Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Woodling

Woodling: Reasons for bid scarce

By Chuck Woodling

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Orange Bowl reps in Lawrence

The BCS comes calling on the Kansas football team in the form of an invite to Miami. This week Orange Bowl representatives are in Lawrence to officially invite the Jayhawks to the game.

Hawks headed to Miami

After to falling to Missouri last week in what turned out to be the Big 12 North division title game, KU had to wait it out. Last night the Jayhawks were rewarded for their patience.

Fans following the football team to Miami

The Jayhawks now know where they will be playing on January 3. The big question that remains for fans is how they will get to the Orange Bowl. 6News reporter Crispin Lopez explains how fans are planning their trips to Florida for the big game.

Lew Perkins strolled into Allen Fieldhouse around halftime of the Kansas University women's basketball game and took his customary seat on the floor east of the north basket.

It was Sunday evening, and in about an hour Perkins was scheduled to appear at a media session that would reveal KU's football bowl destination.

Momentarily, Perkins summoned Andrew Steinberg, one of the athletic department's numerous assistant ADs, extracted a bill from his wallet and handed it to Steinberg.

At the time, I figured Perkins wanted a box of popcorn - the only item I've ever seen him consume at a basketball game - to stifle hunger pangs prior to the media conference.

As it turned out, however, Perkins had dispatched Steinberg to a nearby grocery store, and it wasn't to purchase bags of Tostitos. When Perkins dispensed oranges at the media gathering, it was pretty obvious where they came from.

Not that it really made any difference whether Perkins had sent an aide for the munchies that sponsor the Fiesta Bowl or the citrus that symbolizes the Orange Bowl because the Fiesta and the Orange are both BCS big-money operations that will dispense the same amount of money to each participant.

Little doubt existed the Big 12 would have two BCS teams and that Oklahoma, winner of the league championship game, would be one of them. But who would be the other? Would it be Kansas or Missouri?

On paper, Missouri owned a clear-cut advantage. The Tigers had captured the head-to-head meeting, and were ranked higher than the Jayhawks in the BCS standings. Yet Kansas was the surprise choice.

Why did bowl organizers pick Kansas over Missouri? According to Ralph Russo of the Associated Press, it was because "the Jayhawks figure to travel better :"

Do you believe that? Does anyone really believe Kansas would send more fans to a bowl game than Missouri? Mizzou clearly has the larger fan base. The Tigers drew at least 10,000 more bodies per game than the Jayhawks during the regular season.

At best, you could perhaps rationalize that the two schools' fan bases are a wash, but to suggest Kansas would lure more fans to a bowl site than Missouri makes no sense.

In monetary terms, it really didn't make much difference whether Kansas went to the Orange Bowl and Missouri to the Cotton Bowl, or vice versa. Even if the two schools were flip-flopped, the Big 12 would bank almost the same check.

So this wasn't about money. This was about prestige. This wasn't about keeping up with the Joneses. This was about one-upmanship. This was all about the ability to trumpet a BCS appearance.

Perkins mentioned Sunday that he had been on the phone all Saturday night lobbying for the Jayhawks. Obviously, it wasn't ALL night, and yet you have to wonder if Perkins' jawboning tipped the scales.

Did Perkins promise the Orange Bowl something Missouri couldn't? Or wouldn't? Did Perkins guarantee KU would sell more tickets than Mizzou? Did he promise Miami would be deluged with KU fans?

Then again, maybe Perkins had nothing to do with Orange Bowl officials tapping Kansas. But I'm more inclined, based on his reputation as a behind-the-scenes wheeler-dealer, to think Perkins is the reason the Jayhawks fit into the BCS slipper.

Comments

carterpatterson (anonymous) says...

Good for Lew! I'm sure that the top 15 BCS schools lobbied hard.

December 4, 2007 at 6 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

Although it may not be popular with the masses and its blind support of the football team, I can't disagree with Woodling. Fact is, outside of better fan representation (which is truly unsubstantiated), there really isn't a good reason KU was selected. That said, I'm sure glad they were, for whatever reason. All that's important now is that KU represents well. It's the only game going on the 3rd. The nation will be watching. Just getting there isn't enough. I can't overstate how important this opportunity is for the future of KU football.

December 4, 2007 at 6:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

if we went to the cotton bowl or some lesser bowl game and we win, and supposing tOSU loses and Hawaii loses, we will have the best record in the country. That kind of hype could have had something to do with it. We are one of two 1 loss teams. Does it matter who we beat in the regular season? Did it matter who Boise State beat in the regular season last year when they ended up the only unbeated?

December 4, 2007 at 7:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

unbeaten... sorry to you spelling and grammar enthusiasts for my lazy display

December 4, 2007 at 7:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkfan20 (anonymous) says...

Fact of the matter is KU's traveled better in recent years than Mizzou has. That's why Jayhawk fans need to step up and figure out how to get down to Miami because you can bet if we don't show up big, it will haunt KU every bowl season the next several years. KU fans were great in Ft. Worth and hopefully they'll step up again in Miami.

December 4, 2007 at 7:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

I hope everyone doesn't forget that it won't matter who's in the stands if the football team doesn't perform. That's all that really matters.

December 4, 2007 at 7:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

carterpatterson (anonymous) says...

Lou needs to call Richard Branson and charter some of those new gigantic Airbus planes that seat 800 to shuttle a few fans down.

December 4, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

frustrated (anonymous) says...

One of your most pointless columns all year.

December 4, 2007 at 8:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

The point is clear

December 4, 2007 at 8:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

We have to turn out big for this game. Come on guys. Buy your tickets and get down there.

December 4, 2007 at 8:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jackhawk (anonymous) says...

Another Woodling worthless exercise in conjecture. I like to think KU was wanted by all the bowls (as it has been reported) because of the "story" we bring: A group of "good character" guys not heavily recruited by the "big" schools who have been joined together with superior coaching to become one of the country's best teams. At any rate, to say, without any real evidence, (I suspect A.D.'s all over the country were on the phone that weekend) that Lew Perkins was responsible for our being chosen by the BCS, is to cheapen the accomplishments of the team.

December 4, 2007 at 8:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rgreene (Ryan Greene) says...

How could you argue with the logistics? Mizzou beat KU head-to-head, and the Tigers are the ONLY TEAM IN THE NATION to have beaten two teams currently scheduled to play in a BCS bowl game. The only others who beat even one were Illinois (tOSU) and LSU (Va. Tech). Plus they were ranked higher. The man has a point. You can't argue that.

December 4, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

njjayhawk (anonymous) says...

I'm sure Lew had influence....significant influence. My hat's off to him and his Jayhawk fervor.

December 4, 2007 at 9:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayharchitect (anonymous) says...

The traveling argument the Orange bowl used makes some sense. Out here in New York City the Jayhawks have two 'official' bars and a handfull of unofficial bars. Watching the KU/MU game and going with my roommate (a Nebraska fan) to watch the NU/MU game at the Nebraska bar, both instances we saw a bunch of Mizzou fans.

When we asked them why they would come to official bars of the other team they answered, "Because we don't have our own bar, okay!" Sad...

December 4, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

beebe1 (anonymous) says...

Hey, Woodling does NOT turn out 'worthless exercise' ! If you don't want to read his articles, just skip it. But he's been around a long time and has good ideas. I LIKE his stuff! Want to write for Mizzou, go to their board -- if they have one.

December 4, 2007 at 9:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

drum1984 (anonymous) says...

I think Kansas might have a slightly better base for traveling given the Johnson County Jayhawk fans but the difference is probably negligible. Missouri is ranked higher and won the head to head. The pick was surprising but I highly doubt Perkins promised Orange Bowl officials anything that the Missouri AD didn't. The best explanation is the story. More than one publication predicted Mizzou would win the north this year so their season has been less cinderellaesque than the Jayhawks.

December 4, 2007 at 10:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wats211 (anonymous) says...

perkins was with out a doubt the reason for the bid...he is a very connected force....i'm surprised he didn't deliver the rose bowl...thats how good he is at what he does....behind the scenes stuff is his element.

