0
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3. 2012
WEST VIRGINA 59
PAGE 5B
REWIND
Sims reaches rushing milestone in final game
FARZIN VOUSOUGHIAN
fvousougian@kansan.com
Kansas running back James Sims became the 12th player in the program's history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season. Sims rushed for 57 yards in Saturday's season finale against West Virginia and finished the season with 1,013 yards despite, the Jayhawks losing 59-10 against the Mountaineers.
PRESS
Although Sims only played in nine games this season, he never doubted himself and knew that a 1,000-yard season was still an attainable task. He said the supporting cast on the team played a huge part in his successful season.
"After watching the first three games and the offensive line, as well as they have been playing, they played great, and you have to give
credit to those guys," Sims said.
"The offensive line did a great job up front, and I give them credit. Without them, I wouldn't even come close to that."
Even though Sims served a three-game suspension at the beginning
or the season, his individual goal was to surpass the 1,000-yard mark. Even with Tony Pierson and Taylor Cox active with their duties as running backs, Sims found a way to earn more than 1,000 yards off 21
"The offensive line did a great job up front, and I give them credit."
1,000 yards off 218 carries.
The Jayhawks offense rushed for more than 2,500 yards, and Sims was responsible for 40 percent of that total.
in the Big 12 this season, finishing first in rushing yards per game and sixth in all-purpose yards. He had six consecutive games this season where he ran for more than 100 yards.
Sims was among one of the best
JAMES SIMS Running back
With his elusiveness and versatility. Sims knew he had to help out the team and turn it into a three-dimensional队.
"We'll work on the passing game and get everything down with that." he said.
"We'll come together in both the run and pass game, and we should be pretty efficient."
Sims was not part of any victories this year. The Jayhawks picked up their first win of the year during
With the 2011 season now in the books, the seniors have moved on, and the juniors will carry the torch. Sims, who will be a senior next season, is ready to start the offseason. He hopes to finish his career in Kansas on a good note, individually and with the team. Sims said the team will have to work on its weaknesses this offseason. In doing so, Kansas can improve and become an even more competitive football team.
the season opener against South Dakota State, in which Sims did not play.
"It's not going to happen overnight or a week or so," Sims said. "We have to put in extra work to go where we want to go. After Christmas break hits, all the guys will be ready to go."
Edited by Christy Khamphilay
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas quarterback Dayne Crist (10) looks to pass during the first quarter of the game against West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va. on Saturday, West Virginia won 59-10.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas' Bradley McDougald (24) and Ben Heeney (31) tackle West Virginia's Tavon Austin (1) during the first quarter of the game.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
(Right) Kansas coach Charlie Weis,
center, argues with an official during
the second quarter.
OFFENSE
The Kansas offense took a few steps back against West Virginia. Instead of trying to establish the run game, Charlie Weis traisted out Dayne Crist, who missed the first three passes and was intercepted on his fifth. The Jayhawks' 274 total yards were the lowest gained since they lost to Texas on October 27.
Grade: D
DEFENSE
To be fair, no one in the Big 12 has made an easy living trying to stop West Virginia's Tavon Austin, but he made Kansas look silly, and Austin wasn't even the Mountainers' leading receiver. Including his interception, VUW quarterback Geno Smith completed all 24 passes he launched, gaining over 400 yards.
Grade: D
SPECIAL TEAMS
D. J. Beshears passed Marcus Herford to become the Kansas all-time leader in kickoff return yards with 2,081. Ron Doherty averaged 42 yards per punt and Nick Prolago hit his only field goal attempt, but this game was not coming down to special teams. Grade: B-
COACHING
Charlie Weis gave Dayne Crist one last shot to prove he could be a quality quarterback. If it worked, Weis would have been a genius (or lucky). But it didn't, and many are trying to figure out why Kansas' clock-managing run game seemed to be left behind in Lawrence.
QUOTE OF THE GAME
Grade: D
"He reminds me of Tony Pierson, but he has another gear to him."
Safety Bradley McDougald on the speed of Tavon Austin
SCHEDULE
*All games in bold are at home
DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME
SEPT. 1 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE W, 31-17
SEPT. 8 RICE L, 25-24
SEPT. 15 TCU L, 20-6
SEPT. 22 NORTHERN ILLINOIS L, 30-23
OCT. 6 KANSAS STATE L, 56-16
OCT. 13 OKLAHOMA STATE L, 20-14
OCT. 20 OKLAHOMA L, 52-7
OCT. 27 TEXAS L, 21-14
NOV. 3 BAYLOR L, 41-14
NOV. 10 TEXAS TECH L, 41-34
NOV. 17 IOWA STATE L, 51-23
DEC. 1 WEST VIRGINIA L, 59-10