As any Sunflower Broadband subscriber knows, Kansas University has, in fact, beaten Kansas State in a football game.
KUJH (Sunflower Broadband Channel 32) has been broadcasting KU’s 1992 victory against the Wildcats repeatedly for months along with about six other games from the Glen Mason era.
Perhaps that particular K-State game was chosen by KU’s student TV station because Kansas gained 451 total yards in a 31-7 victory while limiting KSU to 69 total yards, including minus-56 rushing yards.
Or maybe it’s the fact that the Jayhawks haven’t beaten the Wildcats since then.
“We thought we had all the answers and had it all figured out,” said KU assistant coach Clint Bowen, who was a junior safety on that 1992 squad. “We had it rolling that year and had a great game against Kansas State. At that time there was no indication we weren’t headed in the absolute right direction and had the edge on them. We haven’t had the same success against them since then.”
Mason defeated KSU in four of his first five meetings, but the Wildcats have won 10 straight heading into Saturday’s game at Manhattan. The last eight have been blowouts, none worse than last year’s 64-0 rout in Lawrence.
“That was a beating,” KU linebacker Nick Reid said. “There’s nothing more to say about it. They put it to us last year.”
KSU scored 30 points in the first quarter and led 43-0 at halftime.
“It all happened so fast,” Reid said. “I really don’t know what happened. They just jumped on us so fast. It’s hard to think about it.”
Reid, a sophomore from Derby, is one of 27 Kansans on KU’s roster. He’s well aware that the Jayhawks haven’t beaten their in-state rivals since he was 9. Kansas (5-2 overall, 2-1 Big 12 Conference) enters the game with a better record than Kansas State (5-3, 1-2), but the Wildcats still are prohibitive favorites.
“We’re definitely more confident this year,” Reid said. “We’re 5-2. That’s a good record, but we can’t overlook them because they did put it on us 64-0 last year.”
Kansas, which finished 2-10 last year, has turned things around with improved play from its returning players and an influx of newcomers. Eleven Jayhawks who did not play in last year’s blowout loss — including quarterback Bill Whittemore — were expected to start Saturday.
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“We’re a whole different team,” sophomore linebacker Brandon Perkins said. “We’re trying to put the past behind us.”
Freshman running back John Randle is one of the newcomers making an impact. The Wichita Southeast product will face the Wildcats, a team he spurned in recruiting, for the first time.
“I don’t think it really wears on anybody,” he said of KSU’s winning streak. “It didn’t wear on me, I’m here at KU. I want to make something happen here.”
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No change: Randle got the majority of the carries late in the Jayhawks’ 28-21 victory Saturday against Baylor, including the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. The backup finished with 55 yards on seven carries, compared to 41 yards on 11 carries for sophomore starter Clark Green.
KU coach Mark Mangino was pleased with Randle’s performance, but the coach said Green would start Saturday against K-State.
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Dirty job: Quarterback Ell Roberson and running back Darren Sproles provide Kansas State with a dangerous one-two punch. Both rank among the Big 12’s top-10 rushers.
Sophomore Greg Heaggans is playing the part of Roberson this week for KU’s scout-team offense, while red-shirt freshman Jon Cornish is acting as Sproles. They’re not easy jobs, considering KU is using live tackling during practice for the second straight week.
So did Heaggans and Cornish volunteer for their roles, or were they assigned?
“I asked them to volunteer,” Mangino quipped.
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Players of the week: Whittemore was named KU’s offensive player of the week after passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns against Baylor. Sophomore linebacker Banks Floodman took defensive honors after recording eight tackles, including a sack, and stopping Baylor’s final drive with an interception. Freshman Jerome Kemp was special-teams player of the week.
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Watkins watch: Kansas junior defensive tackle Travis Watkins had a soft cast removed from his broken foot last week, and the team captain has returned to practice.
“Travis was out on the field in a very limited way,” Mangino said. “We will be optimistic and say that there is a chance for Saturday, but don’t bet on him being out there. It’s highly unlikely he will play against Kansas State.”
Watkins was injured in preseason camp and has missed all seven games.
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Peterson picks Hogs: Former Kansas lineman Skye Peterson has made an oral commitment for play at Arkansas next season, according to rivals.com. Peterson, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound center from Little Rock, Ark., left KU last year and transferred to Mississippi Delta Community College.
