KU CONNECTION

Jayhawks ready for '07 football season

After winning three of the last four games to close out the 2006 season, KU players and coaches are eager to take another step forward as the Jayhawks prepare for their sixth season under head coach Mark Mangino. For the third time in the past four years, KU posted a bowl-eligible record last season, and with 33 returning lettermen, a strong nucleus appears set to have a positive year.

Among the returning lettermen are 16 starters from last year’s 6-6 team. That group includes six offensive and eight defensive starters and both kickers.

Kansas offensive lineman Anthony Collins, defensive lineman James McClinton and cornerback Aqib Talib were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team. The Jayhawks have more preseason All-Big 12 selections than any other Big 12 North school. Among the Big 12 South schools, only Texas, with seven, and Oklahoma, with four picks, had more players voted to the team than KU.

For the first time in school history, the Jayhawks will play eight home games, which includes one against Missouri in Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. Six of KU's 2007 opponents played in bowl games last season, including Central Michigan (Motor City Bowl), Texas A&M (Holiday Bowl), Nebraska (Cotton Bowl), Oklahoma State (Independence Bowl), Missouri (Sun Bowl) and Kansas State (Texas Bowl).

The season starts with four straight non-conference home games in September, all scheduled for 6 p.m.—Central Michigan (Sept. 1), Southeast Louisiana (Sept. 8), Toledo (Sept. 15) and Florida International (Sept. 22). The Jayhawks will host Big 12 opponent Baylor Oct. 13. Other conference home games include Nebraska (Nov. 3), Iowa State (Nov. 17) and Missouri (Nov. 25).

The Jayhawks will travel to Kansas State (Oct. 6), Colorado (Oct. 20), Texas A&M (Oct. 27) and Oklahoma State (Nov. 10) this season.

As in past years, season tickets remain the best value for Jayhawk football fans. Public season tickets are $275. Faculty-staff season tickets are $220, and recent graduate packages (2005-’07 graduation date) are $200. Family-Zone season packages are also available for just $350. The Family Zone, located in the North Bowl, includes two adult and two youth general admission tickets.

Single-game tickets for all non-conference games are $35 each. The Baylor and Iowa State games are $45 each. Nebraska homecoming tickets are $75 each, while Missouri tickets range from $30 to $65 each.

Another popular package, the Flex Pack, offers Jayhawk fans the opportunity to purchase tickets to three home games that fit their schedule. Fans can select one non-conference game, Central Michigan (Sept. 1), Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 8), Toledo (Sept. 15) or Florida International (Sept. 22), and two Big 12 Conference games, Baylor (Oct. 13), Nebraska (Nov. 3) or Iowa State (Nov. 17), and get the best available seats for those games. This package costs just $129 each and excludes the Missouri game at Arrowhead Stadium.

For more information on the upcoming season or ticket packages, visit www.kuathletics.com.