Some questions answered in first game

By Alex Dufek

Originally published September 5, 2008 at midnight, updated September 8, 2008 at midnight

I entered Memorial Stadium last Saturday night with a number of questions swimming through my head. I walked out of the stadium with most of them answered.

I’m not sure how much one game can tell you about a player or team, kicker or punt return man, but a 47-yard field goal and a 75-yard punt return say something.

Some of the most intriguing questions raised during the offseason were answered by Kansas against FIU. Success from 2007 earns you nothing in 2008. Everything must be proven on the field.

No one knows how the season will shape up for the Jayhawks right now, but Saturday did prove a few things.

It appears the punt return position is settled. Daymond Patterson is all the player that head coach Mark Mangino and his teammates have hoped he would be. He is Kansas’ closest answer to Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin.

The kicker position no longer looks like an issue. Even with a missed extra point by Grady Fowler there should be no cause for alarm after watching Alonso Rojas boot in a pair of field goals, including an impressive 47-yard blast.

Anyone who wondered how the defense would handle the absence of former defensive coordinator Bill Young can put those worries to rest as well. Clint Bowen moved up the ranks and effortlessly filled in Young’s shoes. The defense looked every bit as tough and disciplined as it did in 2007.

The only position where questions still exist is at the running back spot. There are definitely enough able bodies, even with the departures of Donte Bean, Sean Ransburg and Carmon Boyd-Anderson in the weeks leading up to the first kick-off, but consistency was lacking on Kivisto Field Saturday night.

Jocques Crawford showed a few flashes of brilliance during the game and if he hadn’t tweaked his leg he might have been able to show more. Jake Sharp is still the first person I would want on the receiving end of a shovel pass, but the game showed that he is still best in a running back by committee situation. The underdog, so to speak, is Angus Quigley.

Quigley looked impressive in the 6:25 he was allotted during the fourth quarter. He marched the Hawks all the way down the field, rushing six times and catching three passes for 71 all-purpose yards. Quigley can’t choose how many minutes he gets or when he gets them, but if he keeps producing like he did on Saturday, I think you will see a lot more of Angus.

The only thing that looked like a certain indicator of a great season, other than Todd Reesing, was the fan turnout. 52,112 people came out in their crimson and blue to break the KU football attendance record. Although the crowd started to look spotty halfway through the third quarter, the support was still strong. Last year 46,815 people showed up for Kansas’ debut against 2007 MAC champion Central Michigan. That number seemed large then but things have changed quite a bit in Lawrence over a year’s time.

It goes without saying that plenty of new questions will arise for Kansas as the season progresses, but for now at least, the Jayhawk faithful can be content with the direction the 2008 season is heading.

— — Edited by Arthur Hur

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