Thursday, November 15, 2007

Mayer

Mayer: A chance to trump the Tigers

By Bill Mayer

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Turnovers are where it's at

Much of the Kansas football team's success can be attributed to turnovers. While the offense takes care of the ball, the defense is taking it away.

KU defense up against ISU touchdown duo

The Kansas defense is preparing to face one of the top touchdown combinations in the country this weekend: Iowa State senior quarterback Brett Myer and senior wide receiver Todd Blythe.

Kansas University never has looked ahead to a football game against Missouri with a greater opportunity for glitz and glory than it does this year.

The first time for anything even remotely comparable was 60 years ago, in 1947, when the first bowl game in KU history was at stake.

Then there was the 1960 match in Columbia, when MU had a 9-0 record, was rated No. 1 in the nation, and No. 9-ranked KU dismantled the disillusioned Tigers, 23-7. Not bad, but a pesky asterisk tarnished that feat.

I know, the 2007 Jayhawks must dispose of Iowa State to get at Mizzou. There's no way KU will disrespect the Cyclones. The great beauty about this poised and devoted crew is that it is capable of beating ISU, Missouri and probably Oklahoma to reach the national title game. They have the scent of not only a league but also a national championship and aren't worried about the polls. They'll settle their own ranking by running the table.

KU contends it has a 54-52-9 edge in the MU series, although the Tigers have a different take because of that game in 1960. KU had to forfeit its wins over Colorado and Missouri because of the Bert Coan recruiting hassle. The KU media guide lists the '60 season record at 7-2-1 (with an asterisk noting it's 5-4-1). Mizzou contends it had an 11-0 record that season, which included a 1-0 forfeit by Kansas and then a victory over Navy and Joe Bellino in the Orange Bowl.

But I'll die remembering the '47 game as my all-time favorite. It opened the door for KU's trip to the Orange Bowl and was as thrilling a triumph as any Kansas fan ever could concoct. May we be so lucky Nov. 24 in Kansas City, Mo.

With a tremendous team sparked by quarterback Bus Entsminger, Missouri led 14-13 and was marching for a clincher. Kansas stopped the Tigers at its own six-yard-line with 8:30 to play. Thirteen plays later, KU was on the MU eight. Bam, bam, bam, to the two; fourth and goal. Guard Don Fambrough, frothing at the mouth, helped the line obliterate the foes, and Forrest Griffith soared untouched for the score.

Fambrough's kick made it 20-14 with 1:30 to go, and MU couldn't respond.

The crowd that day was 40,034, the largest ever to see a Big Six game. Immediately there was speculation KU would go to the Orange Bowl and its team would travel by air for the first time in school history. High stakes, gutty performance, a real sty-stinger.

MU was a little cocky in 1960 since KU had lost to Syracuse and Iowa and been tied by Oklahoma. The Jayhawks held MU's famed power sweeps to only 61 yards, and Mizzou didn't get a first down during the first 40 minutes.

Roger Hill broke a 0-0 halftime tie with a 46-yard field goal, John Hadl hit Coan with a 19-yard scoring pass, and Coan and Sam Simpson got the other TDs (Simpson on a jump pass from Rodger McFarland).

KU had its first undisputed league title since 1930, until... . But scintillating as that Columbia Conquest was, it still didn't have quite the impact of the 1947 gut-wrencher.

Yet no matter what KU has accomplished in the Missouri series since it began in 1891, it's never been in the delightful position it enjoys right now.

Jayhawk fans justifiably believe a 14-0 record is in reach. More important, so do these Jayhawks.

Comments

FlaHawk (anonymous) says...

I Can remember the '60 game like it happened last year. What a game for KU!

Both teams were loaded with NFL talent and Bert Coan (Texas cyclone) NEVER was worth the hit the program took for recruiting him!

The Bert Coan story would make a good Mayer piece! I am sure that their are some back room items that Mayer could play up to make the story even better!

He is at his best on the olde timer stuff!

November 15, 2007 at 7:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

This has to be one of the most lucid and provocative Mayer columns I've ever read ...

Good work!

November 15, 2007 at 7:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

patton6 (anonymous) says...

