It would have been pretty easy for any of 16 juniors on the Kansas University football team to walk away after last season.
Not only did those Jayhawks endure another losing season, KU went a lowly 2-10 and 0-for-8 in the Big 12 Conference.
While a couple didn’t make it back this season, the seniors who did saw KU return to the national scene and compete for a bowl berth for the first time since 1995. And because of those memories, this year’s senior class said the journey was worth it.
“I’ve never regretted coming to KU,” offensive lineman Adrian Jones said. “I’ve never second-guessed my decision of coming to KU. The past seasons, the cards just didn’t fall our way. But ending on a winning season, that kind of helps your senior season, and career, out a lot.”
While the 16 seniors will play at Memorial Stadium for the last time Saturday, the Jayhawks’ upperclassmen don’t want to make it their last game in crimson and blue.
They want to earn their sixth victory this season and advance to a bowl.
“We realize that we have to win this one,” offensive lineman Danny Lewis said. “Everybody knows that to win this one, it allows for other things to come our way.”
The seniors have faced enough adversity during their KU careers. Many were recruited to play for former coach Terry Allen, then played for interim coach Tom Hayes before Mark Mangino took the helm.
“I was here for a year and I went through two or three different offenses,” tight end Denver Latimore said. “It’s been tough on everybody, but it’s all going to be worth it now.”
Latimore quickly corrected himself. “If we get our sixth win Saturday, it’ll be worth it.”
For KU’s seniors, having the opportunity to leave their stamp on the KU program and help the Jayhawks earn a bowl berth is something to rally around.
“Yeah there’s more incentive,” said senior quarterback Bill Whittemore, who will start for the first time since being injured Oct. 25 against Kansas State. “This is my last game if we don’t make it to a bowl. I just want to be out there with my teammates.”
Whittemore said the Jayhawks’ turnaround was unique.
“The funny thing is we’re doing it with a lot of the same players,” Whittemore said. “It’s definitely a big feeling, a good feeling to be part of a turnaround.”
Defensive back Dan Coke said success came because of Mangino’s toughness and the players’ willingness to work hard.
“There’s always hope,” Coke said. “I think that’s what anchored us. Hope, believing in each other.”
Zach Dyer, who has endured ups and downs with the Jayhawks (5-6) for five seasons, said the seniors’ experience would help them succeed in life.
“Football kind of prepares you for life in the sense that things aren’t always going to go your way,” Dyer said. “But you got to keep working.”
Lewis said he regretted last year’s seniors didn’t taste that success.
“I feel worse for last year’s senior class, because they put in all the hard work that we did,” Lewis said. “They really helped lay the foundation. They might not have reaped the benefits, but I’m hoping they do know they were part of it.”
But Whittemore knows a bowl berth is within reach.
“We’re definitely shooting for it,” he said. “We’ll find out I guess this Saturday and next Saturday with what happens in the Big 12.
“There’s only one thing we can take care of, and that’s this Saturday. That’s the only option we have left.”
“I think that should help considerably,” Marchiony said. “We think there will a good walk-up crowd.”
North Bowl tickets, which are $15 at the gate, can be purchased for $10 at Hy-Vee.