kansan.com
Volume 124 Issue 21
Monday, September 19, 2011
COMMENTARY
Kansas' options look bleak
I wasn't a good day for Kansas. It gave up a Football Bowl Subdivision-record 604 running yards to Georgia Tech. I don't know if the yards or the score — 66-24 — was more embarrassing. On the bright side, the Jayhawks didn't give up 70 points.
The other nine teams in the Big 12 gave up 106 points — combined.
The biggest news of the weekend however, was the Atlantic Coast Conference accepting Syracuse and Pittsburgh as its 13th and 14th members Sunday morning. Rumors are swirling that Connecticut and Rutgers might make 15 and 16, but reports have also said Texas along with another school, possibly Kansas, could fill those places.
I think the ACC shot down Texas because ACC Commissioner John Swofford said equal revenue sharing is a "sacred" thing and doesn't see it changing (meaning the Longhorn Network is a no-go if Texas goes).
Everything is tied to football, which is terrible for Kansas. It would be ignorant to say Kansas belongs in the Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC or Southeastern Conference for football. It can't compete right now. Kansas is a basketball school. If the Big 12 folds, Kansas belongs in a non-automatic qualifying conference for football. The rest of the Big 12 (yes, including Kansas State) belongs in an automatic qualifying conference.
The problem is Kansas is the flagship school for the state and it would be awful if Kansas isn't in an AQ conference.
If it were all about basketball, every conference would be knocking on Kansas' door. The best scenario, which doesn't look like it will happen, would be the Big 12 staying together. The geographic location makes the most sense. If Kansas were to end up in any other conference, it would have longer flights and the alumni base wouldn't be as strong.
The closest conference for Kansas, besides the Big 12, is the Big Ten. Again, football-wise, this doesn't make sense. It's all about money. Kansas would increase its share revenue from $12 million to $22 million from conference TV contracts, according to the Washington Post.
Academically the Big Ten would make sense. Every school besides Nebraska is a member of the Association of American Universities. These are research universities; Kansas along with Missouri, Iowa State, Texas and Texas A&M are among this group.
The ACC has six AAU members; the Pac-12 has eight members; and the Big East has Rutgers.
Academics is overlooked, but it's such a huge aspect. These are student athletes. Students first, athletes second.
But for Kansas to join the Big Ten, there has to be a mutual want and I'm not sure the Big Ten has the same mindset.
A lot of people say they don't want Kansas in the Big Ten because the basketball is slow. It is, relatively speaking, According to KenPom.com the 11 teams in the conference averaged 64.6 possessions per game, whereas Kansas averaged 69.2.
If it were up to me, Kansas and Missouri would go to the Big Ten; Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor would go to the Big East; Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech would go to the Pac-12.
But hey, Kansas could land in the Ivy League for all I know.
Edited by Josh Kantor
VOLLEYBALL CONTINUES DOMINANT RUN
Kansas is off to its best start since 2002 with another title. PAGE 9
A MAGICAL BORDER SHOWDOWN FOR QUIDDITCH TEAMS PAGE 8
RUN OVER
Sophomore quarterback Jordan Webb slides to avoid being tackled by a group of Georgia Tech defenders during the second half of Saturday's game at Bobby Dudd Stadium. Webb rushed three times for 16 yards in the Jayhawks' 66-24 defeat, while Georgia Tech ran for 604 yards and passed for 164 more in a record-breaking performance.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
RAMBLIN' WRECKED
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
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ATLANTA — The numbers were some that should only appear in a video game, not in real life, as Kansas was outcoached and outplayed in a record-breaking 66-24 loss to Georgia Tech.
Kansas defensive coordinator Vic Shealy candidly said it over and over again.
"It's on me today," he said. "Whenever your plan gets schemed, it comes back to me. What happened today is on Vic Shealy."
The Kansas defense gave up an almost-unheard-of 604 rushing yards, and 768 yards of offense — a school record for Georgia Tech and the second-most yards
allowed in Kansas history.
It was quite a different story only one year ago when students at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence poured onto the field in celebration of the Jayhawks upset victory the then-No. 15 Yellow Jackets. In that game, the Jayhawks' defense would often bend, but not break, as Georgia Tech's 407 yards led to only 25 points.
That was not the case Saturday, as the Yellow Jackets' spread option offense often befuddled the seemingly helpless Jayhawks defense, scoring with frequent ease — a trend that started from the beginning.
He ran untouched for 95 yards, breaking the first record of the game for Georgia Tech — the longest run in school history.
Starting their first drive on their own five-yard line, running back Orwin Smith received the ball on a counter and had a hole the size of the Grand Canyon.
Yet, the Jayhawks were able to recover and keep close the first half, exchanging touchdowns and big plays, taking a 24-17 deficit into the locker room.
The counter call was just the first of many plays the Kansas defense was not prepared for.
But it got ugly from there.
Georgia Tech adjusted and scored four unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. The first three scores all came on plays of 50 yards or more, two of which were on the first play of the drive.
The defensive lapses continued throughout the game.
When Georgia Tech threw the ball, it would have a player streaking down the field unguarded, turning into an average of 23.4 yards per pass. And when Georgia Tech ran the ball, it averaged a first down each play, gaining 12.1 yards per carry.
To explain the defensive miscues sophomore cornerback Tyler Patton and junior safety Bradley McDougald both suggested what Shealy reiterated: the Jayhawks simply did not have the right plan in place.
"It got to a point were they were scheming us," Patmon said. "I think they kind of knew what we were about to do. It just got to a point where they were reading our defense and knowing what we were gonna run."
"They were most definitely prepared," he said. "They just did
a great job of playing chess out there."
McDougald agreed.
The lack of proper preparation was, in all likelihood, a result of the complex triple-option attack that Georgia Tech uses. Kansas' young defense just could not keep up.
There are very few teams that run anything similar to what Georgia Tech brings to the field every week, and as long as Shealy is around, the Jayhawks would be wise to avoid those teams at all costs.
"Fortunately we don't have to play a scheme like that," Shealy said, "and hopefully Georgia Tech, Army, Air Force, or Navy are not on the schedule the next few years."
Edited by Laura Nightengale
SOCCER
First half Florida goals sink Kansas
RYAN MCCARTHY rmccarthy@kansan.com
"I think we just came out slower than we needed and they took us by surprise which should never happen," junior midfielder Whitney Berry said. "But we learn from our mistakes and it probably won't happen again."
The Kansas soccer team found that out quickly as it gave up five goals in the first half against Florida on Sunday, making a comeback out of the question.
A team can't win a game in a half, but it can lose it.
The 7-2 loss was a setback to say the least for the lajhwahy (6-3) who had gained momentum throughout their non-conference schedule.
The Jayhawks struggled to communicate throughout the contest. The team was out of sync for much of first 45 minutes, in particular in the defensive third.
No. 9 Florida found more holes in Kansas' formation and it showed on the scoreboard.
At halftime, Francis spent the entire 15 minutes talking to his team on organization and getting the most they could out of the second half.
"We didn't start very well, but that just something we need to progress on for next week," Liebetrau said. "We can't come out and do what we did here in the first half."
"He was really emphasizing on working and playing for each other," Liebetrau said. "Connecting the ball throughout the whole field because the whole first half it was like we were playing defense the whole time."
TRAVIS YOIING/KANSAN
"In the back we just weren't very organized," coach Mark Francis said. "When something like that happens you got to figure it out.
"I told our defenders they shouldn't be scoring the same type of goal on us from the same type of situation. We've got to learn from it the first time it happens. We just did a horrendous job organization in the back."
MARK FRANCIS coact
Sophomore midfielder Caroline Kastor jumps to avoid the tackle from Florida freshman defender Annie Bobbitt during the first half of the match on Sunday afternoon. The Jayhawks lost the game 7-2 after allowing five goals in the first half.
After posting a clean sheet in her previous match against Purdue, giving up seven goals was a hard pill to swallow.
It was a rough day in goal for Kansas' goalkeeper Kat Liebtrabel as well.
Following the halftime discussion, the Jayhawks played with an edge, going after 50-50 balls and creating more opportunities around the net.
One of the two goals occurred in the 53rd minute when freshman forward, togrid
Vidal beat the keeper to the ball on a slide tackle.
The ball bounced off Florida senior goalkeeper Brooke Chancey and went in for the lahawks' first goal of the day.
“If wed play like that first half it would have been a completely different game,” Berry said. “If we come out hard every game we should have no troubles beating anyone.”
With the stifling schedule in the near future, the lahvayhs understand they must correct their mistakes other wise another game like this one could be on the horizon.
"It's not going to get any easier," Francis said. "But we've got to focus on what we are doing because this game got away from us."
Kansas starts Big 12 Conference play on
Friday when it takes on its second-straight ranked opponent in No. 2 Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks play in Stillwater, Okla. at 7 p.m.
- Edited by Mike Lavieri
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