No matter how November ends, Kansas football will be on the move. Or was this what Saturdays were made for? For Blue Wings to rise? Whatever the marketing slogan, regardless of the final month, the key here is Kansas football truly mattered for one glorious season.
The torrid start by the Jayhawks was as improbable as it was exciting. Sure, blind crimson-and-blue loyalists predicted 10-2, a dynamic season for a decidedly un-dynamic program. But for the unbiased observer, questions abounded for a team and a coach that have swum in the pool of mediocrity for the past decade.
The early non-con schedule prompted scoffs from critics. The month-long cupcake binge was exactly that: a frosted buffet. Toledo, Central Michigan and FIU proved no match for the Hawks. They were all non-BCS schools, all lower-tier programs taking a paycheck for a beat-down and smiling back to the bank. Southeast Louisiana was thrown in for good measure, a D1-AA squad that wasnt even on par with Appalachian State. At least the Mountaineers had back-to-back AA titles. The Lions (yes, the SE-LA Lions) were just 4-6 last season.
So, how could we take the Jayhawks seriously? It seemed like a classic case of an athletic director scheduling lightly for a post-season payday and a coach scheduling a job-security buffer zone. Sure, the Hawks blasted all comers, an average margin of victory of seven touchdowns in the 4-0 start. But who could know for sure? ItŐs a good bet Rockhurst would be .500 after this slate.
The Hawks proved their mettle, though, early in the conference season. For Mark Mangino the major question surrounded winning on the road. Away from the leafy streets of Lawrence, the Jayhawks were a disaster. Mangino had won exactly two Big 12 road games in his five years at the helm, a record that would make Guy Morriss blush. The Jayhawks lost every which way: big leads, second-half and nowhere-to-hide blowouts every time they stepped into enemy conference territory.
This season has been the exact opposite. While the non-conference slate never asked the Hawks to leave the cozy confines, trips to Manhattan (where they had not won since 1989) and Boulder (which has always been a difficult place to win) proved victorious. In both games the Jayhawks were sharp, not getting lucky with a bounce or two, instead beating opponents in hostile conditions straight up.
In Manginos five years, the quarterback position was also as settled as ownership of the Gaza Strip. He routinely shuffled signal-callers in and out, showing impatience with every interception, inconsistency with every depth chart.
Adam Barmann gave way to Jason Swanson, who lost his job to Brian Luke, who was benched for Kerry Meier, who eventually was yanked for Todd Reesing. Its a good thing someone bit off Manginos eraser because after a shaky start by Reesing last season, the coach named him starter in summer camp.
Reesing been everything the Jayhawks needed and more. Not only has he shown a prodigiously strong arm and quick thinking while rifling through options on the field. Reesing has also provided stability and leadership, rare qualities for a sophomore with just four games of experience coming into the season.
Finally, there was conference play, a place where the Hawks had not fared well under Manginos direction. Coming into the season, Manginos best record in the Big 12 was a lousy 3-5. Not exactly what Fiesta Bowl officials are salivating for. KU proved, however, the ghosts of Jaybird past were exorcised. Kansas matched the three wins in conference by mid-October.
Kansas football in 2007 has Blue Wings rising on Saturdays, because thats what its made for. Or something like it. Hey, for one glorious fall it was a football school. Slogan that.
BEST OF: The Panthers Dancers stop by and don't stop talking for twenty minutes. Wait, you're home schooled? BEST OF: Heat legend Glen Rice in studio on dropping 56 on the Magic, Final Fours and MMA. BEST OF: "The Obama Guy" now has D.A.'s old job! He asked the Prez a question, then he joined the show. BEST OF: Phil and Chris Simms drop by the broadcast to rap about dad's career and son's future. BEST OF: Why so few minority college coaches? DA answers with one word: Boosters. BEST OF: When a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer talks, you listen. The immortal Lynn Swann. BEST OF: TNA Wrestling's Traci Brooks on being blessed with, ahem, great dimensions. DA LOVES THE KIDS: After Marlins summer-camp day, the next gen of Fish Fans might be in trouble. DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 1 Heat charity camp shows us D-Wright's defense needs a little work.
DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 2 Not everyone is thrilled with the hiring of Eric Spoelstra. INSTANT CLASSIC: Free-agent Joe Horn blasts his old coaches and asks for Dolphins forgiveness, all live on the show! INSTANT CLASSIC: The man who took down Kimbo Slice: overnight celebrity Seth Petruzelli talks about the fight that stunned the fight world. BEST OF: Author Jeff Pearlman on the controversial Cowboys dynasty. Uh, ew. BEST OF: Heat rookie Mario Chalmers needs help hot-boxing. Cough, cough.. BEST OF: DA is named a Godfather. Can he handle the responsibility or will he sleep with the fishes? BEST OF: DA witnesses the greatest kids game ever. Rock, paper, scissors, space! STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 1 DA goes where no sportstalk host has gone before: Star Wars premier night.
STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 2 Will DA make it out alive or turn into an extra from the Cantina Bar? INSTANT CLASSIC: Legend of the MMA Dan "Hendo" Henderson on the circus attraction to Kimbo and the rise of UFC. BEST OF: New UFC Champ Forrest Griffin on the belt and bouncing out of fighting while the gettin's good. INSTANT CLASSIC: Zo's youth clinic brings us immediate joy: Heat Kids Say the Darndest Things BEST OF: Miami boxer Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez found himself on the streets. How he got his mojo back. BEST OF: CBS4 Weather Wizard and Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez on the jet-stream and the wave. BEST OF: Marino delivers a commencement speech and DA's own graduation horrors. INSTANT CLASSIC: Cats winger Nathan Horton is married to a Playmate? Oops. INSTANT CLASSIC: What does JoePa really mean at pressers? Ask Penn State 101. INSTANT CLASSIC: St. Patty's Day means celebrating Irish sports legends: DA Show style. INSTANT CLASSIC: Canes Big Man Dwayne Collins has his Aladdin DVD stolen. The Horror! INSTANT CLASSIC: Dontrelle says peace to South Florida with DA. Here's his Top-3 movies of all-time. SUPER BOWL XLII: NYG's Lawrence Tynes stops by after the ticker tape parade. INSTANT CLASSIC: Is Shaq becoming M.C. Hammer Jr? Say it ain't so. INSTANT CLASSIC: DA melts down as his alma mater brings brings back the dimwitted Greg Robinson for more SU pain. INSTANT CLASSIC: This placed DA squarely on the Chiefs blacklist forever. DA and King Carl in THE Battle Royale. BEST OF: Where it all started: Herm
and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
: Lauren Nichole has made quite an impression with her traffic reports. Great or gross? You decide. The
one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
No matter how November ends, Kansas football will be on the move. Or was this what Saturdays were made for? For Blue Wings to rise? Whatever the marketing slogan, regardless of the final month, the key here is Kansas football truly mattered for one glorious season. 
