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4B
OSU 42 - KU 32
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2006
DIGITAL GRAPHICS
Cowboy breaks coach's old record
BY SHAWN SHROYER
1989. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy burned Kansas for a school-record 434 total yards of offense as the Cowboys' starting quarterback, leading Oklahoma State to its fourth victory of the season.
Keeping with tradition, the Jayhawks allowed another Cowboy quarterback to dominate them as Oklahoma State won its fourth game of the season. It was sophomore quarterback Bobby Reid who did it this Saturday, racking up 457 total yards of offense, breaking Gundy's record.
Gundy was stoked about his team's comeback victory, but a little disappointed that his record had been surpassed.
"Total offense, he did? That stinks," Gundy said. "I didn't know that. If I did, I wouldn't have called that last pass play."
Of course, the victory in 1989 was Oklahoma State's last one of the season. The Cowboys hope that won't be the case in 2006.
With a tough schedule — including Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma — left to play, a loss on Saturday would have crushed Oklahoma State's postseason hopes. Senior offensive lineman Corey Hilliard said plans for making a bowl appearance after a loss to Kansas would have only left one hopeful mindset.
Gundy said his team would also find confidence in seeing how much it had improved from its 4-7 record a year ago.
Instead, Hilliard said overcoming a 17-point deficit to beat Kansas on the road had boosted Oklahoma State's confidence, which will carry into the second half of its schedule.
"Our team is better," Gundy said. "They've come a long way, because they believe in themselves and know they're a better football team."
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@ kansan.com.
"It would have been wishful thinking," Hillard said.
Edited by Kate Shipley
Jerome Kemp, senior safety, and Joe Mortensen, sophomore linebacker, tackle Oklahoma State 12-record 200 receiving yards for the Cowboys.
Jayhawks earn below average midterm grades
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
KANSAN SPORTS EDITOR
MPHILLIPS@KANSAN.COM
Now that were at the midway point in the season, it's time to give a progress report on how the team is faring so far. Remember that if your grade is below a C, you must have your parents or legal guardians sign and return this form.
OFFENSE: Kerry Meier and Jon Cornish have both looked terrific when playing at full health. Unfortunately, the two have only done that together once, and that was the first game of the season. Injuries continue to plague the unit, and Cornish took his turn limping off the field on Saturday, although perhaps he was just trying to disassociate himself from the spectacle. As in, "Cornish is listed as day-to-day with a strained dignity." His health and the Jayhawks' hopes are intertwined. Grade: B+
DEFENSE! Ahh, where to begin?
Let's start with defensive tackle
James McClinton's reaction when
asked what giving up 600 yards does
for morale.
"600 yards?" he asked, sounding surprised.
Yes, the numbers shocked even the Kansas defense, which apparently wasn't debriefed on just how lopsided the battle was.
Don't look for the problems to get any better. Aqib Talib can cover only half the field, leaving a spot that must be filled by a freshman. Much like with the Reid-Floodman-Kane defense of three years ago, it will take time for the young players to mature. Until then, Jayhawk fans can only dream of what the unit
might have been with Talib and Charles Gordon on opposite sides of the field. Grade:D-
SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Scott Webb has performed well, converting on almost every opportunity he has had. The same cannot be said, though, of punter Kyle Tucker, who can be safely crossed off your award-watch list. On the plus side, hes not out punting his coverage. Grade: C+
COACHING: Mark Mangino and friends need to do something about how badly the Jayhawks get pummeled in the fourth quarter. Opponents have scored a combined 32, 29 and 40 points against Kansas in the first, second and third quarters, respectively. In the fourth quarter, they've put 69 points on the scoreboard. And that doesn't count the 13-0 that the Jayhawks have been out scored in overtime.
Senior running back Jon Cornish had his worst game of the season, though his performance can be attributed to an undisclosed Injury. He had 55 yards on 10 carries. Cornish was seen sitting alone on the bench for most of the second quarter.
Phillips is a Wichita senior in Journalism. He is Kansan sports editor.
football notebok
Perhaps some of that lies in the fact that once the Jayhawks take the lead, they get more conservative than Fox News. At the start of Saturday's game, offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro called seven runs and 10 passes. After the Jayhawks went up 14-0, he went with 13 runs and six passes until the Cowboys took the lead, at which point he switched right back. No consistency means no results. Grade:D
Edited by Catherine Odson
The postseason is almost certainly out, with Kansas needing a miracle on the road against Baylor, Iowa State or Missouri. However, this is as good a time as any to right the ship for next year. A little excitement wouldn't hurt, either. I've got better ways to experience boredom than paying $10 for a football ticket.
The ugly game overshadowed the successful return of freshman quarterback Kerry Meier from an undisclosed injury
In his first start in nearly a month, he showed no ill effects of the injury he suffered against Toledo. Meler was 15-for-27 passing for 187 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception. On the ground, Meler rushed for
70 yards on 20 carries.
Kansas has now lost two home games in a row for the first time since the 2004 season. Saturday's attendance, 41,203, was the smallest crowd at a conference game since the game agzinst Texas two years ago.
"Overall, some of the things I did in the first three games, I think that I overcame those," Meier said. "I have learned from them, and I executed this time."
Despite giving up more than 600 yards, Kansas still has not allowed a 100-yard rusher since the loss to Texas in 2004.
Ryan Schneider
Brian Murph, senior wide receiver, dives for yardage during the first half of the game against Oklahoma State Saturday. Murph caught three passes for 22 yards during the game.
BOWMAN (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Despite Kansas running coverages that Oklahoma State wasn't prepared for, Cowboy receivers found holes in the secondary with ease.
Kansas might have overlooked Bowman, who entered Saturday as Oklahoma State's leading receiver, but he certainly had coach Mark Mangino's attention when the game was done.
Bowman said Kansas ran a Cover 2 on the game film they watched during the week, but on Saturday they mainly covered quarters of the field. Nevertheless, Brewer said his receivers came up to him throughout the game with routes the defense was leaving open.
"He gets my vote for the Heisman," Mangino said.
KansansportswriterShawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@kansan.com.
Edited by Kristen Jarboe
Cornish, senior running back, sits on the bench during the final minutes of Kansas' loss to Oklahoma State. Cornish was unable to play the fourthquarter Saturday's game against Baylor.