Thad Allender/Journal-World PhotoTechnically, last weekend was Senior Day for Kansas University’s football team, and truth be told Saturday’s game probably should have been a tribute to interim head coach Tom Hayes for his role the final three weeks.
Hayes, however, wouldn’t hear of it.
“The game wasn’t dedicated to coach Hayes, it was mainly to the seniors,” KU senior linebacker Algie Atkinson said following the Jayhawks’ season-ending 27-14 victory over Wyoming at Memorial Stadium. “He brought us all up and dedicated the game to the seniors, knowing it was going to be our last game, and he wanted us to come away with a win.
“We just had a focus and a goal, more unity among the team.”
There were 17 seniors playing their final game for the Jayhawks (3-8), but chances are at least a couple of them haven’t suited for the last time.
Like Atkinson, for example.
“He’s a talented player, and I’ve said this all along,” Hayes said. “He presents so many problems for an offensive team. He’s got great speed and great size, which is a rare combination a guy that’s 6-4-plus, 245-plus and can run as fast as he can run.
“He can drop in coverage, rush the passer. He’s a multi-talented guy. He’s got a bright future, I believe, in front of him.”
Atkinson’s past wasn’t too shabby, either. He capped his KU career with two sacks on Saturday, bringing his school-record total to 23. He also finished second all-time on the single-season list with 10 sacks and was tied for third with 17 tackles for a loss.
Atkinson became the school’s all-time sackmaster on a joint effort with freshman linebacker Banks Floodman last week against Iowa State.
“I didn’t want there to be any speculation or any uncertainty about my sack record,” Atkinson said. “I knew they were going to pass the ball a lot and there was going to be a lot of opportunities to get some sacks. It just turned out that I made a couple of plays out there.”
Perhaps even more important than the record, though, was that the seniors were able to go out with a victory something that was hard to come by during a 3-8 season and 21-35 five-year span.
“It felt good to get a win,” KU senior defensive tackle Nate Dwyer said, “even though they’ve been few and far between.”
Added Atkinson, “It leaves a good taste in your mouth. We didn’t have too good of a season. A lot of people remember their last game. I’ll remember my last game was a win.”
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, not many other people witnessed the win, let alone will remember it. The official paid attendance was 24,000, but the actual crowd estimated between 6,000 and 15,000 could have fit comfortably into Allen Fieldhouse.
“It was a lot different, but we expected it,” KU senior cornerback Andrew Davison said of the turnout. “I probably would have felt the same way if I was a fan that team’s been losing for years and years, it’s the last game, holiday weekend. I don’t blame people. We know the true fans are going to be there in and out of the rough times.
“We expected it and it probably made it a little better because there was no pressure on us. We just went out there and had fun and played as a team. That’s what we did today and got the win.”
On offense the Jayhawks finished with a season-best 451 total yards, while the defense held the high-flying Cowboys to 286. Kansas also had five sacks and an interception.
“I think guys were more focused than they’ve been,” Davison said. “Maybe the team, knowing it was the seniors’ last game, guys played a little harder today. Everything was clicking today. The offense was moving the ball, the defense was shutting them down.
“It was just our day today.”
And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jayhawks.
“It was great, the perfect way to end the season,” KU senior right tackle Justin Hartwig said. “It was a disappointing season. It wasn’t the answer to the whole season, but it made it easier. It’s great to go out with a win. It was kind of hard to get up, but we knew it was our last game so we just went out and had fun.
“It was the first time in months we had fun playing football.”
Thad Allender/Journal-World PhotoTechnically, last weekend was Senior Day for Kansas University’s football team, and truth be told Saturday’s game probably should have been a tribute to interim head coach Tom Hayes for his role the final three weeks.
Hayes, however, wouldn’t hear of it.
“The game wasn’t dedicated to coach Hayes, it was mainly to the seniors,” KU senior linebacker Algie Atkinson said following the Jayhawks’ season-ending 27-14 victory over Wyoming at Memorial Stadium. “He brought us all up and dedicated the game to the seniors, knowing it was going to be our last game, and he wanted us to come away with a win.
“We just had a focus and a goal, more unity among the team.”
There were 17 seniors playing their final game for the Jayhawks (3-8), but chances are at least a couple of them haven’t suited for the last time.
Like Atkinson, for example.
“He’s a talented player, and I’ve said this all along,” Hayes said. “He presents so many problems for an offensive team. He’s got great speed and great size, which is a rare combination a guy that’s 6-4-plus, 245-plus and can run as fast as he can run.
“He can drop in coverage, rush the passer. He’s a multi-talented guy. He’s got a bright future, I believe, in front of him.”
Atkinson’s past wasn’t too shabby, either. He capped his KU career with two sacks on Saturday, bringing his school-record total to 23. He also finished second all-time on the single-season list with 10 sacks and was tied for third with 17 tackles for a loss.
Atkinson became the school’s all-time sackmaster on a joint effort with freshman linebacker Banks Floodman last week against Iowa State.
“I didn’t want there to be any speculation or any uncertainty about my sack record,” Atkinson said. “I knew they were going to pass the ball a lot and there was going to be a lot of opportunities to get some sacks. It just turned out that I made a couple of plays out there.”
Perhaps even more important than the record, though, was that the seniors were able to go out with a victory something that was hard to come by during a 3-8 season and 21-35 five-year span.
“It felt good to get a win,” KU senior defensive tackle Nate Dwyer said, “even though they’ve been few and far between.”
Added Atkinson, “It leaves a good taste in your mouth. We didn’t have too good of a season. A lot of people remember their last game. I’ll remember my last game was a win.”
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, not many other people witnessed the win, let alone will remember it. The official paid attendance was 24,000, but the actual crowd estimated between 6,000 and 15,000 could have fit comfortably into Allen Fieldhouse.
“It was a lot different, but we expected it,” KU senior cornerback Andrew Davison said of the turnout. “I probably would have felt the same way if I was a fan that team’s been losing for years and years, it’s the last game, holiday weekend. I don’t blame people. We know the true fans are going to be there in and out of the rough times.
“We expected it and it probably made it a little better because there was no pressure on us. We just went out there and had fun and played as a team. That’s what we did today and got the win.”
On offense the Jayhawks finished with a season-best 451 total yards, while the defense held the high-flying Cowboys to 286. Kansas also had five sacks and an interception.
“I think guys were more focused than they’ve been,” Davison said. “Maybe the team, knowing it was the seniors’ last game, guys played a little harder today. Everything was clicking today. The offense was moving the ball, the defense was shutting them down.
“It was just our day today.”
And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jayhawks.
“It was great, the perfect way to end the season,” KU senior right tackle Justin Hartwig said. “It was a disappointing season. It wasn’t the answer to the whole season, but it made it easier. It’s great to go out with a win. It was kind of hard to get up, but we knew it was our last game so we just went out and had fun.
“It was the first time in months we had fun playing football.”
Thad Allender/Journal-World PhotoTechnically, last weekend was Senior Day for Kansas University’s football team, and truth be told Saturday’s game probably should have been a tribute to interim head coach Tom Hayes for his role the final three weeks.
Hayes, however, wouldn’t hear of it.
“The game wasn’t dedicated to coach Hayes, it was mainly to the seniors,” KU senior linebacker Algie Atkinson said following the Jayhawks’ season-ending 27-14 victory over Wyoming at Memorial Stadium. “He brought us all up and dedicated the game to the seniors, knowing it was going to be our last game, and he wanted us to come away with a win.
“We just had a focus and a goal, more unity among the team.”
There were 17 seniors playing their final game for the Jayhawks (3-8), but chances are at least a couple of them haven’t suited for the last time.
Like Atkinson, for example.
“He’s a talented player, and I’ve said this all along,” Hayes said. “He presents so many problems for an offensive team. He’s got great speed and great size, which is a rare combination a guy that’s 6-4-plus, 245-plus and can run as fast as he can run.
“He can drop in coverage, rush the passer. He’s a multi-talented guy. He’s got a bright future, I believe, in front of him.”
Atkinson’s past wasn’t too shabby, either. He capped his KU career with two sacks on Saturday, bringing his school-record total to 23. He also finished second all-time on the single-season list with 10 sacks and was tied for third with 17 tackles for a loss.
Atkinson became the school’s all-time sackmaster on a joint effort with freshman linebacker Banks Floodman last week against Iowa State.
“I didn’t want there to be any speculation or any uncertainty about my sack record,” Atkinson said. “I knew they were going to pass the ball a lot and there was going to be a lot of opportunities to get some sacks. It just turned out that I made a couple of plays out there.”
Perhaps even more important than the record, though, was that the seniors were able to go out with a victory something that was hard to come by during a 3-8 season and 21-35 five-year span.
“It felt good to get a win,” KU senior defensive tackle Nate Dwyer said, “even though they’ve been few and far between.”
Added Atkinson, “It leaves a good taste in your mouth. We didn’t have too good of a season. A lot of people remember their last game. I’ll remember my last game was a win.”
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, not many other people witnessed the win, let alone will remember it. The official paid attendance was 24,000, but the actual crowd estimated between 6,000 and 15,000 could have fit comfortably into Allen Fieldhouse.
“It was a lot different, but we expected it,” KU senior cornerback Andrew Davison said of the turnout. “I probably would have felt the same way if I was a fan that team’s been losing for years and years, it’s the last game, holiday weekend. I don’t blame people. We know the true fans are going to be there in and out of the rough times.
“We expected it and it probably made it a little better because there was no pressure on us. We just went out there and had fun and played as a team. That’s what we did today and got the win.”
On offense the Jayhawks finished with a season-best 451 total yards, while the defense held the high-flying Cowboys to 286. Kansas also had five sacks and an interception.
“I think guys were more focused than they’ve been,” Davison said. “Maybe the team, knowing it was the seniors’ last game, guys played a little harder today. Everything was clicking today. The offense was moving the ball, the defense was shutting them down.
“It was just our day today.”
And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jayhawks.
“It was great, the perfect way to end the season,” KU senior right tackle Justin Hartwig said. “It was a disappointing season. It wasn’t the answer to the whole season, but it made it easier. It’s great to go out with a win. It was kind of hard to get up, but we knew it was our last game so we just went out and had fun.
“It was the first time in months we had fun playing football.”
Thad Allender/Journal-World PhotoTechnically, last weekend was Senior Day for Kansas University’s football team, and truth be told Saturday’s game probably should have been a tribute to interim head coach Tom Hayes for his role the final three weeks.
Hayes, however, wouldn’t hear of it.
“The game wasn’t dedicated to coach Hayes, it was mainly to the seniors,” KU senior linebacker Algie Atkinson said following the Jayhawks’ season-ending 27-14 victory over Wyoming at Memorial Stadium. “He brought us all up and dedicated the game to the seniors, knowing it was going to be our last game, and he wanted us to come away with a win.
“We just had a focus and a goal, more unity among the team.”
There were 17 seniors playing their final game for the Jayhawks (3-8), but chances are at least a couple of them haven’t suited for the last time.
Like Atkinson, for example.
“He’s a talented player, and I’ve said this all along,” Hayes said. “He presents so many problems for an offensive team. He’s got great speed and great size, which is a rare combination a guy that’s 6-4-plus, 245-plus and can run as fast as he can run.
“He can drop in coverage, rush the passer. He’s a multi-talented guy. He’s got a bright future, I believe, in front of him.”
Atkinson’s past wasn’t too shabby, either. He capped his KU career with two sacks on Saturday, bringing his school-record total to 23. He also finished second all-time on the single-season list with 10 sacks and was tied for third with 17 tackles for a loss.
Atkinson became the school’s all-time sackmaster on a joint effort with freshman linebacker Banks Floodman last week against Iowa State.
“I didn’t want there to be any speculation or any uncertainty about my sack record,” Atkinson said. “I knew they were going to pass the ball a lot and there was going to be a lot of opportunities to get some sacks. It just turned out that I made a couple of plays out there.”
Perhaps even more important than the record, though, was that the seniors were able to go out with a victory something that was hard to come by during a 3-8 season and 21-35 five-year span.
“It felt good to get a win,” KU senior defensive tackle Nate Dwyer said, “even though they’ve been few and far between.”
Added Atkinson, “It leaves a good taste in your mouth. We didn’t have too good of a season. A lot of people remember their last game. I’ll remember my last game was a win.”
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, not many other people witnessed the win, let alone will remember it. The official paid attendance was 24,000, but the actual crowd estimated between 6,000 and 15,000 could have fit comfortably into Allen Fieldhouse.
“It was a lot different, but we expected it,” KU senior cornerback Andrew Davison said of the turnout. “I probably would have felt the same way if I was a fan that team’s been losing for years and years, it’s the last game, holiday weekend. I don’t blame people. We know the true fans are going to be there in and out of the rough times.
“We expected it and it probably made it a little better because there was no pressure on us. We just went out there and had fun and played as a team. That’s what we did today and got the win.”
On offense the Jayhawks finished with a season-best 451 total yards, while the defense held the high-flying Cowboys to 286. Kansas also had five sacks and an interception.
“I think guys were more focused than they’ve been,” Davison said. “Maybe the team, knowing it was the seniors’ last game, guys played a little harder today. Everything was clicking today. The offense was moving the ball, the defense was shutting them down.
“It was just our day today.”
And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jayhawks.
“It was great, the perfect way to end the season,” KU senior right tackle Justin Hartwig said. “It was a disappointing season. It wasn’t the answer to the whole season, but it made it easier. It’s great to go out with a win. It was kind of hard to get up, but we knew it was our last game so we just went out and had fun.
“It was the first time in months we had fun playing football.”
