Year of the Longhorn? Why not Year of the Jayhawk?

By Big12-Fans Writer Zach Ocken

As most of us know who follow college sports, Texas has been on a historic run since June. It all started in Omaha when they swept Florida for the National Title. Texas then proceeded to have one of the best seasons ever put together by a football team. After a win over the undefeatable USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl and hoisting the ADT (does that just sound wrong to anyone else? It’s the Sears Trophy dammit) Crystal above their collective heads, people started talking. Never before had anyone won all 3 major titles (Football, Basketball, Baseball) and the Longhorns where sitting at #2 in the country in basketball, at the time. If they can pull off the trifecta, the June ’05 to June ’06 year, then Texas has/will go down as possibly the greatest run ever by a program.

But as you all know, I’m not one to look at something the same way (oh no, hear he goes again). Look at it again, Texas was expected to do everything they have done, and really nothing less. There is a program that has been flying slightly below the radar with the exception of basketball but has been putting together an impressive year, compared to what they were supposed to do, the University of Kansas Jayhawks.

Starting off with football the ‘Hawks were known to have a good defense, but no one really expected much at all from them, bottom of the North and no bowl was the norm for this team. But Kansas put together their best Big 12 showing with wins over Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa State, the latter of which put the breaks on a Cyclone North championship. Then in the their bowl they laid the wood to Big 12 wanna-be Houston. Although they did not win a National Championship, this was a very good season for a very poor football team.

Next up comes Basketball. Kansas was not given any respect at the beginning of the season and maybe deservingly so, with a team made up almost entirely of Freshmen and Sophomores there was little to no hope for the Jayhawk squad. But Coach Self has brought his team together very well in Big 12 play and has some of the nation's best looking over their shoulders for them come March. If Kansas can make a run deep in the big dance they will turn the heads of a lot of critics and will make the elite teams wet themselves next season.

Then we have baseball. There was a lot of talk going into this season as to whether the Jayhawks could get over the hump and become a player on the Big 12 scene. Last year the ‘Hawks did not even make the post season. But with a very impressive start to the ’06 season heads are starting to turn. Going 7-2 and 2-1 at Stanford was no small feat for this team, and with confidence building by the game, they could be very dangerous come Big 12 play.

Looking at what was/can be done the Longhorns have possibly had the greatest year ever. I am saying nothing to short about what they have accomplished, but compared to what they were supposed to do, Kansas has had a very impressive run.

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