December 4, 2007 at 10:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

I would have been disappointed if he WASN'T lobbying for KU. Much like the Big 12 commish the other night during the Big 12 Championship game didn't even bring up one-loss KU even though other commishes were touting the likes of Georgia.

December 4, 2007 at 11:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

We've got some catching up to do...

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech Athletics Ticket Office announced Monday that it had sold approximately 12,000 of its 17,500 ticket allotment for the FedEx Orange Bowl during the Hokie Club priority pre-sale period.

The remainder of that allotment is currently available for order right online at www.hokietickets.com or by calling the ticket office at 1 800 VATECH 4.

December 4, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ttoulouse (anonymous) says...

I agree a bit with Jackhawk. Any conjecture that Perkins had a significant influence on our destination beyond "rooting" for the team cheapens the accomplishments of the team. Almost like asking someone else to fight your battles for you. I know our tangible evidence isn't as impressive to some as Mizzou's, but I'd like to think that bowl officials want the 11-1 Jayhawks - period. Maybe I'm a little naÃive to the inner-workings of politics in college athletics though.

December 4, 2007 at 11:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

Reasons?

- An exciting offense averaging 40+ a game
- Probable National Coach of the Year
- An up and coming football program
- We have all our teeth
- We'll spend US dollars rather than barter pelts.

December 4, 2007 at 11:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

deaner (anonymous) says...

Missouri was more deserving. I feel for them and will be sure to send Mike Alden a postcard from Miami.

December 4, 2007 at 11:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Shazam (anonymous) says...

You can make a case against the politics of bowl selections, but so long as these are the rules, it's great to have a guy like Perkins in your corner. It doesn't hurt to point to the game at Arrowhead as proof that more Kansas fans will turn out than Mizzou fans.

December 4, 2007 at 11:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dbgjayhawk (anonymous) says...

does anyone know what the ratio of ku to mu fans showed up to arrowhead?

December 4, 2007 at 12:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

topekahawk (anonymous) says...

The BCS is in place ONLY to choose #1 vs. #2. The BCS bowls can choose whichever team they want, within certain requirements (i.e. no more than 2 teams from one conference in BCS bowls, etc.).

This is the system that is in place. Does it need to be changed? Maybe. But quit acting like KU took Mizzou's place. The Rose Bowl had the first pick and picked Illinois. The Orange picked after the Rose!

December 4, 2007 at 12:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

One would think from a TV ratings perspective Mizzou would fare better with metropolitan markets in St. Louis and Kansas City. And the fan base issue doesn't tip the balance in our favor either. This is just conjecture on my part but I think KU was the better story. Even though the Tigers consider football to be their sport, their history does not support that claim. They were however picked to win or compete for the Big 12 north so their success this season did not come as such a big surprise. KU was picked 4th and with each win was getting more and more press. Everyone in the national media was talking about us, four stories in SI and countless features on ESPN. We became the Boise State of the 2007 season. Ultimately all of this translated into more national fan interest. Just my theory.

Or, perhaps the Orange Bowl committee came to the same realization that we've known all along. Mizwho fans are just too insufferable and classless and the thought of Tiger fans in their home was too unpleasant to contemplate.

December 4, 2007 at 12:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truehawkguy (anonymous) says...

The one thing everyone has failed to mention is that KU is better in the non bias computer rankings. #5 I think. MU was below us. This is a good reason to invite the Hawks (who could have been 10-2 last year) to Miami. Plus this could be another chance for the nation to see KU. Not alot of guys leaving us this year. Next year is looking great!

December 4, 2007 at 1:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BPSkelly (anonymous) says...

Winning the Orange Bowl isnt imperative. However playing well and competing in it is. If we get destroyed and dont travel well, that reputation will stick, fair or not.

So if this situation happens again within the next few years and that were to happen I think the shoe would be on the other foot.

