Yeah...It's Like That

Well, well, well. The mighty Jayhawks continue their climb towards the Nation's elite (cough). I have a little secret that the college football World is about to realize...soon. KU is a fraud! Eventually, you have to start actually beating teams in your Conference by a significant margin, or they'll start beating you. Here's some knowledge for you, the Jayhawks' average margin of victory over teams with a winning record is 6. Now, I'm the last person to give credit to the Fightin' Manginos for anything, but I will say this...they have done a good job winning games in the 4th Quarter. A product of their easy, easy schedule? Absolutely, but to their credit they have beaten teams that they should have, which has been their bugaboo in the past.

Let me tell you something about the ungrateful bastard that is Mark Mangino. Back in the early 90s, Bill Snyder was looking for another assistant to fill a position on his Kansas State offensive staff. "Hey!" says one of Snyder's assistants, "I know this 'Bear' guy working for the turnpike in Pennsylvania." Yeah, I know, imagine that jackass in a toll booth. You know, I'll be damned if Snyder didn't give the guy a shot. A guy who wasn't even in coaching. A guy who didn't play college football. On a whim, a tip from a friend, Snyder hired Mark Mangino. The man they called 'Bear.' Didn't know Mangino coached at Kansas State? Don't ask Mangino, he doesn't remember. Rarely acknowledges the man who gave him a chance, changed his life.



I digress. Four games left and the pressure is mounting. Mangino has taken KU to only two bowl games, and now they're talking about not only winning the Big XII but playing in the National Championship game. Hmm. It's basketball season now, isn't it? Scurry off to the Phog, Hawk fans. You don't belong in this football business. Four games left and the pressure is mounting. Starts with Nebraska...anemic yet superior in talent to Kansas. Talented teams are always dangerous, no matter the mentality, because something good might accidentally happen to the Huskers and they might remember that they are supposed to play football in Lincoln.



Three games left and the pressure is mounting. The national media is starting to follow the Jayhawks. Aqib Talib is calling out Jayhawk fans and media for already starting to talk about basketball. It is, afterall, Lawrence, KS. Then comes the trip to Stillwater. Over the past two seasons, the Cowboys have lost two games in Stillwater by a grand total of 7 points. One of those losses was to Oklahoma. It's primetime on national TV. Could this be the one?



Two games left and the pressure is mounting. KU could still be undefeated and heading back home, riding high on their horses. Or they could be reeling from a loss, or even consecutive losses, and finally back to reality. Iowa State, remember, put scares into both Oklahoma and Missouri (two teams superior to Kansas). They are always difficult, and much improved over the team that got blown out by Texas just two weeks ago. This game is one that KU should obviously win, but it's too far into the future to tell what the mentality of KU may be at this point.

One game left and the pressure...is...mounting. Uh Oh! It's the big one! KU-MU in Arrowhead Stadium. Sold out. Almost certain to be on national television. The Tigers are back for more after shattering the Jayhawks' chances at a bowl game at the end of last season. KU could still be undefeated at this point. Could. MU could be only a game back of the Jayhawks and looking for a big win to capture a Big XII North title. Could. Or they could both lose a couple games between now and then and this game may be a battle of teams barely ranked in the Top 25. Could.

Last game's over. The season has reached it's climax. The Jayhawks have had to fight many battles down the stretch. They have taken on everybody's best effort. The Midget has finally completed an entire season of Big XII football...one that always takes a toll mentally and physically on young quarterbacks. Remember what Chase Daniel looked like towards the end of last season (his first as a full time starter)? The season has ended. Will KU be sitting at home the first weekend of December watching somebody else in San Antonio...the nosepicking, booger eating, two dozen taco eatings frauds that they are? Or will they do the unthinkable? Will they be taking on the Sooners in San Antonio looking for one more win and maybe a shot at the National Championship? We see teams like this every year...and history tells us it's going to be the latter.