KANSAN
16,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16,2009
KANSAS 17, NEBRASKA 31
5B
TBALLREWIND
Weston White/KANSAN
Senior quarterback Todd Reeing breaks through a tackle on a dive across the goal line for Kansas' first touchdown Saturday against Nebraska. Reeing rushed for 42 yards in the Jahvows 31-17 loss.
Kansas' chances,
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on opponents'
es, while limit-
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recipe for a 12-1
hasn't been the is year.
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said. "The great
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the reason were
North - an objective that would have put the final touches on the senior class' highly successful tenure at Kansas.
Instead, the Jayhawks are last in the North, a division that hasn't had a legitimate contender emerge all season
"This is something that we're getting kind of used to," Meier said. "And it's something that I don't like. Here we are five weeks in a row with the same outcome and it's definitely a frustrating point in our lives."
In all, the loss left Kansas' seniors sensing the quickly approaching end to their careers.
"I'm sure going to miss playing here. There's no doubt about that. I've absolutely loved my time at Kansas"
And after playing their final game in Memorial Stadium, the loss also
ball careers were
posed to be this
left the Jayhawks filled with perspective and nostalgia.
Neutralizing the threat
"I'm sure going to miss playing here," Reesing said. "There's no doubt about that. I've absolutely loved my time at Kansas. It's been unbelievable. I love every guy I've played with, all the
coaches and all the fans. It's been a heck of an experience."
Edited by Abbey Strusz
wered this season ning the Big 12
Offensive line held Nebraska's lead defensive tackle to three tackles
BY CLARK GOBLE
cgoble@kansan.com
Sophomore center Jeremiah Hatch said he had no clue what Nebraska senior defensive tackle Danumkuk suid did or didn't in Kansas' 31-17 loss Saturday.
He said he was focused on blocking his man and his man alone, whether that was Suh or any other Nebraska defender.
But there's a reason Suh went mostly unnoticed Saturday
Coach Mark Mangino said he thought the offensive line did a pretty good job containing Suh. Suh had three total tackles and no other notable defensive plays.
"He wasn't as big a factor as he's been in some games for them," Mangino said. "He's an awfully good player though and we just tried to neutralize him a little bit. We tried not to let him dominate the line of scrimmage."
Suh occasionally faced double teams. From time to time, he moved to defensive end but still didn't make much of a difference.
For the season, Suh has 43.5 tackles and 13 tackles for a loss. He is second on the team in pass breakups, with eight, despite being a defensive lineman. He has also blocked three kicks and sacked the quarterback five times.
Mangino said he would have to watch film to critique the individual performances of the offensive line, but thought a couple of changes worked.
Sophomore Jeff Spikes started at right guard after only seeing time at tackle in his career at
Kansas. Mangino said he thought that giving Spikes help on both sides would help illuminate his strengths.
Hatch said he thought Spikes didn't back down from the battle with Suh.
With numerous changes on the offensive line in the past week, Hatch said the mentality of the offensive line didn't change because all the offensive linemen worked together in practice. He said it didn't matter whether he was on the bench cheering on another lineman as long as they were having success.
"Jeff won," Spikes said. "He won. But we didn't get the win so it really doesn't matter who won that."
"We're a unit." Hatch said. "We practice the same way, we have the same coach. We practice the same sets, same steps."
Freshman running back Toben Opurum said he thought the offensive line improved and did a good job protecting Todd Reesing. Nebraska's only sack came on a cornerback blitz.
"They were up against a stiff challenge today and I think they answered the challenge well," Meier said. "They contained the front four and gave Todd time."
Senior receiver Kerry Meier said he thought the offensive revival in the second quarter started with the guys up front.
Reesing said he thought the offensive line was "tremendous"
"They gave a ton of effort and I'm proud of those guys," Reesing said.
Follow Clark Goble at twitter. com/cgoble89.
Weston White/KANSAN
Edited by Abbey Strusz
Junior receiver Dezmon Briscoe runs across the goal line after a 21-yard reception from quarterback Todd Reesing. Briscoe's touchdown put Kansas up 17-16 with just over seven minutes to go.
COLUMN (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
questions were more uncomfortable than the man answering them. His message: There's no alternative but to keep competing.
"They're trying hard and that's all I care about," Mangino said. "People make mistakes, we all do. Coaches make mistakes. I get bothered by a lack of effort and there was no lack of effort there."
Worse, with the score tied 10-10 at the start of the second half, Meier grabbed a 19-yard reception on third down in Nebraska territory only to have the ball popped loose and recovered by the Cornhuskers' Matt O'Hanlon at the four-yard line
Before finishing with a game high 10 catches for 127 yards, senior wide receiver Kerry Meier was among several who
And while Kansas' offensive line was exceptional in limiting surefire NFL first-rounder Ndamukong Suh's presence, the defensive line couldn't prevent Nebraska's Roy Helu Jr. from
saw passes slip through their hands or dropped.
running roughshod on the team for a consecutive year — Helu scored all three of Nebraskas offensive touchdowns and rushed 28 times for 156 yards.
But Mangino was right. There was plenty of effort given by Kansas. On Senior Day, it was a freshman running back who nearly saved the game when Toben Opurum picked up two fourth-down conversions in one second quarter drive before Kansas would tie the game. And Reesing, after being rocked by a late hit while sliding to the turf, was no more conservative for it when lunging himself in the end zone for the score. And Meier rebounded from his third quarter fumble by being his reliable self.
But this is how it ends at Memorial Stadium. Did Kansas try its best? At times it certainly appeared so, at others not so much. But I again think back to phrase, "It's just a game" or "It's just sports." Well, that's true. When stacked up against the woes of the world, sports seem like lesser significant specks in the universe.
But on days like Saturday, the punches in the gut occasionally experienced when playing with footballs or basketballs can teach one a hell of a lot about meeting disappointment.
Follow Stephen Montemayor at twitter.com/smontemayor.
Delay of Games
Todd Reesing. Reeing easily played his best game since a 41-36 victory against Iowa State on Oct. 10. True, he completed just 19-of-41 passes but he was also playing against one of the conference's most talented defenses. He passed for 236 yards, one touchdown and, most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over. He gave Kansas a chance to win.
Reesing
Quote of the Game
"Everyone says it doesn't hit you right away, and it hasn't hit me fully. But to think that I'll never get to run out there - or sprint - onto that stadium again with all of our fans singing our songs and hearing our chants and just naving fun with all these guys, that sucks. It really does. These last four years are some of the best memories we're ever going to have. It hasn't gone the way we wanted it to or the
Huldon Tharp. As a freshman, Tharp has only improved as the season has progressed. That trend continued against Nebraska. Tharp flew around the field, finishing the game with a team-high 13 tackles.
way we planned, but that's the way life is and that's the way football is."
Senior quarterback Todd Reesing on playing his final home game:
Justin Thornton. At first, Thornton's tackle on Khirby Cooper appeared to be a nice play on third-and-long. Instead, he was flagged for a facemask personal foul that gave Nebraska a first down. After the game, Thornton said the momentum shifted following that play.
Game Balls
Edited by Amanda Thompson
Kerry Meier. Meier turned an impressive performance once again this season. He had 10 catches for 127 yards. But he had a costly fumble near the end zone that cost Kansas points. The Cornhuskers recovered the ball at their own four yard line and kicked a field goal on their ensuing possession.
Cornerbacks. Kansas' secondary didn't necessarily play poorly Saturday. But Nebraska receivers hauled in a handful of big pass plays against Kansas' cornerbacks. That certainly helped Nebraska's struggling offense find some confidence.
Play of the Game
Toben Opurum. Opurum provided Kansas' struggling run game with a slight boost Saturday. Facing one of the Big 12's best defenses, Opurum rushed for 43 yards on 15 carries. But he also picked up two crucial fourth-and-ones on one of Kansas' two touchdown drives.
Late in the second quarter, senior quarterback Todd Reesing dropped back to pass, scrambled through Nebraska's defense and launched his body into the end zone as two defenders collided with him for a five-yard score. The touchdown cut Nebraska's lead to 10-7.
Notes
THE GLASS IS HALF FULL...
THE GLASS IS HALF EMPTY...
Reeing and Co. showed glimmers of hope. Kansas' offense has simply struggled during the last four games. The Jayhawks weren't great Saturday, but they certainly looked better. Most importantly: Kansas only turned the ball over once.
OFFENSIVE LINE CHANGES
STILL QUESTIONING...
The defense failed to get a stop — again. For the second consecutive game, Kansas' defense needed to get a stop in the final five minutes of a game. And for the second consecutive game the Jayhawks couldn't manage to do so. Late-game stops are usually the true test of defense's fortitude.
BIGGEST ANSWER...
For the second consecutive week coach Mark Mangino shuffled his starters along the offensive line. Against Nebraska sophomore Jeff Spikes, who opened the year as a tackle, slid inside to start at the guard position. He faced Nebraska's ultra-talented defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and seemed to hold his own.
This season officially will end as a disappointment. The chances of Kansas traveling to Texas and leaving with a victory are slim. That leaves the final game against Missouri as Kansas' last chance to become bowl eligible. Even with a victory, 6-6 isn't what this team had in mind at the beginning of the year.
GOOD, BAD OR JUST PLAIN STUPID?
LOOKING AHEAD...
A road game to Texas awaits Kansas, and that's not good news. The Longhorns are competing for a National Championship. The Jayhawks enter the game with a five-game losing streak. This one could get uglly.
Will Kansas go to a bowl game this season? That has suddenly developed into the hot-topic question around Kansas football this season. With two games left on the schedule, Kansas needs a victory against Texas or Missouri to become bowl eligible.
Original Prediction: Nebraska 17, Kansas 6. Actual score: Nebraska 31, Kansas 17. Both teams' offenses played better than past weeks, making this a so-so prediction.
FINAL THOUGHT...
Kansas' seniors deserved better than a 31-17 loss in their final home game. The senior class has significantly contributed to Kansas football's turnaround. A loss in their last game at Memorial Stadium just didn't seem right.
Jayson Jenks
Schedule
Date Opponent Result/Time
9/5 Northern Colorado W, 49-3
09/12 at UTEP W, 34-7
09/19 vs. Duke W, 44-16
09/26 vs. Southern Miss W, 35-28
10/10 vs. Iowa State W, 41-36
10/17 at Colorado L, 30-34
10/24 vs. Oklahoma L, 13-35
10/31 at Texas Tech L, 21-42
11/07 at Kansas State L, 10-17
11/14 vs. Nebraska L, 17-31
11/21 at Texas 7 p.m. on ABC
11/28 vs. Missouri TBA
12/05 Big 12 Championship TBA
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