SPORTS
INSIDE: TRY TO KICK THE KANSAN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Students can go head-to-head with Kansan staff in college football pick'em. | 2B
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BORDER
SHOWDOWN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008
Jayhawks work for offensive consistency against Tigers. VOLLEYBALL | 3B
COMMENTARY
Perspective needed in critique of defensive coordinator
PAGE 1B
Several days later, the dust has settled Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree and the rest of their Red Raider cohorts have finished their rampage.
TALKIN'TRASH
Having now had several days to gain some perspective on matters, it's more than a little disappointing that I've seen or heard a recurring sentiment on message boards, radio shows, and among the general fan base: fire Clint Bowen.
It seems Jayhawk fans need to be reminded that this is still Kansas football we're talking about. One amazing Orange Bowl campaign does not an elite program make, and this season has borne out that truth thus far. This is not to say that KU fans ought to accept losing, especially not in the fashion of Saturday's defeat. All it means is that Kansas fans, myself included, need to have some perspective. That means realizing this season was never going to be anything like last year's, and firing Clint Bowen wouldn't fix anything.
This doesn't mean I'm living in some kind of dream world either. There are stats for days that illustrate how porous Kansas' pass defense has been this season, Matt Grotte, Sam Bradford, and now Graham Harrell have all lacerated the Jayhawk secondary, resulting in three KU losses.
To be frustrated by those results is to be a fan. To be frustrated by Kansas' frequently nonexistent pass rush and often excessively soft coverage is also perfectly justifiable. That frustration is normal and natural. I'm a fan, and I feel it too.
It's undeniable that Bowen makes a convenient scapegoat for those frustrations. After all, defensive performances like Saturday's didn't seem to happen last year. And it is worth noting that Bowen wasn't the defensive coordinator last season. That would be Bill Young. Young has since accepted the defensive coordinator position at Miami, and Bowen was promoted from assistant defensive coordinator.
First of all, Ajib Talib is now playing his football on Sundays. If it's possible for an All-American to be undervalued by his own fan base, then it seems that might have happened here. Because of his knack for picking off wayward passes, quarterbacks would often shy away from throwing the ball anywhere near Talib. That left safeties Darrell Stuckey and Justin Thornton free to provide help to Kansas' less experienced cornerbacks, Chris Harris and Kendrick Harper
But even if Bill Young were still in charge of the Jayhawk D, things wouldn't be going much better. Circumstances are just too different.
SEE BEECHERON PAGE 5B
Although not as high-profile a loss, James McClinton's departure seems to have hurt the Jayhaws' defense just as much. His penetration on running plays has been missed, as has the need for offensive lines to double-team him.
And then there's the schedule. It's been beaten to death, I know, but it bears mentioning. The fact is, Kansas did not face any offenses last season as good as the two it has faced in the last two weeks — Missouri being the possible exception
Then business picks up even more. The final home game of the season is against Texas and Colt McCoy. If the Jayhawks' defense can survive that challenge, they'll be rewarded with a game against Missouri the next week.
The scary thing is, it doesn't get any easier, Kansas faces K-State this Saturday, and though the Wildcats will turn the ball over, they're also quite capable of putting up some big numbers. After that, Kansas takes a trip to Lincoln, Neb., to take on a revenge-minded Cornhusker team.
Kansas State receiver Deon Murphy jogs off while the Kansas defense celebrates after Kendrick Harper (24) intercepted a pass intended for Murphy during Kansas' victory in Manhattan last year. Murphy has guaranteed to "take one to the run" during this year's game.
K-State speaks out before showdown
BY B.J. RAINS
rains@kansan.com
If Kansas State plays as well as it talks, the Jayhawks don't seem to have much of a chance Saturday in the annual Sunflower Showdown.
During Monday's session with the media, K-State kick/punt returner Deon Murphy offered a Rasheed Wallace-like guarantee to reporters.
"I'm taking one to the crib this weekend," Murphy said. "That's the bottom line."
The "crib" refers to the end zone, meaning Murphy is predicting to do what has
happened only one time against Kansas this year — return a punt or kick for a touchdown.
"He can do all his talking now -- we'll do the talking on the field," said linebacker Joe Mortensen. "That's how coach Mangino brought us up and that's how we're trying to play. If anything, it just fuels our fire."
"To me there's no guarantees in life,
"anything can happen," Morton sadden,
"I'm taking one to the crib this weekend. That's the bottom line."
DEON MURPHY Kansas State wide receiver
laughed upon hearing 10 kick return. Murphy's guarantee but refused to offer averaging 27.4 yards per return any return guarantees of their own. "Our kickoff and punt return teams will
" its been a crazy year in college football, so we'll see. We'll see what he does on Saturday"
Murphy is averaging just 10.8 yards per punt return but did have an 86-yard return for a touchdown earlier in the season. He has only 10 kick returns but is
be keying on him more now I guess," said cornerback Chris Harris. "If he has that confidence, good for him. We will just go out and do the best we can to stop him."
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Murphy didn't stop his trash-talking with his punt-return prediction. He went on to predict that coach Mark Mangino and the Kansas coaching staff would wish they would have actively pursued more of the players on Kansas State's roster.
"They're probably going to wish they recruited this whole team, the way we're gonna play this weekend," Murphy said.
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 5B
FOOTBALL
Senior linebacker Mike Rivera tackles a Kansas State player last season. Kansas scored nine points in the final seven minutes and won the game 30-24. A victory this season would make Kansas football-eligible.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Pride, bragging rights on the line Saturday
BY TAYLOR BERN tbern@kansan.com
"I really knew from the very beginning that I never wanted to have anything to do with K-State." Mike Rivera said with a smile.
That was the senior linebacker's response when asked whether Kansas State ever offered him a scholarship. Rivera is a Kansas kid who went to Shawnee Mission Northwest, and he doesn't mice words about his feelings for Saturday's opponent.
"I never really cared for their football or their educational program," Rivera said. "I pretty much knew from the beginning that, out of the Kansas schools, if I ever went anywhere, it would definitely be KU."
Saturday is the 106th meeting between
the teams, and each has plenty to play for.
Kansas (5-3, 2-2) and Kansas State (4-4,
1-3) are muddled in the mess of four Big 12
North teams that must win now to qualify for a bowl game. Coach Mark Mangino echoed the classic rivalry rant that records don't matter.
He said the game had been played with both teams winless, and the fans were still excited about it.
"It's state pride, and it's bragging rights," Mangino said. "This game will always be fun for the fans."
Rivera's Wildcat hatred runs as deep as any Kansas fans.
"I don't have any purple anything in my
SEE RIVALRY ON PAGE 5B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Freshman walk-on selected to join Jayhawks after tryouts
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Jessica Juenemann thought nothing could exhaust her brother, Jordan.
Jessica said six or seven hours per day in the gym and weight room were the norm for Jordan Juenemann. Hays freshman. But after Jordan's first practice with
"He said it was the toughest thing he has ever done," Jessica said. "And he's ready for the challenge."
Kansas on Sunday night, he told lesica, 2008 graduate, he was drained.
Jordan juenemann's dream came true Sunday — he became the newest member of the jayhawk basketball team. Kansas coach Bill Self offered Juenmann, who was not available to comment Tuesday, an opportunity to walk on to the team after he participated in an open tryout Sunday.
"Like a lot of kids from Kansas, he's a kid that really wanted to play for the University of Kansas."
RICK KELTNER
Juenemann's former coach
Jessica said Self called Jordan into his office Sunday afternoon, gave him the news and told him to get ready for practice. Jessica didn't even learn her brother was the newest Kansas basketball player until after practice.
when he called Jordan
"We just had a little, quick conversation," Jessica said. "I congratulated him and he pretty much said he's ready to be a part of the team. He's honored to be a part of it"
Jordan told his high school coach he was on the team and detailed his first practice.
Rick, Keltner, Juenemann's high school coach, found out around the same time Jessica did. Keltner was on a five-mile walk
Juveniemen led the Hays High Indians to a 14-7 record last season and over.
"The last three and a half miles were pretty easy for me," Keltner said. "I'm so happy for Jordan — he's a good kid."
aged 17 points and six rebounds as the starting point guard. The Topeka Capital Journal named him third team All-State in Class 5A, and he was one vote away from being the Western Athletic Conference's player of the year.
Keltner said juemmann had plenty of opportunities to
play at a junior college or Division II school. The offers don't interest him.
So Juenemann dedicated himself to walking on to the team, according to Keltner. He worked out harder than he ever had before.
1
"Like a lot of kids from Kansas," Keltner said, "he's a kid that really wanted to play for the University of Kansas."
Jessica said he spent time playing with former layhawks Wayne Simien and Jeff Hawkins. She barely saw her brother all summer because he was so busy.
He even reached out to Brad Witherspoon — the last Jayhawk to make the team through an open tryout — and
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 5B