Originally published October 21, 2006 at 01:53p.m., updated October 21, 2006 at 05:38p.m.

Final: KU wastes lead, lose 36-35

By Kristin Bock

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KU vs. Baylor

Game recap

Fourth straight game with a lead, fourth straight loss for the Jayhawks.

The first half KU commanded itself to a 35-17 lead. It's defensive woes appeared to be solved - forcing three turnovers from its previously struggling secondary. Running back Jon Cornish ran for 140 yards in just the first two quarters. Things were going the Jayhawks' way.

Then came half-time.

Some empty drives on both sides didn't seem like a big deal given the Jayhawks' 35-17 lead. But when the momentum changes, the Jayhawks don't have an answer.

On the KU's first drive of the fourth quarter senior Adam Barmann replaced the injured Kerry Meier. For a quarterback that didn't begin warming up until the waning seconds of the third quarter, Barmann almost helped secure a Kansas win - the first one in the last three tries.

Wide receiver Marcus Hereford had beaten his BU counterpart opening him up for an easy touchdown run but the redshirt sophomore dropped Barmann's pass. The failed third down conversion brought in punter Kyle Tucker.

From there, the Bears didn't look back.

The ensuing drive, Baylor went the 80 yards in five plays in just over a minute to break the second-half scoreless drought.

Now down two scores with fives minutes on the clock wasn't a bad position for KU. However, when Baylor took only 51 seconds to drive 84 yards in fours, the Jayhawks weren't as comfortable as they had once thought. It was on that very drive where the KU secondary began to show signs of the old. Bell connected on a unmarked and wide open Dominique Ziegler for a 60-yard pass that set up the 4-yard touchdown pass just a play later.

Kansas caught a break when a shaky fielded kickoff from Hereford left the Jayhawks on their own 1 yard line. The penalty forced Baylor to redo the kick, but it was too late - Floyd Casey Stadium was already roaring in excitement for the comeback Bears who were within a touchdown of winning on homecoming day.

The, for a short period of time, it looked like the Kansas defense might actually stop the Bears from spoiling yet another game. Just as luck would have it, on third down Bell completed a 13-yard pass to the KU 10 and it was over. Bell found a diving Ziegler in the end-zone for the game winner.

A minute had never been enough time for the Jayhawks to mount a successful drive, especially not given the circumstances - To go 68 yards with the second-string QB with one timeout - it wasn't going to bright.

The Jayhawks managed 12 yards and again a dropped pass - this time from Marcus Henry - that jeopardized field goal position and KU's chance to win. And for the fourth straight time the Jayhawks gave up a game it had a chance to win.

While the KU coaching staff is taking responsibility for not pulling out the 'W' in the end, it's still tough to swallow.

Cornish finished the game with 196 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. Meier threw and ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns. The secondary had three turnovers for the game - two interceptions and forcing a fumble.

For a team that gave up 21 unanswered points, Baylor returned the favor and then some. Bell finished the game with 394 passing yards and all five touchdowns. What's more, they also finished the game with the win as KU finished with yet another close loss.

Final: KU 35, Baylor 36

With 1:08 left in the game, KU had one last chance to win the game. As Meier sat on the sideline after suffering an injury late in the third quarter, Barmann managed to get to Kansas to their own 48 yard line. The Jayhawks had an opportunity to get inside field goal range for place kicker Webb, but Henry dropped Barmann's pass on the 39 yard line.

To add to the problems for KU, the 'Hawks called a timeout after Barmann was sacked with nine seconds on the clock. The scoreboard showed KU had no remaing timeouts following the failed challenge attempt, but the scoreboard was wrong.

Kansas could only attempt to throw long and get out-of-bounds to stop the clock and set up a game-winning field goal attempt with nine seconds left. Barmann's last effort from the KU 36 was intercepted ending the game and KU's chance to win.

Bell threw complete to Ziegler on a wide receiver screen on first-and goal, diving into the endzone for the touchdown. Baylor went for another two-point conversion but failed a dropped Bell pass keeps BU's lead at 36-35. KU has 1:08 to score with no timeouts due to the failed challenge and with Barmann at quarterback.

Following KU's timeout, Bell miscued on his next two passes, but completed his third attempt for a 13-yard pass to the KU 10. Kansas coaches challeneged the call arguing the receiver was not in-bounds. Officials decide the play would stand as called on the field.

Starting on their own 42, Baylor drove 45 yards to the KU 23 with five complete passes from Bell. Kansas took a timeout to regroup defensively, holding a 5-point lead with 1:32 left in the game.

Audio clip

Coach Mark Mangino talks about the game against Baylor

Baylor has shut out Kansas in the second half, scoring 13 unanswered points.

KU expecting an onside kick, Baylor instead opts to go long to the lone returner Hereford. The Jayhawks avoid disaster after Hereford dropped the ball and was tackled at the one yard line. Baylor's penalty caused the Bears to redo the kick and ultimately gave KU possession on their 15 with three minutes left in the game.

After playing a solid game defensively, the KU secondary broke down for the first time, giving up a 60-yard pass from Bell to unmarked Dominique Zeigler to the KU 4. Bell found a diving Mosley for the four-yard touchdown pass, but KU redeemed itself as Stuckey broke up the Bears' two point conversion attempt. Baylor went 84 yards in four plays taking up 51 seconds to cut the lead to 35-30.

The Jayhawks couldn't convert on third-and 5 and punt the ball away. Baylor will take over at their own 17 yard line with five minutes left down two scores.

Kansas finally on the other side of the penalty flag as Barmann's pass intended for Dexton Fields is picked off by Anthony Arline. A pass interference call gives the Jayhawks the ball on their own 45.

Bears fans get back into the game as Baylor gains momentum from the Bell touchdown pass with less than ten minutes remaining in the game.

It's a 14-point turnaround for the Jayhawks after Hereford dropped an apparent touchdown pass as Baylor's Bell finds Shelton for a 42-yard touchdown pass with 9:22 in the fourth quarter. Shelton beat KU cornerback Thorton on the play to finish the Bears' drive of 80 yards in five plays to bring the score within 11 points.

On his first drive of the game, Barmann nearly connected with Hereford for a touchdown. Hereford had beaten the BU cornerback on a corner route setting him up for an open touchdown, but he dropped the Barmann pass on the third down attempt. Tucker's punt sailed into the endzone, giving the Bears possession at their own 20 yard line with 10:38 on the clock.

Barmann entered the game for the first time following the change of possession from Webb's interception.

Freshman cornerback Anthony Webb picked off a Bell pass on a third-and 8 play from the Kansas 45 yard line. It's the third turnover forced by the Jayhawks on the day. KU will take over control on their own 35 yard line with 12:45 left in the game and posting a 35-17 lead.

Meier is shaken up on the last play of the third quarter. As his right shoulder area is checked out on the sideline by trainers, senior quarterback Adam Barmann began to warm up.

KU starts the fourth quarter with a punt by Tucker putting the Bears on their own 41.

With seven penalties, KU has now given up 55 yards compared to Baylor's 11 yards on one penalty. But the Bears couldn't capitalize on a 25-yard pass interference penalty on cornerback Darrell Stuckey and were forced to punt. Lamb lets the ball bounce out of bounds at the KU 6.

Cornish has totaled 187 yards on 19 carries with a minute left in the third quarter.

Another penalty puts the Jayhawks in third-and long position that they can't overcome. Meier finds Dominic Roux for an 11-yard pass completion, but the 'Hawks were still three yards short. KU's Tucker punted the ball. Baylor will take over possession on their own 11 yard line with fives minutes left in the third quarter.

Murph is attended to on the sideline by medical staff. With his helmet off, Murph's right wrist is tapped.

Cornish keeps adding to his numbers on the Jayhawks' first drive of the second half. On third-and 10 on the Baylor 24, Kansas ran a reverse play with Marcus Hereford overthrowing an open Brian Murph in the endzone. Murph ran into a camera platform placed behind the endzone and appeared shaken up but walked off the field. KU was forced to attempt a field goal, but a low snap led to a wide 42-yard field goal attempt by Webb.

Halftime

Coming into the game Baylor may have forced 20 turnovers in addition to giving up 19 of their own. But after the first half versus Kansas, the Bears can add two more to their own turnovers and none to the total forced.

Kansas' first turnover came midway in the first quarter immediately following KU's first score of the game. Arist Wright picked off a Bell pass, returning it 28 yards for the touchdown and the 14-7 lead.

Baylor quickly came back with a field goal and a touchdown of its own seemingly regaining control at 17-14, but the KU offense proved its efficiency in the redzone with QB Kerry Meier behind center, rattling off 21 unanswered points.

Kansas found success on the ground with running back Jon Cornish who ran for 140 yards on 14 runs and two touchdowns. Meier connected with Dexton Fields for a touchdown in addition to running for one as well.

KU's defense intercepted a ball and forced a fumble by cornerback Justin Thorton which set the 'Hawks up for its fourth score of the game. Although the Jayhawks gave up 137 passing yards to Bell in the air, the Bears only racked up 187 total offense in the first half while maintaining a 35-17 lead after one half of play.

Cornish finds the endzone again, this time for a 1-yard touchdown run following the right side of the KU offensive line into the endzone. The Jayhawks upped their lead to 35-17 with less than 30 seconds left in the first half.

The Jayhawks' defense forced its first BU punt of the game - a 68-yard boot by punter Daniel Sepulveda, but KU's returner Jonathan Lamb fielded the punt at 20 yard line and ran the ball to the Baylor 28 with less than a minute before half.

Kansas capitalized on the Baylor fumble, marching down the field behind Meier and Cornish runs. Cornish finished the six play, 53-yard drive on a 15-yard run into the endzone for KU's fourth score of the game. Cornish now has 120 yards on nine carries as KU takes a 28-17 lead with three minutes before halftime.

Baylor trying to attack KU's two linebackers, give up their second turnover of the game. Free safety Justin Thorton forced a fumble that KU recovered at their own 47-yard line.

KU picked up two first downs on their second scoring drive of the game, including a 31-yard run from Cornish on a third-and 4 option play to the Baylor 14. Meier found Dexton Fields on a corner pass into double coverage for the 13- yard touchdown catch on third down. Webb's PAT was good, giving the lead back to Kansas at 21-17 halfway into the second quarter.

On third-and goal from the KU 4 yard line, KU's defense blitzed but Bell converted a receiver screen play to connect with Trent Shelton for the touchdown. The Bears drove 54 yards in five plays to regain the lead 17-14 wtih 11:23 to play in the half.

Again, penalties come into play for the Jayhawks as defensive lineman Bob Whitaker is called for a false start, moving KU's third-and 1 back to a third-and 6. Meier's incomplete pass to receiver Jason Lamb forces KU to punt from thier own 29 yard line. Kyle Tucker's 40-yard punt gave Baylor the ball on their own 36-yard line.

The key sack for loss of yards helped the Jayhawks halt the Bear's drive. Baylor's Bell overthrew an open receiver on third-and 14 forcing the Bears to settle for a 31-yard field goal from Ryan Haves cutting KU's lead to 14-7 ten seconds into the second quarter.

KU's Jeff Wheeler was called for a 15-yard personal foul penalty - the Jayhawk's third of the game. But Wheeler made up for the penalty on the next play, sacking Bell for a loss of 15 yards. KU's three penalties have totaled 25 yards.

Cornerback Arist Wright intercepts a Bell pass on the first play of Baylor's second drive, returning it for another KU touchdown. The interception was Bell's ninth of the season and Wright's first of the year. KU now leads Baylor 14-7 with 6:45 on the clock.

On the Jayhawks ensuing drive, KU responded with a touchdown of its own. Driving 78 yards in eight plays, Kansas picked up a key first down from an extra effort from receiver Brian Murph on a 13-yard pass from QB Kerry Meier.

Running back Jon Cornish broke free for a 27-yard run giving KU possession the Baylor 5-yard line before Meier converted a QB draw play for the five-yard touchdown run. Place kicker Anthony Webb converted on the PAT to tie the game 7-7 with 7:38 in the first quarter.

The Bears take the first lead of the game at 7-0 after marching down the field 80 yards on 11 plays in the first drive of the game.

KU came close to stopping Baylor on third-and 8 on the KU 24 yard line, but KU defensive end Mike Rivera was called for holding, putting Baylor on the KU 5. BU quarterback Shawn Bell found running back Brandon Whitaker on third-and goal for the five-yard touchdown pass at 11:13 in the first quarter.

Game preview

The Kansas University football team makes its second Big 12 road game appearance in today's 2:05 p.m. showdown against the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas.

By the numbers

While both teams enter the game with matching records of 3-4 overall, Baylor has managed something that KU hasn't - a Big 12 win, and more specifically two of those. The Bears dropped a close 63-31 decision at No. 6-ranked Texas last Saturday night. Baylor's quarterback Shawn Bell passed for 303 yards and two touchdowns, even catching one on a trick play in the third quarter. Behind Bell, the Bears have become one of the most efficient passing teams in the league. The senior QB has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns. In addition, four wide-receiver positions are listed on Baylor's depth chart instead of the usual two or three, and 16 different Bears have caught a pass this season.

KU, on the other hand, is struggling where Baylor is prospering. The Jayhawks are on a three-game losing streak with key losses coming from defensive miscues in the secondary. Starting in the 'Hawks 39-32 overtime loss at Nebraska, KU's secondary has continually given up several 50-yard plus pass plays a game. Last Saturday's 42-32 loss to Oklahoma State at Memorial Stadium featured six second-half touchdowns - all through the air. However, part of Kansas' secondary has been productive. Sophomore cornerback Aqib Talib leads the Big 12 in passes defended, breaking up 12 and intercepting two more for a total of 14 even after missing the first two games of the season because of a disciplinary suspension.

At home this season, Baylor is 2-2 and 1-0 in Big 12 play at Floyd Casey Stadium. KU won the last meeting 28-21 in Lawrence in 2003, but the Jayhawks have yet to win in Waco, dropping its three previous game there.

Comments

jayhawk20 (anonymous) says...

Here we go again. Play not to lose Mangino.

October 21, 2006 at 5:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawk20 (anonymous) says...

Fire Mangino....this is getting rediculuous

October 21, 2006 at 5:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jhawk275 (anonymous) says...

Agreed! See ya later Mangino. Thanks for nothing.

October 21, 2006 at 5:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

If Mangino isn't fired then Perkins needs to be fired. What is KU doing? A high school team could hold some of the leads KU manages to lose. There are pop warner receivers who have better hands than the KU receivers. The contract extension for Mangino was the worst decision in NCAA history. KU does not have a single quarterback who should be playing Division 1 football. Kerry gets hurt more than his brother at KSU and Adam is barely good enough to be a high school quarterback. Congratulations to Baylor. I am now rooting for every team to beat KU the rest of the season including Kansas State. Mangino has disgraced the football program to the point where nobody should want to play at KU.

October 21, 2006 at 5:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

FormerCentralKansan (anonymous) says...

I'm convinced the KU coaching staff are a bunch of monkeys impersonating real coaches. They can't do anything right...fire the entire group of them and bring in a coach knows what he is doing.

October 21, 2006 at 5:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kshaff03 (anonymous) says...

Drop mangino? Why would we want to do that? We are lucky that we locked him down. I was afraid he was going to get away!

October 21, 2006 at 5:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

Mangino sees improvement in his secondary. That is only because Mangino is running the receiver routes in practice now. KU should not even bother taking the field for the rest of the season and forfeit the games. Mangino should just pack his bags and leave Lawrence. KU isn't building a new football facility so they can blow a huge lead to Baylor. This is the last straw. Fire Mangino tonight!

October 21, 2006 at 5:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufan4004 (anonymous) says...

Mangino needs to pay attention to coaching football and stop eating cookies. I can't believe this. If I was Bob Davis or the other commentator, I'd call Mangino out on this and wonder aloud whether that contract extension was smart of KU to give to Mangino.

October 21, 2006 at 5:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

white_mountain (anonymous) says...

Somehow I just knew KU would blow its lead and find a way to lose.. and they didn't disappoint.

October 21, 2006 at 5:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

wwwd (anonymous) says...

Hey Mangino...how about being as classy as Bob Knight and give your salary back.

October 21, 2006 at 5:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

KU will make Colorado look like Ohio State next week and Josh Freeman is going to look like Peyton Manning when KSU visits. It looked in the first half like KU had made adjustments to wins a game. Mangino masked the loss this week very well and even had me fooled and believing KU might win.

October 21, 2006 at 5:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURUSH1530 (anonymous) says...

hey everybody calm down..it won't do any good, the worse this guy coaches the more perkins loves him. I say give him an extention, he deserves it. Maybe it's not the coach, perhaps we need to think about switching conferences during the football season?

October 21, 2006 at 5:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

It's official. Let's start the basketball season.

October 21, 2006 at 5:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

Baylor had almost 250 passing yards in the fourth quarter. Well done Mangino! At some point you would think KU fans would stop supporting Mangino and start to question his ability to close out games. I didn't even know it was possible to blow leads the way KU is blowing them outside of a video game or a hollywood movie.

October 21, 2006 at 5:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

I'm putting away my KU caps until basketball season. I am too embarassed to wear them in public. Mangino needs to rip his players and take accountability himself instead of just sugar coating everything. Mangino sees a silver lining in everything and that is his problem. Mangino have to at some point say this isn't acceptable.

October 21, 2006 at 5:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

austin5string (anonymous) says...

It's getting harder and harder to watch this stuff. Just for fun, I pulled some numbers. KU has outscored our opponents 132-78 in the first half of our games and has held the lead or been tied (0-0 S.Fla) at the half in 6 of 8 games. On the flip side, we've been outscored 141-99 in the 2nd half/OT. I have never in my life seen a team so unable to win games that they have had in the bag.

I did read somewhere (actually I think it was some gambling magazine) that KU lost 9 starters on our defense. That doesn't make this any more acceptable, but perhaps it explains a little.

But our first halves are good. Maybe it's conditioning? Do the guys just get worn out after one half?

Anyhow, I was hopeful after last year that we might be on track. Seeing our performance this year, I'm not so sure Mangino's the right guy.

Sad in Austin,
~John

October 21, 2006 at 5:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nugget (anonymous) says...

Bring on basketball.

October 21, 2006 at 5:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

I just can't make anymore excuses for the complete inability for my team to win a game this year. Hopefully they will learn how to win next year. I'm too competitive to watch (or listen) to my team lose so many games that they should have won.

October 21, 2006 at 5:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kubacker82 (anonymous) says...

Enough is Enough! How many bonehead ways are there to lose? It is just flat embarassing. Get rid of the big fella!

October 21, 2006 at 5:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lisabeth2002 (anonymous) says...

hmmm, Meier gets hurt and Barmann comes in and the game goes to hell. and this is Mangino's fault? That is crap. With the right QB in the game all things went well.

October 21, 2006 at 5:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

wwwd (anonymous) says...

Mangino would be an OK high school coach....as long as he didn't have to play Freestate.

October 21, 2006 at 5:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kubacker82 (anonymous) says...

Barmann does not play defense, genius!

October 21, 2006 at 5:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuhawksr1 (anonymous) says...

Another blown lead. Another road loss. Another loss to a Big XII South team. Another Big XII loss period. This is getting really, really old!!

October 21, 2006 at 6 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

Mangino needs to be fired for recruiting Meier. Meier is going to continue to get hurt all the time like his brother. KU needs to recruit a quarterback who has a strong arm and can run the ball well. KU gave up almost 250 yards of passing on the fourth quarter alone. Once again much of the blame is on the secondary, but almost as much on Mangino playing not to lose in the second half and causing KU to do absolutely nothing other than run the ball and throw the ball downfield no more than 5 yards. You have to have a quarterback who can throw the ball down the field and who isn't going to get hurt all the time to win games and KU has neither.

October 21, 2006 at 6 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ruette (anonymous) says...

