8 GAME DAY
AT A GLANCE
Kansas Senior Day ended with a disappointing 31-17 loss against Nebraska last Saturday. The game also marked Kansas fifth consecutive loss — the longest losing streak since coach Mark Mangino's first season in 2002. Now the Jayhawks face the Big 12's best — and most balanced — team.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior quarterback Todd Reesing
The obvious story surrounding Reesing this week is the quarterback's return to his hometown of Austin, Texas. But there's also the performance side to tomorrow's game. Reesing didn't turn the ball over against Nebraska and showed flashes of his p keep that rolling in his
Reesing
showed flashes of his past play. Can he keep that rolling in his return?
QUESTION MARKS
Will Toben Opurum see more carries tomorrow?
Opurum carried the ball just eight times in Kansas' two games before last week's Nebraska game. But the big freshman running back led the Jayhawks with 15 carries and 43 yards against the Cornhuskers. Will he see a similar workload against a talented Texas defense?
Can Kansas simply keep it close?
Not many people are giving the Jayhawks a chance heading into this game. And for good reason: Kansas has a five-game losing streak while Texas is on course to play for the national championship.
BY THE NUMBERS
Times Kansas has defeated Texas since the Big 12 was formed in 1996
7 Points Kansas scored against Texas last season
35 Number of Jayhawks from the state of Texas
58 Receiving yards Kerry Meier needs to become Kansas' second all-time leading receiver
66 Points scored by Texas the last time Kansas played in Austin
Kansas (5-5)
OFFENSE
For the first time since a 41-36 victory against Iowa
For the first time since June 2010 State on Oct. 10, Kansas' offense has struggled to score while also turning the ball over. Against Nebraska though, Kansas' offense showed flashes of its once-potent past. Senior quarterback Todd Reesing didn't have any turnovers and freshman running back Toben Opurum provided a slight boost for a struggling run game.
Opurum
DEFENSE
Kansas' defense played relatively well against
Nebraska, but the unit struggled in the final stretches of the fourth quarter. The Jayhawks couldn't manage a stop in the final five minutes, allowing the Cornhuskers to seal the victory. Now the unit faces its toughest challenge of the season: Texas is the Big 12's highest-scoring offense.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Well, junior punter Alonso Rojas
has certainly
developed into a solid punter this season, and that trend continued last Saturday against Nebraska. Other than that though, the special teams showed gaping
Rojas
holes against the Cornhuskers. Nebraska averaged more than 37 yards per kickoff return, allowing the Cornhuskers to start drives with good field position.
COACHING
In Kansas' five-game losing streak, nothing has seemed
to click at the same time for the Jayhawks. That, more than anything, has to be difficult for Kansas' coaches
Mangino
and players to understand. Credit coach Mark Mangino with one thing, though: He has never publicly appeared downtrodden with this season.
Jayson Jenks
There certainly isn't any momentum resting on Kansas's sideline at this point. The Jayhawks' goals have slowly slipped away and now Kansas is left fighting for a bowl game. Texas, meanwhile, is competing for a spot in the national championship game.
MOMENTUM
JAYHAWKS STARTING LINEUP
Offense
Pos. Name Number Year
QB Todd Reesing 5 Sr.
RB Jake Sharp 1 Sr.
WR Dezmon Briscoe 80 Jr.
WR Kerry Meier 10 Sr.
WR Jonathan Wilson 81 Jr.
WR Bradley McDougald 24 Fr.
LT Tanner Hawkinson 72 Fr.
LG Sal Capra 59 Jr.
C Jeremiah Hatch 77 So.
RG Jeff Spikes 74 So.
RT Brad Thorson 76 Jr.
P Alonso Rojas 18 Jr.
Defense
Pos. Name Number Year
DE Jeff Wheeler 84 Sr.
DT Caleb Blakesley 94 Sr.
DT John Williams 71 Fr.
DE Jake Laptad 91 Jr.
LB Huldon Tharp 34 Fr.
LB Drew Dudley 49 Jr.
LB Justin Springer 45 Jr.
CB Anthony Davis 30 So.
SS Darrell Stuckey 25 Sr.
FS Lubbock Smith 13 Fr.
CB Chris Harris 16 Jr.
K Jacob Branstetter 14 Jr.
Big Jay will cheer i
Baby Jay will weep
Kansas' defense continues playing Texas' highly potent offense. The progressed throughout the season their biggest challenge tomorrow play a nearly flawless game on deck in check.
Texas runs away with this one in has put plenty of games out of this season. While the Jayhawks battle throughout the game, kee early will only provide confidence team.
Predictio Texas 52, Kan
THE WAVE NOVEMBER 20,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN