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KU 40-NU15
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2005
6A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Goalposts
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however, follow right behind the fans carrying the posts as they maneuvered them through the almost-not-big-enough fence at Memorial Stadium. Although it may only be her freshman year, Luschel said she understood the magnitude of this victory.
"People were talking all week how we hadn't beat them in so long and to be able to see it is amazing," she said. "I have never been a part of the losing streak, but I am glad that we started a new winning streak."
Coach Mark Mangino whole-heartedly recognized the end of the losing streak.
"I am just glad that the streak has ended because it was really getting on my nerves," Mangino said with a grin.
Robinett
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"You see the smiles on the fans' faces who have been around through the wins and losses of KU and Nebraska and it was great to see them smiling," said Carlton Keith, senior defensive end.
After entering the locker room immediate after the game, Kansas players re-emerged a few minutes later at the south end zone to receive a final applause from the Jayhawk faithful.
After tearing down the goalpost and falling to the ground, Allison reappeared in the crowd of fans snuggled together to get through the fence. After those few minutes, Allison's celebration was far from being over.
"We are going to the lake," Allison said. "It is just so awesome to be a part of this."
That's what made Saturday's victory so special.
It was the classiest gesture visiting fans have ever displayed in Lawrence, and it summed up the entire afternoon.
Here were the die-hard Nebraska fans, the ones who cherished every second of that 36-year streak against Kansas, saluting the team they didn't drive to see.
It didn't matter where you went to school; the only thing anyone could focus on after Kansas defeated Nebraska was how the streak had finally ended.
For Nebraska, it didn't matter that the Cornhuskers remained one victory short of bowl eligibility, and that the decision to replace former Nebraska football coach Frank Solich with Bill Callahan is looking worse every day.
For Kansas, no one cared that basketball season was less than a week away.
Edited by Nate Karlin
There would be plenty of time to discuss those topics later.
On Saturday, it was all about Kansas' achievement. Media around the country even joined in on the fun.
Every network showing football flashed the score once the game concluded, and ABC, CBS and ESPN each discussed the Kansas football team and the stiles it has made.
On ESPN's "College Gameday Final," Rece Davis, the show's host, even sang the "Rock Chalk Chant" during a highlight package.
On air, he said he wanted to do something special for all the Jayhawk fans watching. Later, he told me Kansas was starting to get national respect, so much so that people around the ESPN studios were starting to take notice.
"We've talked a bit on the set about how tough the KU defense has been," Davis said in an e-mail. "I think most of us believe they can win their last home game and become bowl eligible."
- Robinett is an Austin, Texas, senior in journalism.
kansan.com
♦ For a photo gallery from the game, go online to kansan.com/galleries.
Left: Nebraska freshman wide receiver Todd Peterson unsuccessfully dives for a long pass as Kansas freshman corner back Ajqib Talib stays on his heels during the first quarter of Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska completed 14-of-27 passes, while Kansas completed 16-of-27.
Jayhawk cheers, jeers
Cheers to the KU defense. No doubt it has become the favorite of the Jayhawk faithful. During pregame introductions, its players got the loudest cheers, and Charlton Keith and company continued to show that they are one of the best defenses in the nation.
for twice the yardage."
Cheers to KU coaches, offense, defense and special teams. For the first time all season, fans didn't have much to complain about. It was the most complete performance under Kansas football coach Mark Mangino.
Cheers for the second week in a row to the KU fans. Despite the grossly large contingent of Cornhusker fans in attendance, the Jayhawk fans had Memorial Stadium rocking and were decibels louder than their northern neighbors.
Best line: "it's the Canuck times two factor. Anytime Clark Green runs the ball, if it would have been Jon Cornish, the play would have gone
The goalposts came down again, but this time the postgame celebration was legitimate. The first victory over the Cornhuskers since 1968 warranted it.
Jeers to whoever knocked over Charles Gordon after the game. Gordon lay face-first on the ground for several minutes and eventually limped off the field. Usually a good idea not to trample one of your best players.
Headed for the exits: After Kevin Kane's interception and touchdown return with 5:23 left in the game, a sea of red scurried to the exits for a long drive back to Lincoln, Neb.
Rock Chalk Chant began with 4:26 on the clock.
Attendance; 51,750, a Memorial Stadium record.
CJ Moore
Senior running back Clark Green pushes past the Nebraska defense during the third quarter of Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium. Green runs
Senior linebacker Darren Rus runs the ball 20 yards for a touchdown after senior cornerback Ronnie Amadi blocked a Nebraska punt in the first quarter of Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium. The touchdown and point after put Kansas ahead 14-2. The Jayhawks beat the Cornhuskers 40-15.
Football
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"Everywhere I went, no matter what, letters from nice people who have been associated with the University for a long, long time, writing me letters about what it means to them. They will do anything to get a win over Nebraska. Today we don't have to deal with that anymore."
"They couldn't deal with it anymore, as one fella told me. I don't know what that means." Mangino said. "They would do anything we wanted them to do to help them win the game. I said cheer loud. That would suffice."
letters at his home and at his office asking him to heat Nebosha
"The jubilation in the locker room was unprecedented," junior running back Jon Cornish said. "We have never celebrated so hard, and be so happy for one victory."
But as much as the victory meant to KU fans, Mangino said beating Nebraska meant more to the players.
Senior wide receiver Mark Simmons emphasized that he was 0-7 against Nebraska and was happy to beat the Cornhuskers before he left the program.
"For the seniors to go out and beat a top
program like Nebraska, it is a great feeling," Simmons said.
MO
"I am pretty light-headed to be honest with you. It is just a rush. These are just things that you grow up dreaming about," senior linebacker Banks Floodman said. "To end a streak like this, and to beat a team like Nebraska at home and watch your fans celebrate and have the fun they were having after the game. I just can't explain how I feel. It is just so much fun to be a part of."
The players also enjoyed watching the fans rush the field to celebrate.
The Kansas defense showed why it was the country's No. 2 ranked rushing defense, at the time, because it held Nebraska to just 138 yards of total offense. Kansas also forced a safety in the third quarter and got a defensive touchdown when senior linebacker Kevin Kane returned an interception 40 vards for a touchdown.
The dominating performance by all units on the team was evident. The Jayhawks got touchdowns from each unit during the game.
The victory was especially memorable for Kane whose father played for Nebraska during the 70s.
"I grew up a Nebraska fan," Kane said.
"To know that for 36 years this town has
The special teams unit blocked a punt for a touchdown and the offense was led by two 100-yard rushers and a 100-yard receiver. The KU offense held the ball for 10 more minutes than Nebraska and accumulated 428 yards of total offense. They were the most yards Kansas has had since totalling 435 yards against Appalachian State earlier in the season.
But the defense, this time, has to share the game's spotlight.
suffered a Nebraska triumph every year, it is good for me to know that it finally ended and I am happy to have my name on the roster."
Mangino was happy about the controlled efforts of the team's three units.
"Someone can't say, 'Well you won ugly or you eaked one out and finally got this streak ended.' No, we played well," Mangino said. "We came to play to well and played extremely well. We deserved to win the ballgame. There is no question."
Cornish rushed for 101 yards in just 10 carries and senior running back Clark Green rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries. Simmons had 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Kansas hasn't had two 100-yard rushers and a 100-yard receiver in the same game since 1980.
The Jayhawks started the game strong by scoring a touchdown on their first offensive possession. Senior quarterback Jason Swanson threw to Simmons across the middle and Simmons took the ball 40 yards to the end zone. It was the first time all season that Kansas had scored on its first offensive drive.
Kansas scored a special teams touchdown later in the first quarter when senior linebacker Darren Rus returned a blocked punt by senior cornerback Ronnie Amadi, 20 yards for the touchdown to extend the Kansas lead to 14-2. The Jayhawks would later add a field goal in the quarter to up the score to 17-2.
On its next offensive drive, Swanson was sacked in the end zone for a Nebraska safety, making the score 7-2.
Nebraska fought back, however, scoring a touchdown just before the first half ended to make the score 17-9.
Nebraska cut the lead to 17-15 midway through the third quarter, but failed to convert the two-point conversion.
That was the closest Nebraska would come before Kansas rattled off 23 unanswered points to finally lay the streak to rest.
- Edited by Nate Karlin
Senior quarterback Jason Swanson hands off to senior running back Clark Green in the second quarter of Saturday's game against Nebraska et Memorial Stadium, Kansas rushed for a total of 213 yards in its 40-15 victory against Nebraska.
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