THE UNIVERSITY HARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2006
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Guest columnists sound off
Nebraska wide receiver Terrence Nunn (83) fumbles during Saturday's victory against Kansas State. The Wildcats are struggling this year with a 4-3 record, but some Kansas State fans take solace in Kansas' troubles. The Jayhawks are 0-3 this year in conference play, while the Wildcats are 1-2 after defeating Oklahoma State.
KU's struggles ease K-State fans' disappointment
The Kansas State Wildcats have had a rough season, but as Nick Dunn wrote in Tuesday's K-State Collegian, they have one thing to take solace in.
If there's one thing that can cheer up a K-State fan after a loss - especially an ugly loss to rival Nebraska - it's the fact that our eastern rivals in Lawrence are struggling even more.
Remember a little over a month ago when Jayhawk fans were dreaming of a Big 12 North title in football? Kansas was riding high after a 2-0 start to the season and drooling over its "easy" Big 12 Conference schedule that conveniently was missing Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
Some fans predicted a nine- or 10-
win season, a possible trip to the big
12 Championship and a nice bowl game. The defense - which singlehandedly led Kansas to a bowl victory in 2005 - had lost eight starters, but no matter. Coach Mark Mangino was a defensive "genius" who could
form a dominant defense instantly.
I'd like to reserve the "genius" title for the likes of Bill Walsh or maybe Isaac Newton, but if leading a team to a seven-wi
season and a victory in the Fort Worth Bowl meets the requirements, then so be it.
So what happened to the Jayhawks? They've now lost four of their last five games and are 0-3 in
conference play. The "easy" Big 12
tesas A&M and Oklahoma State.
What went wrong? They ran into a slight problem: they aren't any good. A problem like that can severely
damage a team's chances at a
If you go by statistics, it turns out Mangino might not be a defense guru. The Jayhawks rank last in the Big
division title.
12 in passing defense and total defense, allowing 393 yards per game.
Kansas' 42-32 home loss to Oklahoma State Saturday wasn't televised, but apparently the Jayhawk defense forgot it's supposed to cover
the best receiver on the other team. OSU's Adarius Bowman racked up 300 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
The team could be struggling from an off-the-field distraction after the NCAA cited the program for a "lack of institutional control." That distraction is over, as the NCAA went soft by only slapping Kansas on the wrist.
Even though this K-State team doesn't begin to compare to the glory days of 1990s, it might still be better than Kansas. We'll see on Nov. 18.
So now when will those same Jayhawk fans start talking about their national championship in basketball?
Colorado coach enjoys challenge of losing streak
After an 0-6 start, Colorado finally won its first game of the season, defeating Texas Tech on Saturday. John Mossman wrote this article for Wednesday's Colorado Daily, about how coach Dan Hawkins has reacted to the losing record.
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins can, at times, appear to be a bit odd. On Tuesday, Hawkins admitted he actually took delight in his team's 0-6 record last week because of the challenge it presented.
After the Buffs beat Texas Tech 30-6 last Saturday to get their first win and snap a 10-game losing streak, Hawkins said he received calls from some of his coaching colleagues. And they weren't just congratulatory calls.
"They were funny because they said, 'Hawk, I know you were loving that, I know you were loving going through that,' Hawkins said. "And I was going, 'Yeah, kind of was a little bit.' They sort of understand who
I am, and a lot of them have gone through those times, too.
David Zalusowski/ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Some of them go, 'I bet you're coaching better than you have in the last five years.' And I said, 'Yeah, I am. I'm doing more, I'm being more creative, I've done more things, for sure'"
So, the media asked Hawk did we misunderstand? Did you actually love being 0-6?
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins joked that he loved being 0-6 because of the challenge. His team faces another challenge on Saturday; No 20 Oklahoma.
"In a sick sort of way," Hawkins answered.
"There are those times."
So, the media asked Hawkins,
Hawkins was a successful coach at Boise State when he made the jump to a Colorado program in disarray after a disastrous finish to the 2005 season, and that gave him the opportunity to test himself.
think, just as a human being that you kind of go, 'I need to figure out what I'm all about.' When you go through that, that's another chapter of your life story"
"You go, 'Hey, remember when we had it all and we gave it up to jump into that, and remember how we made it and we hung together and we stuck it out and we saw it through?' So, yeah, in a sick sort of way, you do enjoy it."
But were you loving it enough to do it again?
Then he joked that if the Buffs became too successful,he might not be able to resist the temptation to take on another difficult rebuilding task elsewhere.
"I hope not," he said.
Throughout the losing streak, Hawkins said he received mostly positive e-mails and phone calls from fans, faculty and students who said, "hang in there, we believe in you, you're going to be fine and all that."
And that helped him get through the rough times.
The Buffs have more confidence after their victory last week and will face No. 20 Oklahoma on sunday in Norman. Also the
But don't try telling Hawkins that the Sooners will be depleted or dejected, despite the widespread assumption that Oklahoma will miss its star runner.
Saturday in Norman. Also, the Sooners are without talented tailback Adrian Peterson, who broke his collarbone in last week's win against Iowa State.
"Hey, it's Division I football and they have scholarships," Hawkins said. "There's other guys there that can play. The guys they've got backing him up are pretty good as well. They're pretty good up front, their quarterback (Paul Thompson) is doing a nice job, and they've got good receivers."
And then there's the Sooner defense.
"Coach (Bob) Stoops has always been one of the great defensive coaches in the country," Hawkins said. "They've got it all - they're big, fast, athletic, they pressure you, they don't give up big plays. They're good in every single way."
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Peterson could return this year
BY MURRAY EVANS ASSOCIATED PRESS
Peterson said he could be back in four to six weeks, but Oklahoma trainer Scott Anderson offered a six-week timeframe for Peterson's return. The injury was being treated without surgery, Anderson said.
"I would enjoy going out there and playing with the guys," Peterson said Wednesday at a news conference.
The junior was injured after falling into the end zone and landing awkwardly on his left shoulder at the end of a spectacular 53-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Oklahoma's 34-9 win over Iowa State.
Peterson set an NCAA Division I-A freshman record with 1,925 rushing yards in 2004 as he helped lead Oklahoma to the BCS title game and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He's rushed for at least 100 yards in 22 of his 30 games at Oklahoma, including nine straight to start his career.
The star tailback, speaking publicly for the first time since breaking his collarbone on Saturday, said he intended to play in a bowl game if the Sooners reach the postseason.
NORMAN, Okla. — Adrian Peterson plans to play at least one more game for Oklahoma.
Peterson, with coach Bob Stoops standing nearby, didn't take questions about whether he plans to return to school next year or enter the NFL draft.
Oklahoma is 4-2 and 1-1 in the Big 12 entering this Saturday's home game against Colorado. The 20th-ranked Sooners need two more wins to become bowl-eligible.
Despite all that success, Peterson has been fairly injury-prone in his Oklahoma career. He dislocated his left shoulder in fall practice in 2004, reaggrivated it during the regular season and then had surgery in the offseason.
His performance Saturday moved him into fourth place on Oklahoma's all-time rushing list. He would need only 150 to match 1978 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims' total of 4,118 yards.
If Peterson makes it back in four weeks, he could conceivably
Peterson said he immediately knew something was "seriously wrong," when he hit the turf on his final play. He said he's still in "a lot of pain" but that he plans to maintain his conditioning while the injury heals.
Peterson ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa State. He has 935 yards and 10 touchdowns this season and is the second-leading rusher in country.
play in Oklahoma's final two regular-season games, at Baylor on Nov. 18 and at Oklahoma State on Nov. 25.
The Big 12 title game is Dec. 2.
"It depends on how things heal," Peterson said. "I've got to take my time and let it heal correctly."
Tv Russell/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson runs past Iowa State linebacker Tyrone McKenzie Saturday in Norman, Okla. Peterson shot his collar bone in the fourth quarter, but could return to the team if it reaches the postseason.
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