**7:36 p.m.**: **_A couple of postgame nuggets…_****-Well, KU passed the first** true test this year in terms of holding on to a rather decent fourth quarter lead against a conference opponent. A year ago, there was a laundry list of blown opportunities – shoulda, coulda, wouldas.Tonight, KU did cease one late score, but the defense forced a big four-and-out against Cody Hawkins’ fledgling offensive unit.This win is by far KU’s most important one yet.**-You’ve got to be impressed by the fact that** despite these two big conference road wins now under the Jayhawks’ belts, their demeanor still hasn’t been swayed. They’re not deer in the headlights.Aqib Talib pointed out that Mark Mangino has a speech laid out every week to make sure this team stays as grounded as possible.The way the guys speak with the media after the games is the same now as it was after the Jayhawks dumped Central Michigan in the season opener. That says a lot in terms of maturity.**-Something many had forgotten about**, which was asked of Mangino after the game, is how important it’s been to the Jayhawks’ success this year to have one healthy quarterback all the way so far (knock on wood, Jayhawk fans).It’s maybe been mildly overlooked, but the team has found a nice rhythm and togetherness, if that makes any sense at all.It was fun. I’ll see you again during the week for more in The Greene Room. Peace.**6:15 p.m.**: As I said to Wood after KU scored to go up 19-7, this is where KU can prove for the first time that it has grown up from a year ago by _protecting_ a decent fourth quarter lead.The Jayhawks got off to a good start by forcing CU into a turnover on downs. Joe Mortensen might haunt Cody Hawkins’ conscience after blowing him up right after throwing an incompletion on fourth down.This would be a good place to give the ball to Brandon McAnderson…over and over and over and over and ov…you get the point.**5:34 p.m.**: Ryan Wood has been famous all week, at work at least, for being completely on the fence in terms of who to pick in this game.He decided that if CU scored on the second half’s opening possession, he’d pick them. If KU stopped them, he’d pick the Jayhawks. His reasoning? His ‘behind’ hurt.Anyways, Colorado did score after a costly defensive delay of game call. The call was the result of KU’s defense lining up over the head of Colorado’s long snapper, for clarification.But KU’s answer was huge. The Jayhawks might have been in trouble if not for a greasy-fast 1:23 drive resulting in a two-yard touchdown plunge by Jake Sharp. Marcus Henry made up for a big fumble in the first half with a very tough 27-yard catch over the middle, fighting endlessly for extra yardage to get inside the Colorado five-yard line.**5:06 p.m.**: **_A couple of halftime observations…_****-What a weird half**. Between blown opportunities on offense on both sides, it’s hard to argue that either team could be ahead big right now. It truly is an even game and a new one, at that, for the second half, despite KU having a 3-0 lead.**-Anthony Webb looks to be** the closest thing KU will have to a consistent punt returner this year. Even though sometimes he may not fair catch the ball when he should (twice today, twice last week), he at least holds onto the ball, as Ryan Wood pointed out.**-Marcus Henry is still** having a problem holding onto the ball. This time he caught it, but a fumble late in the first half almost let Colorado tie it up.**-It’ll be fun to ask James McClinton** just what he was thinking when he picked off Cody Hawkins’ third-and-short pass at the end of the half. He may have been thinking six. While it may have been a better move to fall on it, it at least didn’t come back to bite the Jayhawks.**-Finally, KU needs to create some separation to rid memories of** the fourth-and-two issue in the second quarter. Of course hindsight is 20-20 (just ask Dr. Farthing), but KU may have wanted to run the ball on one of its three plays facing two yards to go for a first down deep in Colorado territory. The result was three straight incompletions. If KU goes on to win, it won’t matter. If not, it might be a sore spot afterwards. Time will tell.**_Personally, I think the key to KU getting things going_** in the second half will be putting the ball in the hands of Dexton Fields. He’s been KU’s best possession receiver so far, and has yet to catch a ball (don’t even think he’s been thrown to yet.He could be useful in helping KU chip away at the CU defense.**4:24 p.m.**: It’s been hard to second-guess Mark Mangino’s tendencies to go for it on fourth downs this year when facing short yardage situations. It still is.But it was interesting the take the Jayhawks took from the Colorado 30 this time. Facing a second-and-two, KU ran three straight unsuccessful pass plays, leading to a turnover on downs.With Brandon McAnderson in the game, it’s tough to justify not running up the middle at least once, but if KU’s defense holds up yet again, it could turn out to be a moot point in the long run.**4:07 p.m.**: Well, Todd Reesing seems automatic to get a huge run against Colorado. He’s now two-for-two.It was hard to think he could top last year’s 65-yard scamper, but he just ripped off a 53-yarder which could prove to be much more significant.With KU’s offense desperately needing a spark, he slipped between two potential sackers, threw a vicious pump-fake on Ben Burney to fake him out of his Nikes, and slid downfield for said 53-yard gain.Derek Fine deserves a gold star for a downfield block to allow Reesing about 15 extra yards towards play’s end.Great play.**3:49 p.m.**: It’s starting to look like KU just wasn’t meant to have a consistent punt return game this season.In Anthony Webb’s first crack with the starting position, he fielded a punt inside his own five-yard line, which is an eternal special teams no-no. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, given his two ill-advised non-fair catches a week ago against Baylor.Mark Mangino got on him a bit on the sideline. It’ll be an adventure, as always, to see the sophomore’s next crack at it.**2:46 p.m.**: We’re sitting here now in Folsom Field – without question the Big 12’s most scenic and beautiful location.It’s going to be even more unique in about an hour, when this place is packed and loud for a game which will be pivotal in determining who has true control of the Big 12 North.**_Some early observations…_****-An early giggle**: The 11 Colorado students in the first row at the 30-yard line trying to spell “CU BUFFALOES” on their chests. Not all of them are here, and they’re out of order. Right now it reads: CU EBFOLAS. Entertaining.**-You’ve got to appreciate** a college football stadium with its football complex at one of the end zones, towering above the stands. It’s just a ‘college stadium’ look. Pretty neat.**-Ralphie’s chillin’** behind the end zone. His [running out of the tunnel][1] with the team is one of college football’s coolest traditions.**-No notable roster changes** as far as who’s dressed out today. Anthony Webb looked comfortable, however, returning punts in warmups. Or fielding them at least. Let’s see how that holds up with a couple of gunners running at him. One thing is for sure, though, and that’s the fact that he has some electricity to him. If he gets a couple of shots at runbacks, he could make some things happen.**-Finally**: The media has not been affected by the altitude yet. Ryan Wood’s concern about writing in the thin air doesn’t seemed to have been a problem…yet.See you after kickoff. [1]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss_8c1unj1s&mode=related&search=
