Ahhhh….. my favorite time of year. Time for SoCal cheerleader letter sweaters and flying tortillas. Time for Waving the Wheat and the Quack Attack. It’s time for pre-season hype and the bitter taste of reality some call the Texas State Fair– no not fried Twinkies. It’s time for the sweet sound of “oh baby what a play.” And it’s finally time for RObert to take up a new hobby on Tuesday evenings as the ‘Ville receives admission to the BCS Country Club. Oh yea…..it’s that time of year again.
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Florida Atlantic vs. Kansas -24 |
The Mangino Experiment enters into its fourth season – the standard shelf-life for popular KU coaches. Jayhawk legend Don Fambrough had two non-consecutive four year teams. Bud Moore and Pepper Rodgers hung around Mount Oread for four years as well. Each made one bowl trip during those four years, but never in their fourth and final season. The Flying Manginos experienced the sweet taste of post season play in 2003 – will he suffer the same fate. Conventional logic might say yes ….
- KU wrapped up the 1995 season – the final season of the Big Eight Conference — with a 10-2 record. Kansas hasn’t had a winning record since.
- KU has never won more than three Big 12 games in a single season –uggggg
- It gets worse. Since entering into the Big XII, KU hasn’t had single season at .500 or better.
- In the century-plus history of KU football, the longest stretch without at least a .500 season is 10 years (1936-45).
Well my friends of little faith, last season’s best four and seven team begin the long journey to seven wins with the Florida Atlantic Owls. KU will field the best defense in the Big XII North – granted it is still the Big XII North – the best cornerback in the country in Charles Gordon, and a giant question mark on offense – specifically our ability to score. My two cents…KU will get off to a slow start against arguably the worst team in the country but will catch their offensive stride in the second quarter. The field possession game should be one-sided.. Look for KU to cover and take its first of seven steps on Saturday.
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Oregon (-7) vs. Houston |
Seriously…..who are we kidding? Did the Cougs resurrect Andre Ware and David Klingler? This is Mike Bellotti ball — the same Mike Bellotti that tripped up the Maize and Blue in pre conference play. But hey….it is NCAA version of pre-season for many programs so let’s cut them some slack. Vi’s Ducks get back to their 2003 swagger, shake off the cob-webs of last season 5- 6 record, and cover on the roadagainst this fierce bunch.
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Texas (-40) vs UL Lafayete |
The Young campaign begins as he runs for 120 and throws for 150 – all before the seven min mark of the third quarter. The question mark for me is the other half of the offense — you have Vince Young and everyone else. The running game and receiving corps have to keep defenses honest this season. Few questions will be answered by the no-so Ragin Caguns…and Texas fans will be over served and finalizing plan in Columbus before this one kicks off. Hats off to Mack for accepting this OU diversion….
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Texas Tech – off |
Well not much to say about the Raider pre-season schedule that wasn’t summed up in today’s Forte Yard Dash on ESPN.com. To steal an excerpt –
And five schedules that satisfy every coach’s inner coward:
Texas Tech (27): Sure, playing in the Big 12 South is brutal — but scheduling a nonconference slate of Florida International, Sam Houston State and Indiana State is shameless. The Yellow Raiders don’t play a I-A opponent with a winning 2004 record until Oct. 22.
Ouch…..
And hey KU made the Forte as well:
What would be appropriate sideline headset music for college coaches as we kick off the 2005 season?
Kansas’ Mark Mangino (5): “I like mine with lettuce and tomato/Heinz 57 and french-fried potatoes …” — Jimmy Buffett.
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Louisville (-22) vs. Kentucky |
Rich Brooks may have been Rose Bowl bound in Oregon but has sucked ass in the Blue Grass State. Louisville has every reason to be confident that they will make some noise in the Big East and possibly a BCS ticket. Their biggest concern should be that the all-knowing BCS does not strip the conference of their automaitic bid after last season’s embarrassment. In-state and rivalry games are often unpredictable and close contests – not this one. The Ville covers and the best FBB QB debate begins.
Wildcard – who else FSU vs. Miami…
This one will require some more thinking…analysis TBD.
