Big 12 media poll good motivation for Kansas football

Kansas football fans are not surprised with Thursday’s announced Big 12 preseason football poll.  There is no cause for alarm because the Jayhawks know what they need to do.

The media continues to place Kansas football at the very bottom of the preseason conference poll.  Shocking news it is not.  I also don’t like the fact that some in the media referred to this as a “tradition.” It is not. On the other hand, I will admit, the Kansas football program is struggling and has been since Lew Perkins fired Mark Mangino.

Kansas football is rich with tradition. Behind the leadership of head coach David Beaty we see positive possibilities to add to the rich successful tradition that has fallen on hard times.  I seriously doubt Beaty or anyone else on the Kansas football coaching staff expected Thursday’s poll to say anything different. You know what Beaty says?  “Earn it!”

In addition to leaving the Jayhawks at the bottom of the poll, the media picked Oklahoma under new head coach Lincoln Riley to win the Big 12.  I’m not sure I agree with that. The fans in Stillwater host Bedlam November 4.

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I am surprised the media poll awarded one first place vote to Kansas State. Bill Snyder’s team actually has a lot of pressure to live up to expectations this fall. They have a quarterback coming off shoulder surgery, an inexperienced quarterback coach, lost some key defensive players to the NFL and a host of other issues that could be distractions.

Other than a big upset victory over Texas, the Kansas football team has not earned anything. They can build on the positives of the preseason honors for defensive end Dorance Armstrong, Mesa Ribordy and Ben Johnson. This Jayhawk team will surprise many in the media this season. They need to use this poll as motivation.