Through the Phog
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Kansas football: Brother battle when OU visits

By Stan Unruh

Sep 3, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Chase Harrell (3) is congratulated by quarterback Carter Stanley (9) after scoring a touchdown against the Rhode Island Rams at Memorial Stadium. Kansas won the game 55-6. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Chase Harrell (3) is congratulated by quarterback Carter Stanley (9) after scoring a touchdown against the Rhode Island Rams at Memorial Stadium. Kansas won the game 55-6. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas football will have the opportunity to face a new Big 12 head coach this season. Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops handed off the coaching duties to a younger assistant.

Bob Stoops was the Defensive Coordinator at Florida the last time Kansas beat Oklahoma in football. That was 1997.  During that brief stretch, Kansas football enjoyed a three-game winning streak over the Sooners. The Jayhawks have not beaten OU since.  Twelve games straight.

The Daily Oklahoman story on Stoops’ retirement confirmed 33-year-old Lincoln Riley is the new man to lead the Sooners. Riley’s brother is the quarterback coach on David Beaty’s staff in Lawrence.

This story leaves so many unanswered questions. Stoops is obviously leaving on his own. Nobody is forcing him to leave the sideline.  At age 56, he is a kid compared to Bill Snyder, the man who gave him his first assistant coaching job in the old Big 8 Conference.

The impact of this change for Kansas football could be huge. First, we need to take a closer look at  Garrett Riley who is working with Kansas quarterbacks.  He worked for Beaty since the spring of 2016 as an offensive analyst.

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He must have done a great job to earn the promotion to an on-field coaching position. Working with the quarterbacks is one of the most important positions on the staff.

Garrett worked with his brother, the new Sooner boss,  for 2 seasons at East Carolina.  While Lincoln has been in Norman the past two seasons, I would image Garrett knows his brother’s coaching style as well as anyone.

As a matter of fact, if he is like most bothers, he probably wants to beat Lincoln as badly as anyone. His first chance to end the losing streak to OU is five months away. I can’t wait to watch the brothers face off when the Sooners visit Memorial Stadium on November 18.

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