Thursday, December 11, 2008
They sat and watched, but there wasn’t much they could do.
Members of the Kansas football team, fresh off a 40-37 upset of No. 12 Missouri two weeks ago, watched the Tigers face the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship — the game they wanted to be in.
After last year’s 12-1 season, reaching the Big 12 Title game in 2008 was the team’s goal. It failed.
“It was frustrating watching the Big 12 Championship,” safety Justin Thornton said. “We were one game away and it was a game that we all feel like we could have won. But that’s the way the cookie crumbles and that’s how the season went. We’re looking to finish strong though.”
Thornton and the Jayhawks will get a chance to finish strong when they face off against Minnesota on New Year’s Eve in the Insight Bowl. It’s not a BCS bowl and they aren’t receiving any of the national attention they did a year ago — but that doesn’t mean the Jayhawks don’t have much to play for.
The Jayhawks could win eight games while playing one of the hardest schedules in the nation. They could win 20 games in a two-year span and could become the first team in school history to win bowl games in back-to-back years.
“Our class wants to leave a legacy here,” linebacker Joe Mortensen said. “We want to win this game. Especially us seniors, we want to finish out on top. We want to win back-to-back bowl games so bad.”
Minnesota finished 7-5 on the season and 3-5 in the Big Ten but lost four consecutive games to end the season. They are led by wide receiver Erick Decker, who was a First-Team All-Big Ten selection, led the Big Ten in receptions per game and was number two in receiving yards per game. His 76 receptions were a Golden Gopher single-season record.
Decker also stars on the school’s baseball team, hitting .329 with 7 doubles, four triples and three home runs last season as Minnesota’s starting left fielder.
“He’s like Bo Jackson,” Mortensen said of comparing Decker with the former pro two-way star. “Watching on him film, he can definitely make some plays. He’s a great wide receiver. It’s going to be a great challenge for our defense to stop him.”
Kansas has 20 more days to both prepare for Decker, to rest and to heal some nagging injuries before it faces Minnesota. Quarterback Todd Reesing, running back Jake Sharp and wide receiver Kerry Meier all played at less than 100 percent against the Tigers but were able to contribute to a victory.
It wasn’t the season they had hoped for, but the Jayhawks enter as 10-point favorites and appear set to finish on a winning note.
“This year we’ve just battled through with guys getting banged up,” said defensive tackle Caleb Blakesley. “But we’re fighting and we’re going to go out and finish this season on top.”
— — Edited by Brenna Hawley
Minnesota ready for shot at redemption
After a disastrous end to the regular season, the Golden Gophers are ...
Gopher receiver to choose NFL or MLB
Minnesota receiver Eric Decker is the Big Ten's top receiver, but he ...
Jayhawks will face Minnesota in the Insight ...
Kansas will take on the Golden Gophers at the New Year’s Eve ...
Blog: The Hot Route
The Hot Route gives you 10 reasons why Minnesota could pull off ...
Bowl destination becoming clearer for Jayhawks
Kansas will most likely be heading to Arizona for the Insight Bowl ...
Minnesota's 'scrappy' game lacks wow factor
Underdog Minnesota doesn't bring much firepower into the Insight Bowl, but Kansas ...
Morning Brew: Linebackers awaits bowl destination, beards?
Kansas linebackers, Joe Mortensen and Mike Rivera, along with teammates waits for ...
Padway: Sooners' victory one for the Big ...
Despite Oklahoma’s unsuccessful season, the team came through to defend against Big ...
Kansas defeats Minnesota 42-21
Dezmon Briscoe earned Offensive MVP honors with 14 catches for 201 yards ...
Volleyball close to national rank
After receiving AVCA votes, only three unranked teams stand between Kansas and ...
Simple game plan the key to victory
Minnesota knows it must play perfect game to pick off favorite Kansas.
Volleyball seeks redemption at Oklahoma
A strong record but no conference wins means the Jayhawks will be ...
Jayhawks ensure spot in bowl game
Last season, after finishing 6-6, the Kansas football team was not selected ...
Big 12 Media Day: Overview of Big ...
See how next Football seasons looks before it starts.
Kansas hopes to win Big 12 North
Charles Gordon makes Viking-sized return
The former Jayhawk football player has realized his dream and is returning ...
Bowls put Big 12 rep on the ...
The Big 12 should have an easy ride, but one upset could ...
Robinett: Hawks have new confidence
In past years, the football team would never have fought back from ...
Big 12 North football previews
Big 12 North football previews for Nebraska, Iowa State, Colorado, Missouri and ...
Longhorns ready for long haul
Football: Big 12 South Preview
Here is a preview of Big 12 South teams and the up ...
Kansas controls its destiny after Texas loss
Kansas defeated Oklahoma 82-70, but the bigger victory for the Jayhawks was ...
Dufek: How Kansas could keep the ball ...
Kansas football shouldn’t dwell on the past but should instead look to ...
Big 12 play proves tough for top-ranked ...
Players buckle down as Kansas approaches conference games.
Appalachian State raises more questions about ranking ...
At the end of each college football season, a normally controversial bowl ...
Sayers recognized for lifetime achievement
Lew Perkins and Brandon Rush also received awards from the Kansas City ...
Gore finally breaks out in week 12
Fantasy owners had been wondering what happened to Chad Johnson, Frank Gore, ...
Gill has high hopes, but are they ...
Despite a difficult season ahead, the Jayhawks still seem to ‘Believe.’
FAU hopes tough secondary, experienced coach can ...
Holt will play in collegiate all-star game
Senior linebacker hopes to impress NFL scouts at the Western Refining Texas ...
Fun in the sun
Coach Mark Mangino is pleased with Kansas' ability to balance business and ...
Returning players secure a strong offense
Proven playmakers will provide a good backbone to this year’s football team.
Tigers shoot for North Division Title
Missouri started 6-0 last season but dropped five of their next seven ...
Senior moment
Kansas' seniors rise to the occasion and end stellar careers with a ...
Robinett: Jayhawks make statement
Kansas turned the corner as a football program with its 30-24 win ...
Insight Bowl most likely scenario for Jayhawks
Why Kansas fans should prepare for a New Year’s Eve in Phoenix.
Wheeler: College postseason should be tournament
With consistent upsets of unranked teams beating college football powerhouses this season, ...
Jayhawks reflect on season, losing streak
After Nebraska defeated Kansas 31-17, players called fifth-straight loss “frustrating” and “disappointing.”
Men's Big 12 teams in Review
Johnson: What a season
Kansan columnist Erica Johnson revisits the best memories from Kansas football’s historic ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Back-to-back bowl victories football’s goal
Not a top-of-the-list bowl like last year, but not bottom-of-the-barrel, either. This year's Jayhawks were challenged by a much heavier schedule, suffered far more from injuries, yet still managed another step in the program's determined progress to the upper echelon of CFB. Especially the seniors deserve all our heartfelt thanks and best wishes in their future endeavors. Hoping for another strong outing New Years Eve in Tempe.
ROCK CHALK! GO 'HAWKS!
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID