Wednesday, September 12, 2007
What a boring start to the football season this year. First, the Jayhawks had a couple of blowouts, scoring 52 points in game one against Central Michigan and a measly 62 against Southeastern Louisiana. Second, there’s no quarterback controversy, or at least not yet. I could start one, but won’t because Todd Reesing is really good.
So is that a bad thing? Kansas hasn’t played the most highly touted teams, but they haven’t even come close to pulling a Michigan either ... knock on wood.
This Saturday when Toledo comes to Memorial Stadium the thousands in attendance will expect another “easy” win. I know I do.
The same goes for next week’s opponent Florida International. The only way the Panthers have a shot is if Alex Galindo decides to be quarterback for a game.
Everyone says the Jayhawks have a weak non-conference schedule and should have had some kind of a challenge to prepare them for their Big 12 conference schedule. But who is to say that these games aren’t helping them?
The Kansas defense has only allowed seven points in two games and the offense is averaging 519 yards per game. It makes no difference who Kansas played, if the defense can hold two different teams to seven points or less and the offense puts up 14 touchdowns in two games, something must be working right.
The Jayhawks haven’t started a season 4-0 since 1995, which was 12 long years ago thanks to a setback by one Terry Allen. This could be the year that the slump is finally broken. Kansas should have a perfect record going into its first conference game against Kansas State.
With an extra week to prepare for the Wildcats, the Jayhawks have every right to think that far less things can be achieved. Every week each player spouts the cliché that they are taking things one game at a time and not looking toward the future. But Oct. 6 has to be in the back of their minds. If they won’t talk about the next important game, I will.
Last year, KU beat Kansas State easily in a 39-20 victory. It might not be as easy this year, but there isn’t any reason why the Jayhawks shouldn’t win.
The next two weeks will be fun to watch as the football team racks up points like it has been. In the meantime, despite the schedule, at least we know we aren’t winless like a couple of supposed football powerhouses, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Kansan sports columnist Erica Johnson can be reached at ejohnson@kansan.com.
— Edited by Luke Morris
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