Agreed, a rare treat from Mayer. But...How did KU "dismantle the disillusioned Tigers 23-7" yet trail "14-13 with Missouri going in for the clincher"?

November 15, 2007 at 7:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Ahh, yes. Perusing this masterful literary achievement stirs wonderful memories of gridiron days of yore :)

patton, the game in which KU trailed 14-13 was in 1947.

November 15, 2007 at 7:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

63Jayhawk (anonymous) says...

I remember listening to the '60 KU-MU game on the radio in my dorm room with my room mate. The dorm was very quiet until Roger HIll kicked that field goal. Then the whole place exploded in cheers. It was great. I believe that it was HIll's only college field goal.

As for Bert Coan, Coan was a great runner in the 7 games he played for KU. If I'm not mistaken, had Coan stayed at KU after his broken leg, he would have eventually played in the same backfield with Gale Sayers. Now, that would have been a lot of fun to watch!!

November 15, 2007 at 8:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

Man, I love seeing some of the old school guys coming out! That will be me in good time. My earliest memories are in the late 80's. Not a lot of good ones back then.

November 15, 2007 at 9:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Pbbut (anonymous) says...

It certainly didn't have the national impact that these two games had, but it was great because it was my last year at KU. The game was the one in 1973, and KU beat MU 14-13. If my memory serves me, it was the only PAT that Greg Hill missed in his career at Mizzou. Emmett Edwards, David Jaynes, Bruce Adams, and Delvin Williams were a good group.

November 15, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

9-0 and a #1 ranking and you lose to your rival at home. That had to sting. They've been waiting nearly half a century for revenge. Looks like they'll get their chance next Saturday.

November 15, 2007 at 10:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmwskywalk (anonymous) says...

Not going back too far.....but I can tell you I would like to see BMac and Sharp combine for at Tony Sands type day against Missouri next week.

November 15, 2007 at 10:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bdsnook (anonymous) says...

These stories are cool, but it only makes me sad, for KU had all the peices to build and make a successful program...not just a successful YEAR. '47, '60-'61, '68, '73, '76, '95...all of those times were perfect opportunites to build the program into greatness and longevity. Here's hoping that 2007 will finally buck this trend.

November 15, 2007 at 11:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

Good call bdsnook. KU has had good years in the past, but it seems like every good year is followed by 2-3 years of mediocrity. We have to use the success of this season to spur success next year and the following year. The nice thing is that next year we return a pretty experienced group and probably Mangino's best recruiting class so far. Hopefully that will be enough to garner another 9-10 wins next season as well.

November 15, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

number1jayhawker (anonymous) says...

Didn't OU have to forfeit some of their games last year but the teams they beat did NOT receive a W in their win column.

If so then the same has to hold true about the KU vs Misery game in 1960.

We had to forfeit the win, but this should not give the #@%*s to the east a w in their win column.

November 15, 2007 at 12:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

97jhawk (anonymous) says...

Mayer: When dinosaurs ruled the earth.

November 15, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Yeah, I remember the... oh hell, I don't remember anything.

November 15, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

robot (Robin Smith) says...

KU has to win it all this year so that people won't call it a fluke. I think any loss will stigmatize KU as the football George Mason; even if it's a "good" loss to MU or OU.

if they don't win it all then they'll have to have convincing winning records for the next two years at least (while Reesing is at the helm).

November 15, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

number1jayhawker,

Each school has to decide how they are going to post those types of games in their all time records. We chose to call the MU game a win with an asterisk because that reflects what actually happens on the field. So we couldn't very well claim the OU game as a win as well because it wouldn't reflect what actually happened on the field. Instead we gave them the win with the asterisk so that it stays consistent.

MU simply chose the opposite tactic (probably because it makes the MU-KU series tied instead of giving us the lead). They claim any losses with asterisks as wins on their record, but also give up any wins they have had in the past that had asterisks.

November 15, 2007 at 4:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

the contrib factor in not sustaing winning was the lack of depth. where ou and neb had 100 walkons ku was lucky to get experience for reserves. lets hope this years recruits are better and more of them. mag seems to have a good start. if texas, ou, etc don,t want you come to kansas and play on a good team.

November 15, 2007 at 9:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )