Clint Bowen Extravaganza

Well, I guess we can go ahead and discuss the story that everone's talking about, but no one will officially admit. Co-defensive coordinator Clint Bowen will be the new defensive coordinator at Kansas. It's not quite as sexy as bringing in someone new, but once you look beyond the surface the move makes sense.

During the latter part of the 2005 season, there was concern with at least one staff member that Bill Young would be snagged at that time. In February of 2006, Bowen was named co-defensive coordinator. Now, it looks like another tactical win by Mark Mangino as the Hawks should transition easily with Bowen getting a couple of years of on the job experience.

It's been reported that's he's a good recruiter and looking at this year's class, Rivals credits Bowen as being in on six of the 20 current verbals  (Ed Warriner also has six). His top get for 2008 -- Darius Parish.

Here are the official news stories on Bowen's unofficial promotion. They all say essentially the same thing. It will be official once Miami gets the paperwork lined out with Bill Young (geez, who is working on this -- the IRS?).

Sportings News Story | KC Star Story | KUsports.com

Official Site Profile Clint Bowen

ESPN Review of KU Football Recruiting 2008

Billy Tucker at ESPN has an evaluation of the 2008 Big 12 North Recruiting classes. He seems pretty impressed with Darius Parish:

" ... a massive defensive line prospect with a ton of ability and potential. He carries his 300-pound plus frame very well and is explosive and disruptive at the point of attack when he utilizes his hands and uses proper technique. If he can refine his skills and takes to coaching at the night level, he could be a steal for Kansas. His raw physical tools are amongst the best in the country and should help KU maintain its strong run defenses over the next four to five years."

Hey, I like the sound of that. He also mentions something that has been bothering me:

"... the program still has its challenges on the recruiting end, particularly in-state. Losing linebacker Arthur Brown (Wichita, Kan./East), the No. 6 overall player in the country, to Miami and ESPN 150 athlete Chris Harper (Wichita, Kan./Northwest), once a KU pledge, to Oregon, still shows how far away the program may be from building a perennial national contender."

I like our class quite a bit, but it does bother me that we lost the top two in-state players -- especially to those schools which I think are second level national powers.

Josh Richardson Video

Jocques Crawford Quotes From KUsports.com

The link: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2008/jan/21/juco_running_back_commits_kansas/?football

The quotes:

“I like the fact that it is a no-huddle (offense), and they keep the defense spread out with their formations. They get guys out of the box with what they do. This year I was used to facing defenses with nine in the box.”

“I was stressing out where I would end up. I feel like Kansas is a place where I can step in and be the main guy.”

Regarding the "main guy" quote. I like his moxy, but overall you've got to feel like there is going to be a huge competition to get into what I think will once again be a two-back rotation (2006 was the only year that we really featured just one back under Mangino... well maybe 2002). So, you've got Jake Sharp, Carmen Boyd-Anderson and Angus Quigley as the main contenders, but Donte Bean could figure into the mix as well. Throw Crawford in and I'm feeling like the position is going to improve next year.

Jocques Crawford-RB, Josh Richardson-LB to KU

Two Verbal Commits Come In For KU Football

The KU football program landed a couple of key commitments today with four-star JUCO running back Jocques Crawford (6-1/220/4.55) and three-star linebacker Josh Richardson (6-4/195/4.45) both offering verbal commitments to play for Kansas. Crawford is pretty well know as the JUCO player of the year but Richardson is a nice surprise. If that 4.45 speed is a reality, that will go nicely with that 6-4 frame.

Marcus Henry, Brandon McAnderson Shrine Bowl Report

It was an uneventful night for two of KU's biggest offensive weapons at last night's Annual East-West Shrine Bowl in Houston. Marcus Henry had one catch for nine yards. On the down side, Henry dropped two balls he should have caught. One was a flat out drop. The other was a little tougher as it was on a dead run toward the sideline. Still, it was catchable and it would have been a TD.

Brandon McAnderson never touched the ball. He lined up as a true fullback at times and did a solid job blocking. He was available to catch passes in the flat on a few occasions, which would have been nice to show for the NFL. Still, it was the Josh Johnson show for the West team. The San Diego quarterback pretty much could run at will all night. So he did.

In case you missed it, James McClinton was unable to play due to a seizure he had earlier in the week. It appears as though he is currently okay and was supposed to watch the game from the sideline.

Dana Stubblefield: Still Part of the KU Football Family

You watch these young men play football at your school. You see them excel and the great ones go on to play for pay. You're just a fan, but you feel a distant bond with these guys. So if they survive the big-time college sports scene and all of the traps that go along with that, you feel pretty good about a guy's future. Still, you worry. The life of an NFL or pro athlete is a world that few of us could comprehend.* The pressure to stay in the game, to stay on top, to keep earning in a truly competitive environment has obviously resulted in bad decisions across the board.

I'm not going to defend Dana Stubblefield's actions, but as a member of the University of Kansas family, I still support him and will until I either have personal conversation with him that changes my judgement or he shows a repeated pattern of "unacceptable behavior" in the public arena.

At this point, he's owning up to his mistakes and is ready to pay the penalty. I'll take him at that and hope the best for him in the future.

Link to The Star AP Story

*Admittedly, they have no clue about working in the pressures of life in real world. I don't want to give the impression that I think they have it harder than the rest of us -- just different.

Life After Bill Young

It's A Black Day in Kansas

First just a little bit of media cut and paste. Bill Young quotes from a reliable source:

"I like palm trees and beaches."

I like hot women. That doesn't mean I'm going to leave my wife and kids.

“It’s a new challenge. Sometimes as a coach, you need that.”

Build a go-kart or something. Going to the U to coach those recruits is a challenge? I could do that, still run this blog and probably have more time for X-Box. Line 'em up and tell them to go tackle the guy with the ball. What's the big deal?

“It was a wonderful time. It’s been a great six years.”

Thanks for everything, but I have to leave now to go into a dark room and listen to Master of Puppets for 72 hours.

“It’s a great opportunity to coach a program that has won several national titles.”

I'm glad you used past tense on that one because the Fighting Manginos are here to stay -- in case you haven't been paying attention.

The Next DC

The guys at the gridiron board are locked in on Clint Bowen. As crazy as it sounds, they are usually right. I'm not 100% sold yet, but usually when the big man spins it, I buy in. The one mention of Phil Bennett was intriguing.

Join in on the fun: http://forums.scout.com/mb.aspx?S=172&F=2485&T=72246&P=1#s=172&f=2485&t=1870822&p=1

Now KU Sports Says Bill Young is Miami Bound

It's hard to say what bothers me most about this?

• If Bill Young leaves, he should leave for a head coaching job. Why make another stop as an assistant on the way to retirement? 
• Picturing Bill Young at Miami. C'mon, I'm talking about Miami. How does that scene, that program fit Bill Young.
  
• If it was about the money, then it should have been a non-issue. End of story.
• Last night's denial story.

If you like a good kick in the balls, here's the link. 

Update on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 06:17PM by DJ Goodwin

Okay, I swear on the ride home that 610 Sports was saying that KU was denying that he was gone. Maybe it was an audio mirage. I'd just like some clarity on the situation.

Sometimes I Think It's All About the Money

Movin' On Up

Never did hear any confirmation on JUCO transfer wideout Rod Harris hitting the Lawrence scene yet, but word on the street is that the Beck's were back in town today sporting a new Red Escalade with a Big Red license plate. Exciting times.

The Bill Young Soap Opera

CSTV says he's gone. Ryan Wood says no. Wee-hoo! This is fun! Is this a profit deal?

Check back in with the Seattle Times Husky blog and find that they are offering between $350,000 and $400,000 for their open position. That buries Bill Young's current salary of $220,000. Maybe that Arrowhead money will come in handy. Get that man a raise and take care of Ed W. as well ... what the hell, Escalades for everyone!

Arrowhead Redux

You probably caught this little tidbit in Jeffrey Flanagan's KC Star column this morning -- there's a little talk about moving next year's Border War to Friday night. Arrowhead is pretty much a dirty word in the KU lexicon at this point, but I wonder what is the advantage of this move. Giving me two days to recover instead of one?

Given the fact that this was one of the highest rated regular season college football games for 2007, why tamper with success?

Can We Get An Official Campus Sighting On Rod Harris?

RW says he was supposed to be in Lawrence today. Does anyone have a confirmation?