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An overhead view of Kansas University's Memorial Stadium shows the new Anderson Family Football Complex, at left, and the new practice fields at the bottom. The Jayhawks were 7-0 at home last season, and their first three games at home this season are against considerable underdogs.
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KU defense on a roll
On October 14, 2006, Adarius Bowman made the Kansas defense look like the bad news bears at Memorial Stadium. Since then, however, the Jayhawks' home field has been nothing shy of a snakepit for opposing teams.
As a ruby-shoed Kansas girl once mused, "There's no place like home," and on the eve of the Kansas University football team's 2008 season, that proclamation seems to be coming to fruition for the Jayhawks.
Since a 42-33 loss to Oklahoma State on Oct. 14, 2006, Kansas hasn't lost a game at Memorial Stadium, reeling off nine straight victories at Kivisto Field, including wins over Colorado, Kansas State and Nebraska.
Last season, the team finished 7-0 at home, and with its next three home games coming against considerable underdogs Florida International (Aug. 30), Louisiana Tech (Sept. 6) and Sam Houston State (Sept. 20), there's a good chance that number could jump to 12 by the time this year's conference schedule rolls around.
"We've got good fan support," coach Mark Mangino said at Big 12 Media Days two weeks ago. "The last two years, I think, we've set a home attendance record. So the fans are turning out, and they're making it a hostile place, more so than it (used to be)."
That certainly seemed to be the case last season. In their seven games at Memorial Stadium in 2007, the Jayhawks outscored opponents by an average of 56-11, holding teams to seven or fewer points on four different occasions in what is widely considered to be the program's best season in school history.
The key now, according to junior safety Darrell Stuckey, is believing that the success stems more from preparation and execution than a game's location.
"We have to get to the point where we know we didn't win those games because we were at home," Stuckey said. "We won them because of the swagger and the determination that we have."
GameDay Cram Session: Michigan State January 9, 2009
Lady Hawks open conference play against K-State January 8, 2009
KU takes to the road for Michigan State January 8, 2009
First-half surge dooms Siena to 91-84 setback January 7, 2009
Panel studying faculty ticket process January 7, 2009
Comments
chuckberry32 (anonymous) says...
damn skippy, gonna win 13 more this year too!!!
August 5, 2008 at 5:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
njjayhawk (anonymous) says...
As great as Memorial Stadium is and has been over the years, the fact is 50,000 seats aren't going to qualify for big time college football, if that is indeed the KU goal. KU needs to begin thinking how to expand Memorial Stadium in several segments to ultimately get to 75,000 seats (and fill them with fans), if KU is to join the elite ranks in college football. It's time to develop architectural renderings as to what a larger capacity Memorial Stadium would look like, and to prompt JayhawkNation to dream a bit in that regard.
And I know I harped a week or so ago about those hideous black KU band uniforms; but in all seriousness, people, those lousy uniforms have to go - they are bland and cheap looking, and make KU look like a poor marching high school band. These cheap, black uniforms are the laughingstock of the Big 12.
August 5, 2008 at 5:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhawk4life1976 (anonymous) says...
I know that this has nothing to do w/Memorial Stadium but I've read that Misery fans have already bought out their allotment for the Border War @ Arrowhead and are starting to buy from ours. Hawk fans can't let this happen. I already have 4 tickets for the game.
August 5, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cshjhawk (anonymous) says...
Saw this thru Sports Illustrated website posted by someone from dawg.com:
Kansas at South Florida (September 12): This represents the most legitimate regular-season non-conference test for which the Jayhawks have signed up since Mark Mangino's club took on Northwestern in Evanston in 2004. This also represents the game in which K.U.'s Orange Bowl victory will come back to bite the 'Hawks, for two reasons. First of all, the validating win over Virginia Tech created expectations as outsized as the head coach for what promises to be one of the year's most overrated teams. Secondly, the B.C.S. bowl win in the Sunshine State virtually ensures that Kansas lacks an adequate appreciation of the difference between the heat and humidity of Miami in January and that of Tampa in September. The trip to take on the Bulls will mark the season's first road trip for the Jayhawks, whose outings last autumn on opponents' home fields yielded successive victories by six, five, eight, and 15 points over teams that finished with seven, seven, six, and six losses, respectively. Against Matt Grothe and 19 other returning starters from a U.S.F. unit that defeated Auburn, North Carolina, and West Virginia en route to a second straight nine-win season last fall, the Jayhawks will learn the hard way that they're not in Kansas anymore as they fall well short of victory against a team on the cusp of the top ten.
All that I have to say is that that Dawg has never been to Kansas in August!
August 5, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawkfan20 (anonymous) says...
Step up Hawk fans and get your Border War tickets. We need to sell our allotment out NOW.
As far as expanding the stadium, that won't be possible until we expand our season ticket base. If we can get enough season ticket holders to sell out the stadium and start a waiting list, I think you can start to fast track an expansion. KU fans at this point are too used to walking up on gameday and grabbing a ticket so until they can't do that anymore, it's pretty tough to justify expanding the stadium.
