Stone's Thoughts On The Hawks

Heading into this weekend's opening game has caused me to reflect on what I was thinking this time last year. My main worry was would our defense keep doing enought to keep us in the games each week. Over the course of the past few years our defense was the lone bright spot. Every week they played their heart out and . Nick Reid, Banks Floodman, & Gabe Toomey began the run of outstanding linebacker tandems that continues today. The Hawks' were in most games until the defense began to wear down in the second-half due to the inability of the offense to move the ball. Our defense was there, now we just needed an offense to materialize.

Hello Todd Reesing..........He gave us stability at quarterback that we haven't had since the days of Bill Wittemore (and that can even be questioned). We managed to go a whole year with one guy leading the team down field. Coach Mangino & Kerry Meier get a lot of credit for making this happen. Coach Mangino for having the stones to go to a guy her recruited to be his QB and lead the squad, and asking him to take one for the team and step aside. Kerry Meier for not letting his ego get in the way and learning to help the team in other ways. We have found our team!!!!

Getting back to the upcoming season and I have a level of excitement that I haven't had in quite a while regarding KU football. While excited, I am also a realist and realize that this is all new to us and the team. I believe the team will go into this season playing with a chip on their shoulder and continue using that for motivation throughtout the year. As far as Hawk fans we need to set our sights high, but not unobatinable.

I see the South Florida game as key to our season. If we can go into their backyard and grab a win, then I think our confidence will explode. If not, then the doubt pertaining to our schedule will begin to creep into our minds and the pundents will come out of the woodwork to say, "I told you so." This game is the key to our season.

We also need a win against on of the so-called Big Three from the south division (OU, Texas Tech, or Texas). I hope I am wrong, but I do not see us getting a win in Norman, so that leaves the other two. Can Mangino's squad rebound off a loss to OU and be ready to face the high octane offense of the Red Raiders in Lawrence the following weekend?? I believe we can and predict this game to be a tight one which the Hawks pull-out.

Win's against K-State at home & Nebraska on the road (yes, we will end the streak in Lincoln) sets-up a big game against Texas back in Lawrence. Colt McCoy has to improve a lot for me to think that this kid can lead the Longhorn's. I just cannot buy into the Texas-sized hype when it comes to this kid. He makes way to many mistakes for me and I think the Jayhawk's get it done this time.

That sends us into Arrowhead to face the Tigers and let's face it, we picked a bad time last season to play our worst game of the season. The Tigers will be an even better team this year. They now have a great defense to go with the arm of Chase Daniels. If they come in undefeated then all the expectations and pressure will be on their shoulder's. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain and our maturity & experience this season will get the job done.

That sends us to the Big 12 Title Game, but our season hinges on the outcome of the South Florida game. Get a victory in Florida and we are on our way. Lose that game and it becomes a matter of us getting our confidence back and getting on a roll. Good Luck to Coach Mangino & the 2008 Kansas Jayhawk's

Random Notes From Mt. Oread

Five days till the 2008 season kicksoff and the excitement is building around Mangino's squad. The depth chart for week one opponet Florida International was released this afternoon. A few key notes that I noticed were the size of the O-line (6'3" 314 - 6'3" 305 - 6'3" 295 - 6'4" 315 & 6'3" 311). Mangino line play has improved every year and size has been a huge factor in that improvement.

The Wichita Eagle reported in a story that ran in yesterdays edition that Sherron Collins has found himself in Coach Self's doghouse once again. It was reported that Collins arrived overweight and was not in good condition for the start of an eight day camp to prepare for the teams Canada tour which begins this weekend. Will the kid ever learn to walk away from the table. He is the leader of the team now and needs to start acting like an upperclassman.

If anyone sees Markieff Morris with a BB gun, please advise him that he playes for and represents KU, not the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The Kansas Athletic Department has decided to plant upwards of 100 pine trees around the new practice fields in an effort to shield the team during workouts. This green project will also cost the department $90,000 in green as well. The 10 to 20 foot tall pines will be planted along Mississippi Street, as well as the north and west side's of the fields. Looks like the rest of the Big-12 will have to devise another way of shutting us down this year.

Mangino Signs Little Rock WR

Neal Barlow a 6-6 2oo pound wideout out of Little Rock gave Coach Mangino his verbal commitment for the 2009 class last night. The three star recruit also had offers from Arkansas as well as Missouri, and he canceled a visit to LSU a few weeks ago.

The Pulaski High School three-star recruit is listed as the No. 71 ranked receiver according to Rivals will be an instant red zone threat due to his height advantage. He will also be able to stretch the field with his 4.50 40-yard dash speed.

Neal totaled 1164 yards on 81 receptions last season as well as bringing in 11 touchdowns. He is the 14th commitment and first receiver to commit to the Jayhawks for the 2009 class.

C-Ya Ronnie Chalmers,,,Hello Mr. Henry

Ronnie Chalmers, father of Jayhawk Final Four hero Mario Chalmers, announced earlier this week that he was leaving the KU program to pursue other interests. Ronnie, we appreciate your committment to KU hoops over the past three seasons, but we appreciate you even more for bringing your son with you. With that announcement Coach Self has an opening for a Director of Basketball Operations and if I were him I would be looking no further than to Carl Henry. There are a couple of coincidences regarding Carl Henry and Ed Manning (Danny Manning's pops who also became a package deal, er coach at KU). Like Ed Manning, Carl Henry has ties to the NBA. He has scouted for the Dallas Mavericks and like the elder Manning, he is also a truck driver. We know how well the Manning Sr. and Manning JR. combo paid off for KU, and we also know how the elder Chalmers and younger Chalmers faired as well. Who needs to overpay an over-hyped AAU coach (K-State & Delonte Hill) when you can go out and get a recruits father back into the game and back at his alma mater. We will see you on the bench in the fall of 2010 Carl Henry & your son hitting jumpers on the court.

http://www.xavierhenry.org/

Random Notes

Have heard from others that have seen Coach Mangino on campus that the head-man has dropped a couple of sizes. Have not seen for myself but hope coach is concerned about his health. We have a lot invested in him and he is being "exposed" to the media more and more.

KU is opening up as a 37.5 favorite agains Florida International on Sportsbook.com This is a site I use to have a little fun and place a few bills on games. Opening weekend is a difficult weekend to bet on, but other games I like for openers include: Texas -37.5 over Florida Atlantic, Tennessee -7 over UCLA (especially with Ben Olsen's injury). Don't shoot me, but also think K-State -24 over North Texas might be a good play. Will post my bets each week and update as well. I don't get to carried away, but just have a little fun. Am still playing with the same money that I deposited into my account before the 2006 season began.

I found a website this winter during basketball season for watching games online that you cannot get on television. Channelsurfing.net let's you watch games, NFL games, MMA fights, Olympic coverage, MLB, etc.....Have heard good things about it and yet to hear of anyone having any problems. Check it out!!!

News From The Hardwood Hawks

Coach Self signs new 10 year - $30 million contract to keep him guiding the Jayhawk program. The money comes from private resources and no University funds will be used to pay the head man.

Coach Self just completed his fifth season and has an overall record of 142-32 (.816) and of course one National Championship.

"I have said many times that I cannot imagine a better place to play, or coach, than the University of Kansas."

In other basketball news, recent graduate Jeremy Case has joined the basketball staff as a graduate student manager. He replaces the position vacated by Michael Lee accepted an assistant coaching position with Gardner Webb in North Carolina.

Coach Self was quoted as saying, "Jeremy has the potential to be an outstanding coach. This will hopefully jumpstart his career in coaching." Congraulations to Jeremy Case as well as Michael Lee.

Once a member KU Nation, Always a member of KU Nation

Memorial Stadium On Jayhawks Side

Memorial Stadium, home of the Jayhawks, is also the home of a nine game winning streak by Mangino's squad entering the 2008 season. KU last lost at home on Oct. 14, 2006 by a score of 42-33 to Oklahoma State.

Last season the Hawks completed a 7-0 home record and with three non-conference games to open the 2008 schedule, KU looks to run it's streak to twelve games entering conference play.

Coach Mangino was quoted at the Big 12 media two weeks ago as saying, "The last two years, i think we've set a home attendance record. So the fans are turning out, and they're making it a hostile place."

Last season, the Todd Reesing led squad layed down a whipping on their home opponents by an average score of 56-11. They held four teams to seven or fewer points in what is considered to be their best season in school history.

The Jayhawks open the 2008 season against Florida International on Saturday, August 30th at 6 p.m. Tickets are available thru the KU's website at http://www.kuathletics.com/

KU Football Ranked 13th In USA Today Poll

KU, who returns 15 starters off last years 12-1 team begins the season ranked #13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. KU finished last season ranked #7 as they defeated Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Key losses for the Jayhawks include two All-Americans in cornerback Aqib Talib an offensive tackle, Anthony Collins. This is the fifth time the Jayhawks enter the season as a ranked team. The Associated Press had KU ranked in 1952 (17th), 1961 (8th), 1976 (19th), and 1996 (24th).

Georgia tops the poll followed by USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Florida

KU will face take to the field against five teams listed in the top 25. Mangino's squad will face number four Oklahoma, number seven Missouri, number ten Texas, number fourteen Texas Tech, and number twenty-one South Florida.

The Hawks begin practice Saturday and face Florida International on August 30 @ 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at KUAthletics.com or by calling 1-800-Go-HAWKS

USA Today Preseason Top 25 Poll