Thursday, November 1, 2007

Mayer

Mayer: Jayhawks get it done

By Bill Mayer

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Saturday's showdown against unseasoned QB

How do you prepare for a quarterback that has only thrown four passes all season? That's the question facing the Fighting Manginos as they head into Saturday's game against Nebraska.

Homecoming with the Huskers

Memorial Stadium is already sold out for this Saturday's homecoming game against Nebraska.

Reader poll

At this point in time, are you more interested in KU football or KU basketball?

  • Basketball 14% 306 votes
  • Football 45% 945 votes
  • Both 36% 744 votes
  • Neither 3% 65 votes

2060 total votes.

The Kansas football team's 4-0 mark in Big 12 play might be 1-3 right now if the team hadn't overcome its fourth-quarter el floppo tendencies of last year's snake-bit crew. Unless the current Jayhawks suffer a massive collapse, they should be 9-0 and 5-0 after Nebraska's visit Saturday.

Consider how KU defeated Kansas State, Colorado and Texas A&M, all on the road. At gut-check time, this year's crew measured up like big-time winners. They might have collapsed in '06. Consider the 0-4 span of losses to Nebraska, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Baylor after leading in the fourth quarter.

It was as if the opposition glared, poked the Jayhawks in their chests and said, "Step aside, sonny!"

This season, KU routed Baylor. When the other three began their late-stage rushes, it was KU doing the chest-poking and saying, "You're in our way; don't let the door knob smack you in the tokus when we kick you out."

Last season, Nebraska outscored KU 7-0 in both the fourth quarter and overtime, despite KU's gallant comeback from 17 down. Then the '06 Jayhawks went 0-14, 15-21 and 0-19 in the fourth quarters against A&M, O-State and Baylor.

Where's this "git 'er done" attitude come from? Coach Mark Mangino could be hiding some rant-and-rave, "win one for The Gipper" locker-room tutelage nobody else knows about. He can get excited (ask Raimond Pendleton). But most of his postgame observations, news conferences and talk show remarks are about as turbulent as drying paint atop the Washington Monument.

Publicly, it's like playing a low-key tape recording, win or lose.

Last Saturday, KU surged in a 19-11 thriller before 85,000 hostiles in College Station, Texas, where rowdy cadets tend to dominate. Brandon McAnderson had just given fans one of the finest running exhibitions they've seen in a long time. You'd think the old coach would get a little fired up for that kind of conquest.

Nope, instead he delivered a short, matter-of-fact "just gotta keep sawin' wood." KU doesn't need any rages like Mike Gundy unfurled at Okie State or any of the cynical jibes a la Dennis Franchione at A&M. But, golly, how about a little more fire for the fans.

Mark admits he does not get "out and about" much, spending his time either at home or at "the office."

He seems to have a brutally practical approach to the socializing thing: You win, you don't need it; you lose, you don't want it.

Jellying around with the faithful is OK if you're a Jack Mitchell or Don Fambrough. If you're Mark Mangino, you take a more reclusive route.

But you're smart enough to do whatever it takes to get good, dedicated and able kids into your program. They may not have high school All-America credentials but, like Brandon McAnderson, they have depth, quality, skills and appreciation for Kansas University and what it can do for them, football and otherwise. Nothin' too shabby about that.

Then you surround yourself with top-flight people like Bill Young, Ed Warinner and Clint Bowen, indoctrinate them into your program and let them perform. Bear in mind, Mangino was on some terrific staffs at Kansas State and Oklahoma and knows what works.

Over time, the water wears down the stone, you start winning games you once lost and you might even construct a 12-0 season. Somebody on The Hill is doing what it takes to give KU one of the finest years it's ever had.

Comments

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

...not to mention the Toledo game last year. We made up for it this year though! If we keep going the way we are, I sure hope we can hang on to Young and Warinner a few more seasons!!

November 1, 2007 at 7:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Displayhawk (anonymous) says...

I've been saying it for years, and I still say that Mark Mangino was one of the biggest (No pun intended!) reasons that Kansas State and Oklahoma rose to prominence! I hope we can hang on to him a few more seasons!

November 1, 2007 at 7:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dsmith84 (anonymous) says...

does any one remember last year, when rumors were about that Mark Mangino was on thin ice?

thank goodness big $ Lew didn't fire him... or we'd be back in Terry Allen era football purgatory for sure. These kids are ALL mangino's kids, and he has shaped them and molded them into one of the 10 best KU football teams of all time (and by seasons end maybe the best).

My main fear now is that we will LOSE mangino to a "bigger" name school, but my dream is that he makes us into one of those big names.

November 1, 2007 at 8:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

patton6 (anonymous) says...

Nebraska did not outscore ku 7-0 in 4th quarter and overtime. That was just ot - there were other scores inthe 4th. Come on "best memory Mayer"...

November 1, 2007 at 8:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

I may just be wishful thinking, but I think Mangino will be around for awhile. I think Perkins will pony up the money to what other offers may come. I think coach likes the role of the underdog and nobody respects our program type of stuff. Which is why I think he wants to stay and make Kansas a national power, and his name will be at the very top.

November 1, 2007 at 11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

You cannot compare last year to this year the way Mayer did. When you look at last year's collapses, those were games where we got some breaks early and the opponents weren't playing that well early in the games. The bottom line is that team was not as good of a football team as this year. This year, our line play dominates from the beginning and sets the tone for the rest of the game. Eventually, it shows up on the scoreboard. There probably is something to the mentality being a little different, but more than anything, this team has more talent and an extra year of experience.

November 1, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

A few other things are also different this year:

1. Reesing instead of Meier
2. Warriner instead of what's-his-name
3. Joe Mortensen at middle linebacker instead of outside

Those three things have made a huge difference, especially number two.

I'm psyched that I've finally made plans to get to a game this year. I had to see this incredible team at least once. Sadly, it will only be the ISU game. But I sure am keeping my fingers crossed that the 'Hawks win Saturday and especially next week at OSU. It will be much more exciting to see them if they're 11-0 than 10-1.

November 1, 2007 at 1:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

What's-his-name = Nick Quartaro

The ISU game will be fun, that I can promise. Why? It's a gameday on the hill!!! Top ten team or not, gamedays on the hill will always be in my top 5 things to do.

November 1, 2007 at 1:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

I still don't think we're playing as sound 4th quarter ball as Mayer points out.

During the Colorado and A&M games were we not outscored in the 4th quarters, respectively?

We just had a big enough lead going in that we could play it safe and get out. That conservatism makes me nervous, but as long as Mangino pulls out the W, that's all that matters.

November 1, 2007 at 2:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

Actorman - I'd even go so far as to say #1 is a result of #2. Todd mentioned last summer that he felt really comfortable in this offense, because it is essentially what he had been playing thru-out HS. That is huge!

I'd also add:
4. An upgrade or return to health of 3/4th of the DB's.
5. Enough improvement in the D-line to keep the QB's out of the barcalounger.

November 1, 2007 at 2:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bdsnook (anonymous) says...

I hate to harp on Mangino's weight because that's fodder for the Kittens, but I would think some of these "big names" people are worrying about would view his weight as a big detractor. I bet he's packed at least another buck since he's been in Lawrence. Keep him away from The Wheel at closing time!

November 1, 2007 at 3:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

It may just be a rumor, but I heard through people who know people. Mangino is going to have the stomach surgery done after the season. I hope the rumor is true for his sake. If he doesn't do something he won't live another decade.

November 1, 2007 at 3:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

"What's-his-name = Nick Quartaro." Thanks, bmcmich. No matter how often people remind me of NQ's name, I still can't think of it when I mention him. It's obviously a mental block, but given how horrible he was, I have a good excuse.

And of course you're right that a gameday on the hill is always one of the best things to do. I've been to at least one game for 6 or 7 years in a row (I should figure out the exact number one of these days), so I certainly wouldn't want to break the streak in a year like this.

Good points too, dagger, especially about the health. That's been one of the biggest things about this year, is how lucky this team has been when it comes to injuries (knock on forest).

November 1, 2007 at 11:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )