Another Blog Preview ... Same Old Song and Dance

Played an easy schedule in 2007, got lucky, can't compete in the Big 12, really Nebraska is still better than KU, probably won't even be able to have somebody line up at left tackle, Missouri wins the Super Bowl, etc.

http://overthepylon.blogspot.com/2008/08/prelude-to-season-17.html

Glad you sent the link though. I needed a topic for the day.

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.

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

2008 KU Football Wish/To Do List

I sold the team a little short by posting a 2007 KU Football Wish List last year. Seems foolish now to call it a wish list, since it was clearly just a to do list. What are the targets for 2008? Read on.

• Big 12 Championship
• Charles Gordon is avenged on November 15, 2008
  
• A full house for opening day (borrowed from 2007)
• The team properly channels the nationwide "just a scheduling fluke" media campaign and comes into the season with the exact right amount of focused anger/adrenaline
• Clint Bowen solves the spread offense
• Maxwell Onyegbule gets to Chase Daniel ... every down.
• Mike Rivera gets to Chase Daniel ... every down.
• RJ Jr and Darius Parish erase my fond memories of James McClinton
• Todd Reesing 2008 exceed TR 2007
• Dexton Fields and Dezmon Briscoe both go over 1,000
• Ed Warriner blows my mind by staying ahead of the Big 12 with further innovation to last year's scheme
• Find a confident punt returner that can be a threat
• Jeff Spikes lives up to the hype
• Marcus Herford becomes a legitimate Big 12 wide receiver threat (last chance man)
• Jake Sharp -- 80 yard TD run at any point in the conference season or in the state of Florida
• 40,000 plus Jayhawk fans wearing blue at Arrowhead (adjusted down from 50k for our "home" game last year)
• 60,000 plus Jayhawk fans wearing blue at Arrowhead one week later
• 14 wins

Ryan is No Longer Sawing Wood

So I guess I don't have to feel bad about my Sawin' Wood shirt anymore. All "evidence" points to a Ryan Wood exit from the LJW.

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=172&f=2485&t=2689266

The replacement:

http://www2.kusports.com/staff/dugan_arnett/

http://journalism.missouri.edu/news/2006/03-24-hearst-winner.html

This is gonna be fun.

Update on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 03:49PM by DJ Goodwin

Official word on Ryan Wood -- he left the LJW in late May and is working at www.active.com and living in San Diego.

Nathan Scheelhaase Signing Open Thread

Click comments to get in

Mangino Ranks at #16

Saw this on the Huddle. Here's a list of the highest paid college football coaches:

http://www.coacheshotseat.com/SalariesContracts.htm

Outstanding: Mark Mangino Through 2012!

The deal is basically $2.3 million per year through 2012 with a $1.5 million bonus if he stays through 2012. I'd like to know more about buyout clauses and all that, but initially it's looking like the right move for both KU football and Mark Mangino.

http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071508aaa.html

Larry Wins?

All the headlines state that KU won, but I'm thinking maybe Larry Sinks is feeling pretty good that roughly 150 of his shirts passed the trademark test including the one that the University really hates -- "Muck Fizzou."

As an amateur t-shirt seller myself (sawin' wood, dollar signs), I was watching this one pretty closely hoping for a clear cut verdict. I'd still like to see a master list of the shirts that didn't make it because, "Our Coach Can Eat Your Coach" as infringement but "Our Coach Beat Anorexia" as okay provides zero clarity for me.

Maybe this quiz at the Cap-Journal will help: http://app.cjonline.com/quiz/ku_v_joecollege.php

Anyway, chalk one up for creativity and now we know -- the University of Kansas cannot exclusively trademark the state's name.

KU Football Uniform From the Adidas Dumpster?

Got this from the Huddle. Hopefully, it was just some reject at Adidas that they decided to market to high school teams. Now, if you'll excuse me, I feel a little queazy.

Two Texas Commits for KU: Dexter Linton and Christian Matthews

Wow! KU football lands two commits from Arlington, TX according to KUsports.com (from Rivals). DB Dexter Linton 6-0/180 and QB Christian Matthews 6-3/180 both verbally commited to play football for the Jayhawks yesterday. You like speed? Linton is listed as 4.42 on Rivals and Matthews isn't too bad for a QB either at 4.6.

Another angle on the Matthews commitment -- does this mean KU is done chasing Rockhurst QB Nathan Scheelhaase? You'd have to think so at this point.

Regardless, Mark Mangino and his staff are on fire with the 2009 class. A nice way to start your Saturday morning.

Rivals Free Profile -- Dexter Linton

Rivals Free Profile -- Christian Matthews