

Football Notes: November 28, 2007

Here's what's happening in Football

/news/2007/nov/28/football_notes_november_28_2007/

Rising coaching salaries leave Mangino behind

What these high-dollar salaries do to universities and student-athletes is interpreted differently ...

/news/2006/aug/14/salaries/

Seniors hope to bounce back after loss

Tomorrow is the last game in Memorial Stadium for the senior football ...

/news/2010/nov/18/seniors-hope-bounce-back/

Don’t doubt 2-star recruits

History shows Mangino’s success in transforming lower-ranked recruits.

/news/2009/feb/05/star_recruits/

Montemayor: Mangino probably on way out

The investigation adds conflict to a season that has spiraled out of ...

/news/2009/nov/22/montemayor-mangino-probably-way-out/

I was wrong about you, Mangino

/news/2005/nov/10/sp_sorry_mangino/

Barmann wins the quarterback battle

/news/2005/aug/30/barmann/

Two Jayhawks sign free agent contracts

Holt will join the San Diego Chargers, Rivera the Chicago Bears.

/news/2009/apr/28/free_agents/

One last chance

Seniors hope to go out with a bang in the Orange Bowl.

/news/2008/jan/01/one_final_game/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID