Can I Be A World Famous Internet Blogger Too?

The answer is yes. But wait, there's more. There's not one, but two ways your voice can be heard.

1) Comment on the posted stories and the entire HD audience will see you username in the left column.

2) Don't want to be tied down to the lame topic the HD editor has chosen for the day. Head to the forum and get the word out.  Once again you'll feed into the left column front page.

Mainly, getting into the action will help things stay fresh on site and it's going to be a great year to get in the mix. The forum is a little basic right now, but we are expecting upgrades. Get in early.

Recycler: ESPN Mystery Solved + New KU Blog

(TIM GRIFFIN -- LOYAL READER) Occasionally out here in the blog media rat race, you log in and all of the sudden you've had 1000 visitors in a day. Time to get into the stats -- who linked you up? Well, last week was a complete mystery for several days. Squarespace (absolute best blog site system in the universe) didn't let me down though. Though it was obscured in some strange ESPN url, I dug it up yesterday and figured out that Tim Griffin from ESPN had provided a link regarding the 2008 wish list:

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/ncfnation/0-0-136/Big-12-morning-links--Didn-t-this-used-to-be-a-running-league-.html

You'll have to scroll down. The funny thing is the link goes to the 2007 list. I hope that all of those ESPN readers don't think that I really believe that whatever Aqib Talib does with the Bucs this year will have an effect on Hawks.

(NEW KU BLOG - GET SOME) Somebody linked this one from one of the boards. JayhawkFanNation is the new kid on the block, so check it out if you get a chance. Speaking of the KU blog scene -- is PhogBlog dead? If so, I'll buy it. I think that makes the other Jayhawk Nation the oldest KU blog out there. HD ranks #2, but at least we get exclusive rights to football.

FSN KU Football Preview Show Airtimes

Hopefully, this isn't the same as the 30-minute spring special:

http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/080108aab.html

Airtimes:

· Saturday, Aug. 2 at 3:30 p.m.

· Monday, Aug. 4 at 9:30 p.m. (FSN Midwest only)

· Monday, Aug. 4 at 11 p.m. (FSN Kansas City only)

· Wednesday Aug. 6 at 11:30 p.m. (FSN Kansas City only)

· Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. (FSN Kansas City only)

· Friday, Aug. 22 at 2 p.m.

· Saturday, Aug. 23 at 9:30 p.m. (FSN Kansas City only)

· Monday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. (FSN Midwest only)

· Monday, Aug. 25 at 10:30 p.m. (FSN Kansas City only)

· Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.

Just Cause I Like The Transformer Guy

I know it's been out for a while, but I thought it would look good on the site.

Probably The Best Anti-KU, Cornhusker Slanted Piece I've Read

Hey, I made it all the way to the end on this one. I think this captures flavor:

"And so here we are in 2008 again staring at the existential question for Kansas football: How good can you be? At least one SI writer asked that question in 1968 and it would be 40 years before anyone would bother to ask it again, but we're there now. Will Kansas football, going forward, be Johnny Cash (universally adored, a winner) or Richard Nixon (mostly reviled, a loser)?"

Cash or Nixon? Those are my choices. Surely Johnny Cash isn't the only winner to come out of the sixties? Okay, wait -- I'm drawing a blank.

On a more serious note, if they really are going to make Donald Draper into a pathetic has-been this season, they're going to lose me. I'm already in serious mourning over the loss of  the "shore leave" version of Roger Sterling.

The New Google (Cuil): A KU Football Blog's Take

So www.cuil.com is out this morning, and I had high hopes. The three-column format is awesome, but the font is too large. The result is not enough visible results above the fold. I do like being on page one of the "KU football" search though.

Saturday Recycle: Duane Zlatnik and Season Tickets

Some required reading that has been filtering through on the News page:

Duane Zlatnik caught the attention of the Cap-Journal yesterday. He'll be playing in today's Shrine Game in Emporia. Definitely worth a look as they posted a good photo along with the article (get there).

Dugan took at look at the season ticket sales. He reports 34k sold as of two weeks ago (6k over last year's pace). We go through this every year. Does it include student tickets? It's quite a swing either way.

Today, Tom Keegan mentions having three QBs on the field at one time with A.J. Steward at tight end, Kerry Meier at wideout and of course the "Rocket" catching the snap. Hey, when Marcus Herford is on the field it's actually four.

We need someone to comment on an article. I can't look at the hiposaasa comment on the left much longer.

If you haven't ventured over to the forum, check it out. If you're tired of me dominating the conversation, this is your big chance. The forum is part of the standard Squarespace package, so it's limited -- no photos or video. I've been told to expect an upgrade at some point, but I wanted to go ahead and fire it up for the 2008 season. You can link articles in easily.

Looks Like The Spread Is History

I couldn't resist posting this link from the boards. I think the A-11 is perfect for us. Get Reesing and Meier in the backfield. Or maybe Meier and Herford.

http://a11offense.com/

The Super CupCake Theory

First of all, playing the score comparison game gets you nowhere. However, I've heard so much about the "12 cupcakes and one good team" that KU deviously prepared for 2007, I just had a to take a crack at understanding this theory.

