Wednesday, October 18, 2006

KU discovers ‘sense of urgency’

Jayhawks must finish 3-2 or better down the stretch to secure bowl bid

By Ryan Wood

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Certain teams react certain ways when pushed against a wall. Some fold the tent, call it a season and go home.

And some push back.

Kansas University's football squad is about to find out how it responds after three straight losses have the Jayhawks running out of breaths this year.

A bowl bid still is possible if Kansas goes 3-2 or better in its remaining five games. There are two home games and three road games left, including Saturday's 2 p.m. matchup at Baylor.

"There's a sense of urgency," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "The kids are saying 'Hey we're better than this. We can play better than this. We've got to understand what we're trying to do, and let's do it.'

"I felt that in the meeting room Sunday when we went out to practice. The tempo and the spirit of the practice was remarkably high considering that we have lost a few games here. But that doesn't surprise me."

Kansas has history to fall back on - last season's team started 3-4, before winning three of its final four to seal the bowl berth. A similar finish - with fewer home games - is needed this season for Kansas to go bowling in 2006.

And, like last year, securing a bowl bid is the bottom line for a team likely out of the Big 12 North race by this point.

"We're definitlely feeling the pressures of it," linebacker Mike Rivera said. "Time's closing, so we've got to get going and get these wins so we'll be bowl-eligibile."

photo

Photo by Thad Allender

KU football coach Mark Mangino watches during the second half against Oklahoma State on Saturday. KU gave up 42 points - all after halftime.

Mangino thinks last week's 42-32 loss to Oklahoma State might have woken this team up to its vulnerabilities. Against Nebraska and Texas A&M, Mangino said the team may have felt in good shape after narrowly losing games they could've won.

But Oklahoma State whooped Kansas like it hadn't been whooped this season, particularly in a wild second half.

That, Mangino said, may have opened eyes.

"We know that we have issues we have to deal with," Mangino said, "in terms of some structure on defense and offense."

Now the issue is whether Kansas can correct it by Saturday. The Jayhawks returned to the practice field Tuesday after taking Monday off, and the focus from now until Saturday will be on the Bears, who are 3-4 and in a similar position toward a bowl bid.

If anything, the Jayhawks' words at Tuesday's press conference show no doubt in their confidence. Saturday's game will show whether their actions have the same faith.

"We're looking forward to going down to Baylor and getting a big win," Rivera said. "It's going to be a really pivotal point in the season."

Comments

FlaHawk (anonymous) says...

Ijust hope the pivotal point of th eseason is still ahead. I am afraid we have already seen it (Nebraska, A&M and OSU, if not Toledo)!

October 18, 2006 at 6:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mhart123 (anonymous) says...

It took 42 points in 1.5 quarter to wake up the Jayhawks to their deficiencies in pass defense? Would have thought Toledo did that. Would have thought their 102nd ranking against the pass out of 119 teams in NCAA Division I football might have already done that. Of course, after last week, we are now 117th out of 119 teams. One thing IS certain, we're a "Big Play" defense... but unfortunately, those big plays are for the benefit of opposing offenses.

October 18, 2006 at 4:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jsido (anonymous) says...

Toledo???? Go back and check the stats - Toledo DID NOT pass all over KU.

October 18, 2006 at 5:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mikeowens (anonymous) says...

What position do you play, jsido?

October 18, 2006 at 11:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

Well I still have to look on the bright side. This defense is packed with young talent that is only going to get better with age. For that matter the same is true of the offense. Whether or not we sneak into a bowl game this year I am very excited about the future of this program. Every program has to face a young year every once in a while.

If recent history has taught me anything it's that you can't count out a Mangino coached team until after the very last game of the year. I'll reserve any negative emotions I have until I see how this team responds to serious adversity.

October 19, 2006 at 3:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jsido (anonymous) says...

Mikeowens,

What position do I play? Not sure I understand?

October 19, 2006 at 2:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mhart123 (anonymous) says...

Myt apologies. Toledo didn't pass all over us. They scored 37 points on just 237 yards of offense. Hence, the "big play" defense that we had in that game, amassing ZERO forced turnovers. Apparently, we've been stellar against the pass up until this past weekend against Oklahoma State. I mean, NW State only threw for 217 in Week 1, Lousiana Monroe threw for 377 in Week 2, South Florida for 196 in Week 4, Nebraska for 395 in Week 5, Texas A&M for 240 in Week 6 and Oklahoma State for 411 in Week 7. It therefore took Week 7 before Mangino made the comment that the loss to Oklahoma State "might have woken this team up to its deficiencies". That's shrewd, insightful analysis.

October 19, 2006 at 3:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )