Back-to-back bowl victories football’s goal

By B.J. Rains

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

Comments

KU62 (anonymous) says...

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!

December 11, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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