BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Bright spots for Kansas were as rare as an Alabama snowstorm in the Hall of Fame Bowl here Thursday.
The Jayhawks wrapped up the old year with a 10-0 loss to Mississippi State, but 1982 has arrived and so, perhaps, has Mike Frederick.
Frederick is a spindly-legged 6-1, 165-pound freshman quarterback for the Jayhawks who received his college football baptismal against the Bulldogs.
Oh, Frederick had played a couple of minutes against Colorado during the regular season, but Thursday was his first real opportunity under fire.
“I was nervous all right,” said the young Miami native, “but coach Don Fambrough gave him another chance with 1:29 remaining in the game.
He almost led the Jayhawks to a touchdown. First, he hit Wayne Capers for 45 yards and then connected with Bob Johnson for 19 and eight yards on successive plays.
Moment’s later, Frederick passed to Garfield Taylor for nine yards to the MSU five. Time ran out as he was sacked on the next play, but Mississippi State had too many men on the field and the ball was moved to the two-yard line for one more play with :00 on the scoreboard.
Frederick tried to hit Johnson in the corner of the end zone. He missed.
“He (Johnson) ran an out pattern and he was supposed to run a fade,” Frederick explained, “so I just threw the ball and it went in the ground.”
No, the Jayhawks didn’t score, but Frederick showed enough stuff to attract Fambrough’s attention.
I wouldn’t criticize him, no way,” Fambrough said. “All he needs is to play. I feel good about having him and Seurer (Frank) next year.”
With Seurer sidelined with a bad elbow, Fambrough had moved Frederick, a junior varsity signal-caller this season, up behind veteran Steve Smith.
Smith struggled so Fambrough went to Frederick.
“I was just trying to establish some offense,” the KU coach said. “It was obvious we didn’t have anything going. Frederick’s just a freshman and it wouldn’t have surprised me if he’d thrown his first pass into the press box.”
Frederick missed the press box by plenty, completing seven of nine aerials for 110 yards. His only problem was waiting too long to throw at times. He was sacked on five occasions.
If Frederick is KU’s New Year’s baby, then Smith, a fifth-year senior, was Old Man 1981. His career ended Thursday and, it goes without saying, not in the fashion he preferred.
“For me, this was something more than another game,” Smith said softly.
“Later we’ll look back on it and not feel too bad, but that doesn’t help me right now.”
Offensive guard David Lawrence, Smith’s roommate for the last five years, knew what was racing through his friend’s mind.
“I really feel for him,” Lawrence said, looking over toward where Smith was dressing. “He didn’t up any more than the offensive linemen, the running backs or the receivers. He just stands out because he plays quarterback.
“I’ll tell you, no one is a better leader or person than Steve Smith and I think everyone in Lawrence, Kansas, knows that.”
