Conference Big 12 Conference 2008 record 8–5 (4–4 Big 12) Offensive scheme Multiple | Division North Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner (2nd year) | |
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Head coach Mark Mangino (7th year) | ||
The 2008 Kansas Jayhawks football team (variously "Kansas", "KU", or the "Jayhawks") represented the University of Kansas in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the school's 119th year of intercollegiate football. The team was looking to continue the success of the prior season in which they lost only a single conference game and went on to win the Orange Bowl. In the ninth week, after defeating Kansas State 52–21, the Jayhawks became Bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive year, a school record. Also, for the first time in school history, Kansas made back-to-back appearances in a Bowl game after accepting the invitation to play in the Insight Bowl versus the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The team finished the regular season with a victory over their archrival, the Missouri Tigers (who was then ranked 13th in the BCS Poll), in the Border War. The Jayhawks concluded the season with an 8–5 overall record (4–4 in the Big 12 Conference).
Contents
The team was led by head coach Mark Mangino, in his seventh season, with Ed Warinner as the offensive coordinator for his second season (4th year overall) and Clint Bowen (8th year) in his first season as the defensive coordinator, having served the previous two seasons as co-defensive coordinator. Junior Todd Reesing returned to the starting quarterback position after a records-setting performance in the previous season.
They played their home games on Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
Following the season the NCAA ranked the Jayhawks schedule as the 7th toughest in Division I FBS, out of 119.
Roster
KU dismissed junior cornerback Anthony Webb in June for violating team rules. At the same time, senior defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst left the team for health reasons. KU lost three running backs in August. Carmon Boyd-Anderson transferred to Southwest Baptist University. Donte Bean and Kyle Winkley left the team for Washburn University. Sean Ransburg didn't qualify academically for the fall. Kicker Stephen Hoge quit the team in mid-August. Tight End and Defensive End Kevin Glover left the team for personal issue's.
Statistics
2008 Official Statistics