Inside the Tent: Kansas 52, Kansas State 21

FROM ROW 46
Boom! Mr. November got off to another big-time start. October has always been a trouble spot for Mark Mangino, but usually by November the Fighting Manginos start to jell. Yesterday, they jelled all over KSU 52-17 at Memorial and the Hawks showed me the passion and fire that we've all been waiting to see all year. Unleashing that storm on the Wildcats, will always score points with me and the rest of the Jayhawk Nation. 

PLUS
Oh my ... there are a lot of positives from this one -- bowl eligibility, Mangino continuing to re-write history (four consecutive six or more win seasons was last accomplished in 1902-1906), the cornerback switch appears to be valid, the o-line can handle a middleweight Big 12 team, the d-line can devastate a middleweight Big 12 team, Jake Sharp is running fast, hard and smart and Jocques Crawford (minus the backfield freeze juke that got him yanked) and Angus Quigley are rolling up yards as well, Todd "I'm over here, no I'm over here" Reesing* didn't have to do it all himself, plus two words I've always like to put together -- "James" and "Holt" .... and finally we're going to Lincoln to play a game that means a lot more than just erasing 1968 -- the college football playoffs are here now!

MINUS
A combination of the point system and the Jayhawk Walk are killing the concept of a hostile atmosphere at Memorial Stadium. I think everyone understands the effect the Jayhawk Walk, but I think this is a far more critical factor than some obscene student (by the way, congrats on finally correcting that by using the obvious method). The game crew needs to figure out a way to keep the fans around until the fourth quarter. Maybe the Blades paper airplane toss? Award the students with a kegstand contest at the end of the game?

The point system re-seats fans every year and with the randomization you have pockets of rabid fans interspersed with senior citizens offended by noise and standing. It's hard to create environment when you can't get your whole section rolling. Two guys standing up in the middle of a bingo section and screaming themselves hoarse just ain't gettin' it. In the old days, sections of fans knew each other. You were able to gravitate to like-minded fans and once you had your section and seats you liked -- you held on to them. Ditch points for seat-selection and only reseat people that want to move. For football, donations and points are for parking.

WORLD VIEW
A big thing in college football is winning the games you can win and take your shots in the big games. We probably dropped one we shouldn't have at USF, but the Jayhawks took their best shot against Oklahoma. Texas Tech was the better team and in the Big 12 world of high-octane offenses the score can lean toward the ridiculous within a quick span. Basically, taking the emotion out of the score tallies, KU is on schedule at this point and going to Lincoln for a survive and advance game in the North division race. That's all that matters, but you certainly also like the fact that a certain north power seems to be losing it's edge.