October 23, 2006
Where will you be on gameday?If you're a Kansas University fan, I'll bet most of you are undecided about answering "Memorial Stadium!" for the KU game against Colorado this Saturday.The last time a one-win Colorado football team came to Lawrence, then-KU coach Terry Allen had to ask KU students to [get off the goalposts][1] after the game.This time around, KU fans might be as hungry for a football victory as they were during that miserable 2000 season, but that victory isn't going to happen. First, this Colorado football team is better than its atrocious version from six years ago. Second, this Kansas team has regressed steadily during the last month, and the Jayhawks show no signs of fixing their problems any time soon.KU's 39-32 overtime loss at Nebraska on Sept. 30 was just the beginning of what is now a four-game spin down the porcelain stool. The Jayhawks' latest masterpiece of misery - a blown 18-point lead and 36-35 loss to the Baylor Bears - was possibly the most puzzling of Kansas' losses so far.The Jayhawks scored 35 points in the first half and were unable to muster even a field goal in the final 30 minutes.The KU defense was efficient, and at times dominant, for the better part of three quarters before falling flat on its face.Then there's the most baffling aspect of all: Senior tailback Jon Cornish was having his best all-around performance as a Jayhawk, so coach Mark Mangino opted to take the ball OUT OF HIS HANDS. Why? Mangino's explanation was that Cornish was injured and couldn't make his cuts as well. Cornish's response: "I didnt' think I was (hurt). They assumed I was injured. I'm just fine."Shouldn't a head coach think of at least asking the star player if he's hurt? Especially when the game is on the line? And a league game at that? Isn't that just common sense?That's the $1.5 million-a-year question.Mangino said he limited Cornish's carries in the second half because of the alleged injury. The result of that move forced freshman quarterback Kerry Meier to face more pressure. Under the heat of that added pressure, Meier reinjured his shoulder and came out of the game. KU then blew an 18-point lead, lost and delivered a serious blow to its bowl hopes.Is there a direct relationship between Meier's injury and Mangino's apparently misinformed decision to hold Cornish out? We'll never know that answer. Still, it's possible that could be the case, and it's possible Meier would've remained in the game and KU might have won if Mangino simply had asked Cornish about his injury.These are just a few of the questions on KU fans' minds after another dismal second-half defeat. They're also questions fans likely will ask themselves when they try to decide where they'll be on gameday this weekend.KU futbol rises as KU football flounders As a follow-up to a previous blog, the KU soccer team continued its late-season push toward the NCAA Tournament over the weekend with a 1-0 victory against Baylor and a 3-0 win against Texas Tech.The sweep at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex runs Kansas' winning streak to four. Sophomore Jessica Bush has scored in all four victories. The best defense in the Big 12 - senior Nikki Alvarez, junior Afton Sauer, sophomore Jenny Murtaugh, sophomore Kristin Graves, freshman Estelle Johnson and sophomore goalkeeper Julie Hanley - haven't allowed a goal in those games. In fact, they've surrendered only three goals in nine league games.A victory Friday against Colorado on Senior Day would run KU's streak to five, and a win in the first-round of the Big 12 Tournament likely would secure an NCAA Tournament berth. [1]: http://www.kusports.com/news/football_archive/story/30705
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mwoodard (Matt Woodard) says...
Well, it is all a mystery. I would like to know why our receivers continue to bobble and drop passes that hit them square in the hands. How many "sure" touchdowns have the wide outs -or TE(s)- dropped this season? I know, you can't place blame on just one position. But, with the defense as porus as it has been, in allowing numerous 400+ yard offensive "explosions" by opponents, the simple little things like catching the ball when you have it in your hands become huge. (I don't recall, this week, if it was Herford or Henry that dropped 6 points in the 4th quarter that could have iced the game)
Obviously, a healthy K Meier AND healthy Cornish are the keys to this team winning games. We must have both to win. The D cannot do it...we must score nearly every possession. I have been trying not to face it, however, it is unavoidable. Our Crimson and Blue team is just not very good (could be understated) and their chances of making 6 W's ...good as a snowball in the firery depths if they continue to choke late.
Bright side: Perhaps with the football team seemingly going downhill, the basketball team will now March through the madness and into the title game and the universe will be back to normal.
October 23, 2006 at 8 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Shelby (anonymous) says...
"spin down the porcelain stool"...
my roommate is known as "The Brown Tornado"....
.......carry on.....
October 29, 2006 at 1:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )