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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014
PAGE 7
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THE DAILY DEBATE
Should Clint Bowen remain head coach?
By Griffin Hughes
@GrigginJHughes
"NO"
Kansas football has returned to the cellar of the Big 12, a place it seems to call home almost every season. The worst part, though, is it's not because of a lack of talent that the Jayhawks find themselves so low on the Big 12 totem pole but rather a lack of coaching.
Charlie Weis was a terrible fit for the budding Jayhawk offense, and he was a terrible fit for Montell Cozart. John Reagan was an even worse fit for the offense. In fact, Clint Bowen's defense was the only positive aspect of a team whose offense was outside the top 100 in every major passing and yardage category. Even today they rank 114th in the country in yards per game and 123rd in points per game.
Clint Bowen has brought valuable experience as a defensive mind to Lawrence and has coached a defense that is in the upper echelon
of the Big 12, and should see at least linebacker Ben Heeney playing on Sundays.
However, Bowen is not a head coach. The team doesn't seem to have taken on his personality, so much as they have responded to the athletic department basically giving up on them. Inserting Michael Cummings was not a brilliant move; it was like trying to jumpstart a car with a AAA battery connected to an electric ice cream scooper.
Bowen's defensive mind is among the best in the country. While the offensive numbers would suggest Kansas is on the verge of demotion to the FCS, the defensive stats are not so horrific. It gives up just over 400 yards per game, is 73rd in the country and is 79th in points per game with 28.
However, even these stats lie, as the defense clearly loses steam every time it's forced out again in the fourth quarter. I think the recent stretch of decently played games is more a function of the team not wanting to end the season
In a perfect world, Bowen would return to coach the defense, and Vince Lombardi would rise from his grave and coach the Jayhawks.
However, Bowen has already said he will not step back down. I think Kansas not only needs to lose Bowen, but the rest of the coaching staff, including Reagan. This program has recruited one way and coached another, but to play a true spread style, the Jayhawks need a true spread coach. Scott Frost, the offensive coordinator for Oregon, remains my ideal plausible candidate. He says he's been itching for a head coaching job and there are pieces in Lawrence for him to work with, including dual threat Talent Cozart.
on a 10 game losing streak, and not Bowen's improved coaching ability.
Whether that happens, the Jayhawks need a real face lift, and Clint Bowen is not the guy to do it.
Edited by Lyndsey Havens
By Stella Liang @Stelly Liang
A after three games as interim head coach, Clint Bowen has
"YES"
Clint Bowen has shown he deserves to have the "interim" label removed. Sometimes in sports, there is something beyond the winloss record, which stands at 0-3 for Bowen so far.
The Jayhawks were not blown out in any of those three games. Because of the play on the field in those three games, nobody would have been surprised if Kansas had pulled out the victory, especially against Oklahoma State two weeks ago.
In those games, Kansas stopped being a doormat and started attacking. Bowen had a lot to do with why that happened.
For one thing, Bowen knows how to make the tough decisions and is not afraid to change up what isn't working. He has said repeatedly that players earn playing time week by week; nothing is ever guaranteed. Montell
Cozart might be a talented quarterback, but he wasn't showing that in games. Bowen was not afraid to make the switch to Michael Cummings, which seems to be improving the offense. I believe that if Cummings were not earning his playing time, and Cozart was, Bowen would make the decision to switch back.
Another thing Bowen brings is a culture change for Kansas football. He bleeds crimson and blue. He has garnered support when it had been running low. Bowen motivates his players to play hard for him.
In his first home game, there were more than 200 former teammates and players who came to support him and Kansas football. There is a Facebook page titled "BOWEN should be HC," which has more than 2,000 likes.
Those who oppose giving him the permanent job say he doesn't have enough experience, especially with the offensive side of the ball. He has been at Kansas, either as a player or a coach, for more than two decades, but doesn't
have any head-coaching experience. This is all true, but if he shows potential, he can learn all of it.
Head coaches should oversee all facets of the game, but shouldn't try to do more than they are capable of handling at one time. John Reagan is capable of running the offense, and Bowen trusts him to do that.
There are also people who point to Bowen's age, 41, as a detractor. He is young, but you don't have to go far to find someone whose age hasn't held him back. Kliff Kingsbury is the head coach for Texas Tech, Kansas' opponent last Saturday, and he is 35. To draw further comparisons, Kingsbury played collegially at Texas Tech.
Bowen might not be a flashy hire, but he is the right one for Kansas. If he wins even one of the remaining games this season, there should be no question who the head coach should be next year.
Giants defeat Royals 7-1
Edited by Alyssa Scott
GJ MELIA
@gjmelia
LGJ MELIA
The San Francisco Giants defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-1 in Game 1 of the 2014 World Series. The game matched up the Wildcard teams from the American and National leagues for the first time since 2002.
The Giants began quickly, scoring three runs in the first inning. After taking a 1-0 lead on a double by third basemen Pablo Sandoval, right fielder Hunter Pence hit a two-run home run to center, scoring Sandoval.
The Giants continued their tear in the fourth inning, adding two more runs to extend
Kansas City starting pitcher James Shields, whose night was finished after a mere three innings pitched. The Royals ace allowed five earned runs, with a 15.00 total ERA.
the lead to five.
The Royals offense stalled throughout the night, in large part due to to Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner pitched seven total innings, allowing only three hits on 106 pitches.
The lone bright spot for Kansas City's hitting came in the seventh when catcher Salvador Perez homered to left field making the lead 7-1.
The Giants bullpen took it from there, giving one hit in the final two innings, and handing the Royals their first loss of the 2014 postseason. Game 2 will be played in Kansas City tonight, before the series moves to San Francisco for Games 3 and 4, and Game 5 if necessary. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Edited by Madison Schultz
Kansas City Royals players watch the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Giants defeated the Royals 7-1, handing the Royals their first loss of the postseason.
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