PAGE 8
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY(KANSAN
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"At the end of the day, I didn't see enough improvement in areas that were important for us to move forward to play championship-caliber football. We just for whatever reason weren't good enough in the games that mattered against championship-quality caliber opponents."
Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst on why Pelini was fired — BTN.com
FACT OF THE DAY
Pelini won at least nine games in each of his seven seasons at Nebraska.
Huskers.com
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q. When did Pelini coach his first game for Nebraska?
A: In 2003 as interim coach for the Alamo Bowl after Frank Solich was fired. Nebraska defeated Michigan State 17-3.
Huskers.com
THE MORNING BREW
Pelini to Kansas? A far-fetched idea
College football season has come to a close for many programs around the country. The end of the season generally marks the time when athletic departments make changes to their staffs.
One shocking change that was announced last weekend was the firing of Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini.
Pelini was 67-27 during his time at Nebraska and owned a 9-3 ledger on the 2014 season.
Pelini wasn't the first coach Nebraska fire after going 9-3 and having a winning record. Back in 2003, Frank Solich was canned after going 9-3 and having a 58-19 overall record. Bill Callahan was hired as his replacement and the program went downhill.
Kansas fans look fondly upon the days of Callahan.
In 2004, Nebraska barely edged out Kansas 14-8, but that was a
sign of things to come.
The following year, Kansas pummeled Nebraska 40-15.
In 2007, Todd Reesing and the Jayhawks had a record setting game against Nebraska, demolishing the Huskers 76-39.
Reesing threw six touchdown passes, setting a new school record. Those 76 points were the most Kansas put up against Nebraska over the two's 117-year history.
That was the last Nebraska-Kansas game Callahan would coach. When Pelini was named his successor, Kansas didn't win another
game against Nebraska before it would leave for the Big 10.
It's no surprise to anyone that Kansas is also currently without a head coach. Some rumors have bubbled up about Pelini moving three hours south to take over the Kansas program, but rumors are all that will ever be.
Pelini may have turned Nebraska from a 5-8 team to a 9-4, bowl-winning team in one year, but he isn't what Kansas needs.
Kansas needs a coach with an offensive mind. Pelini's claim to fame is his knowledge of defense.
Pelini would also be a very expensive hire, just like Turner Gill and Charlie Weis. Pelini was the 24th highest-paid coach in the country and most people don't like taking major salary cuts. His contract was $14,875,000. Gill's contract was for $10 million. Weis' contract was $12.5 million.
An expensive hire might be what Kansas needs,but having to fork over millions of dollars to hire Pelini (and his staff) might not be ideal for the athletics department.
Pelini might not even look at Kansas. One head coach (Florida) and two defensive coordinator positions (Auburn and Texas A&M) are open in the SEC. Pelini might want to return to the conference that put him on the map.
Whatever happens, seeing Pelini suited up in a gray sweatshirt bearing a Jayhawk is probably not going to happen.
- Edited by Jacob Clemen
This week in athletics
Wednesday No events
Thursday
Friday
Women's swimming
USA Winter Nationals
9 a.m.
Greensboro, N.C.
Men's basketball
Florida
8 p.m.
Lawrence
Saturday
Track and field Bob Timmons Challenge All Day Lawrence
Sunday
Women's basketball
California
5 p.m.
Lawrence
Monday No events
Tuesday No events
MICHAEL THOMAS / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas forward Myles Turner (52) fights for the rebound with Saint Francis forward Earl Brown (15) during the second half of the Texas-Texas-Arlington game on Tuesday in Austin, Texas. Turner committed to Texas on April 30 after considering Kansas.
Turner lifts No.6 Texas over UT-Arlington 63-53
JIM VERTUNO Associated Press
Associated Press
But the Mavericks refused to let Texas pull away. Texas had three quick turnovers to start the second half and the
Holmes also had three blocks as Texas tied the school record of 13. Turner
Jonathan Holmes added nine points and 16 rebounds for Texas, which improved to 7-0 for the first time since the 2009-2010 team won its first 17 games and rose to No.1 in the country.
Texas, which beat defending national champion Connecticut on Sunday, struggled for long stretches and often got sloppy against the Mavericks, who lost by 48 to Kentucky last week.
AUSTIN, Texas Freshman Myles Turner scored 18 points to carry No. 6 Texas to a 63-53 win against Texas-Arlington on Tuesday night — a lethargic tuneup before the Longhorns head to Kentucky to play the No. 1 Wildcats.
Holmes had consecutive blocks at the rim, one denying a dunk, as Texas finally came to life. Turner made five consecutive free throws and Holmes blocked another dunk before Cam Ridley dunked on the other end for a 32-22 Texas lead.
The Longhorns got a scare in the first half when point guard Javan Felix limped to the bench with a sore left foot that had bothered him earlier in the season. The Longhorns already are missing starter Isaiah Taylor with a broken left wrist. Being down two point guards in Lexington would have been troubling, but Felix returned three minutes later.
Perhaps looking ahead to their trip to Kentucky, Texas started slow, missing 12 of its first 15 shots. The Mavericks made six 3-pointers in the first half and led 18-13 before Texas used stout defense by Holmes to start a 17-2 run for a lead the Longhorns would not relinquish.
More troublesome for Texas will be the recent lack of rebounding from Ridley, who is a key part of the Longhorns' physically imposing frontcourt. Ridley had no rebounds in Texas win over Connecticut and had only two Tuesday night.
Greg Gainey scored nine points to lead Texas-Arlington (3-4), which has lost three in a row.
was 2 of 9 from the floor but was 14-for-17 from the free throw line.
Turner then scored eight consecutive points and the Longhorns pushed the lead back to double digits on a dunk by Ridley with just over five minutes left.
Mavericks were within 44-41 with 11 minutes to play.
since that game
COLUMN FROM PAGE 10
The program has been spoiled with Jeff Withey and Joel Embid the past two seasons so Alexander comes as a curveball as a rim protector playing at a height not usually corresponding to a rim protector. He has a much stronger build than both of those options and isn't at a disadvantage when you see his talent manifest itself.
Coach Bill said sophomore forward Landen Lucas would still start Friday against Florida simply based on his view that starting can generate more nerves for a freshman.
Alexander can be an immovable force when the ball bounces off the rim and no one can rival his distinct skills on this Kansas team.
Edited by Ashley Peraita
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