Head Coach Mark Mangino is set to begin his eighth year at the helm of the Kansas Jayhawks. During his tenure, he has led KU to prominence with historic wins, national accolades and unforgettable seasons.

Mangino’s eighth Kansas team will return 41 lettermen, including 18 starters. An explosive offense, featuring three of the nation’s top skill position players in quarterback Todd Reesing and wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, should make for a fun football team to watch.

Shortly after the Jayhawks’ Aug. 8 opening practice, the team hosted media day. Click here for exclusive video and quotes from Mangino and your favorite players.

Earlier this summer coach Mangino, Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing and Darrell Stuckey took part in the annual Big 12 Conference Preseason Football Media Days in Dallas. Video, quotes and photos are all available on the Big 12 Conference Web site.

Jayhawks earn preseason honors

Dezmon Briscoe
2009 Media Preseason All-Big 12
Biletnikoff Award list (nation’s top receiver)

Kerry Meier
Biletnikoff Award list (nation’s top receiver)

Todd Reesing
Johnny Unitas watch list (nationa’s top senior quarterback)
Davey O’Brien watch list (nation’s top quarterback)
Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list (nation’s best player)

Jake Sharp
Doak Walker Award Candidate (nation’s top running back)

Darrell Stuckey (pictured right)
2009 Media Preseason All-Big 12
Jim Thorpe Award watch list (nation’s best defensive back)
Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year watch list

Football fans buying season tickets in anticipation of exciting season

Kansas football’s Perkins Restaurant Family Zone football season ticket packages are on the verge of selling out for the second consecutive season. At a price of $450, Perkins Family Zone packages include two adult and two youth general admission tickets for all six home games on Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium. Fans had purchased some 2,000 packages by the end of July, the earliest that Family Zone tickets have reached that number. Less than 200 Family Zone packages remain.

Meanwhile, single-game tickets for all games except Oklahoma and Nebraska are now on sale. The only method of obtaining tickets to the Oklahoma and Nebraska games is to purchase a full-season or half-season ticket package. Border Showdown tickets against Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium also are on sale.

Reserved season tickets are $300. The Crimson Zone season ticket, a new package for 2009, is just $225. Two half-season packages—The “Rock” and “Chalk”—are available for $150. The Rock package includes tickets to Duke, Iowa State and Oklahoma. The Chalk package includes tickets to Duke, Southern Mississippi and Nebraska. Fans can purchase their season tickets online at www.kuathletics.com, by calling 800.34.HAWKS, or in person at the Allen Field House ticket office.

Kansas Athletics has introduced a new 12-month payment plan option that gives fans the opportunity to spread out their payments and pay on their own terms. Overall football season ticket sales had topped 35,000 by July 27, the earliest date KU football sales have reached that mark.

Kansas has set season attendance records at Memorial Stadium each of the past four years. Last season the Jayhawks averaged 50,907 fans per game, an all-time high.