Was TA really worse than this? I'm with Nikesasquatch; the fewer games we win now, the sooner Mr Mangino gets ridden outta town on a rail. A really really heavy-duty rail.

October 21, 2006 at 6:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kubacker82 (anonymous) says...

Yea TA was really worse.

October 21, 2006 at 6:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

The difference between TA & MM is that TA was never in the game. As dissapointing as this loss was I'll take Mangino any day. The players have to bear some responsibility. Droped passes that could have sealed the game are not the coaches fault.

October 21, 2006 at 6:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

I wonder if Bobby Douglass has any eligibility left. He probably still has more talent and is less injurty prone than the current crop of 2 star KU quarterbacks.

October 21, 2006 at 6:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufan4004 (anonymous) says...

We need to get us a tough black QB. Enough of these farmboys from KS. Remember Mark Williams? That guy could scramble and pass, and he and the Henley/Levine combo got us a 10-2 record. Let's go down to Miami or TX and get a Vick-like QB. That's what we need!

October 21, 2006 at 6:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

The time for anger has long since past. You die hard sports people should know how this works by now.

There's no point wishing KU to lose so Mangino gets fired. What always happens is a team like this can't even be bad enough to be REALLY bad. KU will whip up on Colorado and upset some top-tier team, making everything look not quite as bad as it truly is to the decision makers. They will then justify everything as just a couple plays here and there being the difference between an unqualified success and the quagmire they find themselves in, and we'll do it all over again next season.

As for Mangino's contract. It's a Catch-22. You've GOT to sign the coach to get stability. A player comes to a program because he likes the university but also because he trusts the coach. If a recruit feels no stability at the coaching position and feels that coach will be out the door a year or two after a commitment, that recruit will play elsewhere.

Now, I didn't expect such a massive collapse this season in all facets. But, knowing what we knew before this season, you have to pay him to stay if you think he's the guy for the job. Otherwise you get a two or three season transition period like we had in basketball with multiple philosophies and feelings of abandonment. We all know how that scenario turns out.

I'm just glad I'm not the AD. There are some tough, tough issues to be faced here. I'm glad I didn't have to witness this one.

October 21, 2006 at 6:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuhawksr1 (anonymous) says...

KUAthletics.com headline ... Jayhawks Fall To Baylor in Thriller. Talk about SPIN!

October 21, 2006 at 6:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kansasexplorer3128 (anonymous) says...

I have followed Jayhawk football since 1954 when I first saw KU in action - a loss to Bud Wilkinson's incredible Sooner squad in the midst of its 47(?) game win streak. In all the intervening years, I don't believe I have ever been as disgusted, embarassed, and humiliated by my hawks' overall performance as this year. And I saw every one of the home games for that unbelievable 1969 team! We hear lots of talk about team character and performance, but see precious little of it. Sad. I wish Kivisto had given his money to the School of Fine Arts.

October 21, 2006 at 6:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

Teams in the Big 12 have a new major recruiting tool against Mangino and the KU program every single week. All they have to do is play the 4th quarter of KU games to show potential recruits why KU isn't the place to go. Why is K-State getting quarterbacks like Josh Freeman and KU isn't? KU had a primitive offense. All they do is run the ball, throw screen passes, or throw pass patterns of less than 10 yards. KU does not have a quarterback with the physical ability to throw the ball deep and that is a real shame. Sadly KU will probably continue to recruit these Kansas high school quarterbacks like they keep doing and they won't amount to squat.

October 21, 2006 at 6:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

Are there any other states that recruit KU quarterbacks? Has the state of Kansas even produced a decent quarterback in the last 20 years who could play Division 1 football? Why is KU recruiting Kansas quarterbacks so hard who can't run out of the pocket and who have weak arms?

October 21, 2006 at 6:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kubacker82 (anonymous) says...

Hey it aint the QBs fault we score plenty every week!! We cannot stop anybody in the last five minutes of the game.

October 21, 2006 at 6:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

white_mountain (anonymous) says...

We also didn't score any points in the second half of the game.. I'm thinking we could have won if we had just kicked a single field goal in the second half.

