Monday, November 19, 2007

Venue change OK with Jayhawks

By Ryan Wood

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KU defeats ISU 45-7

KU's dream season lived on after a victory over Iowa St. on Saturday. The win helped put the Jayhawks at number two in the BCS rankings.

Jayhawks keep streak alive

With the victory over Iowa St., the Jayhawks continued their unbeaten season and are now only one game away from a date with the Big 12 Championship in San Antonio.

Reader poll

Personnel-wise, who do you think creates the the biggest matchup problem for KU's defense?

  • QB Chase Daniel 35% 1656 votes
  • RB Tony Temple 1% 72 votes
  • TE Martin Rucker 9% 463 votes
  • TE Chase Coffman 6% 289 votes
  • Do-it-all Jeremy Maclin 44% 2045 votes
  • Someone else 2% 114 votes

4639 total votes.

chat

Chat Tuesday with MU beat writer Graham Watson

Read transcript

Kansas University's football team is treating Saturday's showdown with Missouri like another home game on the schedule.

Even if home is now across a state line.

The Jayhawks and Tigers, of course, made a much-publicized agreement in January to move the 2007 and '08 Border War games to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The first of the two-game deal is shaping up to be a dandy - No. 2 Kansas and No. 3 Missouri are a combined 21-1 this season. Both are holding onto national-title aspirations, and both feature quarterbacks in the Heisman Trophy race.

Before the deal was done, Saturday's 7 p.m. game originally was scheduled to be at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. From a competitive standpoint, it's hard to argue that at least a little edge was lost with the move, considering there could be up to 10 times as many MU fans at Arrowhead then there would have been in Lawrence.

But in the week leading up to the anticipated Border War battle, the move to Kansas City is not a decision KU officials are second-guessing.

"We have no regrets at all," associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said. "We think we'll have more fans there than we would have had in Lawrence. It's going to be a packed house at one of the NFL's premier stadiums.

"Most importantly, the kids are looking forward to playing there. They're excited about playing there."

The Jayhawks (11-0 overall, 7-0 Big 12 Conference) will keep their routine as normal as possible in preparation for Mizzou. They will practice all week in Lawrence, sleep in their own beds Friday night and make just one trip to Kansas City before the game - a Friday visit to see the stadium and get a feel for the field.

An empty Arrowhead, though, won't do it justice. The 79,451-seat venue is sold out, and the split crowd expects to be rowdy with so much on the line.

It's that type of atmosphere that has the Jayhawks looking forward to Saturday's game - not back to what could've been.

"Our kids have proven they'll play anywhere in any venue and play well and play hard," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "I'm not second-guessing it. Not at all."

Of course, there's no point to now. The deal has been done for close to a year, and KU has approached the 2007 season knowing where the last regular-season contest would be.

In KU's eyes, Memorial Stadium's work is done this year. The Jayhawks now call Arrowhead Stadium home for a week - with no regrets.

"Obviously, you'd love to be able to play at home and have your crowd behind you and have another chance to play at Memorial Stadium," KU quarterback Todd Reesing said. "But I think that the atmosphere we're going to have at Arrowhead is probably going to be unbelievable and something we're going to remember for a long time. I think it will be fun."

Comments

jayhawk1967 (anonymous) says...

too bad to give away home field advantage to play in missouri with a chance of one in over a hundred years. missouri does not have to give up any chances as their game will still be played in missour next year.

November 19, 2007 at 4:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

HawkDigestCom (anonymous) says...

That reader poll is missing an option, "None of the Above"

November 19, 2007 at 6:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Good one, HawkDigestCom.

November 19, 2007 at 6:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Solomon (anonymous) says...

Read "someone else" as "none of the above." It's the same thing. Perhaps you meant, "no one."

November 19, 2007 at 6:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

This is gonna be one for the ages! can I start tailgating today? A week of this anticipation is gonna drive me nuts.

November 19, 2007 at 6:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkfan20 (anonymous) says...

I hate to break it to you, but when you have 70% of the stadium, you still have a homefield advantage. Anyone that thinks it won't be absolutely deafening in there when MU is clueless. Arrowhead is designed to keep the sound in. Arrowhead will be way louder than Memorial would have been, if only for design reasons, nevermind there will actually be more KU fans in Arrowhead.

November 19, 2007 at 7:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dsmith84 (anonymous) says...

I'm not worried about Maclin catching passes against our secondary. I am worried about our kick coverage units getting him though. Iowa State got too much yardage on their returns, and I think it was mostly do too Webb not getting enough air under the ball.
I'd rather see us kick it short to an up-back who fields it at the 20 or so and gets to the 25 than kick it to maclin who very well may go the distance.

November 19, 2007 at 7:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

shelleysue (anonymous) says...

70% KU in the stadium? I heard it was split evenly. This article basically says the same thing. KU officials are not going to announce that Chiefs ticket holders have priority seating (and who says their KU fans??!!) and the rest was split evenly from what I've heard. Sold out?! Not sold out either. Giving thousands of tickets to Chiefs fans does not mean it's sold out.

Everyone can say what they want, but I will never be convinced this is a good thing. Never.

I'm also a bit concerned about all the drinking mixed with everything that's on the line. Especially after we win. I will be very surprised if there isn't any violence.

November 19, 2007 at 8:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

asn_snsation (anonymous) says...

This is a good decision made for the very worst times. damn we just lost home field advantage. i guess he didn't know we were vying for the national championship this year and thought it was just going to be another 7-5 season.

November 19, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Cornfed (anonymous) says...

Shut up all you doubters-first of all Big games are at neutral sites if you can't win there then you can't win anywhere. Get over it! Let's roll!

November 19, 2007 at 8:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

I thought it was a three year deal?

Don't worry about it being at Arrowhead! This team can play anywhere and play well. It's up to our crowd to do its job.

November 19, 2007 at 8:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Displayhawk (anonymous) says...

Thanks everyone for voting for Sparky (Todd Reesing) for the Davey O'Brien Quarterback award! He finished first, and is now a finalist for this award. Voting for the finalists will start today! so keep voting!
The website is www.daveyobrien.com! You have to register to vote.
BTW, the national media is touting Tim Tebow (Florida) and Chase Daniel (Mizboo) as a two-horse race for the Heisman. Let's show them that we think otherwise!
Please also vote for Coach Mangino for Coach of the Year at www.coachoftheyear.com!
Thanks again Jayhawkers!

November 19, 2007 at 8:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

Don't any of you get it? We don't get to play at memorial stadium for this big game, I know, it's kind of a bummer. But next year, when the KU MU game is huge again, we wont have to play in columbia

November 19, 2007 at 8:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

Since this is KU's year for the home game, they were allotted more tickets (MU will get that treatment next year for their "home" game).

I am also concerned about Maclin. I stayed home and channel surfed between KU and MU on Saturday. Maclin had probably his best game ever and looked incredibly fast. He worries me because he can hurt you not just on receptions, but also on kicks, as dsmith noted. We can't let him break returns and set them up with short fields all day because that will kill our defense.

November 19, 2007 at 8:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

caddie733 (anonymous) says...

I'm with cornfed on this one...big games are meant for a more neutral site, that way, the best team on the field wins. Anyone who thinks this is a bad idea is being foolish and really just comes across as a whiner. Go out and play the game, don't worry about where it is. I'm glad this game is at Arrowhead. More people, bigger stage...and when KU wins, no one can say it was because of clear-cut home field advantage.

November 19, 2007 at 9:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkintx73 (anonymous) says...

Next year's border war game is at Arrowhead too. KU was alotted 40,000 tickets, MU was alotted 10,000 tickets. The rest are Chief's season ticket holders. Next year the opposite will happen. pssst! ku fans become good friends with a chiefs season ticket holder now! then next year< split it evenly!

November 19, 2007 at 9:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkjim80 (anonymous) says...

In the poll above, one of the choices is a Wildcat (Carson Coffman). He didn't even play against us, so I am certainly not worried about him this week. His brother, Chase Coffman plays for the Tigggers. This just in, he's pretty good, as are their other receivers. Getting a pass rush and slowing down their run game will help as well

People need to get over where the game is this week. What's done is done. If anyone really believed that one team, let alone both, would be in the position they are now in - well, you know. By the way - we were 4-0 this year in road games, so we can handle a neutral site.

What really irks me is all the comments not only from KU fans, but from all media sources as well, regarding KU having regrets about the move. These people need to do their homework. This is a two year deal!! This would never have happened without both schools agreeing to move a home game each year. It just so happens that our current home game is the biggest game in years. Dang the luck.

By the way, as I have said in prior big games, do not sell your tickets to MU fans this week. I am sure if you want to sell that bad, a KU fan will gladly pay you a premium. We need all the KU supporters we can get. Go hawks!!

November 19, 2007 at 9:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

This from the KC Star. The game is slated to be about a 70-30 split.

http://www.kansascity.com/167/story/3...

I can't find the article right now that gave the numbers, but the stadium should be at least two thirds KU.

November 19, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawk_bred20 (anonymous) says...

I'm in agreement with you guys. People need to quit complaining about it. The decision is done and I think, for our program, this is much better. Mangino and his staff get to tell recruits, "you get to play one game a year against our biggest rival in an NFL stadium". Most 17-18 year old kids would salivate at an oppurtunity like that.

