I know we've already got a good discussion going on what coach we'd like to see replace Mangino.  One of the biggest concerns many people have (which I share) is that if we bring in some up-and-coming hotshot, they might use us as a stepping stone to bigger and better things, and we would lose any momentum we've built in trying to develop the program.

So that got me thinking- where in the national pecking order does KU football sit? I think the best way to look at that question is to ask, "what place gives me the best chance at winning a national championship?"  After all, any coach gunning for a top program will obviously have that as their ultimate goal in line.

Obviously, we're not a Tier 1 Program. My Tier 1 looks something like this:

Florida, Texas, USC, LSU, Miami, Alabama, Florida State (maybe), Michigan, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame (maybe), Nebraska, and Tennessee.

Each of these programs has an inherent recruiting advantage from their region and/or prestige.

After that, however, things get muddled IMO. The rest of the SEC clearly has passionate fan support, but is it any easier to win the SEC West at a place like Arkansas than it is to win the Big 12 North at KU?

If you throw out emotional ties a new coach might have to places like their alma mater, where might said hotshot coach go from KU? Mason left for Minnesota, but that had more to do with conflicts with the administration. And it's not like he went on to do more there than he ever did in Lawrence. 

When I look at that Tier 1 list, I don't really see any jobs opening up any time soon, except for possibly Michigan (which could end up with Les Miles, opening up LSU).

So where do you think a hotshot coach looking to use KU as a launching pad onto bigger and better things would end up? Where does KU football currently rank in terms of "prestige" (which is admittedly an ambiguous term)? On the one hand, we have almost no local recruiting base, fan support has financially been good, but emotionally spotty, and have no real tradition to sell to players.  On the other hand, we've got top-of-the-line practice facilities, we're willing to spend top dollar on a coach, and we have an athletic director that will be extremely supportive to whatever you need.

What schools out there scare you about taking away a young coach we might hire that shows a lot of promise?

Look. I don't have to tell you what kind of season this has been. But you know what? It's still Misery week, damn it. And I don't care if the "Varsity Blues" storyline plays out to its completion and Todd Reesing becomes player-coach, we're still going to beat those f*ckers. Never forget how despicable their cause was that started this entire rivalry, or how disgusting their actions were in its formation.

I know we like to keep it classy around these parts, and think of ourselves as more of "the thinking man's sports fan." And for 51 weeks of the year, that's great. But not this week. This week is Hate Week. Now let's get this going.

Post in this thread anything you want about the "university" that represents America's Meth and Roadside Pornography Shop Capital.

Here's some videos to get this baby going right:

First, a nice summary of last year's matchup, in case you've forgotten.

It's mostly basketball-related, but a classic like this is necessary viewing.

Fuck and yes.

Coming into this season, expectations for the Kansas football team were high.  And why not? They've come off back to back bowl winning seasons, had a lot of returning depth, and still had the skill position guys that helped to create one of the best, most explosive offenses in all of college football.  Not only did we still have speedy jitterbug Jake Sharp, we brought in a highly-touted kid in Opurum that has proven he's the real deal.  We still had what many would consider the best receiver tandem in the country with Briscoe and Meier.

But most importantly, we had TODD REESING. The President of Awesometown himself.  The guy that had an uncanny ability to turn potential disaster into Epic Win. Statistically the greatest quarterback in Kansas history. The guy that does stuff like this all the time:

Remember that guy? The guy that could turn massive freak defensive ends into fools? The guy that could overcome large odds to bring a program to a place it had never been before? Remember TODD REESING?

The year started out well enough.  TODD REESING was just getting warmed up- leading his team to 40+ point performances while clearly still holding some things back. But then, something terrible happened....

TODD REESING got hurt, and was out for the season. "But wait, that's still Todd out there every week!" you may argue, but you would be wrong.  In fact, TODD REESING was replaced sometime during this season with his doppleganger, RODD TEESING.

RODD TEESING looks just like TODD REESING. He's the same height, same build, wears the same number... but he's not TODD REESING.  He's a 5'10 quarterback with inconsistent mechanics, shaky decision-making, and lacks the ability to scramble around in the backfield until his receivers can break open.  RODD TEESING also isn't the fun-loving leader the program had before, but instead, a sulking guy that perhaps parties a little bit too much.  RODD TEESING still can make straight line runs on draws for decent yardage, and can still throw a good ball when he gets his feet set. But while TODD REESING had those extra qualities that make him a winner, RODD TEESING does not.

There is starting to be a steady rumbling amongst the KU faithful that Mark Mangino needs to be fired, or at least have his coaching staff blown up.  But that's pretty unreasonable when you remember that MM lost his star quarterback, and has been forced to replace him with RODD, the poor imitation.

You may argue that MM should realize that RODD is no TODD, and make the switch to Kale Pick, at least so he has a chance to begin developing for next year. But here's the thing- not even MM realizes that RODD has taken over for TODD.  This conspiracy goes straight to the top!

via invisiblelimb.net

Tonight, the college basketball season kicks off for real, with a bizarre Roy Williams/ Isiah Thomas matchup that neither team seems to want to play. I know our boys still have a couple of days until they get going for real, but now seems as good a time as any to get back into "basketball mode" and start discussing what we think will happen this year in college hoops.

Let's make this thread open to anything you would like to talk about for the college basketball scene- either about the Jayhawks in particular, or more of the national picture.  Only rule: leave talking about football at the door. Yes, we all still support the football team, and are hoping for a bowl, and are worried about our coaching staff, yadda yadda yadda. There's plenty of other places on RCT to discuss that stuff over and over again.

Possible Topics of discussion:

1.  What team out there scares you the most?

2. Who is the best freshman in the country this year?

3. What mid-major do you like to make a run? What one is overrated?

4. Who is one team that nobody is talking about right now that will become a major storyline as the season progresses? Who is being talked about way too much right now, and is destined to fail?

5. Who is your second favorite college basketball team? Why?

6. With Hansborough no longer around, who becomes the most hated player in the game?

We all know that it hasn't been the greatest of times for KU this fall.  But as the great poet Bono once wrote, "everything changes on New Year's Day." Also, when he said, "I will be with you again," I like to believe he was talking about the Final Four.

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!