Suggested Team Slogan: "Our Coach Can Eat Your Coach!"

What We Learned In 2007: Kansas can't possibly be both a football and basketball school, could they? Well last season, Kansas took a step towards being a serious football contender. The Jayhawks used a very weak non conference schedule plus not having to play Oklahoma, Texas, or Texas Tech in conference to roll to a 11-0 record but had their Big 12 championship dreams crushed by hated rival Missouri.

The Jayhawks had the last laugh when they were selected to go to the Orange Bowl while Missouri was relegated to the Cotton Bowl. Kansas did prove that they were a semi legit team by defeating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

Expectation in 2008: Last year the Jayhawks just wanted to get to a bowl game and now that their fans have had a taste of Orange, they want more. This season it will be much tougher for them to get back to a BCS bowl since their schedule this year includes a road games at South Florida and Oklahoma, plus home games against Texas and Texas Tech.

While the schedule is much more challenging this year, the Jayhawks are returning 15 starters (6 on offense, 9 on defense) including Quarterback Todd Reesing. Losing their leading rusher and receiver will be tough to replace but having Reesing back gives the Jayhawks a shot in every game they play this season.

What Could Hold Them Back: The loss of Aqib Talib on the defensive side of the ball is a big hit to a defense that has to face Chase Daniel, Graham Harrell, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy.

In addition to the loss of Talib, the Big 12 is loaded this season and the Jayhawks will not be able to sneak up on anyone like they did last year. The Jayhawks will get everyones best shot this season in addition to the tougher schedule.

Big Men On Campus: Quarterback Todd Reesing returns to lead an offense that scored a blistering 42.8 points per game last season. Wide Receivers Dexton Fields and Dezmon Briscoe both had more than 43 catches and caught at least six touchdown passes in '07 and will be called upon to carry a bigger load this season.

On defense Joe Mortensen returns to lead a defense that allowed fewer than 16 points per game and he was 1st team all Big 12 last season.

Cheerleader Grade:



Being from a fellow Big 12 school, I know that there is some serious talent off the field but as we have seen in most of the schools, the talent on the sideline doesn't hold a candle to the talent in the stands. D


EA NCAA 09 Football Simulation: 5-7 (2-6) and no bowl game.

All Big 12 1st Team: CB Kendrick Harper
All Big 12 2nd Team: DT Caleb Blakesley. RB Jake Sharp (as return man)

CB Kendrick Harper: 34 tackles, 2 TFL, 4 INT's and 1 TD's
DT Caleb Blakesley:  37 tackles, 18 TFL, 7 Sacks
KR/PR Jake Sharp: 47 returns, 778 yards and 2 TD's


Schedule and Predictions

Aug. 30, 2008	Florida Int'l	Win
Sept. 6, 2008	Louisiana Tech	Win
Sept. 12, 2008	at South Florida	Win
Sept. 20, 2008	Sam Houston St.	Win
Oct. 4, 2008	at Iowa State	Win
Oct. 11, 2008	Colorado	Win
Oct. 18, 2008	at Oklahoma	Loss
Oct. 25, 2008	Texas Tech	Win
Nov. 1, 2008	Kansas State	Win
Nov. 8, 2008	at Nebraska	Win
Nov. 15, 2008	Texas	Loss
Nov. 29, 2008	at Missouri	Loss

9-3 (5-3 Big 12) - With a schedule this season that is much more difficult, I can see the Jayhawks "coming back to earth" this season with 3 losses. The game at Nebraska will be a lot tougher than last years 76-39 beat down that they laid on the Huskers. So 9-3 with a berth in the Sun Bowl.