THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3. 2005
VIEW FROM PRESS ROW
KELLIS ROBINETT
KROBINETT@KANSAN.COM
Mangino maintains control of team
LUBBOCK, Texas — One could criticize Mark Mangino for a lot of what went wrong Saturday.
After having two weeks to prepare for Texas Tech, the Kansas football coach's defensive game plan was ripped to shreds on the game's opening drive.
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Everything that could possibly go wrong for the Jayhawks did in the first half — an interception returned for a touchdown was called back because of an illegal block, and a fourth-down conversion was taken away after the replay official decided that Kansas was wrongly given a few extra inches on a spot. Facing a 20-point halftime deficit, Mangino convinced the Jayhawks to stick together and fight back against a team that is known for destroying opponents at home.
But for all of Mangino's shortcomings on Saturday, he proved one thing: he has complete control of his team.
Later, after a Texas Tech field goal, on the first play following the ensuing kick-off, the Kansas offense committed a delay of game penalty and then was whistled for a false start. When the Jayhawks finally got their play off — on first and 20 from the 10-yard line — senior quarterback Brian Luke made an errant pitch that found its way into the end zone. The Red Raiders fell on the football for a no-work-needed touchdown.
Mangino's musical chair-like quarterback rotation was also baffling. Especially because each one looked completely lost on the field.
Nebraska and TCU, for example, both left Lubbock with 70 Texas Tech points on the scoreboard last year. Texas Tech hung 59 points on Texas A&M two years ago.
Not only did the Jayhawks make it a game in the second half, but they were within one play of taking control of the contest.
But Kansas refused to pack it in and stayed within striking distance until falling by 13.
"Hats off to our defense. We were there at the end," senior wide receiver Mark Simmons said. "A couple plays here and there, things might have gone the other way."
Late in the third quarter, Kansas had an open path to the end zone on a Texas Tech fumble, but when sophomore defensive tackle Eric Butler went to pick up the ball, his knee touched the ground, ending the play. Kansas eventually settled for a field goal.
Jayhawks would have had momentum firmly on their side.
A touchdown would have pulled Kansas to within 6 points, at 27-21, and the
As it turned out, Kansas still had a shot in the fourth quarter, but every time the defense handed the offense a golden opportunity to mount a serious challenge, it couldn't get over the hump.
Luke threw an interception on the first play of a drive with Kansas at midfield trailing by only 10 points with more than 10 minutes remaining.
SEE ROBINETT ON PAGE 8B
FOOTBALL: 30-17
Offense can't play catch-up
BY RYAN COLAIANNI rcolaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
LUBBOCK, Texas — The Kansas defense did all it could Saturday to get a victory against No. 16 Texas Tech, but it was the Kansas offense that struggled en route to a 30-17 loss, dropping the team's record to 3-1.
The offense managed little more than two yards per play in the first half. Kansas was down 20-0 at half-time after accumulating 82 yards of offense in the first half.
"If you come down here in Lubbock, and your defense can keep you within 23 points, your offense has to score more points," Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said. "That's what we didn't get done the way that we would have liked."
The offense had three turnovers, including a fumble that resulted in a Texas Tech touchdown. Senior quarterback Brian Luke ran an option and pitched the football to senior running back Clark Green. The pitch got away from Green, allowing Texas Tech to recover in the end zone and gain a 17-0 lead.
Mangino used three quarterbacks in the game, yet none were able to get the Kansas offense moving.
"I didn't think we were crisp at all in the pass game." Mangino said. "If it wasn't a misfire, it was a drop. If it wasn't a drop, it was not a really well-run route. Those are correctable things and we will get those things corrected."
Luke started the game, but was replaced by junior quarterback Adam Barmann for a series in the second
quarter. Mangino said he made the switch to calm Luke down.
Mangino later inserted freshman quarterback Marcus Herford into the lineup to give the offense a spark. None of the quarterback switches moved Kansas down the field.
Kansas wide receiver Mark Simmons makes a touchdown reception in the third quarter of the 30-17 Texas Tech victory Saturday in Lubbock. Texas.
Luke finished 13-for-27 for 109 running yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Barmann was 8-for-10 for 45 yards, while Herford went 0-of-1 passing.
"I think they are capable guys," Mangino said. "But someone is going to have to take charge, or we are going to have to make some decisions."
The Kansas defense, after allowing a touchdown on the first drive of the game, buckled down for the rest of the contest and provided Kansas with good field position.
Senior wide receiver Mark Simmons said it was a mental problem with the offense when it was not successful.
Tony Gutierrez/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
"It is pretty frustrating," Simmons said. "We know we can do it. We have to continue to do it, just like we do in practice."
Senior defensive end Charlton Keith recovered a fumble and returned it 12 yards to the 11-yard line at the beginning of the second half. Junior running back Jon Cornish then barreled through defenders on a drive for an 11-yard touchdown.
Kansas sustained its only lengthy drive at the end of the third quarter. The Jayhawks drove 73 yards and Luke found Simmons for a touchdown in the back of the end zone. The score put the Jayhawks within 13 at 27-14. Simmons caught four passes on the drive for 39 vards.
While the Jayhawks scored 17 points in the second half, the first of the two touchdowns was clearly because of the KU defense.
Cornish finished the day with 117 yards on 17 carries. It was the second 100-yard rushing game of his career and of the season.
After the opening drive, the KU defense was able to get significant pressure on Texas Tech quarterback Cody Hodges.
Senior linebacker Brandon Perkins recorded three tackles and a sack.
"As a defense, I think we did all right,"
SEE CATCH-UP ON PAGE 8B
SOCCER
Weekend loss, tie frustrate Kansas
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Kansas fell to a 500 record after suffering through its most unsuccessful weekend of the year, falling to Iowa State 3-1 on Sunday and going scoreless in a tie with Nebraska on Friday night.
The road loss to the Cyclones made three winless efforts in a row for the Jayhawks, all of which were Big 12 Conference matches.
Kansas (5-5-2, 1-2-1 Big 12) gave up two early goals to Iowa State (7-3-3, 2-1-1 Big 12) within 45 seconds of each other.
"It was a very disappointing game," Kansas soccer coach Mark Francis said. "We need to pick it up
and get back on track."
Iowa State forward Amy Flores used her head to push the Cyclones past the Jayhawks. She scored two goals by header for her sixth goal of the season.
The Jayhawks failed to get on the board in the first half. Their only goal came in the 59th minute. Senior forward Nicole Braman drove the ball to the net for the first time this season with freshman forward Jessica Bush and junior defender Holly Gault assisting.
Iowa State was not finished. With less than 10 minutes to play, Iowa State forward Meghan Smith scored her first career goal off Leslie Hill's first career assist.
SEE FRUSTRATE ON PAGE 8B
Kansan file photo
Freshman midfielder and forward Jessica Bush dribbles toward the goal in Kansas' game against Texas A&M on Sept. 25. The team tied Nebraska 0-0 on Friday and lost to Iowa State, 3-1, on Saturday.
SOFTBALL
Northern Colorado shortstop Morgan Dahlman is unable to tag out Kansas senior outfielder Heather Stanley at second base. Stanley scored two runs for the Jayhawks in their eight-run shutout of the Bears on Sunday.
Justin O'Neal/KANSAS
Runs abound over weekend
BY SAM CARLSON
scarlson@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIER
For the second consecutive weekend, the Kansas softball team rolled over its opponents to win another tournament and improve its preseason tournament record to 8-0.
Senior pitcher Serena Settlemier was the highlight of the second of three games over the weekend, recording a no-hitter against Northern Colorado. She also went 2-2 from the plate with a home run, double and two RBI in the 8-0 Kansas victory.
In the fourth inning, Settlemier sent a towering shot to left field that barely snuck inside the foul pole for her first home run of the day. She said she always tried to complement her pitching by producing offense.
"I do feel like I've been taking strides," she said. "I always like to help myself out when I'm pitching and hitting and that's
In the third inning. Kansas produced five runs and helped end any chance of a Kangaroo comeback.
The game was stopped in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kansas scored its eight run. The mercy rule stops the game if a team is winning by eight runs or more after the fifth inning.
Playing through the rain, Kansas cruised to a 6-0 victory over UMKC in its first game of the weekend. Junior pitcher Kassie Humphries pitched well, allowing no hits while striking out 12 batters.
Humphreys struck out the side in the fifth inning before rain forced umpires to stop play.
Junior first baseman Nicole Washburn led the offensive attack. Her double with the bases loaded scored three runs and gave the Jayhawks a comfortable lead heading into the fourth inning.
always good so that you can contribute to the team."
Another Kansas home run, this time off the bat of senior second baseman Jessica Moppin, tied the score at two in the bottom of the inning.
Kansas' offense struck first when senior third baseman Nettie Fierros homered to left field in the second inning.
The day's remaining games were postponed until Sunday.
The Jayhawks prevailed 3-2 in a hard-fought contest.
"We knew Washburn was scrappy. It's probably the best team we'll play all fall," Moppin said.
Despite the defense committing three errors, freshman pitcher Valerie George was able to hold Washburn to two runs, both unearned. She struck out nine batters on the way to a complete-game victory.
Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge said she was pleased with the way George stepped up after starting the game slowly.
SEE RUNS ON PAGE BB