KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 / SPORTS
5B
ORGIA TECH 25
BALL REWIND
Dalton Gomez/KANSAN
KU fan Sam Sepp holds up a homemade sign moments before the end of the game on Saturday. Following the Jayhawks victory, fans stormed the field to celebrate with the team
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
Freshman running back James Sims breaks away from a group of Georgia Tech defenders. Sims became the first freshman to record over 100 yards rushing in his debut as a lawhawk
Quote of the Game
— Freshman running back James Sims, on his hurdle against a Georgia Tech defender on a long rush
"That was the first time I've used that move. It was a quick decision I had to make since I was going against two defenders, so I just had to jump."
Sims
Game Balls
3. Freshman quarterback Jordan Webb: Save for a hard-luck interception on a bobble by one of his receivers, new starter Jordan Webb took the ball and ran with it. Actually, sophomore Kale Pick ran with it in a variety of Wildcat-like formations, but Webb got the vast majority of the plays on a day when he would throw three touchdown passes and kill the quarterback controversy – for now, at least.
2. Kansas linebackers: Seniors Justin Springer, Drew Dudley and junior Steven Johnson combined for 34 tackles, six of them for losses, against one of the most prolific rushing offenses in the nation. Sophomore Toben Opurum converted to linebacker last month to help with depth issues at the position, but the performance of these three upper-classmen is giving him more time to adjust to the new role without a sense of urgency to play him.
1. Freshman running back James Sims: Sims became the first freshman in the program's history to rush for 100 yards in his debut. Not bad for a guy who did not see the field last week. Sims averaged 5.9 yards per carry and scored the go-ahead touchdown early in the third quarter. With his breakout performance, the freshman has forced the coaching staff to find a place for him when DeShaun Sands returns from injury.
Delay of Games
3. Sophomore wide receiver Bradley McDougald: Yes, the sophomore continued his emergence with five catches and his first career touchdown grab, but it was his bobble on a routine pass that led to Webbs first career interception.
2. Senior wide receiver Johnathan Wilson: Wilson is still one of the most talented players on the field, but he is quickly becoming an afterthought in a wide receiver group led by junior Daymond Patterson.Wilson finished with two catches and 24 yards.
1. Georgia Tech senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt: With the exception of one fluky drive, when the run-first Yellow Jackets quarterback had to throw the ball, he simply couldn't. The triple-option amassed 308 rushing yards on 52 carries, but Nesbitt could not hit wide-open receivers when his team was in come-back mode. No matter how gimmicky an offense is, Nesbitt proved you at least need some passing ability as a quarterback to be successful in college football.
Play of the Game
Junior wide receiver Daymond Patterson resembled a human pinball as he bounced off of Georgia Tech tacklers, turning a short reception into a 32-yard touchdown that put the Jayhawks up double-digits in the fourth quarter.
Game Notes
THE GLASS IS HALF FULL ...
Turner Gill, facing the heat after just one game as Jayhawks coach, silenced the critics by defeating one of the best teams in the country. Jordan Webb and James Sims gave Jayhawks fans a glimpse of things to come with their stellar debuts, and a bowl game is once again well within reach in their first seasons.
Missouri and Kansas State both looked phenomenal on Saturday. Granted, it was against weak opponents, but the Jayhawks laid an egg in their "tune-up" game against North Dakota State.
THE GLASS IS HALF EMPTY ..
BIGGEST ANSWER
STILL QUESTIONING
Jordan Webb seems to be the man the coaching staff was looking for at quarterback. Many questioned the short leash that pulled sophomore quarterback Kale Pick just three quarters into his career as a starter, but Webb managed to put the debate to rest with his impressive showing against the defending ACC champions. However, the freshman quarterback was sacked four times and must avoid the pressure better in the future.
James Sims' breakout was almost as surprising as his flat-top hair style, but his teammates said after the game they knew he had it in him. Sims lobbed his coaches not to redshirt him this season, and the decision to keep him active seems to have paid off. However, freshman running back Deshaun Sands' leg injury does not appear to be serious and the team could have another playing-time controversy on their hands – this time with the running backs.
The Jayhawks have a short week to enjoy the spoils of their upset victory; a matchup with Southern Mississippi looms this Friday night. The Golden Eagles have produced mixed returns this season, losing 41-13 to South Carolina in the season opener but defeating Prairie View A&M 34-7 last Saturday, but they should have no problem with motivation against the Jayhawks. Last season, Kansas handed Southern Mississippi their first loss of the season in a 35-28 nail-biter at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 26.
LOOKING AHEAD
GOOD, BAD OR JUST PLAIN STUPID
Original prediction: Georgia Tech 36, Kansas 23. Actual score: Kansas 28, Georgia Tech 25. The Jayhawks defied expectations once again. The offense performed slightly better than expected, but it was the Kansas defense that shined on Saturday. Granted, the Yellow Jackets may have been closer to the original prediction had their quarterback been able to hit wide-open receivers, but knowing he could not was part of defensive coordinator Carl Torbusch's brilliant game plan.
Two games in to the season, the Jayhawks (1-1) stand where just about everyone thought they would be. They just took a much unexpected route to get here. The week preceding Saturday's game was one of the worst in program history with the loss to North Dakota State and the abrupt retirement of athletic director Lew Perkins. But with the student section unfilled for the first time in recent memory, the Jayhawks stunned the No. 15 ranked team in the nation and brought their program some good vibes, something that seemed like an impossibility just hours before kickoff.
Matt Galloway
Schedule
Date Opponent Result/Time
9/4 vs. North Dakota State L, 6-3
9/11 vs. Georgia Tech W, 28-6
09/17 at Southern Miss 7 p.m.
09/25 vs. New Mexico State 6 p.m.
10/02 at Baylor TBA
10/14 vs. Kansas State 6:30 p.m.
10/23 vs. Texas A&M (Homecoming) TBA
10/30 at Iowa State TBA
11/06 vs. Colorado TBA
11/13 at Nebraska TBA
11/20 vs. Oklahoma State TBA
11/27 vs. Missouri TBA