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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
PAGE1B
COMMENTARY
Friday's loss could be a blessing in disquise
Don't sound the alarm. Don't jump off the bandwagon. Kansas' loss against South Florida might help the Jayhawks more than a win ever could.
The layhawks' loss to the Bulls on Friday night momentarily took the life out of a busy Friday night in Lawrence. It stung and it hurt fans, but after a brief pause, life continued as usual. Kansas' 2008 season will continue as well.
In sports, there is no such thing as a good loss or an ugly win. A loss is always bad, and a win is always good. It doesn't matter how it's done, as long as you have more points than your opponent when the clock hits zero.
Kansas couldn't quite get the job done against the Bulls. However, if such a thing as a good loss did exist, the 37-34 loss on Friday would be one.
The team has moved on, so to speak. It's time to prepare for Sam Houston State and former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar. However, you can bet that they are still thinking about Friday night. They are thinking about what went wrong—what almost was and what can no longer be. Perfection is out the window, but every other possibility remains
But how does a tough loss help? Wouldn't it be better to have a close win and be 3-0? With a very difficult schedule coming up, a loss does something a win could not. It teaches.
The most important lessons are the toughest to learn. Kansas learned the hard way what has to be done to be among the college football elite.
Last year's team learned the same lesson. Last year against Missouri, the team didn't show up early on and as a result fell behind 21-0. The lead could not be overcome and the Jayhawks fell for the first and only time in 2007.
The team learned from its mistakes. When the players took the field against Virginia Tech in January for the Orange Bowl, they were the aggressors. The Jayhawks were no longer stuck in the headlights like they were at Arrowhead Stadium in November.
The things that went wrong against Missouri — only 42 yards rushing, two turnovers given up, zero turnovers forced and a serious lack of pressure on Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel — were fixed against Virginia Tech.
Kansas forced three turnovers, only gave up one, rushed for 95 yards, sacked the Holkes five times on the night and took home a bowl of oranges.
So what did Kansas learn about this year's team on Friday night?
It learned it must develop a killer instinct. Things never got going in the third quarter. It looked as though Kansas assumed South Florida wouldn't adjust at the half and fight back. They didn't anticipate the crowd reawakening in Tampa or losing control of the momentum. They were wrong and now they know.
I wouldn't expect to see it happen again. Todd Reeseing and Company won't let it. The proud Kansas defense that returned nine starters from one year ago won't let it.
Kansas now knows that without a run game, no lead is safe. Kansas rushed for a miserable 61 yards on the ground, averaging 2.9 yards-per-carry. The defense became exhausted after quick three-and-out offensive possessions in the third quarter. Kansas needs to be able to wear down a defense on the ground. Look for an increased emphasis on that against Sam Houston State and Iowa State. Maybe junior running back Angus Quigley will finally see some first-half action.
Kansas must create a pass rush. Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe had twice as much time than Todd Reeing did to
SEE COMMENTARY ON PAGE 8B
Receivers can walk the walk, but can they block the block?
BY B.J. RAINS rains@kansan.com
Junior receiver Kerry Meier leads the nation in receptions. Four receivers have already recorded 100-yard receiving games, and Kansas is the only school in the nation that has three receivers averaging more than six catches per game.
But that doesn't mean coach Mark Mangino is pleased with how the wide receivers have played so far. In fact, the seventh-year head coach is anything but.
"I think we have a mentality with some of our receivers where they want to catch passes, but as far as the other things that come with the game, running precise routs and blocking, I thought we were very standard night," Mangino said. "I
think a few of our young receivers got to understand that there's a lot more to that position than just catching the ball."
The KU running game has gotten off to a dismal start in 2008 — rushing for only 315 yards in three games — and Mangino attributes some of the problems to the wide receivers' lack of blocking on the perimeter.
"I think a lot of our issues in the run game — some of them deal with the offensive line, some of them deal with the running backs," Mangino said. "But I think the receivers, watching tape, had opportunities to get some blocks for our run game and did not do it, did not sustain their blocks. That's disappointing when you can get running backs on the next level and not get help from their
receivers."
Sophomore receiver Johnathan Wilson leads the group with 276 yards receiving on 19 catches. Meier has 29 receptions (tied for first in division 1-A) and 253 yards receiving while sophomore receiver Dezmon Briscoe has 237 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Freshman receiver Daymond Patterson has 149 yards receiving on 13 catches.
But still, Mangino would like to see the group improve in areas not associated with catching passes.
"Kerry does a decent job of it," Mangino said. "I think the rest of our receivers need a lot, a lot of work."
The team has been playing without senior receiver Dexton Fields, who has missed the last two games with an
injured foot. Fields led the team in receiving in both 2006 and 2007 and also was one of the teams best blocking receivers. Mangino said that if the current receivers don't improve their blocking, he will find guys that will.
"I made it very clear to those guys that if you don't block, you can't play," Mangino said. "We'll put somebody in there that will and we'll get the ball to them and have them make the catches. You cannot be one-dimensional and be successful at the wide receiver position."
— Edited by Andy Greenhaw
MEN'S GOLF
leam ties for fifth after first round
Through one round of the Kansas Invitational at Alvamar Golf Club (par-72, 7,092 yards), the men's golf team tied for fifth place with a score of 297. Freshman Ian Anson led the team with a par round of 72 and tied for fourth place.
Senior Walt Koelbel finished the first round tied for 21st with a score of 74 after finishing the first nine holes four strokes over par.
Coming off a fourth place finish in the Nebraska Fairway Invitational, sophomore Nate Barbee was tied for 31st place with a score of 76.
UC-Davis led the first round with a score of 290. Results of the second round were not available.
The tournament concludes today with a final 18 holes to be played.
Bryan Wheeler
Kansas Invitational Alvamar Golf Club (par-72, 7092 yards)
Team standings
(1) UC Davis - 290
(2) South Dakota State - 292
(3) TCU - 294
(4) Louisiana-Lafayette - 295
(T5) North Texas - 297
(T5) Kansas - 297
(T4) Ian Anson [36 - 36 = 72]
(T21) Walt Koebel [40 - 34 = 74]
(T21) Blake Giroux [38 - 37 = 75]
(T31) Barbie Barbe [38 - 38 = 76]
(T60) Andrew Storm [36 - 42 = 78]
*(T31) Patrick Roth [38 - 38 = 76]
*(T64) Bobby Knowles [39 - 40 = 79]
Individual results
*(T64) Brandon Hermrock [36 - 43 = 79]
*{T74} Bryan Hackenberg [41 - 39 = 80]
Weston White/KANSAN
Sophomore Nate Barbee attempts a putt just off the green Monday afternoon at Alvamar Golf Course. Barbee shot a 76 after the first round, with Kansas sitting fifth place overall.
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