Consider: Beat by a first-year @ WVa young coach from North Texas with less talent. I think if Bill can't figure out how to maximize this talent as a team, then . . . maybe . . . his era should be over.

Very disappointing.

Notice that we are not switching on defense today. I believe it's made a big difference. It's forced WVa to play more outside.

@BeddieKU23 Thanks. It didn't show on my guide an hour ago.

Where do we watch today's game?

@FarmerJayhawk Yes, but he donated far more than the cost to finish the building. It DOES illustrate how far behind we were in funding football. So much is going / has gone to the stadium that it leaves much less for paying players in this era of professional college football.

@Jayhawk_69 Someone will eventually rank the portal class after it closes. For me . . . I'm pleased that there is a focus on offensive and defensive linemen and linebackers. However, the quality of the haul seems to be mediocre. For example, we picked up some DTs and DEs, but Texas Tech got the #1 defensive lineman. Our best lineman is out of Texas where he didn't play consistently. We are getting mostly 3-star recruits like we did pre-Liepold. I'd sure like to know where David Booth's money is going.

@approxinfinity Glad you are enjoying my posts.

Coach Don Fambrough is a University of Kansas Legend! No one cared more or gave more to the University post World War II. This Texan had played football at the University of Texas when the war broke out. But during the War, Fambrough played football with a number of football players from Kansas who convinced him to enroll at KU. He played guard on the 1948 Orange Bowl team and became a life-long Jayhawk, coaching the Jayhawks football team – twice!
Where, when and how he learned his disdain for the University of Missouri, I am not sure, but he did once say, “I don’t hate anyone, but I truly dislike the University of Missouri. I disliked ‘em when I played ‘em. I disliked ‘em when I was an assistant coach. I disliked them when I was head coach. I dislike ‘em now, and I always will.”
I did a little research and found what might be the reason for Fambrough’s disdain. In 1947, KU enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in program history, earning an 8-1-2 record, a co-Big Eight Conference championship and a 1948 Orange Bowl bid and victory. As spring practice began the following year, KU had five players, including Fambrough, who were about to play their final season. However, former MU coach Don Faurot wanted to change the World War II exemption rule that had allowed for freshmen eligibility. Two weeks after spring practice, Faurot, then MU athletic director, called an emergency session of the Big Six Conference. Conference officials eventually sided with Faurot, and made the exemption retroactive, meaning Fambrough’s expectation of a senior season had been dissolved by the Tigers, and his playing career was over. Kansas lost its top two quarterbacks and the entire left side of its offensive line as a result.
Coach was well known for his pre-game speech for the KU – MU game. Even when he was not coaching, Fambrough was often invited into the KU locker room before the game to fire up the team. (I once had an audio tape of one of his pre-game speeches; but I loaned it out, and it was never returned. Lesson learned!)
Coach Fambrough’s annual speech went something like this: (Delivered in a gruff, gravely voice) Now boys, y’all need to know how this game got started. Years ago, a drop-out from the University of Missouri gathered up his low-rent buddies. They were nothin’ but a bunch of no-good, hard-drinkin’ thugs. By God, they rode horseback over to Lawrence [Fambrough’s voice is rising.] where they killed our men, even our boys. They raped our women! . . . then the burned the whole DAMNED TOWN!
Today is not a day when you give 100%. Today is a day when you give 110% every down, every play! Every Kansan who ever lived is counting on you today. Go out and beat those DAMN Tigers!
It’s a shame, in my opinion, the City of Lawrence, Kansas, could not find a way to re-name Missouri Street to Fambrough Street as it leads south into Memorial Stadium.

@DanR Melvin might be a more important player to the team's success than DP.

@kjayhawks2.0 It starts with line play -- offense and defense. ie A mediocre QB and RB can look great behind a stellar line. Just not sure these are the best linemen available in the portal. (We should have the $$$.)

@wissox83 Sweet. Thanks for sharing.

Let's keep it goin'. Who remembers Nolan Cromwell?

The 1970s weren’t a lot of fun for KU Football, but there was at least one highlight, in my opinion. That was the move of Nolan Cromwell from defensive back to quarterback, and it proved how important coaching still is.
Cromwell was an incredible athlete from tiny Ransom, Kansas. (pop. 260 at the 2020 census) Cromwell earned recognition as the Wichita Eagle’s Kansas Player of the decade for the 1970’s. Cromwell was all-state in football and basketball. In his freshman and sophomore years, he played free safety for Coach Don Fambrough. In 1974, the team finished 4-7, and Fambrough was fired . . . again! The next year, new Head Coach Bud Moore moved Cromwell to quarterback and ran the wishbone. KU beat Oklahoma 23-3 in Norman when the Sooners were ranked #1 in the AP poll. Cromwell rushed for a TD in that game. The Jayhawks finished 7-4 and then lost to Pitt in the Sun Bowl.
During the 1976 season, the Jayhawks were 5-1 and ranked #10 in the country when Cromwell suffered a season-ending knee injury. The ‘Hawks finished 6-5. In spite of his shortened season, Cromwell earned Big 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Cromwell went on to play 11 years as a defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams, was a four-time Pro Bowler and a participant in Super Bowl XIV.

By the way, do you know what a Sooner is? By definition the Sooners were the cheaters in the first Oklahoma Land Rush. Do you know what a Boomer is? They were the cheaters in the second Oklahoma Land Rush.

@kjayhawks2.0 I think that is up to Bill. As a HOF coach making millions, it's not too much to expect.

"Darryn Who?" Melvin Council.
Darryn is an unbelievable talent. However . . . if he cannot play 40 minutes like everyone else, then IMO he is a distraction. As good as Peterson is, the 'Hawks have shown that they can be a good team with Melvin at PG. The Jayhawks can't max their potential if they have to BOTH learn to play with him and play without him. Can't see us doing much in the conference. Maybe, maybe Bill will figure something out in time for the tournament.

"WE'RE PUTTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER." Jake Elwood

Very happy about this. My best guess is that he was limited by Franklin in what he could do with the offense at PSU. Franklin had a history of protecting his job by firing a coordinator every year or two. I suspect that Franklin micro managed and meddled in what his coordinators did. So, the offense is taken care of. Now, what about the D? And, BTW with the new title (which he needed for his resume), it would be a good guess to assume that a transition plan is in place: Lance coaches five more years then Andy takes over.

Lots going on "behind the curtain."

Kotelnicki returning as assoc head coach!

My wife traveled in her work. She could talk sports with the guys. They would ask, "What teams do you root for? She would answer, "Any team that's playing Ohio State, USC, Texas or Alabama."