SPORTS
5
GAMEDAY: KANSAS PREPARESTO PLAY VIRGINIA TECH IN THE ORANGE BOWL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 5B
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6,2007 PAGE 1B
ORANGE BOWL
Kansas, Virginia Tech reveal traditional differences
Kansas defense
Rush defense:
91.42
yards allowed
Pass defense:
226.83
yards allowed
Total defense:
318.25
Scoring defense:
16.00
Turnover margin:
+19
Sacks:
1.75
per game
Tackles for loss:
7.92
per game
Interceptions:
20
layhawks see 11th bowl berth against Hokies' first bowl in 21 years
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
Kansas and Virginia Tech couldn't be more different in terms of football tradition. The Hokies are headed to a bowl game for the 21st time in the history of the program. Kansas' appearance in the Orange Bowl will be the school's 11th bowl berth. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer won 167 games as the coach of the Hokies, trumping Kansas coach Mark Mangino's win total by 131.
But the teams have one thing in common: Each is seeking a shot at redemption after finishing its 2006 season in disappointing fashion.
"I think it's only fitting that last year we were bowl eligible and didn't get a call for a bowl," Mangino said. "This is fitting for our players and our University to get this opportunity."
Kansas finished last season with a devastating loss to Missouri that dropped the team to 6-6 and out of contention for a
bowl berth. Virginia Tech did enjoy a 10-2 regular season but fell short of an ACC title and lost to Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
The 2007 season treated each program more kindly. Kansas opened its season 11-0 before losing to Missouri in the final week of the regular season. Virginia Tech bounced back from an early-season obliteration at the hands of SEC champion LSU to capture the ACC championship and finish 11-2. The teams facing off in the Orange Bowl have two very different histories but are both seeking redemption.
Virginia Tech junior cornerback Brandon Flowers is the most feared playmaker on the team's defense. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound defensive back intercepted five passes and made 79 tackles this season. Junior cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris added five interceptions to help hold opposing quarterbacks to a 97.9 passing efficiency rating this season.
"We've worked hard and I think we're very deserving," Kansas sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing said. "If anyone wants to doubt us, we proved them wrong all year and we'll continue to do that."
Reeing has his hands full against a talented Virginia Tech led by a star cornerback and a strong group of linebackers. The Hokies yielded just 15.5 points per game — second among FBS teams.
Kansas' defense is sturdy as well, clamping down on the run rather than the pass. Junior linebackers James Holt, Mike Rivera and Joe Mortensen each made more than seven tackles per game and the Jayhawks allowed just 91 yards per contest on the ground.
Though the teams' outstanding defensive players helped them earn a chance at redemption and a BCS bowl victory, the Jayhawks pointed to less tangible factors to explain their improvement.
"We pursued our goals and put a lot of hard work in," senior tight end Derek Fine said. "We deserve this."
Edited by Meghan Murphy
given to the nation's best assistant coach. Young, who traveled to Little Rock, Ark., Tuesday for the award luncheon, was one of five finalists for the award. Young led the 2007 Kansas defense
football notebook
JUST SHORT
Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Young did not win the Broyles Award.
Young
to fourth in the nation in points allowed per game and seventh in rushing yards allowed per game. Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock won the award.
finalists for the national coach of the year award and Collins is a finalist for
the Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman in the country. The Awards show will be broadcast at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN (Sunflower Broadband channel 33).
Kansas coach Mark Mangino and junior offensive tackle Anthony Collins will attend The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show tonight in Orlando, Fla. Mangino is one of 10
AWARDS SHOW TONIGHT
- Asher Fusco
Collins
Virginia Tech defense
Rush defense:
86. 00 yards allowed
Total defense:
293.31
Pass defense:
207.31
yards allowed
Scoring defense:
15.46
Turnover margins +13
Sacks:
3.31
per game
Tackles for loss:
7.15
per game
Interceptions 21
COMMENTARY
Third time's a charm: Orange Bowl victory can change Jayhawk history
For the third time in Jayhawk history, the football team will compete in the Orange Bowl. If the team wins, it will be Kansas' first victory ever in a January game. With this in mind, the Jayhawks should not just settle for a record-setting season; they should aim for their first Orange Bowl victory.
CONTRIBUTED BY KU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
CONTRIBUTED BY KU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Before the start of the 2007 season, the Athletics Department began to use the slogan, "This is what Saturdays were made for," referring to Kansas football. To many, this sounded rather crazy and even presumptuous. After all, Kansas was 25-35 under coach Mark Mangino and coming off of a 6-6 season.
Twelve games later, Kansas is ranked No. 8 in the country with an 11-1 record and a spot in the Orange Bowl.
With this in mind, the Jayhawks should not settle for the record-setting season. They should go out and accomplish something they have never done before: win the Orange Bowl.
In 1948, the Kansas football team played Georgia Tech in front of more than 59,500 people in the 14th annual Orange Bowl. Kansas, ranked No. 13 in the AP poll, was an underdog to No. 10 Georgia Tech.
Kansas has played only two January games in its postseason history and both have been the Orange Bowl.
SEE WHEELER ON PAGE 3B
1948 Orange Bowl
orange bowl history
Georgia Tech 20, Kansas 14 Key play: KU quarterback Lynne McNutt fumbled the ball two feet from the goal line on the last series of the game.
BASKETBALL
1969 Orange Bowl
Penn State 15, Kansas 14
Key play: Penn State converted its second try at a two-point conversion in the last moments after Kansas was penalized for having 12 men on
raised for having 12 men on the field the first time.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Russell Robinson, senior guard, drives the baseline against an Eastern Washington defender during the second half Wednesday night in Allen Fieldhouse. Robinson finished the game with nine points, three assists and three steals. The Jayhawks defeated the Eagles 85-47 and improved to 8-0.
Big men inspire gigantic performance in the paint
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
Verbal warnings were no longer enough. Kansas coach Bill Self had to find another way to convince his guards to pass the ball inside to the post players more often.
So, he brought out the treadmill. At recent practices, the guards had to go for a run anytime they bypassed an open man in the paint. All the running must have worked. Kansas defeated Eastern Washington 85-47 Wednesday night, and the guards found the Jayhawk post players, who had no trouble handling
"We've emphasized it a lot." Self said. "I don't think we were more open tonight than we've been other nights. I think we just got it to them."
The PA announcer and crowd had barely finished shouting New York, New York before Kansas' inside game heated up. Jackson got fouled and made a free throw. Arthur followed with lay-up, then a baby hook. Jackson added an alley-oop and a couple free throws.
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 4B
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