Volume 126 Issue 19
kansan.com
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
COMMENTARY A little luck goes a long way
KILLIN' IT
Kansas registered a victory on Saturday night because its kicker and quarterback decided to bounce back from early mistakes with clutch performances in pressure situations.
Ultimately, fortune smiled upon the Javhawks.
Louisiana Tech had two opportunities to tie the game with fourth quarter touchdowns, and both times it had the misfortune of making a costly error despite a valiant effort.
Louisiana Tech lost on Saturday night because two of its players had the audacity to make the extra effort.
With 14 minutes remaining in the game and a chance to put the Bulldogs up by two touchdowns, quarterback Ryan Higgins, in an attempt to put a spectacular finish on a strong 27-yard run, dove for the end zone and extended his arm to the pylon. However, he lost control of the football as he dove and essentially threw the ball into the end zone for a touchback.
While there was plenty of time left for the Jayhawks to mount a comback, it seemed unlikely seeing as how Kansas' offense had the momentum of Han Solo encased in carbonite.
Using the energy derived from such an unexpected turnover, the Jayhawks marched down the field to a Jimmay Mundine touchdown. The crowd erupted, and Mundine got a much-needed confidence boost after the previous two games in which his hands proved about as reliable as George Costanza.
Louisiana Tech and Kansas both punted their next possessions. With six minutes left, the Bulldog offense got the ball back and embarked upon a frustrating 80-yard drive. Louisiana Tech seemed ready to hold onto the ball as long as possible and kick the winning field goal. All they had to do was not fumble.
If you haven't guessed by now, Louisiana Tech fumbled. Running back Kenneth Dixon had already gotten a first down and was going for the dagger. It was a run that, had he not fumbled, would have been hailed as gritty and tenacious. However, Kansas junior Michael Reynolds dislodged the ball from Dixon's grip and the Jayhawks emerged with the football.
With the ball on its own five yard line, two timeouts left and the clock ticking, Jake Heaps orchestrated a beautiful drive with pinpoint passes that gave the receivers plenty of room for vards after the catch.
Matthew Wyman, with a weight on his shoulders that would have made Atlas himself shudder, kicked the winning field goal from 52 yards out. Pandemonium ensued.
For Kansas to succeed this season, it needs that dumb luck. When combined with a little talent and a lot of heart, it can cause a team to exceed expectations.
None of these positives would have happened were it not for a fortuitous turn of events.
More importantly, Kansas needs to continue to capitalize on that luck as it did on Saturday. Both Bulldog turnovers led to lengthy drives and points on the board. Without those drives, Louisiana Tech still wins despite its miscues.
Without those drives, it would be hard to differentiate this Kansas team from last year's.
GEOREG MULLINIX/KANSAN
Redshirt seniors Catherine Carmichael and Caroline Jarmoc celebrate a point against Arkansas on Sept. 7. The team begins conference play at TCU on Saturday
ALPHABETICAL RECAP
An A-Z summary of the Jayhawks' non-conference season
bhillix@kansan.com
The Kansas volleyball team stands at 10-3 and will begin conference play on Saturday, Sept. 28, against Texas Christian University. Here's a look back on some highlights from the non-conference season.
A - Aggression. The Layjawks rank first in the Big 12 with 14.2 kills per set.
B Balance on offense. Five different players led the team in kills in a match this season.
C - Chelsea Albers, junior outside hitter, is having a solid
all-around year. Albers set career highs of 16 kills and 18 digs against Arizona to clinch a tie for first place at the Arizona Invitational. She earned a double-double in three of the first four matches of the season.
D - Defensive honors. Redshirt senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc was the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Week after posting 24 blocks in a three-match span on Sept. 1-7. The next week, senior libero Brianne Riley earned the honor after collecting 93 digs in four matches, which included 31 in a five-set road win over
Bowling Green at the InnTowner Invitational
Invitational.
E - Erin McNorton, who led the Big 12 in assists last season, is on pace to repeat the feat. She leads the Big 12 with an average
of 12.08 assists per set, and was recently named the Most Valuable Player of the Kansas Invitational after averaging 13 assists per set in
F - Freshman success. Middle blocker Tayler Soucie and defensive specialist Cassie Wait are getting ample playing time this season and will play big roles on the team moving forward.
McNorton
the tournament.
G - Going the distance. The Jayhawks are 3-1 in five-set matches this season. These matches came during a two-week span that included a road victory in which the Jayhawks won the fifth set 17-15 and saved two match points along the way.
home matches and are 3-1 in those matches. The only loss came to Arkansas in five sets in the home opener.
H - Home Sweet Home. The Jayhawks have played just four
1 Invitational titles. Kansas tied for first in the Arizona Invitational and won the InnTowner Invitational and Kansas Invitational tournaments outright.
J - Jarmoc, a second-team All-American last season, eclipsed the 1,000 kill mark in the match against UMKC and now has 1,131 for her career, which ranks second among active players in the Big
VOLLEYBALL PAGE 6
FOOTBALL
MICHAFL STRICKLAND/KANSAN
Charlie Weis consults officials during Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech. Kansas won 13-10.
Kansas looks to improve physicality over bye week
IMAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
If players were not sore after the 13-10 victory on Saturday over Louisiana Tech, they will be after practice on Tuesday.
"The first thing we're gonna do is we're going to beat the hell out of each other on Tuesday," Charlie Weis said over the Big 12 media teleconference call.
Weis has something different planned for each day of the byeweek to prepare the team for conference play, which begins Oct. 5 with Texas Tech.
The concern at the moment is that the Jayhawks don't play
with enough physicality.
"We still need to become a tougher team," Weis said, "and I think that an off-week is a good time to do that."
The offensive line isn't the only unit that Weis said needs to become more physical, but it's where he's emphasized it most.
In the game against Louisiana Tech, the offensive line failed to get enough push on two fourth down and short yardage situations. The Jayhawks turned the ball over as a result.
Weis said the line is still a work in progress with about eight players in competition for
"I don't think inexperience is the issue," Weis said. "We're going to come out tomorrow and have a really physical practice."
playing time.
For Kansas to have any success in the Big 12, the offensive line must gain toughness.
The strength of the team is its running game, which has an array of running backs and is led by senior James Sims.
"If we're going to be any good we need to be able to run the ball efficiently," Weis said, "and you need to be able to control
TRANSFER
SEE WEIS PAGE 6
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAP
Junior college transser Marquel Combs runs drills during practice this season.
Defensive tackle to leave football team
Junior college transfer Marquel Combs asked for and has been granted his release from the Kansas football team, the university announced Monday.
At defensive
At defensive tackle, Combs was a key pickup for coach Chris Weis in the offseason and helped recruit other junior college players to Kansas under the moniker of building a
Combs
Volu
of building a "dream team."
"Marquee was a great factor in our recruitment of last year's signing."
Weis said in a statement released by Kansas Athletics "We would like to wish him well in his future endeavors."
The junior saw little time on the field in the Jayhawks' first two games and appeared to be heading toward redshirting this season.
I appreciate the Jayhawk community, as well as my teammates and the staff, for all of the support I have received during my time with the program," Combs said in a statement released by Kansas Athletics. "It has been an incredible opportunity and I wish them the best of luck the rest of this season and in the future."
Blake Schuster
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