Kansas Football Fares Well At College Football Awards Show

Anthony Collins was an Outland Trophy finalist and a Walter Camp All-America.

Dec. 6, 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. - Kansas football coach Mark Mangino earned a national coaching award, two Jayhawks were named to an All-America team and the entire football team was recognized as well at The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show here Thursday night.

Mangino, who has guided the Jayhawks to an 11-1 record and a trip to the Orange Bowl this season, was named The Home Depot Coach of the Year.

"I appreciate The Home Depot and ESPN for the award," Mangino said. "However, this award represents our wonderful players and our great assistant coaches, who have worked so hard to make this an incredible season. It is not about me. It is about us."

Junior offensive tackle Anthony Collins was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy given annually to the nation's top interior lineman. While he did not win the award, which was given to Glenn Dorsey of LSU, Collins enjoyed two days in Orlando.

Collins and Talib were both named to the Walter Camp All-America team, which was presented during the show. Both players were in town with the rest of the team and other award nominees.

"It was fantastic meeting the nation's best players," Collins said of the trip. "I will be going back to Kansas and home to Beaumont, Texas with the best feeling in the world."

The entire Kansas football team was recognized with the Stanley Tools Breakthrough of the Year Award as the Jayhawks posted a five-game turnaround from last season's 6-6 record.

In all 13 awards were handed out as well as announcing the All-America team Thursday night.

Kansas will play Virginia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl on Jan. 3.