Advertisement
December 17, 2008
The year 2008 will go down as one of the most successful ever for the Kansas University football team. History was made, age-old records were shattered and a few oranges helped signify the Jayhawks' rise to prominence. Now, as the calendar year draws to a close, we look back at the top 5 Kansas football stories from 2008:5. KU downs rival K-State in Lawrence: A bit of pre-game trash talk paved the way for Kansas' most lopsided victory of the conference season. Not only did the victory mark the Jayhawks' third straight over the Wildcats, 52-21 on Nov. 1, it also essentially cost KSU coach Ron Prince his job. The week following the game, Prince was fired after three seasons in Manhattan and later replaced by the legendary Bill Snyder, who at 69, is set to take over the team next fall. 4. Kansas opens $31 million practice facility: In a nod to the facilities arms race of college football, KU completed the state-of-the-art Anderson Family Football Complex and adjacent practice fields this summer, just weeks before the '08 season was to begin. The complex, funded in part by booster Dana Anderson, is expected to provide a significant boost in the area of recruiting. The opening of the complex was spiked with a bit of controversy, however. Despite a $90,000 project to place trees along the practice fields, a measure aimed at keeping practices private from the general public, the fields had reportedly gone largely unused, at least through the first part of the season. 3. Kansas makes history by accepting bowl bids in consecutive seasons: Even in the aftermath of a BCS bowl invite, Kansas players aren't complaining about a 2008 trip to the Tempe, Ariz.-based Insight Bowl on Dec. 31. That's because, in the 119-year history of the program, a Kansas team had never earned back-to-back bowl invitations. The Jayhawks' 7-5 record this regular season marks the fourth straight season they've been bowl eligible, but just the third time in that span they've earned a berth. 2. 'Hawks top Missouri, 40-37: In summoning some magic it wasn't able to in 2007, Kansas battled back from a 37-33 deficit with under a minute left in the game to beat Border War rival Missouri, 40-37, at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 29. When quarterback Todd Reesing found quarterback-turned-receiver Kerry Meier in the end zone with 27 seconds remaining in the game, it ensured the Jayhawks a winning record in '08 while simultaneously salvaging a season that, up to that point, hadn't featured a signature victory. 1. KU captures Orange Bowl title: No surprise here. When the clock reached zero in Miami on Jan. 3, Kansas had earned its first BCS bowl title in school history. The victory helped the Jayhawks finish the season ranked No. 7 in the nation, and helped dispel whispers that the team's magical 11-1 regular season had been the product of weak scheduling.
Comments
darnelljackson32 (anonymous) says…
Ummm... they have been using those practice fields for months now. Way to stay up with the story, Doogie. I would see the team practicing on those fields since at least early October, if not September, on a daily basis as I would come back from classes. Another hard breaking analysis by Doogie. And I love how he mentions that there was talk that we were overrated and didn't deserve to be in the Orange Bowl. I would love to have seen Doogie's reaction back in December 07 when it was announced that his tiggers were going to the Cotton Bowl. He probably was cursing at the Jayhawks and showing his true feelings that he tries to hide now.
( permalink | suggest removal )
bayareajhawk (anonymous) says…
Dugan, you are pathetic. Not only are you a writer of dubious quality, but you continuously take subtle shots at KU despite the fact that you are writing on KUsports.com. To be honest, the only reason I read your articles is to criticize them afterwords in the hope that you will either leave or be pushed out of Lawrence. And I will admit that this blog pissed me off. Darnelljackson is right to point out your underhanded writing. KU has had a great football year and yet when you pick the 5 top stories, you have to throw some negativity into the top 4. So according to Dugan, the following are the best 4 KU football stories of the year:4. Even though the University spent $90,000 to cover up practice fields they don't use them and people are mad.3. The Jayhawks have been bowl eligible for four years but this is just the third time they've gone to a bowl in that span. (you worded that positive stat in the most negative possible way)2. KU somehow magically beat Mizzou on a last second play because it saved their season and gave them a signature victory, and by the way Missouri beat them last year.1. When KU won the Orange Bowl, it didn't dispel whispers that their schedule was the product of soft scheduling but it helped.As someone who has been trained to write both creatively and argumentatively/legally, I see what you're doing. It's either intentional and you're trying to have some fun with us or it's subconscious and your deep seated hatred for KU just bubbles to the surface when you're forced to be complimentary. Either way, I don't want to read it. Please do us all a favor and leave.
( permalink | suggest removal )
thiknthinhawk (anonymous) says…
I'm not usually one to take shots, but reading over the content of this story, as well as other ones written by this guy, the previous comments posted do, in fact, have merit. By choosing to include bits of information that someone who is an advocate would omit, one can only draw the conclusion that Mr. Arnett is neither pro KU nor is he unbiased. But, since I am pro KU, I will bring up a few things: 40-37, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, National Champs, two consecutive Big VII title game thrashings.
( permalink | suggest removal )
yayba (anonymous) says…
Happy New Year guys. I enjoyed your comments today. I'd like to pose one question: Don't you think Mr. Arnett might just possibly be provoking you diehard fans to think and discuss UNbiased (i.e., pro-KU, pablum-esque writing), at his own expense? You know you love to analyze his articles for material to use against him and to think in a new way. Get over yourselves. Thank him for allowing you to exercise your cranium. He goes out on a limb for you guys time and again. (Oh, and bayareajhawk, you're sorta getting it.) Personally, I think Mr. Arnett cares about KU fans, football in general, and the power of words.As I said, Happy New Year, one and all. And thanks, Mr. A.
( permalink | suggest removal )
GoBadgers (anonymous) says…
I'll bet Mr. Arnett was pretty hard pressed to even find five football stories for 2008.
( permalink | suggest removal )