One field goal is all it would have taken. Nope. Nada. Zip in the second half.

October 21, 2006 at 7:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

stingray (anonymous) says...

How much longer does this have to go on?
Is anyone else wondering why Lew Perkins raised the price for football tickets? Shouldn't there be some incentive for people to pay more for tickets?

Perkins has made it clear that he wants to run KU athletics as a business - therefore making sure that people or corporations that donate lots and lots of money get the best seats instead of lifetime fans. Well, if this is a business, make the best business decision and listen to the shareholders - get rid of Mangino.

If CEO Perkins can't figure this out, then I suspect that he will once again be wondering next year why Memorial Stadium is half-empty on game day while making sure that "marquee" match-ups like getting drilled by Oklahoma are moved to Arrowhead Stadium.

Just how many more years do the fans have to suffer? Perkins - get a head coach for the football team. A real head coach.

October 21, 2006 at 7:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

touringdriver (anonymous) says...

oh suck it up winers. and support your team and coach. you all make great arm chair coaches, but probably could'nt coach your way out of your recliners.

October 21, 2006 at 7:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

Right nikesasquatch. There are plenty of those QBs around and they are all dying to play for KU.

October 21, 2006 at 7:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

pro_pilot (anonymous) says...

No Comment, The Game speaks for itself...

October 21, 2006 at 8:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufan4004 (anonymous) says...

Maybe it's time we start getting some big time recruits by paying them cash under the table. If you can't trace it, is it really illegal?

October 21, 2006 at 8:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawk20 (anonymous) says...

right touringdriver......go back to purple land and enjoy the ass kicking you guys took from Mizzou today.

October 21, 2006 at 8:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

roshi12 (anonymous) says...

I was supporting Mangino pretty strongly until today. I still don't think he should be fired right now, but the pressure is on. His upside is the ability to get decent talent. But they don't seem to improve that much and/or stay healthy while they are here. The downside is that other coaches can make adjustments to what we are doing. He doesn't seem to be able to.

October 21, 2006 at 8:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Speicher (Danny Speicher) says...

Well, luckily for us, touring, we aren't getting paid six figures to lose every game. The point is this... Mangino is! And, for that kind of money to be delivered to a coach; the AD, the university and definitely the fans expect results. Let's be honest, we may not be able to coach ourselves out of our recliners, but it is quite obvious that Mangino can't either.

When I used to get hounded about my support of the Hawks during football season I have long said something to the extent of, "Let's wait and see what Mangino can do when the team is entirely made up of kids he recruited." Or, I would say, "Mangino is just getting warmed up... I think next year will be a better year." After last year's "bowl" appearance (sorry for the quotations... But, when there are THAT many bowl games, it deserves the quotations), I looked forward to seeing what Mangino and the boys might pull of for this year.

Yet, I look at the current win to loss ratio and realize that a 3-5 record with K-State and Mizzou still on the docket, spells AT BEST a 5-7, at worst a 3-9 record. This, does not bode well for Mangino, especially when the only wins that he was able to muster (up until now) were against two teams from no-name conferences and a close win against a middle-of-the-road Big East team. If Lew Perkins is not seriously considering buying out Mangino's contract in the next couple of years, Hemmingway should consider doing the same for Perkins. This has gotten outrageous!

--Danny Speicher

October 21, 2006 at 8:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bjamnjm (anonymous) says...

Fatty Mangino is going after the best QBs he can catch. Trouble is he can't run far and so has to sign the QBs from KS.

Seriously, I think this goes deeper than Mangino's recruiting or game day coaching. I'm not sure another team in the Big 12 has ran as many coaches in and out of their programs as KU. I don't know if there just isn't a committment to the football program or if the athletic director/s keep making really bad decisions.

KU seems to be one of those schools that just isn't a football school and so is never much better than okay. They can fire Fatty if they want but I'm not sure that's the answer. Frankie, somebody slipped me a mickey, Solich applied for the job several years ago. Maybe he'd like another shot in the Big 12.

October 21, 2006 at 9:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

easyfive (anonymous) says...

I think what we got here is a bunch of MU and KSU fans gone wild on KU fan site.
I think MM is one of the best in the whole country, at lest one of the top five. The thing is if them young kids would wipe the butter off their fingers and catch the ball!!!
Mark would be looking like a genius with one lost and bowl bound. It is very hard to replace seven starters and smell like a rose. If we lose Mark we might as well shut down the football program altogether.

October 21, 2006 at 11:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DSommersby (anonymous) says...

No thanks on Solich. That guy couldn't get it done with NU's facilities towards the end so why would we want him? He's past his prime.

October 21, 2006 at 11:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DSommersby (anonymous) says...

Easyfive:

You are correct that if we make a couple of plays we probably actually seal this game and put it out of reach. Mangino did not overthrow a wide open Murph on the receiver pass. Mangino did not drop an open TD pass.

Marcus Herford sounded like poor Billy Thomas in that Elite 8 game where he just bobbled a wide open layup in a '96 loss to Syracuse.

We had them 3rd and long several times and didn't make stops. It ultimately rests on Mangino but if guys step up and deliver on a couple plays he sure looks a lot better.

And for the guys knocking Meier because he is a HS QB from the state of Kansas please be quiet. He was a pretty highly touted QB recruit. Should we really go scour Texas and Florida and ignore a good Kansas kid. His injuries are ticking me off but don't blame him.

October 21, 2006 at 11:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkandtigerfan (anonymous) says...

You know, I've been as angry as anybody that KU has had such a tough-luck season. I have never called for Mangino's head though. seriously. Mangino isn't playing the games. Every team has its weakness and ours is a big weakness in pass defense. It's not the end of the world. Thigns change. I remember when Whittamore was around our offense was great and our defense stunk. Within a couple years the defense was great and the offense was terrible. Now we have a mediocre defense with terrible pass protection. Mangino finds ways to mend problems. We have a great future quarterback no matter what anybody says. Meier getting hurt doesn't make him a bad quarterback. the offenses future is bright without question and I have confidence Mangino can finally put together both pieces of the puzzle with an improved defense next year. He'll do it. have faith.

True fans don't call for a coach's head this easy. Mangino is the best coach we've had here for a decade. You all were probably the ones calling for the head of Bill Self last year because of our young team. This year won't disappoint. Ride out the bad years. You obviously all have short memories, so why don't you realize that and know that next year when things go well you'll probably forget you ever called for Mangino's head. Be a real fan. You all are pathetic

October 22, 2006 at 12:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkandtigerfan (anonymous) says...

AND

We all know we are NOT a bad football team. We have hung with everybody we've played. We're inexperienced and inexperience loses close ballgames just like our basketball team did last year.

We are a good team with a huge weakness and the lack of confidence to finish. Bad teams get slaughtered. We haven't gotten slottered once this year by the final score board's count.

Find a different team. People like us are ones that stayed loyal when we really DID have poor coaching. Grow up and don't quit your day jobs.

October 22, 2006 at 12:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

"Bad teams get slaughtered. We haven't gotten slottered once this year by the final score board's count."

hawkandtigerfan-

You unwittingly gave the best metaphor for KU football with your poor spelling of the word "slaughtered" in the above quote.

That is, you got it right in the first half, but messed it up in the second half. Great illustration.

October 22, 2006 at 2:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

I am going to be calling for Self's head after KU loses in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year and after Mangino fails to win another game this year. KU doesn't have to be a university that chokes.

October 22, 2006 at 9:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Displayhawk (anonymous) says...

Get off Kerry Meier and Adam Barmann's back! We did recruit one of those Texas Michael Vick type of quarterback! .......His name is Marcus Herford! The same Marcus Herford who overthrew a wide-open Brian Murph. (And subsequently getting him injured in the process.) The same Marcus Hereford who dropped a wide-open touchdown pass, and the same Marcus Hereford who muffed a kick-off. What we need is tough guys to step up and make a play. Baylor's receivers were covered and still caught the ball, our receivers were wide-open and couldn't catch a cold! That's not Mangino's fault! I would still rather have MM than TA!

October 22, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )