Orange Bowl picks KU - The Capital-Journal

[Lzen]

http://cjonline.com/stories/120307/haw_222349859.shtml
Jayhawks will face Hokies in Miami
By Tully Corcoran
The Capital-Journal
Published Monday, December 03, 2007

LAWRENCE — The juices splashed and ran down James McClinton's chin in this, the ultimate celebratory move for a defensive lineman.

Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins walked into KU's meeting room with a bag of oranges, and everybody knew. The Jayhawks were Orange Bowl-bound, and McClinton could think of only one way to celebrate. He caught the orange, jammed it into his mouth and chomped off a bite bigger than Miami.

Kansas has an allotment of 17,000-18,000 tickets, on sale at orangebowl.org.

"I thank the Lord for this game," he said.

And that was the general sentiment. For a program that has never been to a BCS bowl and hasn't been to the Orange Bowl since 1969, Sunday's announcement, coming at the tail end of the winningest season in Kansas history, was hard to take for granted. Especially for tight end Derek Fine, who committed to what once was a moribund program and was on the team in 2003 when the Jayhawks went to another Florida bowl, the Tangerine Bowl.

"I like oranges better," Fine said. "They taste better, they're bigger."

Win or lose, playing in the Orange Bowl means the 2007 Jayhawks will go down as one of the top three teams in Kansas history, alongside the Orange Bowl teams of 1947 and 1968. For a program that five years ago was a conference laughingstock, 2007 has been one giant leap.

"It was just great to stand in that room and watch those kids when they found out," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "It was like when my kids were knee-high and it was Christmas morning."

The selection pairing the No. 8 Jayhawks (11-1) against No. 3 Virginia Tech (11-2), as always, is not without controversy. And it didn't spare any hearts, especially those in Columbia, Mo. Missouri, which beat Kansas and is ranked a spot higher in both major polls, lost to Oklahoma on Saturday night in the Big 12 championship game. Sunday, fell out of the BCS entirely, accepting a bid to the Cotton Bowl.

"Missouri and Kansas were basically back-to-back next to each other," said Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms. "With the result of the (Big 12 championship) game, having a two-loss team versus a one-loss team was probably the biggest thing we looked at. We knew whatever way we went, you could make a case for the other side."

There were no tears shed in Lawrence, where Joe Mortensen was asked if he felt sorry for the Tigers.

"No," he said.

There also wasn't much suspense in Lawrence, not within the Kansas athletic department, anyway.

Since Saturday, Perkins had been working the phones, literally all day and all night, talking to bowl representatives, ironing details, scenarios and, to a lesser extent, making KU's case. He felt all along KU would wind up in a BCS bowl. He just didn't know which. Heading into Saturday's games, KU was a candidate for the Rose, Orange, Fiesta and Sugar bowls. Once Illinois qualified for BCS play, KU was eliminated from Rose Bowl contention. Once Hawaii qualified, the Sugar Bowl was out. Then game the Orange Bowl, which got to choose its teams ahead of the Fiesta Bowl.

"The Orange Bowl was very strong, really pursuing us," Perkins said. "We were talking quite often, regularly through the whole process.

"The good thing that I was pleased about was everybody was interested in Kansas. That was the most important thing."

If the Orange Bowl hadn't chosen KU, the probability the Fiesta Bowl would have was "very strong," Perkins said. Instead, the Fiesta took West Virginia and Oklahoma. Since the BCS rules allow just two teams from one conference into its bowls, that left out Missouri, which brings up the song that has played all season at KU, a tune about the Jayhawks' schedule, which includes no wins against teams ranked in the final Top 25 and ranks among the softest in the nation.

Perkins said the schedule was never part of the discussion.

"We don't have any argument," Perkins said. "We're in the BCS. So we have no argument. Our schedule didn't bother us. We don't have to be apologetic about anything. What people don't realize is schedules are made a long way out, so you don't realize how things are gonna happen, and we had no problem with our schedule. We're playing in the Orange Bowl."

As it is designed to do, the Orange Bowl will create an intriguing matchup between the nation's No. 4 defense and Kansas' No. 6 offense. But that is a discussion for another day.

Sunday, the Jayhawks were soaking the moment, and the orange juice.

"It's been a great journey here for my five years," senior running back Brandon McAnderson said. "The opportunity that's in front of us is huge."

Tully Corcoran can be reached at (785) 295-5652 or tully.corcoran@cjonline.com.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by frazod

Slipped past? That's rich. Only a gift touchdown drive from the refs made it close. That and the fact that Pinkel foolishly let his foot off your throats. There was his biggest mistake.

Of course, I guess your "sound logic" is that Kansas would have beaten Oklahoma because they crushed Baylor, right?

KU never had the lead ever that game and i think every tiger fan and player has a reason to be pissed, kansas players know they were real lucky to get what they got. Let's see if they pull a herm like the chiefs did last year and lay an egg.

[bobbything]

Originally Posted by frazod

And I was there to see it, hear it, FEEL IT. And I GOT OFF ON IT. It was so supremely satisfying that I can't even express how much I loved it.

It was your own little NC, wasn't it?

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by frazod

Keep it up with the pussy excuses, you pathetic KUnt. You and your "best game" aren't shit.

But you sure thought it would be, didn't you? You strolled into Arrowhead thinking your undefeated mighty Jayhawks would sweep aside the poor little tiggers and you would gloat and bask in your magnificent glory. But instead, your dreams just curled up in a ball and died. And I was there to see it, hear it, FEEL IT. And I GOT OFF ON IT. It was so supremely satisfying that I can't even express how much I loved it.

How does that make you feel?

i don't really feel one way or another about it, but it certainly tells me that you are pretty ****ing pathetic

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by frazod

Slipped past? That's rich. Only a gift touchdown drive from the refs made it close. That and the fact that Pinkel foolishly let his foot off your throats. There was his biggest mistake.

Of course, I guess your "sound logic" is that Kansas would have beaten Oklahoma because they crushed Baylor, right?

MU fan - we didn't allow the other team to be close. The refs did. We didn't commit those obvious penalties.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

KU never had the lead ever that game and i think every tiger fan and player has a reason to be pissed, kansas players know they were real lucky to get what they got. Let's see if they pull a herm like the chiefs did last year and lay an egg.

You guys seriously don't think Reesing throwing a couple passes inaccurately (passes he normally makes with laser precision) that were picked and our kicker having his worst game had a little bearing on the outcome. Obviously, our defense could not handle MU's high powered offense. But our offense turned it over twice inside the MU 25 yard line and missed 2 FGs. You guys had a good game plan and executed it pretty well. But make no mistake, KU made some adjustments themselves and made a game of it. It was just too little, too late.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

i don't really feel one way or another about it, but it certainly tells me that you are pretty ****ing pathetic

Sure you don't.

[kcpasco]

Originally Posted by Lzen

You guys seriously don't think Reesing throwing a couple passes inaccurately (passes he normally makes with laser precision) that were picked and our kicker having his worst game had a little bearing on the outcome. Obviously, our defense could not handle MU's high powered offense. But our offense turned it over twice inside the MU 25 yard line and missed 2 FGs. You guys had a good game plan and executed it pretty well. But make no mistake, KU made some adjustments themselves and made a game of it. It was just too little, too late.

Of course it was Reesing throwning inaccurate passes and not the Missouri defenders making good plays

[kcpasco]

The Reesing INT in the end zone was accurate the Missouri defender just read it and made a good play

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Lzen

You guys seriously don't think Reesing throwing a couple passes inaccurately (passes he normally makes with laser precision) that were picked and our kicker having his worst game had a little bearing on the outcome. Obviously, our defense could not handle MU's high powered offense. But our offense turned it over twice inside the MU 25 yard line and missed 2 FGs. You guys had a good game plan and executed it pretty well. But make no mistake, KU made some adjustments themselves and made a game of it. It was just too little, too late.

Ever hear about the defense making good plays? They almost got another INT in that game as well. We also went for it on 4th down when we couldve kicked a gimme fg, the game wouldve been out of reach anyway. MU handled them, it was too late for KU, and they shutdown that star RB of KU's.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by kcpasco

Of course it was Reesing throwning inaccurate passes and not the Missouri defenders making good plays

That is a good point. But let me throw this point back at you. As I recall, that second INT early in the 2nd half was not due to Reesing being under pressure. The first one, however, was. The thing about it, though, is that he completed a beautiful pass the week prior when ISU blitzed like that (brought the house). All he did was ran backwards a bit and delivered a precision pass to Henry on a crossing route for a long TD. Frankly, I think he was either really nervous or the gloves or something. Many teams have pressured him with blitzes this year and he has handled it very well.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by kcpasco

The Reesing INT in the end zone was accurate the Missouri defender just read it and made a good play

The MU defender made a great play. I'll give him credit for that. But Reesing should have thrown it longer and not to the inside. If he would have done that, one of 2 things would have happened. It would have been a TD catch or incomplete.

[bobbything]

Originally Posted by kcpasco

The Reesing INT in the end zone was accurate the Missouri defender just read it and made a good play

It was a poor decision to throw the ball, and it was a good interception. He wasn't open unless the pass was 110% perfect.

[buddha]

This is the dumbest conversation on the Internet. Why are we discussing if either team played, "its best game?" It doesn't freaking matter. SCOREBOARD. Missouri rolled Kansas...end of discussion.

As for the bowl situation, it is what it is. Let's see how KU responds when playing its second legit opponent this season. MU will have its hands full with McFadden and Jones. Let's see who is talking after both bowls?

[kcpasco]

Oh well its over, I'm done debating

You guys got the Orange, we got the shaft

Good Luck in your bowl

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Lzen

You guys seriously don't think Reesing throwing a couple passes inaccurately (passes he normally makes with laser precision) that were picked and our kicker having his worst game had a little bearing on the outcome. Obviously, our defense could not handle MU's high powered offense. But our offense turned it over twice inside the MU 25 yard line and missed 2 FGs. You guys had a good game plan and executed it pretty well. But make no mistake, KU made some adjustments themselves and made a game of it. It was just too little, too late.

You sound just like MU fans heading into the OU game last Sat., looking back on the previous matchup.

Not playing your best in big games reflects on the quality of the team. KU wasn't up to it for 3 quarters. That counts. That's part of the makeup of KU. If, if, if ... But you didn't. Jeez, you as a Chiefs fan should know all about that.

Maybe you're used to seeing Reesing make all those throws in the past because -- here it comes -- he hadn't faced a team as good as MU.

You won't admit it, but you're really trying to argue that you ALMOST BEAT MU. If another pass had gone this way or a FG stays straighter or ... You're chipping away at MU's win. You're dismissing all your mistakes but holding MU accountable for theirs -- like a flipped ball from Moore on 3rd and 25. Well, hell, we had you in a deep hole, and if only Moore had been a tad more discreet ...

See how that works?