Kansas To Meet Minnesota In Insight Bowl On New Year's Eve
Game Notes
Dec. 5 Press Conference Quotes (Dec. 5)
Press Conference Quotes (Dec. 10)
Dec. 7, 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Invitations and acceptances became official on Sunday when it was announced that Kansas and Minnesota would play in the 2008 Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. on Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. Central Time on the NFL Network.
The Jayhawks (7-5 overall, 4-4 in the Big 12 Conference), are making bowl appearances in consecutive years for the first time in school history. Minnesota (7-5 overall, 3-5 in the Big 10) last played in a bowl game when it competed in the Insight Bowl in 2006.
The Gophers were coached in that game by former Kansas head coach Glen Mason in their 44-41 overtime loss to Texas Tech that season. Mason was 47-54-1 in nine years (1988-96) at Kansas before posting a 64-57 record in 10 seasons (1997-2006) at Minnesota.
Minnesota is in its second year under head coach Tim Brewster. In 2007 Minnesota was 1-11, but improved six games in the win column this season.
“Minnesota has made huge strides in their second season under Tim Brewster,” said Kansas head coach Mark Mangino. “They are making outstanding progress and will be a formidable bowl opponent.”
The Jayhawks are playing in a bowl game for the fourth time in the last six years, all under Mangino, and have won four of their last five bowl games. KU posted a 24-21 victory against Virginia Tech in the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl to cap a 12-1 campaign last year.
Minnesota is playing in a bowl game for the eighth time in the last 10 years. UM is 5-7 all-time in bowl games, while the Jayhawks are 5-6 all-time in bowl contests.
KU and Minnesota will be meeting for the seventh time with the series knotted at three games apiece. The teams last met in 1973 when Kansas won 34-19 at Lawrence. That game capped a three-year run of games between the two schools.
KU and Minnesota first met in 1893 in the 20th game in Jayhawk history. Minnesota won that game 12-6 at Minneapolis.
Tickets for the Insight Bowl are available on-line at kuathletics.com or by calling the Kansas Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-34-HAWKS. The bowl has set aside 10,500 tickets for Kansas fans at $55 per ticket. KU students may purchase tickets for $25.
Kansas Bowl History
Date Bowl Site Opponent Result Coach
Jan. 1, 1948 Orange Miami, Fla. Georgia Tech L 14-20 George Sauer
Dec. 16, 1961 Bluebonnet Houston, Texas Rice W 33-7 Jack Mitchell
Jan. 1, 1969 Orange Miami, Fla. Penn State L 14-15 Pepper Rodgers
Dec. 17, 1973 Liberty Memphis, Tenn North Carolina State L 18-31 Don Fambrough
Dec. 26, 1975 Sun El Paso, Texas Pittsburgh L 19-33 Bud Moore
Dec. 31, 1981 Hall of Fame Birmingham, Ala. Mississippi State L 0-10 Don Fambrough
Dec. 25, 1992 Aloha Honolulu, Hawai’i Brigham Young W 23-20 Glen Mason
Dec. 25, 1995 Aloha Honolulu, Hawai’i UCLA W 51-30 Glen Mason
Dec. 22, 2003 Tangerine Orlando, Fla. North Carolina State L 28-56 Mark Mangino
Dec. 23, 2005 Fort Worth Forth Worth, Texas Houston W 41-13 Mark Mangino
Jan. 3, 2008 Orange Miami, Fla. Virginia Tech W 24-21 Mark Mangino
Dec. 31, 2008 Insight Tempe, Ariz. Minnesota — Mark Mangino
