MIR is taking dumb-dumb pills on this one. If there is only one thing you take away from the DOD, it's that not only the fact that you can win at a high level scheduling cupcakes in the non-con, but rather that it's a necessary condition to sustain the level of perceived performance that assists in recruiting and fan interest in the post season.
Who gives a crap if your drive from Mound City is less enjoyable when you go watch the Cats play Directional U.? Skip the crap non-con games and save your dollars for a bowl trip.
Arguing that KSU is better off scheduling a difficult non-con is speculative, at best. Arguing that KSU is better off scheduling a weak non-con is based on proven history and rationale expectations for our future.
People forget that starting next year, we're playing OU, UT, OSU, ATM, Tech, and Baylor every year. Starting the season 3-0 against crap schools is the ONLY way we're making bowl games, because then all we've got to do is manage 3 wins against ku, isu, and bu.
Even assuming that OB coaches them up again and we're playing at a high level, our perceived strength of schedule won't hurt because of 3 crap schools when we're playing OU and UT.