August 5, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KUMatt2001 (anonymous) says...
Looking at the aerial shot on the front page, that would be nice if they use all that space on the two practice fields for tailgating activities on gamedays, like for tents or activities for kids. I also hope they include the new building on gamedays... open it up for fans to wander in from the hill and check out the little hall of athletics area, maybe have a concession stand, or bathrooms for the tailgaters...
Or will there be security at the door only letting in the big $$$ alumns...
August 5, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
troutsee (anonymous) says...
Agree with expanding the seating capacity of Memorial Stadium. The decision to do that will hinge on the outcome of this season's games. If we go 10-2, and I think we will, then we can begin thinking about enlarging Memorial and, above all, improving the horrible parking situation around Memorial.
We will beat South Florida. There is no doubt in my mind. Dawg is way, way out of touch with what is happening in Lawrence.
August 5, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HawkFanEddie (anonymous) says...
Dugan went to Mizzou. Why did LJW hire him?
August 5, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Swamphawk (anonymous) says...
cshjhawk - You're right. I live in South Florida and I can tell you that Florida heat has nothing on Kansas heat. We'll top out at heat indexes slightly over 100 and Kansas will easily out-do that. At some point hot is just hot.
August 5, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KU (anonymous) says...
cshjhawk.......Whoever wrote that piece you posted obviously hasn't experienced heat and humidity in Kansas in August and early September. I think the weather will have little to do with the outcome of that game in Tampa.
I think it will take about 5 years of winning football before we can really start thinking about a stadium expansion.
August 5, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Appoggiatura (anonymous) says...
Gotta love all the naysayers. Just when you thought this team wouldn't be able to play with the chip on their shoulder that they did last year, b/c of the success. This will just add fuel to the fire. It'll be on them to go out an earn it.
As for the Border War, it's pretty sad that we could be looking at maybe 50K-30K MU to KU, or worse. If it was basketball, KU fans they might sell their first born to go. Credit has to go to the Tigger fans, who must be loving it.
August 5, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhawkclassof02 (anonymous) says...
I think it would be unrealistic to think that Lew and staff haven't at least put some thought into expanding Memorial. I bet that there's at least a half dozen different scenarios floating around in the athletic department about stadium expansion. Just because its not public doesn't mean that they're not thinking about it too. I guarantee you, they are. I think alot of things have to happen before an expansion. If we have continued success I bet it'd still be a 5-8 year timeline given all the other projects floating around KU Athletics right now. Unless there is a Pickens type donation given specifically to the football program then it'll take some time.
August 5, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rolo2383 (anonymous) says...
They talked about, during Terry Allen's memorable era on the hill, getting rid of the track and lowering the field. If I remember right that would add 10,000 - 15,000 seats.
I agree with other posters that we aren't quite ready to add more seats at this point. Hopefully, I don't see any reason why we won't, we will win at least 9 regular season games. If that happens season tickets will be hard to get a hold of next year.
I have not gotten my season tickets yet but plan on doing so once I submit this earth shattering post.
August 5, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HawkFanEddie (anonymous) says...
Dugan is a Tiger!
August 5, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
troutsee (anonymous) says...
Unbelievable that our fans have let MU fans acquire most of the tickets for the game. But, that was also the way it was last year. Just another reason to return this game to Lawrence.
Getting rid of the track and lowering the playing field is a good idea.
August 5, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
littlerichard (anonymous) says...
Tues. Aug. 4th:
Tampa: 92 degrees
Lawrence: 101
"a U.S.F. unit that defeated Auburn, North Carolina, and West Virginia en route to a second straight nine-win season last fall"
- West Virginia win was by 8. WV also lost to Pitt (a 5-7 team)
- North Carolina was (4-8)
- Auburn win was by 3 in OT. And Auburn was not very good (8-4, and all their wins were squeakers).
- I'm impressed with USF's 9 wins, but Kansas had 3 more than that.
August 5, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rolo2383 (anonymous) says...
Just ordered my season tickets and ordered three tickets to the game at Arrowhead.
25 days until kickoff!!!
August 5, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KGphoto (anonymous) says...
Definitely open the practice fields for pre-gaming. They do that here in Boulder at Folsom Field and it's great. Actually, last year, KU fans filled up quite a bit of it.
True hawkfan20, you can't possibly expand until you're overflowing. College is the opposite of the pros. It begins with winning tradition and ends with bigger stadiums. One Orange bowl victory, does not a tradition make. But we're certainly pointed in the right direction. Patience njjayhawk.
Border War? If you can't out-attend them, out-sign them. How about somebody run with an anchorman theme.
"Time to musk up. It's called Sex Tiger. Made with bits of real tiger, so you know it's good".
"It's a formidable scent... It stings the nostrils".
August 5, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KGphoto (anonymous) says...
Chase Daniel can be Brick Tamland!
August 5, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KGphoto (anonymous) says...
-Sex Tiger: "Smells like a used diaper... filled with Indian food"
-"Let's go see if we can make this little kitty purr".
etc.
August 5, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
j2r (anonymous) says...
Yeah .... no more high school band day (I hope)
August 5, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
r1ck_jayhawk (anonymous) says...
I have to agree with njjayhawk. I was in band at KU for many years PROIR to the new uniforms. The old ones, while bulky and unforgiving, were nice looking. Bright Crimson and Blue with some white. There was a Uniform. Mr. Clemmer, these new Uniforms have got to go!
Rock Chalk! Can't wait to be there to watch these kids continue the success that they started.
August 5, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GoBadgers (anonymous) says...
Look what this retard posted on a different story:
Posted by number1jayhawker (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 12:45 p.m.
GoBadgers, why don't you make like your name sake and GO. And hopefully for good.
Is there like a special book of "clever" insults all you chickenf*cks use, or do you come up with this sh*t by yourself?
August 5, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhawkjdub (anonymous) says...
How the entire season is not sold out for KU football is beyond me. First off 12-1 and Orange Bowl Champs. Shouldn't that be enough?
Our commercials on both radio and TV for season tickets give me chills just from remembering everything we did last season. Our marketing team did a great job on those.
Yet last I heard our season ticket base has increased from last year, but not significantly. Why not? Reach into your pocket books people, and buy your season tickets! Or at least a few single game tickets. This team has come too far to, and deserves to play in front of a packed stadium of blue every Saturday! let's make it happen!
i bought my season tickets the week after the Orange Bowl, and my Mizzou tickets a week after they first became available. Make this season just as good as last year's if not better!
August 5, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkjim80 (anonymous) says...
Thank you jhawkdub for saying what I have been ever since the end of last season. All of KU's tickets for games this season should already be gone.
I agree with the other posts. Would love to see a stadium expansion someday, at least 10-15K, but I agree that we need to sell out what we have and get a waiting list going. It could happen after that.
I know everyone complained about the game at Arrowhead last year. But let's get real here people, the need to have our butts in the seats and our team being supported in a key game versus people not liking a particular atmosphere is much more important. Come on Jayhawk Nation, keep our Border War tickets in KU hands, not our opponent's.
Finally, Jayhawk Nation can make a statement with a great showing at a road game in Tampa that will be a great time. South Florida's fan base is improving also, but they play at a 65K seat NFL stadium, and they generally don't sell out, so if you are considering making a road trip for this game, do it. Let's get as many KU fans there as possible to dilute some of USF's home field advantage.
To all of our alums in Florida - you all did a great job at the Orange Bowl, let's do it again for the game in Tampa. You all need to be there, and I think we will have a good crowd from the midwest there also.
These things many are talking about for the future can go a long way toward becoming reality if our fans support the team across the board not only this season, but for years to come. Rock Chalk!!
August 5, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JayViking (anonymous) says...
Heat index in lawrence right now: 103
Heat index in tampa right now: 105
Yeah. Lawrence is chilly this time of year.
August 5, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...
Jesus, that's insane.
One thing I don't miss about Larry, that beautiful heat index in August coupled with the complete absence of a breeze. Ugh...
August 5, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lisabraun01 (anonymous) says...
A while back there was a big article about this being the last year for the Relays in the stadium due to the Athletic Dept removing the track. From what I've heard from sources inside the athletic department, they're building a new track facililty over near the softball/baseball fields and will be revamping the stadium with more seats. I don't think we'll get to 75,000 that way, but it's a start.
August 5, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cshjhawk (anonymous) says...
Did Coach Fam interview Dugan?
August 5, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhawkdan42 (anonymous) says...
gobadgers- it must suck being you, I mean to go through life having to root for a team that sucks so bad that you have to go on a rivals site with your pathetic rants.
August 5, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Strikewso (anonymous) says...
lisabraun, that makes perfect sense. The land where the football team used to practice is open now, so we should put the track there. Then we could lower the field to add more seats and improve the view.
We could also expand the closed bowl so the stadium is uniform all the way around. It should always stay open for the nice view of the campus.
August 5, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GoBadgers (anonymous) says...
Actually jhawkdan42, it's pretty sweet being me. I'd be more than happy to give you a little behind-the-scenes tour of my life sometime. I usually charge $5 an hour, $30 for the entire day, $50 for the weekend, and free of charge for children under 12. For you though, I'll give an entire week. No cost.
August 5, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhawkdan42 (anonymous) says...
gobadgers-do you work on Harry Hines in Dallas?
August 5, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JBurtin (anonymous) says...
I don't think you could get away with building an upper deck on the bowl. The stadium is already pretty close to the street and my guess is that building codes would prevent us from building much closer. Maybe a partial deck.
I really think the step after lowering the track would be to build an overhanging upper deck on the student section side to make it match the height of the pressboxes.
I've seen our attendance get as high as 55,000 (technically above stadium capacity). If we could add at least 10,000 seats by removing the track, and another 10,000 with an upper deck then the stadium would be comparable to many elite teams.
I also think you could build a wedge of seating on the lower part of the student section side that matched the angle of the new athletic center. It woud add seats without serious detriment to the view, and you could shove the opposing fans even further past the endzone.
August 5, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )