For those on this board with some institutional memory, compare the 1978, 1987, 1988, 2002, 2012 & 2015 teams. Which was the best of the lot and which would likely have lost to the other five teams.
W-L Records
1978 W-L record was 1-10 and HC was Bud Moore
1987 W-L record was 1-9-1 and HC was Bob Valesente
1988 W-L record was 1-10 and HC was Glen Mason
2002 W-L record was 2-10 and HC was Mark Mangino
2012 W-L record was 1-11 and HC was Charlie Weis
2015 W-L record is 0-3 so far and HC is David Beatty
In my opinion, of the six teams, the squad with the least amount of talent (redshirts excluded) was the 1988 team. Walk-ons were forced to start at a number of positions. But what that team lacked in talent, they displayed in toughness even when getting blown out. That's why, I think the 1988 team would have found a way to beat the 1987 team. The 1987 squad's lone victory was a win over a 3-8 I-AA Southern Illinois in Lawrence by a score of 16-15. The 1987 team also tied K-State in the infamous "Toilet Bowl" game later in the year. Not old enough to really remember 1978, but as difficult as 2002 and 2012 were and as 2015 may turn out to be, 1987 is KU's modern era football nadir for me. Would guess that either the 1978 or 2012 teams would have been the most talented of the lot.
W-L Records
1978 W-L record was 1-10 and HC was Bud Moore
1987 W-L record was 1-9-1 and HC was Bob Valesente
1988 W-L record was 1-10 and HC was Glen Mason
2002 W-L record was 2-10 and HC was Mark Mangino
2012 W-L record was 1-11 and HC was Charlie Weis
2015 W-L record is 0-3 so far and HC is David Beatty
In my opinion, of the six teams, the squad with the least amount of talent (redshirts excluded) was the 1988 team. Walk-ons were forced to start at a number of positions. But what that team lacked in talent, they displayed in toughness even when getting blown out. That's why, I think the 1988 team would have found a way to beat the 1987 team. The 1987 squad's lone victory was a win over a 3-8 I-AA Southern Illinois in Lawrence by a score of 16-15. The 1987 team also tied K-State in the infamous "Toilet Bowl" game later in the year. Not old enough to really remember 1978, but as difficult as 2002 and 2012 were and as 2015 may turn out to be, 1987 is KU's modern era football nadir for me. Would guess that either the 1978 or 2012 teams would have been the most talented of the lot.
