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Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Mangino A-OK with I-AA opponents

By Ryan Wood

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Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino heard the giggles back in 2005 from schedule-strength pundits.

With the '05 season just months away, KU quickly was running out of options to find one more nonconference opponent for its football schedule. Associate athletic director Larry Keating finally opened up communication with Division I-AA schools and found a team willing to come to Lawrence on the weekend Kansas needed someone.

That team? Appalachian State.

"I don't think anybody is snickering anymore," Mangino says now.

Not after ASU, the two-time defending I-AA national champion, knocked off No. 5 Michigan, 34-32, on Saturday.

Kansas handled the Mountaineers, 36-8, that warm night in Lawrence two years ago. But Mangino maintained then - as he does now - that Appalachian State is on par with many lower-division teams in Division I-A.

Kansas continues to schedule games against teams in I-AA, now referred to as the Football Championship Subdivision. The Jayhawks never have had much of a problem winning those games in the Mangino era, and they hope that continues Saturday when FCS opponent Southeastern Louisiana comes to Lawrence for a 6 p.m. game.

KU offense goes vertical

When the switch was made earlier in the year to Ed Warner as the new offensive coordinator, change was to be expected, but not this quickly.

As for the shocker in Michigan? Don't expect that to keep Kansas from scheduling FCS teams in the future, probably annually.

"I don't mind that it's one a year," Mangino said. "A lot of those teams are eager to do it and want to do it to help subsidize their programs."

And Kansas is eager to do it for two reasons: It's another home game to bring in revenue, and it's a game KU should win if it shows up ready to play.

The Jayhawks have played an FCS team every year in Mangino's tenure except 2004.

All of those games have been lopsided so far - a 44-24 victory over Missouri State in Mangino's first season was the closest. But FCS teams always sneak in a jab or two - or in Michigan's case, a knockout.

"There's risk anytime you play anybody," Mangino said. "It's the coach's job, and that's my job to get our guys ready to play week after week. No matter who the opponent is."

Little Big Wins

Here's how Kansas has fared against the Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) in the Mark Mangino era:

Year - Opponent - Result

2002 - Missouri State - W, 44-24

2003 - Jacksonville State - W, 41-6

2005 - Appalachian State - W, 36-8

2006 - Northwestern State - W, 49-18

KU Football

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Comments

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Like I said in a previous message board, the KU football team can do something Michigan can't: That is to beat Appy State. Hmmm, I wonder what would happen if KU took on UM some time in the future?

September 4, 2007 at 1:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkstacey (anonymous) says...

uhh.... we'd get smoked.

September 4, 2007 at 2:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...

Hey KU received 1 vote in the AP poll. Thats a start.

September 4, 2007 at 4:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JJHawq (anonymous) says...

I don't think we get smoked -

so you're saying Ap St > KU by a large margin??????

I don't think so.....

September 4, 2007 at 5:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

It's only one vote but it puts us on the radar. Given the typical rate of attrition, if we run the tables in noncon I think we'll break into the top 25 unless we struggle in the process.

Talk about taking a tumble, michigan drops 21 places out of the top 25. Also made the number 5 spot on the Bottom 10. To top it off they have to pay app state $400,000. Ouch!

September 4, 2007 at 6:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhox (anonymous) says...

The Big 10 is over rated as usual. Ohio State has had a few legitimate powerhouse teams in the past several years, and there have been a few other legitimate top 25 type teams, but every year that conference starts out with way more than their share of ranked teams.

Michigan continues to live on past reputation. Iowa is another example. Nearly every year they start the season with a lofty ranking and quickly get exposed. They've had trouble getting by mediocre Iowa State teams (of course, so did MU last year--I still can't figure that out but I sure enjoyed it.) Most of the teams in the Big 10 lack speed at the non skill positions. Appalacian State made Michigan look slow on Saturday and Michigan is one of the faster teams in that conference.

I would like Kansas chances against most of the teams in the Big 10 this year, Michigan included.

The Big 12 had a down year last year, but I believe this is a redemption year. There are a lot of top 25 and borderline top 25 type of teams in the conference this year.

For my money, year end year out, the Southeast conference is the the best from top to bottom. Size is good, speed is better, and teams with big guys who are fast dominate. That's also why the Big 12 South has had the North's number the past few years. It's all about size, speed and having a capable QB. This Kansas team seems to have the speed and the QB issues covered. We'll have to wait and see how the big guys do when they get into conference play, but I like our chances of having an 8 win season if we stay healthy.

September 4, 2007 at 8:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Kirk (anonymous) says...

jhox -- well, yeah. It's about having size, speed, a good quarterback -- and everything else, like good coaching and smart team play.

In sum, success in college football is about...everything. Teams that excel in any given area, like speed, also excel in size and great coaching, and a great venue, etc.

The Southeast is probably the best conference top to bottom, but the best team can come from a number of conferences, including the Big XII (see Texas two years ago).

Nebraska excepted, the North contains no strong football traditions, and lacks not only speed, but every other important component of college football mastery.

September 4, 2007 at 9:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Ah, but this KU team is special. And the North is stronger than you think.

September 4, 2007 at 10:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

I agree jhox. The SEC has been the best conference for some time. I think the Big 10 was a premier conference a long time ago but they've been pretty average for some time now. Look at their non-con wins and you won't be too impressed.

Not that good in basketball either.

It bothers me that the founders of our conference stole their name. When the Big 6 was founded the Big 10 was already in existence. Seems like a copyright infringment to me, the word "Big" followed by a number. When we merged with the SW conference I thought they we change the name.

September 5, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. ( | suggest removal )