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Montemayor: Expectations need readjusting

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By Stephen Montemayor

Monday, November 2, 2009

Down by two scores with more than seven minutes left in the game, Todd Reesing — the quarterback of myriad miraculous comebacks — was benched.

Let that simmer for a moment.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Kale Pick supplanted the man who floated the game-winner in the snow at Arrowhead Stadium a year ago in the Border Showdown. Nearly every notable school passing record stood on the sideline, helmet unsnapped and pulled above his forehead.

Joining Reesing on the bench were the expectations of what the culmination of the respective careers from one of the program’s more distinguished senior classes would entail.

Texas Tech 42, Kansas 21.

The quarterback that engineered a historic 12-1 Orange Bowl season as a sophomore, the senior wide receiver who humbly accepted being replaced as signal caller and the junior pass catcher who seemed a lock for an NFL roster spot were among those who again were humbled and at times embarrassed.

Kansas’ preseason slogan “History Awaits” may need amending as hopes of a Big 12 North title — and higher aspirations — are all but history.

That’s not to say flashes of the magic we’ve come to expect weren’t still there Saturday. The game was tied at halftime as well as with a little more than 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

In the second quarter, Reesing took on Texas Tech’s Jamar Wall, absorbed a tackle that sent him backwards, and, in a move reminiscent of a play in last year’s Nebraska loss, stayed upright and finished a 12-yard run.

Late in the third quarter, Reesing spun out of what seemed a sure sack before zipping a pass to a completely uncovered Dezmon Briscoe in the end zone. It put Kansas up momentarily. It was also the last time Kansas would score.

For as refreshing it was to see those plays after the last two weeks of shaky starts and troubling performances by Kansas’ offense, any relief was short-lived.

See, for as tenured as the players on billboards and media guides promoting the team are, inexperience still troubles the offensive line. It’s why Reesing is constantly under pressure, oftentimes on the receiving end of a crushing hit by a man twice his size. It is also why a (listed) 5-foot-11 quarterback is suddenly getting passes tipped by 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-8 defensive linemen.

But as coach Mark Mangino alluded to in his post-game remarks, it’s not only Todd who has been afflicted. Saturday’s game became Hell on Halloween for everyone. Kerry Meier — who entered the game averaging 8.9 receptions-per-game (second in the NCAA) — didn’t catch a pass until a key third-down grab more than halfway through the third quarter. But with Pick later behind center — after Reesing, trying to lead a comeback, fumbled a snap that extended the Red Raiders’ lead — he dropped a key third-down pass. Meier also fumbled with the score tied earlier in the quarter to later relinquish his team’s gridlock.

And Briscoe’s drops continued. And Jake Sharp is a step slower than what he was at the season’s start. And the running game overall averaged just 2.2 yards per rush. And so on.

Kansas will likely be the underdog when it travels to Manhattan this Saturday. There’s been nothing to suggest that it shouldn’t be. The Wildcats dropped 30 points on a Sooners defense that nearly held Kansas without an offensive score Oct. 24.

Maybe it’s time we readjust our expectations.

— Edited by Amanda Thompson

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