Kansas Jayhawks vs. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles: Five things to know entering opener
Kansas’ football team, which last had a winning season in 2008, has at least been outstanding in season openers during that lean, 14-year span. The Jayhawks have won two of their last three, four of their last six, seven of their last 10 and 10 of their last 14 season debuts heading into Friday’s 7 p.m. home contest against Tennessee Tech.
The Jayhawks, who open as 28-point favorites early in the week, are the choice of oddsmakers to improve to 2-0 on opening night in the Lance Leipold era.
Early weather reports indicate a humid evening with temperature in the 80s after a daytime high of 92. Thunderstorms are possible, however they are not expected to strike until 90 minutes after the game. Obviously the forecast could change as game day nears.
Here are some tidbits to discuss as the opener approaches.
THE DETAILS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Booth Memorial Stadium, Lawrence
TV: ESPN+ (Online streaming service, subscription required)
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network; WHB (810) in Kansas City plus Sirius (106/199), SXM App (953).
Betting line: KU by 28
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
Tennessee Tech on Friday celebrates the 100th anniversary of its first varsity football game. The Golden Eagles, 3-8 a year ago, are picked to finish fifth of seven teams in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll. First-year Tennessee Tech quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year at Austin Peay, did not enter any games after transferring to Memphis for the 2021 season. Golden Eagles running back David Gist rushed for 901 yards a year ago, fourth-best mark in the OVC. He also caught 37 passes. Safety Josh Reliford had 69 tackles and six pass breakups in 2021.
The KU roster combines the old with the new this year. The Jayhawks return nine starters on offense (quarterback Jalon Daniels; running back Devin Neal; offensive linemen Earl Bostick Jr., Mike Novitsky, Bryce Cabeldue and Michael Ford Jr.; wide receivers Luke Grimm and Lawrence Arnold and tight end Mason Fairchild) and nine on defense (tackles Sam Burt and Caleb Sampson; end Malcolm Lee; linebackers Gavin Potter, Rich Miller and Taiwan Berryhill; safety Kenny Logan Jr., and cornerbacks Mello Dotson and Cobee Bryant off a 2-10 team. In all, 14 new faces have arrived from the NCAA transfer portal, including former Minnesota running back Ky Thomas of Topeka and former Minnesota Golden Gopher receiver Douglas Emelien as well as former Nebraska running back Sevion Morrison, Miami (Ohio) defensive end Lonnie Phelps and UCF linebacker Eriq Gilyard.
KU’s additions from the portal figure to play a lot. The top transfer just might be Phelps. The 6-foot-3, 245 pound senior reportedly has excelled at preseason camp, showing exceptional speed. His resume is impressive: second-team all-MAC last season with 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Topekan Thomas (824 rushing yards last season at Minnesota) could be part of a formidable duo with Lawrence native Devin Neal (707 yards at KU a year ago) at running back. A most interesting addition is Kobe Baynes, a 6-4, 297-pound sophomore offensive lineman who announced plans to transfer from Louisville to KU just last week. He’s received a waiver and is immediately eligible at Kansas, a team that is seeking big-time improvement from the O-line this season.
Lance Leipold is the real deal. Do a Google search on second-year KU coach Leipold and you will find glowing stories on the 58-year-old native of Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. There was a CBSsports.com piece a year ago ranking him the country’s 35th best college coach. ESPN in 2019 ranked Leipold the 78th best coach of all time, yes all time. Remember he won six national titles at Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Booth Memorial Stadium, site of the opener, is still standing, awaiting a much-needed facelift. Another season is about to begin in Booth Memorial Stadium: The stadium, which opened way back in 1921, remains largely untouched from a year ago. KU fans will tell you it’s hard to find a better setting for a stadium, with the Campanile Hill backdrop. However even the most passionate lovers of the scenery will acknowledge the stadium needs help. AD Travis Goff, a KU grad, obviously is aware the stadium needs modernization ASAP.
