The Kansas University players and coach Mark Mangino Monday sounded confident that the running game can pile up as much yardage – if not more – as it did a year ago, this time by using a committee rather than just one back. One member of that corps is senior Brandon McAnderson, a Lawrence product who has gone from special teams superstar to now one of KU’s top ball toters. He took some time Monday to speak with KUSports.com editor Ryan Greene at Big 12 Media Day in San Antonio, Texas.
Ryan Greene: How far does it feel like you’ve come since you came to KU and now you’re at the point where you’re going to be splitting backfield duties with Jake?
Brandon McAnderson: I think that’s pretty big, pretty important. I’ve always taken pride in what I’ve done as a player, and my thing is I always want to be a major contributor to the team’s success, and I have been in the past on special teams and a little bit on offense, but now my role will expand on offense and I’ll be able to be a bigger contributor, and as a captain, with leadership, special teams and offense, hopefully have a big impact on this team.
RG: Aqib said nine wins is realistic. Do you guys all buy into that?
BM: Definitely. We’ve had enough six-win seasons. Pretty much mastered that. It’s time to move on, get nine or eight wins, something like that.
RG: Coach Mangino mentioned earlier that he thinks you guys can be as productive yardage-wise as last year, it’s just that it’s going to be spread around a few more guys. Looking at what you guys have, do you think the same numbers are possible?
BM: Definitely. It’s a replacement aspect. I think we can equal the production, we can go beyond the production. Getting several players that are going to do things well instead of one that does everything well could be a benefit to us as well.
RG: Is it almost better this way when you can bring fresh legs in just about every series as opposed to last year where it’s one guy coming in every series?
BM: I think it is an advantage, because you’ve got to hold your breath and make sure he isn’t injured because this is the one guy that’s got consistent carries, so with a bunch of guys, you can have a starter, you can be confident in your backups.
RG: Aqib mentioned earlier he thought there were four games that got left on the table last year. Have you guys been able to wipe those games that kind of slipped away late from memory, or is it one of those things that’s not going to disappear until the season starts?
BM: It just sticks around, because if you let it go, you didn’t learn anything from it. So your next opportunity you’re not going to be able to take advantage. So, I mean, you can’t let it slip at all.
RG: What’s a realistic expectation for you guys this year?
BM: I think we can win nine, ten games. It’s realistic. The talent is in place, the leadership is in place, now it’s time to execute when August rolls around.
RG: Coach mentioned that in the past, the guys have looked to the coaches for leadership, and now it’s actual players being looked to for it. Do you kind of feel that culture?
BM: Yeah I felt like it was always his idea, and always his philosophy, but he wasn’t able to do that because he didn’t feel like he had the players to do so. But now that he does, that’s a philosophy we’re adopting in this program.
RG: You consider yourself one of those guys looked to as a leader on this team?
BM: Definitely. I’ve been here for a long time, and people look to me for experience, for advice, and I feel that’s as big of a role as running the ball or blocking or catching it.
RG: You guys seem pretty confident that a nine- or ten-win season is possible. How’d you take it seeing you’re picked preseason fourth in the North, or is that something you even look at?
BM: No, I don’t think I’ve ever looked. You can’t. I don’t think we’ve been picked to be anything special any season. So that’s within the players. You can’t control what other people think.
RG: Aqib mentioned just how there’s a lot of competition going on between guys at different positions. It almost sounds like there’s a different culture going into this season compared to any other season.
BM: Once the competition starts firing up, that’s when your practices are better and more effective, and that’s when you’re at game speed in practice. And that’s what needs to happen if you’re going to be a successful team.
RG: What about Aqib? Is he as good as advertised?
BM: Yes he is. He’s as fast as advertised, he jumps as high, his ball skills are amazing, he’s just a really really good player. He’s probably the best player in the Big 12.
RG: Is it good to have a guy like that who’s getting a lot of preseason recognition, whereas this program hasn’t really had one in awhile, is it good to have at least one guy getting your name out there as a team before the season starts?
BM: Yeah it is good. He’s been shutting down half the field for two years now, and it’s finally good that he’s getting the recognition that he deserves, and I think he will perform.
Media Day Q&A with…Kansas’ Aqib Talib
Media Day Q&A with…Oklahoma’s Malcolm Kelly
Media Day Q&A with…Missouri’s players on Arrowhead and expectations
