Jayhawks Return Home to Host Aggies

Oct. 4, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Kansas (3-2, 0-1 Big 12) returns to Memorial Stadium Saturday, Oct. 7 for a Big 12 Conference matchup against Texas A&M (4-1, 0-1 Big 12) where the Jayhawks have won their last nine-straight games dating back to the 2004 season. The contest, KU’s first non-night game of the season, kicks off at 11 a.m. and will be televised by FoxSports Net.

“Texas A&M is a team that has good balance on offense and defense,” said KU Head Coach Mark Mangino at his weekly session with the media on Tuesday. “They are playing well on both sides of the ball.”

Last week, the Jayhawks were defeated by No. 21 Nebraska 39-32 in a thrilling overtime contest in Lincoln, Neb. Kansas fell behind 17-0 after the first quarter, but never quit, and rallied to take a 25-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter. After the Cornhuskers took a seven-point lead just two minutes later, KU perfectly executed its two-minute offense to tie the game with 46 seconds left in regulation on a 26-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Brian Murph. NU scored a touchdown on its first possession in overtime and then held the Jayhawks on a fourth down attempt from the nine-yard line to escape with a win.

In its last nine games at Memorial Stadium, KU has outscored the opposition 260-124 (winning by an average score of 28.9 to 13.7). The KU defense has allowed just 63.8 rushing yards per contest during that span.

Texas A&M enters the contest after dropping its Big 12 opener 31-27 to Texas Tech in College Station, Texas. The Aggies were undefeated heading into the contest, claiming non-conference wins over The Citadel, Louisiana-Lafayette, Army and Louisiana Tech.

KU / Texas A&M Notes
Saturday’s game against the Aggies marks the eighth all-time meeting between the two schools on the gridiron with A&M holding a 6-1 advantage in the series … The Aggies lead the series 2-1 in Lawrence … Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione has quite a background as a football coach in the state of Kansas. Franchione started coaching in the state at Mulvane High School in 1975. He then taught and coached at Peabody HS and later became an assistant coach at Kansas State from 1978-80. Franchione was the head coach at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan. from 1981-82 and at Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kan. from 1985-89.

— KU —