Volume 126 Issue 6
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
kansan.com
COMMENTARY Kansas football may not be worst
The bottom of the Big 12 looked very vulnerable on Saturday.
Not coincidentally, Kansas' chances of escaping the basement increased dramatically.
Kansas State, to the delight of Kansas fans around the country, laid an egg against the Bison of North Dakota State. The Wildcats were hoping to start the season with a bang, but instead harnessed the momentum of a three-toed sloth.
Kansas State rushed for 346 yards against Kansas in last year's blowout, which was indicative of its commitment to the running game throughout the entire season. However, against the Bison, the Wildcats were only able to muster 41 yards on 23 rushing attempts. The loss of Collin Klein to graduation certainly hurts, as he was a dual-threat quarterback who took attention off the running backs, but the Wildcats must find a way to reinvigorate their rushing offense. In addition, the defense must bounce back, especially after allowing a crippling eight and a half minute touchdown drive in the late fourth quarter.
Despite these setbacks, Kansas State is not as bad as that loss would suggest. North Dakota State is not your usual FCS squad, and the venerable Bill Snyder will certainly make the requisite adjustments.
meanwhile, West Virginia has something Kansas State doesn't; a W in the win column. However, West Virginia looked to be the inferior team as it struggled its way to a comeback win against William and Mary, a team that went 2-9 in the FCS last year. If North Dakota State is the Franklin Roosevelt of the FCS, William and Mary is William Henry Harrison. The Mountaineers could turn the season around if they steal Geno Smith back from the Jets (he probably wouldn't mind), but the talent is simply lacking. With the defense unable to adequately stop a mediocre FCS team, it is unlikely it will be able to hold some of the Big 12 offenses.
Iowa State also had a subpar showing against an FCS team, joining Kansas State in the loss column with a 28-20 loss to the Northern Iowa Panthers. It wasn't because Panther alum Ali Farokhmanesh showed up out of nowhere to deliver more devastating daggers to his opponents, but rather because of a poor rush defense and a disappointing third down offense.
The biggest obstacle between Kansas and escaping the basement is its schedule. Its three most winnable conference games, West Virginia, Iowa State, and Kansas State respectively, are the last three games of the regular season. It is certainly conceivable that the Jayhawks enter the West Virginia game with an 0-6 conference record. Kansas' confidence could be minimal and its attitude dejected, especially if it fails to avoid blowouts.
If Kansas can steal a game at the beginning of the conference season or earn the begrudging respect of the conference's powers, then Kansas fans could see a three-game winning streak to end the season. Such a winning streak would be a nice addendum to Weis' recruiting pitches.
Such a winning streak could also send Kansas back into its first bowl game since 2008.
Edited by Heather Nelson
BEAUTIFUL GOOD-“BYE”
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Coach Charlie Weis watches his team practice from the sideline last season at Memorial Stadium.
DON'T BLINK
Weis uses bye week to examine early opponents
IMAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
With his team on bye in the opening week of the college football season,Charlie Weis had a few coaching moments based on other games that his players watched.
Of course, all eyes were on the Kansas State vs. North Dakota State game, as the Wildcats were stunned 24-21, in Manhattan.
"I think that game glaringly caught our players attention." Weis said during the Big 12 media teleconference on Monday morning.
With that game being played on Friday night, Weis was able to have a talk with the team on Saturday morning before practice about watching in-state rival and defending Big 12 champion Kansas State lose to an FCS opponent.
"Did you pay attention, did you
see what happened?" Weis said he told his team. "This isn't any big surprise here fellas, this is what can happen."
Weis has a theory that upsets are more likely to occur in the first game of the season because teams like North Dakota State have more time to prepare for their opponents.
During the offseason there is plenty of time for coaches to scout their opponents. They can watch the games from last season and then learn what the team might change for the upcoming season through reading and watching media reports on what transpires at fall camp.
"The longer time you have to prepare the better chance you have of having your guys ready to go and I think that there were a number of coaches that did a heck of a job this past weekend."
Weis said.
If preparation is as important as Weis believes it is, then his
team should have an added advantage against South Dakota State at home on Saturday. Weis sat in front of his television from noon until midnight watching football and one of the games he took in was South Dakota defeat UC Davis, 10-7.
Network.
"The longer time you have to prepare the better chance you have of having your guys ready to go. ..."
Coaches aren't able to see everything they're looking for by
"I ordered it online from the coyote network, trust me," Weis said. "I sat there and my TV was on, I was on my computer and I watched that whole game."
It cost Weis $10 to catch that game on South Dakota's Coyote
CHARLIE WEIS Kansas Coach
watching a game on television,
but Weis said there's always something to take note of.
Weis said last week that he listens to the announcers during a game to see if they can
provide any extra insight, because they've talked with the coaches before the game.
The team will likely have something to work on this week based off of what Weis saw while watching that game.
But, there could also be a potential advantage for South Dakota in having already played their first
game.
"I think their coming off a similar season to us and having a little bit of early success in their opener gave them a little bit of a jump start on us because they've already got one under the belt," Weis said. "The second game is usually gonna be better than the first one."
It sounds like Weis both enjoyed the weekend and was able to do some scouting that could benefit him early in the season.
"It was actually a miserable day, sitting around from noon until midnight watching college football isn't exactly my cup of tea," Weis said, obviously joking. "You just use it to your advantage and do whatever TV scouting you can do."
Edited by Hannah Barling
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas comes back from loss against Arizona
BRIAN HILLIX
The Kansas women's volleyball team overcame a tough season-opening loss Saturday to sweep the remainder of its matches and tie for first place in the Arizona Invitational.
bhillix@kansan.com
The Jayhawks struggled out of the gate, losing to a tough Central Arkansas team 21-25, 25-16, 24-26, 24-26. Middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc, a redshirt senior from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, led the team with 19 kills in the match
Arizona later defeated Central Arkansas in four sets, keeping the door open for Kansas to earn a first-place tie with wins over Morgan State and Arizona.
Kansas took care of business in its next match as it swept Morgan State 25-13, 25-23, 25-18 to
improve to 1-1 on the year and gain momentum heading into the night match against Arizona. Sara McClinton, a junior from Omaha, and Jarmoc posted double-digit kills with 16 and 11, respectively.
Behind a strong team effort, the Jayhawks rebounded from a first-set loss to defeat the Wildcats 25-27, 25-15, 25-23, 25-20. Chelsea Albers, a junior from Papillion, Neb., McClinton and Jarmoc got a combined 49 kills and just 10 errors. Setter Erin McNorton, a senior from Dallas, paced the team with 58 assists and 14 digs, Neb., Brianne Riley, a senior from Naperville, Ill., contributed three service aces—which tied a career high—and 22 digs.
Kansas came to Tucson as the
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SEE LOSS PAGE 7B
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Fresh.man outside hitter Chelsea Albers and sophomore middle blocker Marianne Beal chest bump as they get pumped up before last season's game against Texas at Horeksi Family Athletics Center.
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