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With two weeks remaining in college football’s regular season — and an additional round of conference championship games — no team’s bowl fate has been officially sealed.
Tuesday, however, the Kansas University football team received a strong vote of confidence from representatives of the Insight Bowl, held Dec. 31 in Tempe, Ariz.
“They’re one of the two that we want,” said Dave Tilson, chairman of the board for the Fiesta Bowl, a sister bowl to the Insight Bowl. “In other words, if it gets down to one or two or three, they are clearly in our target. They’re in our wheelhouse. They’re the kind of team we want to have come, where people are coming, (and) they’re going to enjoy themselves.”
The Insight Bowl traditionally takes the No. 6 team from the Big 12 and the No. 6 team from the Big 10 — although various developments, such as two Big 12 teams qualifying for BCS bowls, could alter that slightly — and features a payout of $1.2 million per team. Kansas, which is also considered a candidate for the Sun Bowl and Independence Bowl, is currently seventh in the Big 12 with a record of 6-5 (3-4 in conference play).
According to Tilson, Insight Bowl representatives have been in attendance at four Kansas games so far this season, more than just about any other Big 12 team, and have liked the fact that the Jayhawks have stayed competitive despite enduring one of the harsher schedules in the conference.
“They had the roughest schedule in the North against those guys,” Tilson said. “And I think you guys have hung in those games. You’ve played hard. Not one was a crazy blowout by any stretch of the imagination. You guys showed a lot of great football prowess.”
It probably doesn’t hurt, either, that the Fiesta Bowl has a recent — albeit brief — history with the Jayhawks. Before Kansas accepted an invitation to the Orange Bowl last season, where the team would go on to win its first BCS Bowl in school history, members of the Fiesta Bowl committee made a push for the Jayhawks.
The deal wasn’t able to be completed, resulting in Oklahoma making its second straight trip to the Fiesta Bowl, but the situation helped familiarize the committee with Kansas football.
While bowl projections are a fickle beast — by this time next week, the postseason outlook could be significantly different — a New Year’s holiday in Tempe for the Jayhawks seems, for the moment, a distinct possibility.
And with the Kansas men’s basketball team taking on Arizona University in Tucson on Dec. 23, Jayhawks fans longing for a reprieve from the winter cold could find plenty to do in sunny Arizona.
“We want to get them out of the cold weather,” Tilson said of Kansas fans. “You guys aren’t growing any corn at that time of the year. If you’re not growing corn, you might as well get in those dualies and get on out here.”












Comments
KGphoto (anonymous) says...
Did he just call us hicks? Are we the Tempe Hillbillies?Hey ya'll! Git off yer porch, pick the hayseed outchyer teefs, and load up the truck. We're gonna go on out to the desert, score some touchdowns and wave the corn! YeeeeHaaaaaw!
November 19, 2008 at 5:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
springtxhawk (anonymous) says...
You just gotta laugh. First of all I guess he hasn't spent too much time in Lawrence as I don't remember alot of "dualies".But second, you think a guy in the recruiting business would:a. know that we are not the ag school andb. It's the WHEAT state dude! We wave the WHEAT, not the cornstalks.Oh, well. I think we'd take Phoenix on New Years eve over Shreveport anyday and we'll bring the corn on the cob.
November 19, 2008 at 5:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FreddyD (anonymous) says...
While KU fans should be flattered by the Insight Bowl's interest in us, Mr. Tilson may have forgotten about the TT game when he said "Not one was a crazy blowout by any stretch of the imagination..."KU over Mizzou Nov 29 and a win in the Insight Bowl - we go 8-5... Not bad.
November 19, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HawkDigestCom (anonymous) says...
“They had the roughest schedule in the North against those guys,” Tilson said. “And I think you guys have hung in those games. You’ve played hard. Not one was a crazy blowout by any stretch of the imagination. You guys showed a lot of great football prowess.”I don't know, I thought the Tech game got a little out of hand, but maybe he defines blowout a little differently than me.
November 19, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ohjayhawk (anonymous) says...
I figure we'll end up in the Insight Bowl only because it's on the NFL Network, and I don't get the NFL Network.
November 19, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rivethead (anonymous) says...
The TT game was a blowout by any standards. He's just talking sweet on us. All part of courting for bowls.
November 19, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rccoleon (anonymous) says...
"no team’s bowl fate has been officially sealed." actually Navy accepted a bid to the Congressional Bowl in DC about a year ago. Once they became bowl eligible a few weeks ago, it was official. They are already selling tickets.
November 19, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Code_2008 (Cody Stumma) says...
I guess its a bowl... are the Gator Bowl or Holiday Bowl sure they don't want us? :D
November 19, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawkfan20 (anonymous) says...
And I'm sure it also doesn't hurt the Insight.com CEO is a KU grad.
November 19, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AzHawk97 (anonymous) says...
Insight just laid off 250 people last week. Let's see how many of these fifth tier bowls will be around in the coming years.KU just doesn't deserve to go anywhere. I don't think a .500 record warrants any kind of reward.Let me know if you need a place to stay here in the Valley, but the only way I'm going to the game is if we beat Mizzou. Screw the all the bowl games, BCS included. I only truly long for one win a year, and that win is against the slavers. RCJKU!
November 19, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thetagger (anonymous) says...
Yeah, the Tech game was a blowout, we were only able to keep it close for a quarter. We were in the Oklahoma game into the third quarter (down 7 with the ball at one point, I believe), and the Texas game was close at halftime, at least on the scoreboard. While I wish we would have pulled out the South Florida game to make 7-5 the worst case scenario now instead of the best case, there's no shame in going to a bowl at 6-6, especially considering all the talent we lost from last year, plus the schedule difficulty. And if you still think .500 doesn't warrant a reward, that's fine, but that is the system in place, so don't look a gift horse in the mouth (whatever the hell that means).
November 19, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
topekahawk (anonymous) says...
Dugan,This is an incorrect statement:"The Insight Bowl traditionally takes the No. 6 team from the Big 12 and the No. 6 team from the Big 10..."You have it backwards. Bowls do not take teams according to their records or how the teams are ranked in their conference. Each bowl picks teams in a particular "Selection Order," like a draft. The Insight Bowl does not pick the #6 team from the Big 12. Rather, the Insight Bowl gets the sixth pick of Big 12 teams. From the Big 12 web site:___The Conference is partnered with nine bowls. However the arrangement with the Gator Bowl is for it to select a Big 12 team twice over a four-year period. In the two years in which the Gator does not select a Big 12 team, the Sun Bowl will.Following is the selection order:BCSCottonHolidayGator (when it selects a Big 12 team)AlamoSun (when the Gator does not take a Big 12 team)InsightIndependenceTexas___Thus, a particular bowl is not required to take a team because of its ranking or position in the Big 12 Conference standings. Hypothetically, if the Sun Bowl wanted to pick Kansas over Nebraska, it could -- even though Nebraska will finish higher in the North Standings. Dugan, this information is on the Big 12 web site. A football reporter should know better.
November 19, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rivethead (anonymous) says...
Cut Doogie some slack. His education was from Mizzourah.
November 19, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hawksboy88 (anonymous) says...
well atleast its a bowl! first time in our history were going to 2 straight! YES!!!!!!!! Im proud to be a jayhawk! whoo!!!
November 19, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Code_2008 (Cody Stumma) says...
So, I'm assuming the Gator Bowl doesn't select a Big 12 Team this year then if people are talking about the Sun Bowl possibility...Hey, if we beat Mizzou, maybe the Sun or Alamo (maybe even the Holiday) might be sympathetic and pick us over Missouri, lol.
November 19, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lalawguy (anonymous) says...
Sorry, but the Tech game was a blowout, no matter how you define the term. I guess maybe the Insight people didn't see that!Anyway, as a resident of Southern California, a bowl game in Arizona would be great!
November 19, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
actorman (anonymous) says...
I find it really bizarre that the guy would praise KU to a ridiculous degree, including saying that there hadn't been a blowout when everyone knows the TT game was a blowout, then turn around and insult and stereotype the people of Kansas by talking about them not growing corn this time of year. I hadn't heard a really obnoxious Midwest stereotype in a while, and I wouldn't have expected to hear one from a politician (which is basically what a bowl representative is).Although I wouldn't be tremendously excited about a bowl appearance at 6-6, it would still be a sign of progress to finally get the monkey off our back of never having made it to two consecutive bowl games. But let's hope KU can knock off Misuse and we won't have to worry about being .500 going into a bowl game (not that I have a lot of hope of beating them at this point, but you never know).
November 19, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...
A trip to the Insight Bowl would be SWEET. Let's do this!!!!!!!
November 19, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KUMatt2001 (anonymous) says...
Did the writer make up that last quote?Why would the Chairman of the Board for the Fiesta Bowl say something so stupid?
November 19, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KGphoto (anonymous) says...
topekahawk: Dugan said "traditionally picks" number 6. A sixth pick would generally point to this, eh?So Dugan summarized the point without getting too wordy. Which is exactly what a journalist should do. And exactly what you didn't.
November 19, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Toto_the_great (anonymous) says...
Insight vs Minnesota or Illinois (assuming they win)Sun vs Arizona or OregonTo bad Mason still isn't at Minnesota, eh?
November 19, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KSA_21_3503 (anonymous) says...
"The Insight Bowl traditionally takes the No. 6 team from the Big 12 and the No. 6 team from the Big 10 — although various developments, such as two Big 12 teams qualifying for BCS bowls, could alter that slightly — and features a payout of $1.2 million per team. Kansas, which is also considered a candidate for the Sun Bowl and Independence Bowl, is currently seventh in the Big 12 with a record of 6-5 (3-4 in conference play)."This guy has no idea how bowl selections are made. The Insight Bowl does NOT take the No.6 team from the Big 12. The Insight Bowl gets 6th CHOICE in making a selection. They can pick whomever they want, but they are 6th in the pecking order. This is how EVERY bowl game works. How did this idiot get a job as a sportswriter?
November 19, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eastTXjayhawk (anonymous) says...
hmmmm.....eastTXjay lives only 45 minutes from the Independence Bowl....
November 19, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eastTXjayhawk (anonymous) says...
ok, i wouldn't wish a trip to Shreveport on anyone, especially in december
November 19, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Strikewso (anonymous) says...
This bowl would be great for us!!
November 19, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
delo (anonymous) says...
Ok TopekaHawk, so if it is a draft-like format and the insight bowl is #6 on your list, as you show, then traditionally, the insight would take the #6 team from the big 12, wouldn't it. Seems like pretty accurate writing to me. Go find something else to overanalyze.
November 20, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GoBadgers (anonymous) says...
How about we analyze this crappy new web design? It's lame.
November 20, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blindrabbit (anonymous) says...
The players deserve to go (to whatever bowl) but the coaching staff does not! The play calling in the 1st half (especially) of the Texas game was the worst I've seen in many years. Worser than Allen, Mason, Valesenti and whoever!!The athletes were not to blame!
November 21, 2008 at 8:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )