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COMMENTARY
Mangino made benching mistake
PAGE 10A
BACK IN THE GROOVE
Remember this scenario? Kansas is down two touchdowns on the road against Texas Tech midway through the fourth quarter and the game is on the line. What happens next?
"They just said, 'Kale's in,' and that was it," quarterback Todd Reesing said Tuesday at the football press conference.
So here we are, almost a week later, and I'm not afraid to say it: When Mark Mangino benched Reesing against Texas Tech, he made one of the most foolish mistakes of his coaching career.
Under no rationale was it the correct move to bench the second, if not the, best quarterback in Kansas football history. Maybe it's just me, but in that scenario, I'm not going to put in a redshirt freshman who was 3-3 with 16 yards in his Kansas career. I would have shown some loyalty to the quarterback who saved my job. Id have some faith in a guy with 25 career victories, 9,963 yards, 84 touchdowns and an Orange Bowl ring.
Granted, Reesing has struggled in his last three games. Let's not pretend like he hasn't. But at the same time, Reesing has 2,385 passing yards this year (7th in the nation, 1st in Big 12), 16 passing touchdowns (tied for 13th in the nation) and a 64.1 pass completion percentage (35th in the nation, 3rd in Big 12, 1st in Big 12 North).
Let's also stop pretending like Reesing is some kind of interception machine. This year he has had seven interceptions, which puts him at a tie for 38th in the nation. Considering what conference he plays in and the fact that four Big 12 quarterbacks have as many or more interceptions than him — including Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who has eight — I'm willing to give him a pass for now. But apparently Mangino wasn't.
During Tuesday's press conference, Mangino said of Reesing's benching, "I think you guys make it a big deal. It is not a big deal."
What was Reesing's rebuttal?
"Well, yeah. It was a big deal to me," he said.
So now you've created a possible rift between your best player and your head coach. Yeah, those seven minutes of Kale Pick were really worth that.
Furthermore, Mangino went on to make a pretty obvious statement to anyone who watched the game: "I told the players I did a lousy job of coaching," he said.
Between the benching last week and some of the play calling, I have been left dumbfounded more times in the last three games than I have been in years.
The bottom line is Reesing is the team's best player and most dangerous weapon. When times get tough, you stick with your best player and your leader.
Edited by Lauren Cunninaham
Kansas is facing a must-win game tomorrow at Kansas State. Bill Snyder has that team playing better than anyone expected. If Reeasing struggles early, it's imperative that he stays in and figures things out because, as anyone who was at the Border Showdown last year knows, if there's any quarterback who can pull off a miracle, it's Todd Reesing.
Weston White/KANSAN
Senior quarterback Todd Reesing runs behind senior running back Jake Sharp on a scramble last Saturday against Texas Tech. Kansas lost to Texas Tech, making this the third game in a row the team has lost.
Reesing looks to improve season
Quarterback wants to make turnovers a thing of the past
jjenks@kansan.com
BY JAYSON JENKS
jienks@kansan.com
In the final seconds of the third quarter against Texas Tech — in a game that would eventually get rather ugly — the former Todd Reesing emerged.
Faced with a third and goal from Texas Tech's six yards last Saturday, Reeing backpedaled before a Tech defender grabbed his jersey, sending Kansas' quarterback into a semi-spin.
Reesting,however,remained on his feet and fired a pass to junior
Follow Jayson
Jenks at twitter.
com/JaysonJenks.
wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who slipped unnoticed between Texas Tech's defenders for a wideopen catch to give Kansas the lead.
That play, which could be filed under the vintage Reesing category, represents a larger development in Kansas' last three games. What once would have been the norm has suddenly — and surprisingly — become the exception.
The Jayhawks have lost their last three games, and Reesing hasn't fit the mold he established
during Kansas' last two seasons.
He has seven turnovers in his last three games. He has missed open receivers. And later in that
game against Texas Tech, he was benched in the fourth quarter with seven minutes left.
Now Todd Reesing wants his senior season back.
"We need to move forward
fun for you anymore, it's time to hang it up.
"We need to move forward and play this game the way it should be played."
"And I still love playing this game. It's still fun as heck for me."
and play this game the way it should be played." Reesing said. "You're not supposed to be sitting there hanging your head, feeling bad and not having fun. The point where this game isn't
TODD REESING Quaterback
When Kansas travels to Kansas State tomorrow, a three-game losing streak and a chance at the Big 12 North title will be on the line. Reasing clearly understands the importance of both.
Yet Reesing spent
this week reverberating messages delivered during the more simple days of football when only moms, dads and siblings dotted stands or sidelines: "We need to relax ... We need to have fun ... It's just
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football."
Reesing's competitive nature has never been questioned, and the tone of his words didn't diminish his emphasis on winning.
But Reesing said in order for Kansas to break its current losing trend, the Jayhawks and he needed to loosen up.
SEE REESING ON PAGE 8A
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Freshmen see time on court during exhibition games
Team focusing on past weaknesses for game this weekend.
BY MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
Follow Max Rothman at twitter.com/ maxrothman.
Exhibition games may not count toward regular season records. But the way the women's basketball team is preparing, you'd never know it.
"I'm not gonna approach it any differently," sophomore forward Aishah Sutherland said. "I'm gonna play it like every other game — I'm gonna
Cassondra Boston, who averaged 14.9 points per game last season.
"The Boston kid tore us up two years ago," coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
Though last week's 86-56 bashing of Pittsburgh State looked pretty on
"It's experience for the young kids, just getting an opportunity to play with a crowd and in their uniforms."
Junior forward Nicolelette Smith dives to maintain possession of the ball. In their first game of the 2009-10 season, the Jayhawks beat Pittsburgh State, 86-56.
Kansas will
I'm gonna work hard."
BONNIE HENRICKSON coach
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
play host to Emporia State Sunday at 2 p.m. as a final test before the official start of the regular season. After finishing 26-6 last season, the Lady Hornets are ranked No. 7 in the WBCA/USA Today/ESPN preseason coaches poll. The team has spent 90 consecutive weeks in the Division II top 25.
paper, the off-season cobwebs were still hanging around. Last week's dominating offensive display, most notably from sophomore forward Aishah Sutherland and senior guard Danielle McCray, helped camouflage a glaring weakness: 20 turnovers.
The Lady Hornets are led by
Henrickson said there was no excuse for 20 turnovers.
However, Kansas did negate more than half of these errors with 11 total steals. That's further evidence that a suffocating defense can open up so much for a juggernaut offense.
"Steals and turnovers get us in numbers where we've got two on
If Kansas can open up an early lead like they did last weekend, Henrickson will once again have the ability to allocate some valuable
one, three on one, three on two," Henrickson said. "Those lead to high percentage shots."
minutes to her bench.
Co-captain and junior forward Nicolette Smith were tied for second in playtime on the team with 23 minutes played, but the younger players also got a little taste of college ball.
"It's experience for the young kids, just getting an opportunity to play with a crowd and in their uniforms," Henrickson said.
Freshman guard Monica
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 8A