November 19, 2007 at 10:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

Cornfed hit it on the head. It would be great to play this game at home, BUT, look at this!! We're in the running for a NC!! and the Big 12 championship!! If we can't go to Arrowhead and get it done there, we wouldn't get it done in Dallas or New Orleans either.

Go hawks!

November 19, 2007 at 10:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

nschmi04 (anonymous) says...

Just make sure you remember to Boycott the Red Lyon Tavern! Those a'holes should suffer for their efforts at demeaning KU football.

Boycott the Red Lyon Tavern!

November 19, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

San Antonio

November 19, 2007 at 10:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sss4ever82 (anonymous) says...

yea i heard what Red Lyon was supposedly doing....not very classy at all...

KU!!!!!!

November 19, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUMatt2001 (anonymous) says...

What did the Red Lyon do?

November 19, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

feedback71 (anonymous) says...

what is the Red Lyon tavern doing?

November 19, 2007 at 12:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

They tried to get all the bars downtown to give free stuff away for people who showed up with tickets to the game, but boycotted it to stay in lawrence to make sure the revenue stays local.

November 19, 2007 at 12:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Here's a link to an earlier story talking about it...

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/oc...

November 19, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

The happiest moment for me this weekend was when I found out my mother did not have a ticket for the game Saturday, dad kind of put it together as a guys day. No way you want your mom to be at this thing, it's just too darn dangerous this year.

November 19, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Early estimates by the MPAA are initially eyeing an 'R' rating for this game - - mostly due to graphic language and gratuitous violence. This will not be a venue for the timid or faint of heart. Once the game begins, they anticipate the rating going to an 'NC-17'.

November 19, 2007 at 1:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

OklahomaJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

Haha this is gonna be great!!

November 19, 2007 at 3:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

I don't have any regrets about the venue change but I do have some concerns about injuries, especially the secondary. Anyone know about injuries on the MU side?

November 19, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku_fan25 (anonymous) says...

shellysue
their was an article that said alot of ku fans who were season ticket holders were disappointed in the poor seats the had gotten and also said that chiefs fans were getting better seats so yes they did admit that..just clearing things up

November 19, 2007 at 3:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

clintt (anonymous) says...

I was told about 40,000 seats were sold through KU (ie KU fans), 20,000 seats sold through M*ssouri (yes that whole state should be a curse word), and 20,000 seats through the Chiefs. If you figured roughly half of the Chiefs' seats will be for the good guys, we should have about 50,000 Jayhawk faithful. Also figure in that the majority of people from that armpit of a state spend all their money on meth and tricking out their '81 Camaro, most of the 20,000 Chiefs seats are going to residents of Kansas (the folks that can afford them). I guess thats where you get the 70/30 split.

November 19, 2007 at 5:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

Don't forget all the MU grads that will be working concessions.

November 19, 2007 at 11:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

FELONY (anonymous) says...

I've had Chiefs season tickets since 1987, before that I had season tickets to KU football and basketball. I've witnessed one of the best defensive lines in KU history when Dana Stubblefield, Gilbert Brown, Chris Maumalanga and Kyle Moore played together. Dont assume that Chiefs season ticket holders are Mizzou fans, a large number of season ticket holders are KU fans, as well as Nebraska, Iowa State, etc...But more importantly, the fans of the respective schools in the Border War are the primary ones buying tickets. This is my first time exercising my option. Dont complain about Arrowhead if youve never been there. It is the loudest stadium in the NFL and I believe the noise level will be raised in this game to the detriment of the Tigers.

November 20, 2007 at 12:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Arrowhead will be nothing but good for KU and MU. Whoever wins (for the purpose of discussion, let's say Missouri wins by 30 like one MU fan predicted on ESPN radio the other day) , then that team will be that much more huge-venue seasoned for the Big 12 Championship game in San Antonio. And if (if, if, if) that North team beats OU or UT, they would have twice as much recent experience at a big time venue -- perfectly setting up the Big 12 to be ready for the big lights of New Orleans. In short, arrowhead is the best mistake ever (the first touchdown in NFL SuperBowl history was by a Kansas City Chief receiver, previously a Kansas Jayhawk) -- rock chalk jayhawk!!!

November 20, 2007 at 12:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

FELONY (anonymous) says...

As for next years Border War, one important fact stands out. A great number of Mizzou's season ticket holders are from St. Louis. They have a lot more to complain about with Missouri giving up a home date to be played in Kansas City. MU is not playing the Illini in St. Louis, they're playing the University of Kansas in Kansas City, where KU's winning percentage over MU is greater than their winning percentage is in Lawrence. I expect that to be the case this Saturday after the Jayhawks present the Tigers with their second loss of the season.

November 20, 2007 at 1:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

Good point. Over the long run this should benefit us more than them. I doubt many KU fans who travel to Lawrence would not travel the additional distance to Arrowhead.

November 20, 2007 at 2:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )