Dodd :Doubting it is dumb: Right now, Kansas the clear No. 1

ROYC75 · 11-13-2007, 01:33 PM

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoo...story/10468975

Dodd's Heisman Watch
1. Tim Tebow, Florida
2. Dennis Dixon, Oregon
3. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
4. Chase Daniel, Missouri
5. Todd Reesing, Kansas

Before the moment passes, let's get one thing straight.

Kansas is No. 1.

Sure, the BCS and polls say something different, but take it from someone who has seen all the contenders. Oregon might be playing the best. LSU probably has the best athletes. Kansas deserves to be at the top.

In the craziest fall since the 2000 election season, being undefeated should speak loudest. Ask W. All these wacky upsets and KU -- that's what we call it here in Kansas -- is the only BCS conference team sporting a bagel, a doughnut.

Zero, as in number of losses.

That counts most in this season when top five mob hits have abounded. As someone who has lived 30 miles from the campus for the past 26 years, I can't believe I'm writing this, but it's true:

The stadium that once was the venue for a Huey Lewis and the News concert (what, you missed Hawkstock '83?) is the home of the No. 1 team in the country. Or should be in this week's Horse and Buggy Bowl.

Kansas hasn't been 10-0 since 1899. Iowa State last won a conference title (shared, actually, in the Missouri Valley) in 1912.

The winner gets free lamp oil for a year.

Football really isn't that antiquated at Kansas. They've been playing there since 1890, a year before that Naismith guy nailed up his first peach basket.

But almost never like this. What does No. 1 mean? It means Kansas didn't blow a 13-lead lead to what is now a three-loss Kentucky (as LSU did). Kansas didn't blow a 17-point lead and lose to a currently 5-6 Colorado (as Oklahoma did). Its only loss isn't to a Cal team that has lost four of the past five and dropped out of the rankings. But Oregon's is.

The Jayhawks, though, have won them all.

We will entertain your argument regarding Kansas and Hawaii, but not Kansas and the other one-loss teams. It's a short argument. Hawaii plays in the WAC, enough said. Kansas plays in the Big 12, which is sporting three top six teams at the moment.

If it gets to a BCS bowl, Hawaii will have beaten one ranked team (Boise State), survived San Jose State in overtime and conquered two I-AAs. If Kansas gets to New Orleans, it will have finished up by beating two top six teams -- Missouri and Oklahoma.

That's two more top 10 teams than Ohio State will face in getting to the national championship game. What's that? The Buckeyes lost to Illinois? There goes another one-loss pretender.

College football is the only sport where 10 decades of tradition count more than 10 weeks of excellence. Humans still hold the most sway over the process. And the humans who vote in the polls sure have blown it on this one. A large portion couldn't spell Todd Reesing, much less know how much heart is beating under that crimson-and-blue jersey of the Kansas quarterback. They probably don't know that Marcus Henry has turned out to be every bit the receiver that LSU's Early Doucet is.

One is all-anonymous. The other was preseason All-SEC.

That's part of college football's good old boys club. It doesn't readily admit new members, much less admit they can actually play tackle football at such far-flung outposts as Lawrence. There are some folks in Baton Rouge who couldn't tell you what conference Kansas is in.

Didn't we learn from Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl that any team can win anywhere? Haven't we learned from the past three months?

Your next argument will be about strength of schedule. Because of the Big 12 schedule rotation, Kansas doesn't play Oklahoma or Texas this regular season. So what? Like we said, it's going to be decided on the field. Kansas will likely play Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game if it stays on course. Texas already has lost by 20 at home to Kansas State, a team that lost by 42 to Nebraska on Saturday.

So what are we talking about here? A soft non-conference schedule? Mark Mangino wasn't trying to massage a national championship run when he put this schedule together. He was trying to get to a bowl game, keep his job. It worked for Bill Snyder. Kansas State's former coach played non-conference schedules far easier than this one, and look what it got him -- a top 10 program and a Big 12 title in 2003.

Take out the magnifying glass, and KU's non-conference opponents aren't exactly eight-man football either.

Central Michigan won the MAC last season and is in the MAC title game this season. KU beat the Chips by 45. The Jayhawks lost last season at Toledo in overtime. They won the return game two months ago, but the point is this: How many Big Ten teams in the area have played at Toledo lately? Let's check: Hmmm, there have been two this decade.

Wonder why? Major-college teams are 2-3 at Toledo since 2000.

Southeastern Louisiana and Florida International we'll give you. But don't just blame Kansas. Teams have been falling all over themselves trying to get FIU on the schedule. In the past two seasons, the Golden Panthers have taken guarantee checks from Penn State, Miami and Texas Tech as well.

Nevertheless, the Jayhawks are not going to fluke their way to New Orleans. As mentioned, they are going to earn it. If everyone wins out, all indications are that the Jayhawks, currently No. 3 in the BCS, are going to vault into the top two.

Any problem with a 13-0 Big 12 champion as the only major-college undefeated team playing for it all? There had better not be, because it has never not happened.

You wonder how Harvard on the Kaw is going to deal with it. It's a basketball school. That will never change. Naismith's grave is tucked away humbly in the back of a modest cemetery in Lawrence. But if you visit this week, you will notice that the ground around the site has been disturbed. Obviously Ol' James himself has been tossing and turning lately.

The last time KU was 10-0 in football, basketball was just starting up on campus, with Naismith as the first coach.

Since then, Kansas has become famous for a lot of other things. If you've got 45 minutes, I'm sure someone will think of one.

Right now, though, it's the center of the football universe.

No. 1 with a bullet -- usually from Reesing to Henry.

ROYC75 · 11-13-2007, 01:35 PM

Time to ruffle some more of the Tiggers stripes ......

BTW, I liked this pic........ funnystuff.

Molitoth · 11-13-2007, 01:42 PM

Decent read.

StcChief · 11-13-2007, 01:42 PM

This BS will be over on 24th can't wait.

Mr. Laz · 11-13-2007, 01:47 PM

it's true ...... while KU is probably not the best team they should be the #1 ranked right now.

undefeated in the big 12

pikesome · 11-13-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StcChief

This BS will be over on 24th can't wait.

Me too. Of course I want a KU win but if the Jayhawks lose, so be it. MU isn't a bunch of slouches, they're playing damn good ball too. Either way the question will be settled vis-a-vi the Big12 North. I just hope whoever goes from the North beats Oklahoma.

HypnotizedMonkey · 11-13-2007, 01:52 PM

White Owl agrees. *does the White Owl Dance!*

**Baby Lee** · 11-13-2007, 01:52 PM

Sure-Oz · 11-13-2007, 01:54 PM

Beat #6 MU, crown as #1 id think they'd earn it at that point, given they'd be undefeated still...right now, no.

Eleazar · 11-13-2007, 01:55 PM

Brock · 11-13-2007, 01:56 PM

OHMGZ NOES, more KU arrogance!

Basileus777 · 11-13-2007, 01:56 PM

They shouldn't be #1 right now, they have no quality wins. But if they beat Missouri and Oklahoma, they deserve to be #1.

pikesome · 11-13-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

It worked for Ohio... oh wait. Yes but it's fun to talk. There can't be a Jawhawk who thought we'd really be having this conversation a year ago. Hell, a couple months ago (look up the KU 10-2 thread) a lot of us thought it was crazy talk.

Mr. Laz · 11-13-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Beat #6 MU, crown as #1 id think they'd earn it at that point, given they'd be undefeated still...right now, no.

the only undefeated team in a BCS conference deserves to be ranked #1 even if they aren't considered the best team.

doesn't bother me that they aren't ...... the year has already exceeded any expectation i could of ever had.

if it was a team with any kind of history of being good at football they would be ranked #1 right now.

**Lzen** · 11-13-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

the only undefeated team in a BCS conference deserves to be ranked #1 even if they are considered the best team.

doesn't bother me that they aren't ...... the year has already exceeded any expectation i could of every had.

if it was a team with any kind of history of being good at football they would be ranked #1 right now.

Good post. I agree with that.

I thought about posting this article but figured the Tigger fans would get into a tizzy about it. So, I didn't post it. I am like BL, though. I don't even wanna think about a title before we play MU. See how that game goes and then go from there.

11-13-2007, 01:33 PM
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $5469400	Dodd :Doubting it is dumb: Right now, Kansas the clear No. 1 http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoo...story/10468975 Dodd's Heisman Watch 1. Tim Tebow, Florida 2. Dennis Dixon, Oregon 3. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma 4. Chase Daniel, Missouri 5. Todd Reesing, Kansas Before the moment passes, let's get one thing straight. Kansas is No. 1. Sure, the BCS and polls say something different, but take it from someone who has seen all the contenders. Oregon might be playing the best. LSU probably has the best athletes. Kansas deserves to be at the top. In the craziest fall since the 2000 election season, being undefeated should speak loudest. Ask W. All these wacky upsets and KU -- that's what we call it here in Kansas -- is the only BCS conference team sporting a bagel, a doughnut. Zero, as in number of losses. That counts most in this season when top five mob hits have abounded. As someone who has lived 30 miles from the campus for the past 26 years, I can't believe I'm writing this, but it's true: The stadium that once was the venue for a Huey Lewis and the News concert (what, you missed Hawkstock '83?) is the home of the No. 1 team in the country. Or should be in this week's Horse and Buggy Bowl. Kansas hasn't been 10-0 since 1899. Iowa State last won a conference title (shared, actually, in the Missouri Valley) in 1912. The winner gets free lamp oil for a year. Football really isn't that antiquated at Kansas. They've been playing there since 1890, a year before that Naismith guy nailed up his first peach basket. But almost never like this. What does No. 1 mean? It means Kansas didn't blow a 13-lead lead to what is now a three-loss Kentucky (as LSU did). Kansas didn't blow a 17-point lead and lose to a currently 5-6 Colorado (as Oklahoma did). Its only loss isn't to a Cal team that has lost four of the past five and dropped out of the rankings. But Oregon's is. The Jayhawks, though, have won them all. We will entertain your argument regarding Kansas and Hawaii, but not Kansas and the other one-loss teams. It's a short argument. Hawaii plays in the WAC, enough said. Kansas plays in the Big 12, which is sporting three top six teams at the moment. If it gets to a BCS bowl, Hawaii will have beaten one ranked team (Boise State), survived San Jose State in overtime and conquered two I-AAs. If Kansas gets to New Orleans, it will have finished up by beating two top six teams -- Missouri and Oklahoma. That's two more top 10 teams than Ohio State will face in getting to the national championship game. What's that? The Buckeyes lost to Illinois? There goes another one-loss pretender. College football is the only sport where 10 decades of tradition count more than 10 weeks of excellence. Humans still hold the most sway over the process. And the humans who vote in the polls sure have blown it on this one. A large portion couldn't spell Todd Reesing, much less know how much heart is beating under that crimson-and-blue jersey of the Kansas quarterback. They probably don't know that Marcus Henry has turned out to be every bit the receiver that LSU's Early Doucet is. One is all-anonymous. The other was preseason All-SEC. That's part of college football's good old boys club. It doesn't readily admit new members, much less admit they can actually play tackle football at such far-flung outposts as Lawrence. There are some folks in Baton Rouge who couldn't tell you what conference Kansas is in. Didn't we learn from Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl that any team can win anywhere? Haven't we learned from the past three months? Your next argument will be about strength of schedule. Because of the Big 12 schedule rotation, Kansas doesn't play Oklahoma or Texas this regular season. So what? Like we said, it's going to be decided on the field. Kansas will likely play Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game if it stays on course. Texas already has lost by 20 at home to Kansas State, a team that lost by 42 to Nebraska on Saturday. So what are we talking about here? A soft non-conference schedule? Mark Mangino wasn't trying to massage a national championship run when he put this schedule together. He was trying to get to a bowl game, keep his job. It worked for Bill Snyder. Kansas State's former coach played non-conference schedules far easier than this one, and look what it got him -- a top 10 program and a Big 12 title in 2003. Take out the magnifying glass, and KU's non-conference opponents aren't exactly eight-man football either. Central Michigan won the MAC last season and is in the MAC title game this season. KU beat the Chips by 45. The Jayhawks lost last season at Toledo in overtime. They won the return game two months ago, but the point is this: How many Big Ten teams in the area have played at Toledo lately? Let's check: Hmmm, there have been two this decade. Wonder why? Major-college teams are 2-3 at Toledo since 2000. Southeastern Louisiana and Florida International we'll give you. But don't just blame Kansas. Teams have been falling all over themselves trying to get FIU on the schedule. In the past two seasons, the Golden Panthers have taken guarantee checks from Penn State, Miami and Texas Tech as well. Nevertheless, the Jayhawks are not going to fluke their way to New Orleans. As mentioned, they are going to earn it. If everyone wins out, all indications are that the Jayhawks, currently No. 3 in the BCS, are going to vault into the top two. Any problem with a 13-0 Big 12 champion as the only major-college undefeated team playing for it all? There had better not be, because it has never not happened. You wonder how Harvard on the Kaw is going to deal with it. It's a basketball school. That will never change. Naismith's grave is tucked away humbly in the back of a modest cemetery in Lawrence. But if you visit this week, you will notice that the ground around the site has been disturbed. Obviously Ol' James himself has been tossing and turning lately. The last time KU was 10-0 in football, basketball was just starting up on campus, with Naismith as the first coach. Since then, Kansas has become famous for a lot of other things. If you've got 45 minutes, I'm sure someone will think of one. Right now, though, it's the center of the football universe. No. 1 with a bullet -- usually from Reesing to Henry.
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11-13-2007, 01:35 PM	#2
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $5469400	Time to ruffle some more of the Tiggers stripes ...... BTW, I liked this pic........ funnystuff. __________________ Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it. John Lennon Last edited by ROYC75; 11-13-2007 at 01:41 PM..
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11-13-2007, 01:42 PM	#3
Molitoth Mahomes Fanboi Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $2824969	Decent read.
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11-13-2007, 01:42 PM	#4
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	This BS will be over on 24th can't wait.
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11-13-2007, 01:47 PM	#5
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	it's true ...... while KU is probably not the best team they should be the #1 ranked right now. undefeated in the big 12 __________________
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11-13-2007, 01:52 PM	#7
HypnotizedMonkey usually hooplah is involved Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Casino cash: $10004925	White Owl agrees. does the White Owl Dance!
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11-13-2007, 01:52 PM	#8
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $6838598	__________________ We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W.
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11-13-2007, 01:54 PM	#9
Sure-Oz Stay positive, don't give up Join Date: Dec 2001 Casino cash: $3259383	Beat #6 MU, crown as #1 id think they'd earn it at that point, given they'd be undefeated still...right now, no.
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11-13-2007, 01:55 PM	#10
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000
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11-13-2007, 01:56 PM	#11
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	OHMGZ NOES, more KU arrogance!
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11-13-2007, 01:56 PM	#12
Basileus777 MVP Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Jersey Casino cash: $5245958	They shouldn't be #1 right now, they have no quality wins. But if they beat Missouri and Oklahoma, they deserve to be #1. Last edited by Basileus777; 11-13-2007 at 02:06 PM..
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