That said, Lew Perkins has some serious "juice" with a lot of higher ups all over the place. Not that Mike Alden doesnt, but Lew is as well connected as any AD in the land. Considering our Athletic Budget is about half of some of the other Big 12 teams... its nice to have Lew as an asset.

December 4, 2007 at 1:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BPSkelly (anonymous) says...

That said as well... I cant ever envision a fan base as insufferable as Mizzou has.

I'm from St. Louis, live here now, and have worked on both coasts. So ive seen multiple "fan bases". And for the life of me I just dont how Mizzou thinks throwing the arrogance and hubris around that they do is justified. At all.

The funny thing is, even as a kid I could sense that. It's part of the reason I ended up at KU instead. They're soooooooo consumed by they're hatred of all things KU it just staggers the imagination. Talk about an inferiority complex.

I have people I consider friends hating on me after this... as if I, or KU for that matter has anything to do with it. It's bizzare and disturbing.

I know NO Mizzou folks who dont hate KU more than I dislike Mizzou. None. And its not really even close.

And thats not even counting the crap after the KU/MU game trying to get outta there. Unreal.

I hope they're Psychology Department is getting a good workout.

December 4, 2007 at 2:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

"The Tigers drew at least 10,000 more bodies per game than the Jayhawks during the regular season."

Are you kidding? Their stadium holds 68,500 people. Ours holds NO more than 52,000. So really, that's not a fair comparison to make.

Also, Ryan, he may have a point. But I think there are many on the contrary that he refuses to accept.

The bottom line, the BCS lines up #1 and #2. From then on, it's about choice. The Orange bowl WANTED KU. It's ok, Missourians should be used to not being wanted. :)

The minute you start complaining about how Missouri is more "deserving" of the bid than Kansas is the minute you MUST begin to discuss how Kansas is as "deserving" as tOSU to play in the title game. It's all subjective, biased bologna. To objectify some of the perspectives jumps to conclusions that are generally OFF-base.

December 4, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Here's a scenario which should help us to understand what really happened: If you are in charge of choosing a team for the Orange Bowl and were planning on stealing Missouri from the Fiesta Bowl if OU pulls out a win: What would you do if the afformentioned team (MU) gets beat in embarassing fashion on National TV? Would you then compare the MOST recent (and only) loss/es for the two non-Fiesta teams being considered? For instance, was one of the teams "fighting" at the end, with a chance to win? Also: would the TV public and Miami crowd even WANT to stay for/ watch the 4th quarter? This is a very important question when millions are being thrown at 2nd half advertising... which team has real heart when down 14 points in the fourth quarter. It had nothing to do with Lew. It had everything to do with KU's performance ALL SEASON (look at the scores), combined with MU's second half performance against OU. THAT IS HOW SIMPLE IT IS.

December 4, 2007 at 2:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

A slight error (above) on the Fiesta obviously. Common sense says MU wouldn't have gone to the Fiesta to play OU for the 3rd time.

December 4, 2007 at 2:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lalawguy (anonymous) says...

I agree with ohioburg. I am sure Lew Perkins did campaign for Kansas to be in the Orange Bowl, as that is his job as AD. I doubt he made any crazy promises as Woodling seems to suggest.

My guess is that Missouri's AD campaigned, too, but maybe to the wrong people or in the wrong way. Maybe Mizzou wasn't satisfied with the Orange Bowl, and focused on getting into the Rose Bowl or Fiesta Bowl instead (or maybe it was a "BCS Championship or nothing" attitude). Mizzou could have easily done something to set off the Orange Bowl committee that made them pick Kansas.

Another possibility is that with its close ties to the ACC, the Orange Bowl committee thought the "home" team VT would have an easier time beating KU than Mizzou (if so, the Jayhawks will prove them wrong). There are people here in SoCal who speculate that the Rose Bowl picked Illinois (under the guise of "we still wanted a Big 10 school") because it would present an "easy win" for the struggling Pac-10 champion USC. That's why I'll be rooting for the Illini in that one.

December 4, 2007 at 3:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BPSkelly (anonymous) says...

Not only common sense -100-

It's either a BCS rule OR a Big 12 rule that teams that have played each other cant play each other in they're Bowl games.

I cant verify that, other than have seen that said from multiple reports on that. Which is part of why the KU/OU Fiesta Bowl was getting some play... we have not played them yet.

December 4, 2007 at 3:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NavyHawk (anonymous) says...

Everyone has a valid suggestion as to why Kansas was picked ahead of Missouri. I don't have the answer, but I did read (and posted on a thread here) that the Orange Bowl was looking hard at KU before the Big XII Championship game even played. Where they got their information I don't know, but the Tulsa World had an article which had the Orange showing great interest in KU with the possibility Kansas would pass in order to play OU in the Fiesta should OU win the Big XII. If MU had won, then KU would have been the Big XII representative to the Fiesta, since MU would have been in the NC game. Thankfully, the invitation still came and KU didn't pass, giving the Big XII a better chance at post-season glory and KU can wait until next fall to play OU.

December 4, 2007 at 3:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

j_leib (anonymous) says...

Heard the Orange Bowl representative that was here on the radio this morning, he said he talked to Lew several times over the weekend, then was asked if he talked to Mike Alden, and he said "No".

I think Lew had a lot to do with it.

I think we deserve the BCS bid, Illinois is the one that shouldn't be there. Of course, the 2/conf. limit would mean that MU couldn't have it, but the BCS is jacked - really you can make just a good of an argument that we shouldn't be there as you can that we should be in the Championship game.

But since we did get the bid, I'm taking advantage of it - can't wait to spend New Year's in Miami!

December 4, 2007 at 4:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

The MU-KU game was close and the OU-MU game was not. That hurt MU. We had a great year but so did they. But, our great year was unexpected by the national gurus. MU's was not. Thus, KUs story is more compelling.

I think if MU had played OU closer they might have
gotten the bid.

Now lets color the Orange Bowl blue. Saddle up and go to Miami!

December 4, 2007 at 4:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jb55882001 (anonymous) says...

Not to mention the loser in the Big XII title game has only made one apearance in a BCS game. (2003 Oklahoma) Lew did his job. Go Hawks

December 4, 2007 at 4:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sparko (anonymous) says...

Nice way to insult the home team, Woodling. Kansas had a higher quality loss than Ohio State, and was one of the most entertaining teams in the country. Missouri? Their team tanked in the most public of ways, and they seemed utterly adrift by the 4th quarter. They are lucky the Cotton Bowl took them. And their fans? Yow. Not sure I want them in a nice stadium.

December 4, 2007 at 6:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhyphene (anonymous) says...

KU is deserving of a BCS game, so is MU. The limit of one at-large per conference is the core of the issue, not the fact that the Orange Bowl picked KU. If the OB wanted KU over MU, so be it. It's their game, they issue the invitation. MU should be mad at the Rose Bowl for taking Illinois, ranked 13 in the BCS. That's the team that doesn't belong in the BCS picture. What if the top 10 BCS ranked teams, regardless of conference, were placed in the 5 big bowls? It's a mute point. I'm tired of hearing about why MU deserves it over KU. MU also deserves it over USC, West Virginia and Hawaii according to the rankings. Bottom line: the BCS needs tweaking. In the meantime, I love to hear MU whine about it. Fantastic!! Happy Holidays.

December 4, 2007 at 7:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhyphene (anonymous) says...

Oh, and lay off the criticism of Chuck Woodling.

December 4, 2007 at 7:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

pepper_bar (anonymous) says...

jhyphene: what is a "mute" point?

This column is pointless. The BCS bowls strongly prefer not to take teams that lost their conference championship games. Mr. Woodling needs to bring himself up to speed on college football.

December 4, 2007 at 7:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

How did we get the invite? How about because we are one hell of a football team? Why can't that be good enough for everyone? We have one loss to a top 5 team. Enough said.

December 4, 2007 at 8 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

All I care about is that in the end, I was right. There is no way in hell I will ever root for Missouri even if our possible bowl bid is on the line. I rooted for OU the entire game and loved every minute of watching them kill mizzou. It all worked out in the end. 1) no title game for mu. 2) no BCS game for mu. 3) big BCS game for KANSAS!...probably the best year of my life.

December 4, 2007 at 8:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

shawjoe (anonymous) says...

Why is one of our own cheaping the bowl bid? Why would he hurt the Hawks for future considerations. Be quiet!

December 4, 2007 at 8:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Hope to see lots of Jayhawk fans in Miami!!!! Will be making the 9-hour drive from the ATL.

December 4, 2007 at 9:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

The same argument could be made about KU if we were left out. How could a 1 loss team not get a BCS bowl while another 1 loss team is playing for the national title? The bowl committees had their chance and for whatever reason(s) they didn't find mizwho an appealing draw.

And mizwho fans thought we were the only ones who don't like them.

December 4, 2007 at 10:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayhawkinMaryland (anonymous) says...

Here's the comment on the issue from Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms....

"With the advent of championship games it gives teams an opportunity to : showcase their candidacy for perhaps the championship game, perhaps a BCS game in that game," Poms said. "You consider it just like any other regular season game, with the result of that game having a two-loss team compared to a one-loss team was probably the most pressing thing that we looked at : It was a tough decision. We certainly knew that whatever way we went, we could make a case for the other side. But, there was a game played (Saturday) that we could see a little bit more with regard to Missouri."

I think Missouri's awful Big XII title showing left the Orange Bowl unimpressed. Though KU lost to Missouri, we had an exciting comeback after an uncharacteristic first half. I think they realize KU is good and are genuinely hoping for a shootout with VT.

Besides, they probably don't want anyone throwing whiskey bottles at the opposing team's band. Remember that? God, Mizzou's fan culture is about on par with soccer hooligans in Europe.

December 5, 2007 at 1:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

therailer86 (anonymous) says...

You stupid KU fans remember this?
Mizzou 36, Kansas 28
Croak, Choke, Chickenhawks...

December 5, 2007 at 5:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohiostance (anonymous) says...

You people are high!
I live in Ohio. I am not a Buckeye fan! Nor KU or MU! But I have to tell you that you literally stole a BCS bid from MU. You sit high and mighty and talk about how OU pounded them. Well, hell, at least Mizzou played OU! Not once but twice this season! The same MU team that pounded your beloved Chokehawks in KC two weeks ago. Yes, I know the final score but c'mon, anybody watching the game saw MU dismantle and manhandle your boys, much liek OU did to them last weekend. Admit it your AD got over, but if you morons think you will spank VT, you are hitting the pipe too much! The tailpipe! When you beat a decent team some year you can crow, until then shut up!

December 5, 2007 at 8:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

If you are so impartial, why in the hell are you on a KU blog? Are you surveying all the blogs of all the teams in bowls? Naw, I tell you what Ohiostance, you've got a vested interest in this KU-MU rivalry, and it obviously is not on the Jayhawk side. MU did not pound us. If not for 2 missed first half field goals by KU, who knows how that game would have turned out. We had no trouble moving the ball.

Objective, you are not. Stealing a BCS bid? Come on fella. The Orange Bowl chose us! Could MU just as easily been chosen? Heck yes, but they weren't. This KU team is damn good and are deserving of their rank and the BCS bowl bid. They will prove it on 1-3 and mud slingers like you will eat your words.

December 5, 2007 at 8:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Mud slingers like you will eat their words.

December 5, 2007 at 8:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

Ohiostance, you have some pretty strong opinions for someone who claims to be indifferent. I guess you just happened to be in the neighborhood and thought you'd offer your two cents.

December 5, 2007 at 10:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

Uh, ohiostance, the fact that we didn't play OU was not our choice. That's determined by the B12 schedule. We beat who we were supposed to beat and how we were supposed to beat them plus some. No apologies.

December 5, 2007 at 10:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Plus, we beat three bowl teams on their home field and each time we played them, the so-called kurus predicted we would loose. Our winning annoyed everyone. After all, we weren't one of the perrenial football powers! How dare us to keep winning! Corso kept picking against us until he was finally right. We play as a team just like VT does. It promises to be a good game.

Look out VT, KU is for real.

December 5, 2007 at 11:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Gordon (anonymous) says...

Most people outside of the State just don't want to be associated with Misery. They have no class and they have a bad reputation. The old Joke is true "What do you call a Misery football player wearing a coat and tie" ANSWER-The defendent. Yes, Misery got hosed-but they deserve it.

GO HAWKS

December 5, 2007 at 4:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hbjhwk (anonymous) says...

I agree with Gordon, it's all about "class". KU has it! and.........

December 5, 2007 at 6:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

No one will see this post, but I have to correct Gordon's joke. Sorry, it's the OCD in me.

This is actually a rephrasing of an old racist joke. Using the Missouri format though, it should actually be....

"--What do you say to a Missouri football player in a suit and tie?
--Will the defendant please rise."

Again, sorry, I just couldn't help it.

December 6, 2007 at 2:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

I like it.

December 8, 2007 at 12:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkman1031 (anonymous) says...

Ohiostance appears to be a tiger lilly or mildcat. It is wonderful to even be in such a conversation. Last year we were 6-6 while playing the same schedule. We are light years better than that. It would be interesting to see how we would do if JM, AC and TR were not hobbling around in the last game. I guess we will see in the next. You should know about choking first hand from last year. Missouri has a good football team and many poor, unsportsmanlike fans. They did well, but dismantling? Give me a break. They won by a TD. And all of the Misery fans around me were holding their breaths before the onside kick. They were scared. They did not want to see us with a chance to make a 5th TD. Too bad we made the lamest kick I have seen, right to them instead of up in the air. Did anyone notice that on misery's first kick return, there were THREE clips, none of them called. Watch the tape. Missouri is good, but also heavily penalized, which shows either some fundamental breakdowns or cheaters. I believe they are very good at holding, creating running lanes for temple. As for the Orange Bowl, it appears you cannot lose like they did to OU in the second half in your last game and still maintain a high bowl, like KSU in , 98 was it? Speaking of KSU... no bowl because they lost to Iowa State? How far have they fallen? Beat Texas and lose to ISU. Unreal. Bottom line, bowls take who they want. The Orange took a one-loss cinderella, underdog story. The nation will be with us. As I read here, the real problem is the bowl system. The old one was better. Like in 71, NU, OU and CU finished 1-3 in the country. Can't hardly happen now. The BCS bowls should take the best 10 without regard to conference. The Rose Bowl should be forced to comply. It took Illinois, who should be nowhere near that bowl, and Missouri beat Ill. The Big 12 had three that should be in. Nothing and no hillbilly will make me feel anything but great about the Orange Bowl, but I do with, for the MU football team, that they had a high bowl... but not the fans I sat around at the game, not the ones who booed the band (who does that?), not the ones who made snide remarks and screamed while making obscene gestures at our players. To you, I laugh in your face. Serves you right. I can hear wailing and gnashing of teeth from the east. Such terrible sports undoubtedly will be unable to deal with it. It does not serve the team right, but it does serve those fans right. If you act the jerk and get pounded by the red the next week, the joke is on you. I do wonder if Daniel will go pro. Seems the Chiefs could use him.

December 14, 2007 at 7:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

RedJay (anonymous) says...

WOODLING SUCKS!!!!

Yes, Mizzou did beat us in the head-to-head. By one score. By that logic, Colorado is a better football team than Oklahoma. App State better than Michigan.

Fact is, Mizzou lost TWICE to the same team, and by 3 TDs in the Big 12 Finale. Nobody loses twice to the same team and plays in a BCS bowl.

We lost by one score to the #4 team in the country, MU lost by 3 TDs to the #8 team, a team with loses to CU and TECH?!?!?!?!

WOODLING, WOODLING, WOODLING. Maybe you should be a beat writer for The Pitch, they have some pretty synical muck-rakers there, you might fit in nicely.

December 20, 2007 at 6:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )