kansan.com
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
COMMENTARY
Moving on after Texas A&M
The drama around Texas A&M's departure to the Southeastern Conference dragged on for far too long.
On Sunday, the much-maligned Aggies finally got their wish. The SEC officially and unconditionally accepted Texas A&M as a member of the conference beginning July 2012.
Baylor can sue all they want, but the Big 12 is without a doubt down to nine teams. Texas A&M's exit, though disappointing, is for the best.
The Big 12 was able to avoid an apparent collapse, but the conference's relationship with Texas A&M was so strained that the Aggies had to leave not only for themselves but also for the well-being of this conference.
I'm sure interim commissioner Chuck Neinas would love to have the opportunity to work out the issues, but that would be like getting a marriage counselor after already filing for divorce. Texas A&M has found someone else, and so should the Big 12.
So what if that someone else is a conference that has won the last five national titles? The Big 12 can either get caught up in jealousy over A&M's flashy new partner, or the conference can prove once and for all that we don't need the Aggies.
With the Big 12's two biggest football programs, Oklahoma and Texas, staying on board, the conference can work toward stability and filling the new void.
And there are plenty of fish in the sea.
The Big 12 is lucky to have options when it comes to replacing Texas A&M, and some pretty good ones at that. The first school Neinas should target is Brigham Young University.
BYU is currently independent in football, so the Big 12 wouldn't be poaching another conference right off the bat. Better yet, the Cougars bring a national audience, as they are the Mormon church's flagship university.
If the Big 12 were to add BYU, it would allow the conference to expand its boundaries to new markets, and Provo, Utah, would be a refreshing change of scenery from College Station.
Considering the name of the conference is the "Big 12," why stop at 10? Neinas would really make a statement if he could get the conference's membership back to 12 teams in a hasty manner. It just makes the most sense.
When it's all said and done, schools like Louisville and West Virginia could be looking for a new home. Texas Christian University is also an option, but does the Big 12 really want another school from Texas? The Longhorns already bring that market.
Following the exits of Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big East finds itself in an all-too-familiar state of instability. Big East Commissioner John Marinato says that all the remaining schools are committed to the conference, but many pundits believe otherwise.
Breakups are never easy, but the faster the Big 12 gets over the Aggies, the stronger the conference will be.
- Edited by Ben Chipman
BIG 12 PLAY
MIKE GUNNEO/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Saturday after an injury
resman wide receiver JaCorey Shepherd gains his balance after a reception in the second half on Sept. 3. Shepherd is a probable contributor for the upcoming game on Saturday after suffering an injury earlier this season.
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
The opening act of the 2011- 2012 football season has come to a conclusion for the Kansas football team.
There have been ups: A last-minute victory over Northern Illinois, in front of 48,084 fans at Memorial Stadium.
And there have been downs: A 66-24 drubbing by Georgia Tech in Atlanta, in which the defense allowed the second most yards in Kansas history.
They finished their non-conference slate with a 2-1 record, a quarterback who has made an
whole.
The 3-0 Red Raiders average 523.3 yards per game on offense, 316 of which come in the air — a stat that does not bode well for a Kansas pass defense that ranks 102nd out of 120 teams in the country.
"It will be the best team that we've played," Tubberville said. "We have got nine straight and we have got to become a much better football team in every area for us to have a chance to win these games."
The large numbers through the air are routine for Texas Tech football, but the running game has made their offense more dynamic than ever before.
impressive leap between his freshman and sophomore seasons, five legitimate running backs, and a defense that currently ranks last in the NCAA in yards allowed per game.
As Big 12 play picks up, so does the competition, as coach Turner Gill will have his hands full when Texas Tech steps onto the field in Lawrence this Saturday.
Texas Tech averages 184.67 yards rushing per game, causing preparations to get tricky for the Jayhawks.
"As we all know in the Big 12 conference, every opponent is a very, very good football team," Gill said.
"They can beat you both ways being able to run the ball and also being able to throw the ball," Gill said. "They're going to do both a little bit more completely now, so that brings a big challenge."
So with preparations against a talented Texas Tech offense underway, the second act of the Kansas season begins. It will come with more ups and downs, as Big 12 play is sure to provide a load of challenges for the Jayhawks.
As the Jayhawks refreshed themselves with a bye week, Texas Tech comes into Lawrence this week after squeaking by Nevada with a one-point victory, in which they took the lead with 36 seconds left.
Fortunately for Kansas, the Jayhawks will head into conference play healthier than they have been in their previous two games.
- Edited by Laura Nightengale
Gill said he expects both senior defensive tackle Pat Dorsey and freshman wide receiver JaCorey Shepherd to play against the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tubberville said his team will have to play better against Kansas this week and in Big 12 play as a
Dorsey has been out all year with a broken foot and Shepherd suffered a lower-leg injury during the Northern Illinois game.
Teams move up in Midwest rankings
MAX GOODWIN
CROSS COUNTRY
mggoodwin@kansan.com
The Kansas men's and women's cross country teams each received a boost in the Midwest Regional rankings Monday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The women's team moved from 7th to 6th in the region, while the men's ranking went from 8th to 7th in the Midwest.
Senior Rebeka Stowe does not watch the rankings very often but she was still happy to hear the news of a higher spot for the Jayhawks.
"It's exciting that we moved a spot higher but we still have a lot of work to do," Stowe said. "It's just figuring out how to translate
at we do in practice to races.
Stowe finished in 11th place and once again led the women's team with a 6k time of 20:59.
For the men's team, junior Zach Zarda led the way with a 38th place finish in the 300-runner
what we do in practice to races."
race. Out of 26 teams, the women finished 14th while the men finished 15th of 24 teams.
All of the teams that finished with a better team score than the Jayhawks were highly ranked from various regions. In the women's ranking, Iowa State is
the highest ranked team in the Midwest region and finished second at the Roy Griak Invitational. Minnesota, which is ranked third in the men's Midwest regional rankings, finished third in the race.
While discussing these teams, Zarda said that there is no reason why the Jayhawks cannot compete with teams like Iowa State and Minnesota. The key is staying packed closer together throughout the race and maintaining the same confidence in practice and the races.
Kansas will not race again until Oct. 8 at the Haskell Invitational. For now the Jayhawks will to
practice for two weeks and wait to see if they can translate those improvements into results on the course, and maybe in the rankings as well.
— Edited by Laura Nightengale
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior distance runner Zach Zarda leads the group during the Bob Timmons Classic on Sept. 3. Both teams moved up in regional rankings this week.
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