Whittemore leads KU to 36-7 victory over ISU

By Liz Heuben     Nov 22, 2003

Kansas University’s 36-7 victory over Iowa State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium couldn’t have played out — or turned out — much better.

Bill Whittemore, playing his first game in nearly a month, scored three touchdowns and led the Jayhawks to their sixth victory of the season, giving KU its first non-losing record since 1995.

“I’m very pleased and proud of our team,” KU head coach Mark Mangino said. “Our players … played very hard, played with a lot of emotion. I’m very pleased with the overall effort.”

The sixth win also made KU (6-6 overall, 3-5 Big 12 Conference) bowl eligible. Depending on the result of the Nebraska-Colorado and Texas-Texas A&M games Friday, the Jayhawks could be chosen for a bowl game, likely the Tangerine Bowl (Dec. 22 in Orlando) or the Fort Worth Bowl (Dec. 23).

“We’re confident we’re going to get an invitation somewhere,” Mangino said. “You got to get the invitation in your hand and they have to say it’s a done deal. I think it will be, but we’re not going to be presumptuous here.”

Whittemore was 18-of-28 passing for 221 yards and a touchdown, and rushed 21 times for 85 yards and two scores. The passing touchdown was his 16th of the season, a new KU record.

“It was nice to have Bill back for this game,” Mangino said. “There’s no substitute for experience. What Bill did today was something that only a coach can appreciate. Just an awesome job by Bill.”

Despite not playing since suffering an injury while playing against Kansas State on Oct. 25, Whittemore had the Jayhawks moving downfield on their opening drive before throwing an interception on his first deep pass.

ISU couldn’t capitalize, though, as Tony Yelk missed a 52-yard field goal attempt on the ensuing drive.

Five plays later, Whittemore hit Brandon Rideau for a 53-yard touchdown pass. Rideau broke two tackles on his way to the end zone, but Jerod Brooks’ extra-point kick was wide left, giving KU a 6-0 lead. The touchdown was Rideau’s sixth of the season, tying Dwayne Chandler’s school record for most TD catches by a junior.

Iowa State (2-9, 0-7) ran over and through KU’s defense, marching 82 yards in 12 plays. ISU quarterback Waye Terry finished the drive on a two-yard naked bootleg to the left, the Cyclones’ first rushing touchdown in four games. The run also gave ISU its first lead in a Big 12 game this season.

Neither team could do much on its next two drives, though KU did attempt a fake punt on fourth-and-six from midfield, but punter Curtis Ansel was dropped for a one-yard loss.

KU put another drive together as Whittemore showed his leadership by passing or running for 55 of KU’s 76 yards on the drive. He capped the possession with a 12-yard scoring run, and was 4-of-5 passing for 31 yards on the drive. The Jayhawks attempted a two-point conversion, but Whittemore’s pass to Rideau was incomplete.

Toomey stopped Austin Flynn, who had replaced Terry, on third-and-one on ISU’s next drive, and KU moved downfield, thanks to a 50-yard prayer from Whittemore to Gordon. The catch was the longest of Gordon’s career, but KU couldn’t take advantage as Johnny Beck missed a 32-yard field goal wide right. Iowa State then ran out the clock until halftime.

Despite outgaining ISU by 120 yards, 257-137, in the first half, the Jayhawks led by just five points, 12-7.

Almost all of ISU’s first-half yards, 125 of them, came in the first quarter. In fact, the Jayhawks shut down the Cyclones in the final three periods, holding them to just 51 yards on 40 plays.

Neither team could muster a first down on their first possession of the second half, but Iowa State moved across midfield on their next drive. Flynn threw deep to Lane Danielson on second-and-10 from KU’s 42-yard line, but Remuise Johnson knocked the pass away. Brandon Perkins sacked Flynn on third down, ending the drive. Yelk’s punt was downed at KU’s seven-yard line.

Ninety-three yards didn’t deter the Jayhawks, though, who moved downfield easily. Whittemore was 4-of-6 passing for 46 yards on the drive, which ended with a 28-yard field goal by Brooks.

The Jayhawks’ defense stepped up, intercepting Flynn on the next drive. Brandon Perkins hurried Flynn’s throw, which was picked off by Rodney Fowler, who replaced Jonathan Lamb at safety in the first half. KU capitalized three plays later on a two-yard scoring run by Green.

Whittemore added a short scoring run two possessions later. John Randle rushed four times for 33 yards on the drive.

One play after a late Ansel punt that was downed at ISU’s one-yard line, Fowler picked off a pass by Cris Love and returned it 10 yards for KU’s final touchdown.

Hopefully this is the beginning of a big career for Rodney,” Mangino said. “I’m really pleased for him. He’s so happy he’s in shock.”

Randle finished with 46 yards on six carries, and Green rushes 12 times for 40 yards. He also caught five passes for 33 yards.

Rideau also had five receptions, gaining 86 yards. Gordon finished with three catches for 73 yards.

Stevie Hicks led ISU with 62 rushing yards on 20 carries, but gained just 21 yards after the first quarter. Terry led ISU’s quarterbacks with 50 yards on 5-of-12 passing.

NOTES
¢ Whittemore’s three touchdowns gave him 25 this season, most ever by a KU quarterback. He now has 46 for his career, second-best at KU. He also moved into third place on KU’s single-season total offense list (2,592) and all-time career passing attempts list (333). The two touchdown runs moved him into a second-place tie with Bobby Douglass for most career scoring runs by a quarterback (20).

  • Defensive tackle Travis Watkins did not suit up. Watkins played last week against Oklahoma State for the first time all season after breaking a foot in preseason drills.
  • Tangerine Bowl scout Alex Tandy attended the game, and said the bowl also had a representative at today’s Texas Tech-Oklahoma game and would scout the Nebraska-Colorado contest next Friday. Atlantic Coast Conference teams being considered for the Orlando-based bowl include Maryland, Virginia, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State.
  • Tom Starr, a representative with the Fort Worth Bowl, said he was the only person scouting for the bowl today. Conference USA teams being considered for the bowl are Texas Christian, Houston, Louisville and possibly Memphis.
  • A Cotton Bowl representative also was on hand, though the bowl is not considering the Jayhawks.
  • The temperature at kickoff was 44 degrees, with a 5-mph wind out of the northeast.
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