Tuesday, January 8, 2008

KU finishes seventh in final AP poll

By J-W Staff Reports

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Kansas University's football team finished ranked No. 7 in both the Associated Press and the USA Today coaches poll.

The Jayhawks entered bowl season ranked eighth. After beating Virginia Tech, 24-21, in the Orange Bowl, Kansas passed Oklahoma and VT in the polls, but dropped behind West Virginia.

The 2007 team ties the 1968 team as earning the highest-ever final ranking at Kansas. The 1995 team finished 10-2 and was ranked No. 9 in the AP poll at season's end.

The SEC - heralded by many as college football's top league - held the final two slots in the final AP poll. LSU, who smacked Ohio State 38-24 in Monday's BCS Championship game, is the obvious number one, followed by Georgia. The Bulldogs picked apart Hawaii 41-10 in the Sugar Bowl last Tuesday. After starting the season 4-2, Georgia finished 11-2, defeating four ranked opponents during its seven-game win streak to close out the year.

Southern Cal, after defeating Illinois on New Year's Day 49-17 in the Rose Bowl, finished ranked third. The Trojans were followed by Missouri. The Tigers, who many thought were the biggest BCS snub, ousted Arkansas 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1. The Tigers also dealt KU its lone defeat of the season - 36-28 on Nov. 24 in Arrowhead Stadium.

For more on this story, read tomorrow's Journal-World and log back onto KUSports.com.

Comments

jayhawk02 (anonymous) says...

LSU and Georgia #1 and #2-----NO WAY! Also, how does Ohio St. finish ahead of KU?! I wonder if we will ever fix this system?

January 8, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

We have the same number of first place votes as USC, I can live with that!!! :D

January 8, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

From the Bottom 10 to the Top 10. I can live with it.

January 8, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

#7 is not right for the only BCS conference team with one loss.

January 8, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

walkdog262 (anonymous) says...

I have no problem with 1-4, but please. This system is bogus. At least KU should be in the top five. But I'm still thrilled with the great season. Rock Chalk!

January 8, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

apeoples410 (anonymous) says...

What a slap in the face!! How can a team with it's only loss to the number 4 team in the country finish below so many 2 loss teams, especially when a couple of the teams lost to sub .500 teams? At least this provides plenty of motivation for next year's team. Congrats on a great season Hawks!

January 8, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

Who cares? These are just polls. KU's accomplishments on the field speak for themselves. Just enjoy it.

January 8, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dsmith84 (anonymous) says...

my main point of disgust is that west virginia, which was ranked 9th and beat the #4 ranked team, leapfrogged us, who were ranked 8th and beat the #3 ranked team...
anyone know who gave us the first place vote?
and to all the critics who still complain about our schedule, we beat 5 bowl teams and lost to the #4 team... which puts us pretty much on par or better than everybody else. yes we might have played a weaker schedule than other teams but when you look at their losses most of the top ranked teams didn't lose to other ranked teams, they lost to unranked teams they should have beaten. bottom line is KU took care of business and won all of the games we SHOULD have won. no other team in the country can say this.
Our only loss was a one possession defeat in a coin flip game at a neutral site.
This is despicable.

January 8, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jerseyhawk (anonymous) says...

Just like Les Miles, Jim Tressel and a slew of other coaches, Spanky needs to speak up for his team, and lobby. This is a beauty pageant..

January 8, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rgreene (Ryan Greene) says...

Even though KU finally beat somebody, it's obvious voters are still looking at the rest of the schedule, which in my mind is completely fair. If KU goes 12-1 with next year's schedule, they'll be No. 2 (or 1?)

January 8, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUbsee69 (anonymous) says...

I believed we'd end up in the top 5, at least. Oh well.

But, hey, #7 is not bad for a basketball school! And remember where we were "ranked" at the beginning of the season. If KU can sustain our football success for several years and prove we're not just a one-hit wonder, then we'll get the respect, and rankings we deserve.

Anyway, nice job, Hawks ... and THANKS!

January 8, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Screwed again! That's been the story of this team all year! No respect! Only #7??? They should be #4 or #5!

Hey, Mangenius, use this to keep them playing with a chip on their shoulder!!

Just wait till next year!

January 8, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

grantmvb (anonymous) says...

klineisanazi - There are so many reasons we should care about not getting a better showing in the polls:

-continued SEC bias
-higher ranking only helps recruiting
-national media influences recruiting
on and on and on...

January 8, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dsmith84 (anonymous) says...

oh, but congrats to KU.
Job well done.
It does up set me that the national media don't recognize KU's greatness, but KU fans recognize that we are a for sure top 5 program.
I am excited about another fantastic season next year! We have all the right pieces to fill all the gaps caused by graduation and early departure, and with another successfull season next year we should be able to really establish ourselves on the recruiting front and build (I know this sounds wierd) a football dynasty at KU.

January 8, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

This will give the guys motivation in the off-season!!!

Go get 'em, Hawks!

January 8, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rhagg (anonymous) says...

4 Big 12 teams in the top 10! Strong conference, strong teams....maybe next year we'll get more respect!

January 8, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

summers (anonymous) says...

I'm sure it was difficult for many people to vote for KU in the top 10. When people have a prejudice it takes a long time to change their minds. This was step one; I can't wait for the next few steps.

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!!!
Does anyone know when basketball season starts?

January 8, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

TKELuke (anonymous) says...

7 is like a slap in the face. I guess you have to go 13-0 to get any respect. Well unless you are from a nonBCS conference. It turns out that two time losers are the new winners.

January 8, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

I think we will get more respect next year rhagg. Not only did we finish with 4 in the top 10 but I think the Big 12 will be even better next season. Whatever happens, atleast we won't have to hear all the whining about our schedule.

January 8, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fundamental (anonymous) says...

I have no problem with Mizzou being ahead of KU in the final polls. We had a tougher bowl game, but also won less convincingly. Oh, and we lost to Mizzou on a neutral field. However, I'm not sure of the logic behind ranking Ohio State ahead of KU. Their best win was at Michigan, who lost to Appalachian State, and OSU lost at home to an Illinois team that was exposed as not-so-good in the Rose Bowl. Couple that with OSU's "KU-soft" non-conference schedule, and I'm really not sure there's a convincing argument that OSU is a better team than KU. The only reason I can think of is that their school's name is The Ohio State University, and KU's is not. Ridiculous. Oh, and while I'm on that tangent, how in the world did KU drop from 5 to 8 in the BCS on a bye week during the Conference Championships and OSU jumps from 3 to 1? Once again, the name on the jersey. Fans should boycott college football until there's actually a reason to recognize the "national champion" as such. Not gonna happen, of course, but it's not right.

January 8, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

apeoples410 (anonymous) says...

Rivals.com has tabbed KU as #11 in it's preseason poll for next year. I thought we'd be a little higher, but we will have plenty of games to prove it next year in games against OU, Texas, Texas Tech and Mizzou. Go Hawks!

January 8, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

swishymcjayhawk (anonymous) says...

p l a y o f f

January 8, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...

Who knows how long it will take before we finally get the respect we deserve? Look at how good our basketball team has been, and for how long, and they still don't get the love they deserve so I hate to say it but it may be a while. Anyway, a top 10 finish is still really good for a "basketball" school. Excellent job Mangino & the rest of the 2007 football team! Congrats on an excellent season & best of luck for next year!

January 8, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

not_important (anonymous) says...

The writer who voted us #1 was Israel Gutierrez from the Miami Herald. Guess you had to see us in person to appreciate the product that was on the field.

#7 is disappointing but year was still incredible. We were only 44 points out of 4th, so the overall difference wasn't that great.

January 8, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

thiknthinhawk (anonymous) says...

Kubsee69 is dead on. We know that KU has built this program and we're not a flash in the pan. But, the rest of the nation needs to see sustained success to get accustomed to treating KU like the football school it has become.
K-State is proof of that. It took sustained success there before they were given respect. It won't take as long for KU to gain this respect. KSU had a bigger mountain to climb if you recall.

January 8, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jimmy_Dean (Alan Halvorsen) says...

Look at the teams Kansas has played. 6 Bowl teams! Three teams in the top 25. Our only loss coming in a close game to the eventual #1. We spanked the number three team in the country, yet still they look at our schedule. bbbbssssss!!!!

What can they say about Kansas not being in the top four? They cannot say schedule, not anymore. Its because we are Kansas straight up. If USC had this schedule, or Ohio State (who did have our schedule) they would be in the national championship (which they were). Yet how in the hell after loosing last night do they finish ahead of us! And Missouri! How do you explain that!!! They wooped up on some crap team that didn't even know how to call plays! Oklahoma got their ass kicked by WV and Missouri lost twice to them!

January 8, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

I posted in an article the other day not to be surprised by this. Many so-called "analysts" still don't take us seriously. We all know what we did this year, and that's all that matters.

fundamental pretty much said what I was going to post, but let me ask it again: anyone want to explain why THE ohio state is a better team that KU? I suppose it's that tough non-con schedule they played... oh, wait. Well then it must be their regular season loss was to a top 5 team... oh, wait. Okay, then I guess they played in a tough conferece... oh, wait. Obviously, the answer must be that they played tough in their bowl game... oh, wait. Oh, right I forgot. They're called Ohio State and their past gives them an automatic top 5 no matter what. Silly me.

Well, KU picked up that 1 first place vote and that's enough for me to be happy in a biased system clearly slanted toward the big named schools. Also the 4 Big 12 in the top ten is fantastic.

Chicago, I might be more hesitant to say that the BBall team doesn't "get any love." We have benefited from name recognition a few times I would say. Outside Jayhawk nation people would think differently from what you said. But Rock Chalk to you anyway.

January 8, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fundamental (anonymous) says...

Darn right, LAJayhawk. Darn right. I've been saying it for years (okay, for about 2 months, but seriously, who saw this being a problem?). People can't get past the shiny gold on Notre Dame's helmets long enough to see them for the frauds they are, just like they can't get past the Big 10's big dollars and Cable Channel to see that entire conference for what they are. What was the Big 10's bowl record? Something like 1-3 or 1-4 with the lone win coming in Michigan's upset of Florida? That conference consistently gets pummeled in their big bowl games (Rose, Nat. Champ. this year, same last year). They are not that good, people. THE Ohio State University should have been required to go undefeated in order to get to the National Championship, but no such luck for the rest of us, who were forced to see them get wiped off the field in the National Championship game for the 2nd straight year. Ridiculous.

January 8, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

Alright Ryan Greene, Ive tried to be patient with you all year, through all your criticisms of this football team.
Enough is enough. The Big Ten that is so dear to you is the weakest BCS conference in the country. Even ESPN, who loves the Big Ten was forced to acknowledge this last night.
Ryan Greene-Please, please explain to me how The Ohio State is ranked ahead of a 12-1 Big 12 team?
The Ohio State has thier signature win against a school that Appalachian State beat. The Big 12 is the second best conference in the country behind the SEC and yet The Ohio State is somehow ranked ahead of us?
Now that we have a football program that is clearly elite. Its time to clean house with the journalist that do nothing but play down and demean our football program. Ryan Greene needs to be sent packing back to the Big Ten, they deserve each other. Woodling needs to be sent back to Mizzou.
I hear enough of why we arent good from Corso, I dont need to hear it from our own journalist.

January 8, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

I got to tell you guys, this reminds me of the lies of Hitler. Keep telling the German people the same lies over and over and over and soon the people will start to believe it.
Well, for four months people like Ryan Greene and Chuck Woodling and Lee Corso kept telling us over and over and over why Kansas wasnt very good and not to get too excited and it showed in this final poll.
I never listened to these guys and I believed they were one of the best in the country and the Big 12 knows it and the ACC Champions know it.

January 8, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bennettcl (anonymous) says...

In recent news I heard Ohio State has changed their mascot to "The Runner-Ups".

While I bet it is exciting to make it to the national championship game in football in '06, then in basketball in '07, then again in football this year, it has to suck badly to lose all 3 of them. As Ricky Bobby says, "If you're not first your last". Second place was only created for sore losers. At least the basketball team earned their place in the national championship game I guess.

Anyways, I'm proud of our Jayhawks awesome season. This season was huge for our football program and I can't wait to see how we fare next year. A pre-season rank of #11, a power house schedule w/ 5 teams pre-season ranked in the top 25, and returning a large percentage of starters. It is going to be a fun challenging season next year.

On to basketball now. Can't wait to see how we end up on the hardwood this year. I have a feelling it is going to be a great season.

Rock Chalk Jayhawks

January 8, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jahawkdave (anonymous) says...

We would NOT have lost to Stanford, Pitt, Illinois, South Carolina, South Florida, Arkansas.... who all beat teams ranked ahead of us. We beat (many times crushed) the opponents on our schedule and had 1 poor half of Football against Mizzou.

Why isn't losing to poor teams especially non-bowl teams punished more. Losing to Pitt and Stanford is ridiculous and at home! We get punished for beating the poor teams on our schedule by 50 and losing to #4. But then Ga and USC get additional votes by crushing teams that shouldn't even be in a BCS bowl. The rose bowl is a sham and the Big 10 is so overated and PAC 10 too. Let the B10 and P10 conf champs play in the hose bowl and remove that bowl and those 2 conferences from the system and have a playoff with the remaining teams. Please don't allow OSU to play in a meningful bowl game again!

Big 12 should have had 3 BCS bowl teams and B10 zero

What a great year for Mangino and the boys we could have played with anyone in the Country. We gained alot of respect but I guess we need to gain more. We should have ended up ranked ahead of WV and OSU, but we'll prove it next year.

Next: Final Four and ncaamb Champions!

January 8, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Someone was wondering who gave KU the first place vote. The day after the Orange Bowl, Collin Cowheard (a Portland native with a good talk show on ESPN), said he was throwing his #1 vote to Kansas.

KU had a remarkable season and has so much to be proud of. However... I still don't see how that lone loss to Missouri has not allowed us to climb any higher than 7th. Especially considering we dropped to 5th after the loss.

So big deal, we lost once (that would be half as many losses as the other top 6 teams) by one touchdown with multiple key players injured, on a neutral field. We never had a chance to play OU, a team that drilled MU, and was also drilled by WV. As for MU's final #4, that seems fair enough, although it's interesting to note that the "great SEC team" they beat (Arkansas) ended up ranked 31st. It's also interesting to note, unlike us, they had no chance in the 4th quarter in their final loss of the season, a 21 point spanking.

Maybe if KU would have played OU and lost by only 20, we would have been ranked higher than MU in the final polls.

January 8, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fundamental (anonymous) says...

Shouldn't that be "The Runners-Up?" Just saying is all. I disagree with the comparison of Ryan Greene to Hitler. That one seems a bit extreme, personally.

January 8, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

Anyone else think that's it's a great problem to have when you get ranked #7 in the final football polls and you still think you got screwed?

I've always been an optimist about KU football, but this is ridiculous. Mangino should have warned us before going out and having a season like this. Jayhawks weren't prepared to have to scrape together money to go to a BCS game. Heck, some of them probably didn't even think we'd make a bad bowl game.

Ah well, I guess we'll have to be prepared for next year. Sweet (enter Peter Griffin laugh here)

January 8, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

I repeat, Arkansas finished ranked 31st. VT finished ranked 9th. So MU gets in the top five because they beat a nobody?

January 8, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

Uh, a nobody and KS.

January 8, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

PLKaws23 (anonymous) says...

This poll is screwed up, no way should missouri be ranked above ku for one. Also Kansas is the best team with only one loss no question therefor I dont see any way they are not in the top 3. this is my top 5

lsu
usc
kansas
West Virginia
Georgia

January 8, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jimmy_Dean (Alan Halvorsen) says...

Stanford got screwed USC finished ahead of them, and Stanford beat them head to head on their turf!

January 8, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

I never called Greene evil, but he is part of a huge propaganda machine against KU Football, which reminds me of Germany in the 1930s. Check out what James Carville has to say about Corso and Greenes beloved Big Ten Conference.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/v...

January 8, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

http://channelgregnet.com/2008/01/08/...

If that didnt work, I found the Carville rant on this site.

Hey Greene, bring Appalachian State to Memorial Stadium and see what happens. Oh wait, we already did, the year that Appalachian State won thier first title, they came to Lawrence and got spanked and we are light years better now!
We KU fans dont want to hear another word about the Big Ten this offseason. Just zip it!

January 8, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

apeoples410 (anonymous) says...

Will there be a final release of BCS standings or are we stuck with the final AP and coaches polls?

January 8, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

Somebody from mizboohoo made a decent post here recently and for a split second I thought to myself, maybe there are some mizwho fans who are not suffering from acute cases of arrested development. Then for some inexplicable reason I went on the Star to see if the puddycats have stopped whining. If you have any inclination to visit said site, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're one of those types who has to stop and stare at a bad car crash. Really disgusting. Makes the Jerry Springer Show look like Masterpiece Theatre.

Hey folks, we're a top ten team and we won a BCS bowl. We should be content with that. Let's not whine like you know who. Everyone knows the system is flawed and we are not the only team with a complaint. Besides, after number 1 is determined nobody cares about the rest of the rankings.

January 8, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

KU showing up 7 in both polls tells me one thing -- Talib and Collins' accomplishments this year have been very underappreciated nationally. It is sad for them to take off for the NFL this way, where they most likely will sit on the sidelines for the next two years, "waiting for game experience". If they want excellent game experience, they can get one more year of excellent NFL training camp "real game" experience next year at KU (where KU will play multiple future NFL players at OU, UT, etc), then take off for the NFL, and perhaps START in the NFL from the get-go after leading Kansas to a national championship.

January 8, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

It's an East Coast double standard. Rutgers shows up in 2006 as a one-year wonder and everyone sings their praises, then we do the same in 2007 (except for the one-year wonder), and everyone turns up their nose at us. We're the Rodney Dangerfield Jayhawks!

January 8, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

conner33 (anonymous) says...

SHAM!!! I understand some teams, but WV jumping 6 spots?!?!? & Ohio State? The whole thing is F'd UP!

January 8, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

I don't really have a problem with MU finishing ahead of KU in the polls. I realize that this is a KU site, but some of you are being a little unrealistic. Our major national appearances were the MU game and the bowl. Most voters saw MU beat us, so they aren't going to jump us over them. Most voters saw the bowls and saw MU crush Ark (game was never in doubt). Most voters saw us beat VT, but never really bury them. They see a program on the rise, but when comparing to the teams in front of us...

Georgia? Our d-line is smallish for D-1. That would be a problem against a big power running team like Georgia. Their defense would be average, but I'm not sure we could make it a shootout with them pounding the ball.

USC? They are athletic, but I feel like we match up pretty well with them, actually. It would be a shootout. That one would be a tossup.

tOSU? Same problem as vs. Georgia, but from a less talented team. I think we'd beat them unless we turned the ball over a lot.

WVU? Bad matchup for us because of the size of their line and speed of their qb and rbs. Also, WVU didn't lose a game that Pat White finished. Their d doesn't get much recognition, but they are fast and can hold opponents down when necessary.

The benefit of this ranking is that KU will begin next season ranked in the top 15. Next year, with the beefed up schedule, we have a chance (if we just beat the teams in front of us every week like we did this year) to really make a national impression. Overall, a great season. I'm not crying over a #7 rank or MU being in front. We won a BCS bowl and will be ranked to start next year. That's what matters.

January 8, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

It is because folks don't want one school with all of the sports power ...

Florida isn't a poster child for football like we are for hoops ... they're "novel"

***

If Notre Dame, USC or Alabama made it to the Final Four, you might see the same reaction - in my opinion!

Ditto for Duke or UNC making a BCS Bowl ...

January 8, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

If anyone should be mad it should be Hofstra because they beat Furman, Furman beat Georgia Southern, Georgia Southern beat Appalachian State, Appalachian State beat Michigan, Michigan beat Florida, Florida beat Kentucky and Kentucky beat LSU.

If this season has proven anything it's that the national title is still a mythical award. The only thing the title game proved to me is that Ohio State is not the best team (as if we needed a game to realize that). And, I am thoroughly unconvinced that LSU is the best team in the country. But it has been one of the most unusual and exciting seasons ever and it has been a blast for KU to play such a big role in it. The Jayhawks won the Orange Bowl and flirted with a national title. Can it get any better.

January 8, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

I'm not excited about KU only being ranked 7th, but WV & OU are the teams that really got screwed. WV pummels OU who had pummeled MU (2x's) who had beaten KU but WV is only 6th and OU is even lower while MU is 4th.

Ah the irony - MU spends a month whining about KU benefitting (OB bid) by losing, but will undoubtedly puff their chests for 10 more after benefitting (#4 ranking after pummeling a "nobody" in a second tier bowl) by losing.

It will be interesting (pathetic?) to heard the tigger spin on this "injustice". But then they have "proved" on the field that they are the better team. Cough. Cough.

Mostly though, great season to the 'Hawks. Keep sawin'!

Rock Chalk!

January 8, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

Sevenyear, your comparison is completely irrelevant. Who cares what people would say if ND, USC or Bama made the Final Four. The point is that they would have EARNED the right to be there. OSU didn't earn crap, and it's an absolute JOKE that they're ahead of KU. I can at least see an argument for WV, but they lost at home to a terrible Pitt team and that alone should have put them behind KU. The only teams who legitimately deserve to be ahead of us are LSU, USC and Mizzou--and you could even make a strong argument against USC, given that they lost to a 41-point underdog.

I find it infuriating that KU beat every team they should have beaten, beat a top-5 team, and had a close loss to another top-5 team, yet has 6 2-loss teams ranked ahead of them.

January 8, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

oldvet (anonymous) says...

You think Hofstra has a right to be mad? How about The Citadel, who beat Elon who beat Wofford who beat Appalachian State who beat Michigan who beat Notre Dame, who beat UCLA who beat Oregon who beat South Florida who beat West Virginia who beat Oklahoma who beat Missouri (TWICE) who beat Arkansas who beat LSU!!!

The cumulative margin of victory was The Citadel +220 points... There's the team that really has a complaint!!!

January 8, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

you know, I've been around this too much to be upset ...

just like I didn't freak out when Va Tech made a run at us in Miami ...

It is what it is, and I have faith in Coach Mangino!

They'll use the ranking for motivation ...

that comparison afterall is just my opinion! :D

January 8, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufb8686 (anonymous) says...

From a VA Tech sportswriter - ...The game marked the end of the careers of 20 Tech seniors, who still leave as the winningest class in school history. They finished their careers with a 42-11 overall record.

========================

We beat a solid group of guys. Wouldn't it be nice to have a 4 year run like they've had. Nice.

January 8, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jimmy_Dean (Alan Halvorsen) says...

Yeah Seattle it does get better.

Flirting is nice, but you don't see guys coming home at the end of the night celebrating a good flirt!

January 8, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

i tried to tell my son to never ever get into a situation where sucess depends upon somone voting as to your own future. the bcs has been a joke all along.

never tell the truth when a lie will do. hitler??
if you tell a lie long enough,often enough, someone will believe it. ?? hitler and others
you can fool all of the people some of the time. you can fool some of the people all of the time. BUT you cannot fool ALL of the people ALL of the time!
Abe Lincoln

January 8, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

woodhawk (anonymous) says...

If anyone thinks we're finally being taken seriously after our great season, have a look at ESPN.com's pre pre pre-season Top 25.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns...

You'd hope that we'd at least be Top 10, but as usual, there's a severe lack of respect and research by the writers. With 9 starters returning on D and 6, including Hot Toddy, on O how can we NOT be top 10?
Oh well, I guess we can just have a chip on our shoulder next season too. Let's show these d-bags 2k7 wasn't a fluke and that Kansas football is the new black of the ncaa.

rock chalk jayhawk!!!

January 8, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

"Half of the people can be part right all of the time,
Some of the people can be all right part of the time.
But all of the people can't be right all of the time.
I think Abraham Lincoln said that.
'I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours,'
I said that." ---Bob Dylan

Just so I have this straight.... According to that super-duper-double-secret-probation-pre-season rankings, we are 15th because we will figure out that sustaining success is hard and our schedule is tougher, so we must be lower before it starts. Okay, that makes sense.

January 8, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Well, at least Dennis Dodd loves us. He ranked us #3 in his final power poll on CBS Sportsline.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoot...

January 8, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

i gave you the correct quote by a. lincoln. who would you believe lincoln or dylan?

January 8, 2008 at 10:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

albraun (anonymous) says...

As far as MU is concerned, I really don't care that they're ranked a notch or 3 above us, in polls that really don't matter that much. Over the long haul, I think $17mill from the Orange Bowl vs $3mill from the Cotton Bowl will make a bigger difference. (And yes I realize the schools don't get all that money but they get a big chunk of it and I'm sure KU brought home a lot more than the tigg's!)

January 8, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hayjock (anonymous) says...

I've read in the North Tarrant Newspaper in Dallas that
Chase daniels dad bought him a new Lincoln pickup as a gift for winning the Big 12 North ?????????very pricy for a gift don;t you think???

January 10, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )