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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012
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MID-SEASON SUMMARY
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TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Senior quarterback Dayne Crist avoids a sack by TCU defender Sam Carter during the match against TCU. Crist was sacked 3 times with 303 passing yards. Kansas was defeated by TCU 6-20.
Where we stand
JAYHAWKS SOUND OFF
"The whole time we've been here we've been talking about becoming a tougher team. We have to be tougher and one way you get tougher is you keep dialing up those runs and not be afraid to keep calling them."
— Charlie Weis on the run game after defeating South Dakota State
"People are going to know they played us when we play. How good we are is going to depend on how quick we can come together as a team."
- Defensive coordinator Dave Campo on his goals for the defense going into training camp
"I didn't make enough plays and at the end of the day, that's the most valued trait in a quarterback, and it is to make enough plays to win and we did not do that today"
— Dayne Crist after losing to Rice
"If there is reason to replace the first guy with the second guy you do it, it doesn't make a difference what position they play. But there is a big separation between the first guy and the second guy."
— Charlie Weis on the possibility of benching Dayne Crist after losing to Northern Illinois
Senior safety Bradley McDougald forces a fumble during the match against TCU. Kansas was defeated by TCU 6-20.
Kansas 31, South Dakota State 17
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
RECAPS:
The Jayhawks took a 24-7 lead into the fourth quarter powered by the performances of running backs Tony Pierson and Taylor Cox. The duo combined to rush for 245 and three touchdowns. The Kansas defense intercepted SDSU quarterback Austin Sumner four times making up for a 99-yard touchdown run it allowed in the first quarter.
Rice 25. Kansas 24
After going up 24 to 16 in the third quarter the Jayhaws began relenting and allowed Rice an opportunity to come back and steal a win. Kansas ran only six plays in the fourth quarter, the last of which was a Dayne Crist interception. Crist's error set up Rice for a 45-yard game winning field goal as time expired.
The Jayhawks defense had another big game gobbling up four TCU turnovers. The offense, however, could not sustain long enough drives to put points on the board. Kansas could only muster two Ron Doherty field goals in the first half before getting shut out the last two quarters.
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
NIU 30, Kansas 23
Kansas built a 10-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter, but for the second time eased up too soon, allowing Northern Illinois to score 17 points in the last 14:33 of the game. Tyler Patmon had an interception returned for a touchdown to give Kansas its 13th takeaway of the season, which ranks second in the nation.
Kansas State to use bye week as Sunflower Showdown preparation
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANHATTAN, Kan. — If any situation would breed complacency in an otherwise disciplined team, this might be it.
Now, the Wildcats get a week off to rest and reflect on the victory — if they choose.
No. 7 Kansas State is coming off a 24-19 victory over then-No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday, winning in Norman for the first time since 1997. It was just the second time coach Bain Snyder had triumphed over his former pupil, Bob Stoops, and represented a rare home loss for the Sooners.
Doesn't sound like that's the case. .
The Wildcats (4-0) met on Monday, but only planned to practice Tuesday through Thursday, before spending Friday in meetings. There will be a workout Saturday morning, and then Kansas State will turn its attention to the annual Sunflower Showdown against Kansas.
"We remember what 5-7 felt like, and it's not a good feeling," said Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein said. "How vivid that memory is helps from the standpoint of realizing where we've come from and what it takes to have come where we are now and be able to continue that."
The two schools have met three times since Snyder's return from retirement in 2009, with the Wildcats winning all three by a combined 135-38.
So, it makes sense that the bye week would present a time to perhaps take a short, mental vacation.
Not for Snyder, and certainly not for the Wildcats.
"The motivation has to be to get better, become a better football team, become a better player," Snyder said. "Maybe there are other motivating aspects for each individual, you'd have to ask them, but I'd like primarily for it to be a better football team."
Snyder said the bye week will spent on every aspect imaginable; correcting shortcomings, preparing for the layhawks, maybe even squeezing in some film session — at least for the coaching staff — of teams still to come.
"There's a great deal of pressure on maintaining any success that you have," linebacker Arthur Brown said. "Coach Snyder, being as he is, he's definitely going to keep our minds where they need to be in order for us to not to stay settled within a moment but to continue to just improve."
Even as Snyder arrived for his 30-minute weekly press conference on Tuesday, steaming cup of coffee in hand, he paused to ask a staffer for play-by-plays from Kansas' games this year.
One thing that's clear is Kansas State won't overlook Kansas, which is also off this week.
The Jayhawks have changed dramatically from last season, after all.
Turner Gill has been fired as the coach, former Notre Dame coach and longtime NFL assistant Charlie Weis has taken over, and an overturned roster has resulted in ex-Fighting Irish quarterback Dayne Crist running the show.
Kansas still has just one win, but that's not a reason for Kansas State to take a break.
"The positive thing is we need time to continue the improvement, but by the same token, when you come off something very good, you like the momentum you have," Snyder said. "We've responded in a variety of different ways to open weeks."
Despite the extra week before that game, the process of preparation for Kansas State remains steady. Players get a few extra days away to rest, heal and improve different areas, and the coaches can hit the recruiting trail over the weekend, but mostly Snyder keeps the schedule the same.
"Consistency," Klein said. "He lives it. He doesn't just preach it."
Perhaps that's one of the reasons for all of the success — the top 10 national ranking, the Heisman Trophy candidacy of Klein, the publicity the Wildcats are receiving nationally.
"It was a very positive thing, but at the same time, it is just another step." Klein said of the win over the Sooners.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas State quarterback Colin Klein rushes for a touchdown against Oklahoma in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norma, Okla. Kansas State won 24-19 (AP Photo/Sue Orcock)
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