The first thing I need to understand is who was the one good team -- Virginia Tech or Missouri? It seems unsolvable, but I'd say even the hardcore skeptic ought to concede that both Tech and Missouri are pretty good teams. For space purposes, let's leave it at that and move on to part two.

If I'm Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Colorado or even Kansas State, I'm probably getting a little sick of being referred to as a "cupcake." Sure maybe they didn't have great seasons, but when did mid-level BCS teams fall to "cupcake" status.

Okay, let's get to the point. This year we get national title contenders Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma from the south. Finally, some competition to expose "just a fluke" Kansas. Of course, the four 2007 opponents above were going to do that as well. The confusing part comes in the following list of results from 2007:

Colorado 27, Oklahoma 24
Colorado 31, Texas Tech 26
Texas Tech 34, Oklahoma 27
Kansas State 41, Texas 21
Texas A&M 30, Texas 28
Oklahoma State 49, Texas Tech 45

I threw the Tech/OU score in to back up the concept that maybe the Colorado win over the Sooners wasn't just a freak occurence. If I was a subscriber to cupcake theory, then do I have to describe Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma as "super cupcakes?"

Give it a try, but I won't. Those three teams all believe they will win the south and one will. The reality is there is a parity in our league and our conference opponents from last year have really been unfairly criticized simply for failing to knockout a solid KU squad. In fact, when you look at it, you could easily say that OSU and Colorado had seasons very comparable to the Jayhawks 2006 season. If you live in western Kansas, you might even be able to describe KSU that way.

Go ahead and mention a tougher schedule for KU in 2008, but leave the exaggeration to the TV commentators. The 2007 slate wasn't as weak as they would have you believe and that will prove out this year.

Okay, Just When I Was Getting Over the Silver/Gray Pants

 Stolen from the Huddle / ku_painterMaybe it's because the pants match the numbers. Here's the link to the thread:
http://boards.kusports.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1094112&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

Recycler: Talk, Talk and More Talk

Big 12 Media Days 2008 / Credit: ETSU_1956 Flicker CC

What did we learn yesterday?

• The worst kept secret over summer is officially out. A.J. Steward is a tight end now. I had high hopes for A.J. at the QB spot, but this moves makes sense with the QB depth and open competition at tight end. Looks like we'll see him on the field this year.
• The KC Star still loves the Cats. That's nice.
• According to the Star, Mark Mangino is 0-6 versus Tech, OU and Texas. Please print more things that Mangino and KU haven't done. Big, bold headlines if possible.
• Will August 30th ever get here?

***

Everyone likes to focus on the KU players lost from the 2007 squad. Back in the day, there used to be a simple predictor for success on the field. A returning QB and a defense with experience. KU has nine starters back on defense and the interior offensive line intact. Maybe Todd Reesing didn't do enough last year to convince the country that he is here to win?

So, last summer was spent discussing how Mangino would be on the hot seat and the KU football program was going to collapse. Then media days came and a few sportswriters took note that Mangino was oddly confident. Then people started looking at the early schedule. Get past CMU and hey, 6-0 is achievable. All of the sudden KU becomes the trendy dark horse pick despite starting a relatively inexperienced QB, the loss of Cornish and three offensive linemen. Sure why not -- go against the grain.

Okay, back to the present. We've spent all offseason hearing about how 2007 was a fluke and now that mighty Texas is on the schedule KU should be grateful if they find a way into the International Bowl. Can I go ahead and make a prediction?

Since there are roughly nine million college football sportswriters out there and since they get a little bored, we'll start to see a few describe KU as the non-dark horse dark horse around mid-August. I can see it. If you get past USF, you get an extra week to prepare for ISU and could maybe get one there. Colorado is at home. You could go to Norman 6-0. That would be a big-time game and these two guys know each other (Mangino is going to get one against Stoops at some point) Plus, OU will play the Red River Rivalry the week prior. Will OU really be up for "just a fluke" KU? Yes, Lloyd Christmas -- I'm saying there's a chance. 

Ultimate Recycle: Big 12 Media Days

"Sports talk radio will rot your brain."--Thomas Jefferson

The Big 12 Media extravaganza kicked off today which means my four-month vacation from local sports radio sadly has come to an end ...

Things started off well with a great bit a discussion from Danny Clinkscale and Kevin Kietzman on whether or not Chase Daniel has grown an inch.

KU fired up today and I'll refrain from snagging quotes from the LJW site. The link is here: http://www2.kusports.com/blogs/conference_chatter/2008/jul/22/day2/

The media release from the school is here:
http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072108aab.html

It's just not going well for KU and t-shirts lately. Barack Chalk Jayhawk? Re-open Larry's case.
http://www.kansascity.com/166/story/714567.html

Is Jon Cornish ready to get some more carries up north?

He busted off a career-best 48-yard gain in the fourth quarter, after gaining a total of 30 yards in his rookie year -- albeit on two touches."It felt pretty good," smiled Cornish, 23. "I felt like if I hadn't been running up and down the field on special teams prior to that, I would have been a little faster. My speed really tapered off towards the end and I really wasn't too happy about being hauled down.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=c065be9e-19ab-4d6e-b0e6-2d5ec061f3ec