4B
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SPORTS
COMMENTARY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008
6-5 doesn't look so bad in the state of Washington
Huskies and Cougars take bad football to a new level
Things may seem awfully glum right now in the land of Jayhawk football.
Kansas endured a 35-7 drubbing at the horns of Texas on Senior Day, and now is a week and a half away from a "showdown" with the explosive Missouri Tigers.
Oh how times have changed.
The drop in wins and production from last year to this year has been covered ad nauseum. After an Orange Bowl, fans just aren't happy with a six-win season.
Once upon a time, Kansas football was bad. Really bad.
"Wrong Turn 2" bad? Worse than that, even. At least that movie had Henry Rollins.
Kansas football was once such a joke, that the winning six games in a season would have been considered a monumental success.
1987 was such a year.
1967 was such a year.
The date was Nov. 7. The opponent; the Kansas State Wildcats. The scene: Manhattan.
The records? About that...
Kansas came in to the game an astonishing 1-7. Not be outdone, Kansas State faced their cross-state rival at 0-8.
National press dubbed the game the toilet bowl. And boy, did it ever live down to expectations. Eight turnovers and one botched field goal later, and the game ended in a 17-17 tie.
Now, Kansas football isn't the most tradition-rich program;
Sure, there's Gale Sayers and John Riggins, and even last year's Orange Bowl team. But generally, the Jayhawks have not fared well on the gridiron. Thus many of the great achievements KU football fans can treasure are, well, less than great.
Unfortunately, one of Kansas' long standing efforts of football futility is about to be challenged. The 1987 edition of the Governor's Cup may be supplanted, or at least matched, by the 2008 edition of the Apple Cup as the most woeful interstate rivalry game of all time.
Washington is the lone remaining winless team in college football's top division. They're minus their quarterback jake Locker, and minus a head coach. The real strength of the Huskies is their defense, though. It comes in ranked as the 116th best unit in all of college football. That's their strength, because their offense
The Apple Cup, for those who don't know, pits the Huskies of Washington against the Cougars of Washington State. And make no mistake about it, both teams are the pits this year.
is ranked 117. But, truth be told, Washington is a little better than their record might indicate. They should have beaten BYU, and could have mustered wins over Stanford and Arizona State. But that's little consolation for a fan base that saw a national championship in 1991.
Then there's Washington State. The Cougars, if it's possible, are even worse than their record. Like the 1987 Jayhawks, Wazzu's only win came over a lower division opponent. Unfortunately, a victory over Portland State didn't instill Washington State's players with the confidence they needed to navigate a mediocre Pac 10 schedule. Arizona and Stanford, who are less than juggernauts, defeated Wazzy by a combined total of 83-42. USC probably could have done worse than that themselves, but Pete Carroll called off his Trojans after they had amassed a 56-0 advantage. But maybe this can all be chalked up to poor preparation. After all, the scout team quarterback is some guy named Peter Roberts who made the team via an open tryout held a few weeks into the season.
Thus the stage is set. The teams are ready, and sufficiently terrible. The legendary 1987 Governor's Cup finally has a deserving sequel — Toilet Bowl 2: The Crappie Cup. 6-5 never looked so good.
Edited by Scott R. Toland
Weston White/KANSAN
**WEEKEND WHITE/ANXIET**
Senior receiver Marcus Herford gets tackled on a punt return Saturday against Texas. Kansas fell short of a win and lost its second straight game 35-7 against the Lonsdale.
NFL
'Pacman' Jones will get another chance with Cowboys
BY STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON, Texas — The NFL is giving Adam "Pacman" Jones another chance.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday the suspended cornerback has been reinstated by league commissioner Roger Goodell, but he must miss two more games — this Sunday and the following game on Thanksgiving. He'll be back Dec. 7 at Pittsburgh.
"He much appreciates the Cowboys and Jerry Jones for standing behind him and encouraging him, and he's grateful to the commissioner," said Worrick Robinson, Adam Jones' Nashville-based attorney.
Jerry Jones would not reveal any conditions the commissioner may have imposed and the league office said it would not have any immediate comment. However, Robinson, said, "He knows what he has to do. It's very clear."
"He's a long way, a long way from having clear sailing," Jerry Jones said.
Adam Jones was suspended from the entire 2007 season because of multiple incidents while with the
Tennessee Titans. Over the offseason, he was traded to Dallas and then given another chance by Goodell. The Cowboys gave him a security team to help keep him in line, but on Oct. 7, Jones got
into an alcohol-
related scuffe
with one of
the bodyguards
during a private
party at a Dallas
hotel.
Jones spent part of his time away undergoing alcohol rehabilitation.
"He has demonstrated some
decision-making." Robinson said. "He's comfortable making decisions for himself"
Robinson said the alcohol therapy was "something he needed to do."
"He's a good football player and I don't see why you wouldn't welcome a guy back that works hard on the practice field."
TONY ROMO Dallas Cowboys quarterback
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"The real issue was more than allegations of an incident at aDallashotel," Robinson said. "There were personal issues that, until addressed, there was a wellhood of
Dallas Cowboys' Adam "Pacman" Jones prepares to participate in practice at the Cowboys training facility in Irving, Texas in October. Jones, a suspended cornerback, has entered an alcohol treatment center. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the player has checked into a facility in "another part of the country." The treatment plan is overseen by the NFL.
another incident occurring."
Jerry Jones said Adam Jones can have "limited participation" this week, but would not be part of full-squad practices or conditioning. He can return to practice Monday.
thing very important to all of us" jerry Jones said.
It also will be up to Pacman to police himself. The Cowboys will no longer be providing bodyguards.
Goodell suspended Adam Jones
"It all starts with him and his
it will be business as usual. I can't wait to have 21 next to me in the locker"
Added quarterback Tony Romor "When he was here he worked very hard and he helped us. He's a good football player and I don't see why you wouldn't welcome a guy back that works hard on the practice field."
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indefinitely on Oct. 14, saying hed put a timeframe on it after the cornerback missed at least four games. This decision means it will be a six-game suspension. Jones also missed the entire 2007 season. By the time he returns, he will have been suspended from 22 of a possible 28 games.
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Jones still leads the club with 11 passes defensed; nobody else had more than five. His 27 tackles are second-best among defensive backs. He also forced a fumble and recovered one.
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A few hours before the announcement, teammates said they would welcome him back.
Jones was Dallas' main punter returner, averaging 5 yards per return on 16 attempts.
Tank Johnson, who has the locker next to Jones and also has been through an NFL suspension for off-field troubles, said he's spoken frequently with Adam Jones.
Lee R. Bittenbender, M.D.
"He's just chomping at the bit to get back and come back and be successful," Johnson said. "He knows we're all with him and we're never going to turn our back on him and as soon as he gets back
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