Kansas City Sports Bracketology: Top 64 Seasons, Round One, Part Two

Sporting KC 2013 MISL Championship ring – Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

(2) 2013 Sporting KC  vs. (15) 1961 Kansas Football

As mentioned earlier, championships don’t come every year in Kansas City, and 2013 was the second in KC soccer history.

This time the Wiz was now Sporting, and the fans packed nearly every game to watch their team bring the MLS Cup back to the Heartland.

Vermes was back as coach, and he led the team to seven consecutive wins to start the season and a 17-10-7 record. Sporting finished second in the East, but still captured the Cup with playoff series wins over New England, Houston and Real Salt Lake.

The championship was a thrilling, 7-6 penalty kick victory as goal keeper Jimmy Nielson became a KC hero.

Like some of the Kansas State seasons in the ’80s, the 1961 KU squad completed an average season nation-wide, but an amazing one for the fans in Lawrence.

The Jayhawks had played in just one bowl in program history, losing the 1948 Orange Bowl to Georgia Tech, prior to 1961, so any postseason appearance was a good one.

That’s why a 7-3-1 record with their first bowl win in school history (33-7 over Rice), was a huge deal. It would be 31 years before Kansas won its next bowl game.

The Jayhawks had three future NFL players on the roster including quarterback John Hadl, who was drafted in the first round, and finished his career with 244 passing touchdowns.

Next: Mario's Miracle