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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Mangino tempers buildup to USF

Coach says matchup won't make or break Jayhawks' season

By Dugan Arnett

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Sometimes in the game of football there are moments that occur that define your season.

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Quigley leads rushing for KU

Angus Quigley has already surpassed his career rushing numbers.

By any stretch of the imagination, the Kansas University football team's nationally televised matchup with South Florida on Friday night is a big deal.

USF enters the game ranked 19th in the nation after holding off Central Florida in a 31-24 overtime victory last week. Kansas, following a 29-0 victory over Louisiana Tech, is ranked 13th. And for the first time this season, both teams will find out how they stack up against one of the nation's elite.

Yet, on the eve of such a spectacle, Kansas coach Mark Mangino spent his Monday morning trying to explain why this particular game isn't any more or less important than, say, one against Central Connecticut State.

"I think this is a good measuring stick, to some degree," Mangino said. "But I don't think it's a game where, if we win, we feel like we're going to win all the rest, and if we lose, we're going to have a bad season."

Despite the tempered excitement, Friday's 7 p.m. game undoubtedly has been marked on the calendars of Kansas fans for some time.

And entering the game, there is no lack of storylines.

Both programs are coached by former assistants under Kansas State's Bill Snyder.

Both rose from relative anonymity to No. 2 national rankings a season ago.

And both entered this season with hopes of a conference title - and beyond.

In order to pass its first significant test of the new season, however, Kansas will have to overcome a history that isn't exactly encouraging.

The Jayhawks are 25-138-2 all-time against teams ranked in the Top 25 of the Associated Press poll. Under Mangino, that figure is a bit better (4-8) and includes a victory in their most recent matchup against a ranked team - last season's victory over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

¢ Starting RB job between Quigley and Crawford: While junior Jake Sharp began the season as Kansas' starting running back, Mangino is now looking to Jocques Crawford or Angus Quigley to fill the role of the team's primary back.

"Jake plays hard," Mangino said. "He's a complementary back - that's his role on our team. And Jocques Crawford we expect to get rolling here. He or Angus, one of the two, we expect to jump up and be the primary back."

In two games this season, Sharp and Crawford have combined for 113 yards on 34 carries, compared to Quigley's totals of 21 carries and 133 yards.

On Sunday, Mangino said he planned to use Quigley earlier than usual in Friday's game against South Florida, and Monday morning, during the Big 12 coaches' weekly teleconference, he reiterated that sentiment.

"We had hoped for a long time that Angus could make a mark on the program," Mangino said. "That he could finally be a guy that we could count on. We're finally getting to that point a little bit. But (with) Angus, consistency is something that he has to develop."

¢ Missed PAT not the fault of kicker: Mangino said Sunday that a missed extra point in the third quarter of the team's victory over Louisiana Tech was not the fault of the kicker, sophomore transfer Jacob Branstetter.

"He did a really good job in the game," Mangino said of Branstetter, who was playing in his first collegiate game after being declared eligible by the NCAA earlier in the week. "The missed extra point wasn't his fault. We dropped the hold. So that's not on him."

¢ Sam Houston State game to be televised: Kansas' Sept. 20 game against visiting Sam Houston State will be broadcast by Fox College Sports (FCS), KU announced Monday.

The game, which will be the Jayhawks' final non-conference game of the season, will kickoff at 6 p.m.

Comments

jayhawkarmy (anonymous) says...

I wont lie i am worried about this game but i think if we come out and play like we have been playing we will take this win and move on i think who ever has the most turnovers will lose the game....GO JAYHAWKS LETS KICK SOME BULL'S BUTT

September 9, 2008 at 6:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

eastcoasthawk (anonymous) says...

No doubt it will be a battle but as long as our coaches make good adjustments throughout the game and our players keep the attitude of "it ain't over till it's over", then we should be fine. But Mangino is correct in that this game will not define our season.

September 9, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

chuckberry32 (anonymous) says...

My seats stink but I'm still pumped and can't wait.
RockChalk!

September 9, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

derringer29 (anonymous) says...

all we need to do is come out with a chip on are shoulders a la the v-tech game- we came out all fired up and didnt take any $hit and left it all out on the feild-lets not forget who we are,we out coach-work-study and not forget(stucky) hustle-if we do that and still lose hang your heads high boys,theres nothing wrong with that----- ku-45 @ usf 17

September 9, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

I think the running game is key. South Florida has watched some game film on us. They know about our passing attack, but their secondary should be leaps and bounds better than those of FIU and LTU. We will need the running game to complement our passing game. I don't expect a very high scoring game. Maybe kinda like the Orange Bowl game.

September 9, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

USF will actually be able to generate a pass rush without blitzing, so we need our running game to be better so that guys like Selvie can't just focus on rushing the passer. The running game MUST keep USF off balance this week for us to win.

We also need to shore up the kicking game. We can get away with missed PATs against FIU and La Tech. A missed PAT this weekend could be the difference.

A final thought on the early week key to the game. Grothe is somewhat of a dual threat quarterback. Between our three LBs, one of them will probably have to spy Grothe somewhat to make sure he doesn't run for 1st downs to keep drives alive. Whoever that is needs to have a big game. If Grothe has more than a couple of runs on third down for first downs, we could be in a lot of trouble. Those QB scrambles for 1sts are just killers. We cannot let that happen. Our secondary can't really focus on Grothe because USF has some receivers that can be dangerous, so its up to the line to contain, and the linebackers to finish.

September 9, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

If it's true that Mangino thinks this game is not more important than Connecticut, the fact is, it is. Certain wins mean more than others (over ranked teams) and certain losses (those to UNRANKED teams) mean more than others. A win this week would certainly mean more than the previous two.

September 9, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalk_dpu (anonymous) says...

jross,

I agree with you from the standpoint of rankings and the potential for bowl games at the end of the season. However, there is no reason for Mangino to make this game out to be the end all be all and add more pressure to the team. He knows what he is doing and knows which buttons to push to get the best response from the guys. I expect the team to be ready and focused to play well and show the national tv audience what we have to offer to the college football scene.

September 9, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

FSUJHAWK (anonymous) says...

This will be a great experience for our youngsters, tranfers and guys at new positions. USF has more athletes but KU has a proven system. Bend - don't break AND, take what they give us. It isn't always pretty but it sure can be effective if we're focused. I anticipate it will be low scoring game coming down to the wire with KU on top.

September 9, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ttoulouse (anonymous) says...

So did anyone else see Charles Gordon get smoked by Aaron Rogers last night?

September 9, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

yes, unfortunately -- he absolutely got owned all night, no two ways about it. they are going to have to fumigate his jersey due to smoke damage...

September 9, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayhawkPhil (anonymous) says...

This game by itself will not make or break our season but it is one of six of the most games because they could each go either way.
We should win our other non league games and at Iowa St but it is difficult to expect a win at Oklahoma or at Arrowhead. That leaves the remaining six in which we need to win a minimum of three to have a successful season. I have predicted we will win 3 or 4 but we could win all six or lose all six. Each one of these six we win will determine how successful of a season we have. That is why this is such an important game.

September 9, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

jross - Your point is very valid, and while it is contrary to the discussion present by Dugan, it is not contrary to what Mangino says - "I think this is a good measuring stick, to some degree," Mangino said. "But I don't think it's a game where, if we win, we feel like we're going to win all the rest, and if we lose, we're going to have a bad season." I'm not sure if Mangino discussed Central Connecticut State as Dugan has, but he certainly is not quoted as saying such.

After watching USF-UCF (along side the KU-LATech game), it became clear to me that the Bulls are very beatable. We won't win just by showing up, but there is no reason to think that we won't win either.

I also see no reason to think that we can't win any other game on our schedule. It will be extremely difficult to go into Norman and pull one off, but OU isn't invincible, and beating mizzoo at Arrowhead is very doable. Don't buy into all the media hype about how great Team A, B, or C is. The first 2 weeks have already shown several teams (Clemson, Pitt, VTech, TTech D?, OSU?, ...) to be more media induced hype than substance.

I love that we seem to be flying a bit under the radar - even at number 12+/-. I see no significant difference between the #6 and #12 teams overall, except for the amount of hype generated by the national press. They've been wondering if we are for real again this year, and it is great to see the team go out and prove it over and over again each week.

Rock Chalk!

September 9, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Did you see Quigley just crush that FIU defender in the video. I saw a mouth piece fly about 10 yards. That's why I love watching Angus run, he's got that same mentality that McAnderson and Cornish had. Punishing.

And I like the pad level comment from coach. Brandon ran with his pads insanely low. Jake does too. They listen to their coach. Then they outperform their original expectations.

September 9, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoJayhawks (anonymous) says...

TO BE THE BEST YOU GOT TO BEAT THE BEST.... I think KU thinks that thats why they will win and the rest of their games.

September 9, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuwalmers (anonymous) says...

Keep Sawing WOOD! You guys ROCK CHALK!

September 9, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bg_duck1 (anonymous) says...

Angus Quigley's nickname should be "ground beef"

September 9, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bg_duck1 (anonymous) says...

for obvious reasons

September 9, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Trobs (anonymous) says...

Did anyone else watch the USF v UCF game? It was a debacle. Penalties all over, poor play on both sides of the ball for both teams.

I'm not worried about USF. Not even a little.

September 10, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

gojhawks810 (anonymous) says...

do not take usf's game at ucf for granted. it was the last game in the series with usf winning the other 3 by combined scores of 180-32 including last years 64-12 score. usf was looking at ku; not ucf and it was this years bcs game for ucf. the better team won and you can bet the team that shows up friday will be much different.
raymond james stadium seats 65,000+ and the game has been sold out for months. it is louder than allen fieldhouse at a mizzou game. plus the weather will be a factor; 95 degrees at game time with 85% humidity forecasted. hope the hawks can handle the weather.
i graduated from ku but live in tampa and have season tickets to the bulls (still a hawk at heart) but those of you who think this will be a cake walk; better get ready because it will be a war.
usf has one of the best defensive lines boasting selvie who is a first team all american and led the nation in qb sacks this year. ucf put 2-3 linemen on him last week and he still found the qb in the backfield. defense as a whole is faster than any kansas has seen this year and they can fly.
offense is intact from last year with 8 different receivers and 6 running backs plus grothe. the guy can not only pass but run too. 6 of his passes last week went for over 40 yards. kicking game is a bit suspect.
hope the hawks pull it out but am holding my breathe.
usf has had this game circled on the calendar for a year and it is the talk of the town. ku must be ready. they are not playing conn. state or ls. tech.
game will be fun though and can't wait. looking forward to seeing all the hawk fans that make the trip.

September 10, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

FlaHawk (anonymous) says...

USF is very beatable. They are a good team, but very up and down. Hope they are down this Friday!

September 11, 2008 at 2:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )