Senior linebacker Arist Wright forces a fumble on Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen before being recovered by sophomore nickel back Ryan Murphy. The Jayhawks take on Kansas State Saturday and will need to win to keep hopes of winning the Big 12 North alive.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen certainly understands the quick-changing nature of college football.
Four weeks ago, after a disappointing performance in a 41-36 victory against Iowa State, Bowen was relegated to answering questions about Kansas’ defensive problems. Not much was positive.
But in the last two weeks the questions tossed Bowen’s way were far more optimistic as Kansas’ defense has steadily progressed since the Iowa State game.
If there is one lesson Bowen has fully grasped this season, it’s that life in the Big 12 North can change as quickly as the Kansas weather.
“It’s kind of proven to be a wacky year in the Big 12,” Bowen said. “It’s week to week, play to play right now. That’s what we tell our kids. There’s no time to relax in this conference right now.”
He continued with his explanation of Kansas’ current situation before adding this:
“We have to play it like it’s the last play of the Super Bowl.”
NEXT UP
Football vs. Kansas State
WHERE: Manhattan
WHEN: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
TV: Versus
RADIO: 105.9 F.M., 1320 A.M.
As Kansas prepares to travel to Kansas State this Saturday, the Jayhawks find themselves in a three-way tie for last place in the Big 12 North. Yet with three of their last four games against North opponents, including the first-place Wildcats, the Jayhawks still possess a legitimate chance for the North title.
Still, Mangino and his players ignoredthat possibility, insisting that the Jayhawks weren’t straining to glance that far down the road.
“We can’t sit around talking about winning the North,” Mangino said. “We have to talk about winning a game.”
With Kansas carrying a three-game losing streak into Saturday’s game, it’s a point well taken.
Kansas rolled through and won its first four games in the nonconference season before sneaking past Iowa State with a win in the conference opener.
Then, the offense started committing turnovers, the defense couldn’t quite hold after halftime and suddenly this week’s game against K-State presents Kansas with its final chance to capture the North.
A loss to K-State — or to any Big 12 opponent for that matter — would end any chance of Kansas playing in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 5.
“With what’s happened the last three weeks, to still be able to say that — we can still win the North if we take care of business from here on out — it’s definitely something that pushes us,” senior wide receiver Kerry Meier said. “It’s been our guiding tool and something that has pushed us all summer long, all winter long and all throughout the offseason.”
The chaos in the North started early as Colorado knocked off Kansas and Iowa State defeated Nebraska in consecutive weeks.
Missouri started the season 0-3, while K-State opened the year 3-1.
Try sifting through pages full of legal jargon without any background information in the field. That’s what analyzing the Big 12 North has become this season.
Nothing, it seems, has gone as previously expected.
But even with three losses in the first-half of the eight-game conference season, the Jayhawks still have a realistic chance of winning the North title.
The road to reaching that point starts this Saturday with K-State.
“This one’s a little more important because it’s all about how you finish,” senior safety Darrell Stuckey said. “That’s what makes it a little more important than the rest of them. You want to finish strong — or just as strong as you started.”
— Edited by Anna Kathagnarath
Race for the Big 12 title
The Big 12 Conference regular season has reached its halfway point. The ...
Dodd: Mangino’s flash of emotion tells a ...
An uncharacteristic display of passion by the Kansas coach gives clues to ...
Beecher: Use perspective when calling for Bowen’s ...
The defensive coordinator is in his first year and missing star players ...
All eyes on the Sunflower Showdown
After two Big 12 South upsets last week, the Big 12 North ...
Dodd & Dent: Debating the Kansas basketball ...
Rustin Dodd and Mark Dent trade opinions on the Kansas men’s basketball ...
Roesler: Dramatic future for Big 12 North
Possible outcomes in the conference give fans food for thought.
Wiebe: Big 12 women's basketball rankings
Andrew Wiebe looks at the women's basketball teams of the Big 12.
Baseball’s comeback not enough for win
Baseball faces K-State tonight after losing to Missouri last weekend. Next year’s ...
Gameday: Nov. 8, 2008
Get ready for Saturday’s game against Nebraska.
Texas A&M faces an uphill battle
Kansas could lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament ...
Jayhawks hang tough after loss against Wildcats
Defeated by K-State 59-50, Henrickson still has faith in team.
Big 12 hits many highs this season
The Big 12 Conference season has ended, but the big moments still ...
Galloway: K-State's superiority a troubling trend
A Kansas win Saturday would make the K-State rivalry a bit more ...
Dent: New K-State coach a mixed blessing
K-State might be good in spite of Martin next season, but success ...
Jayhawks hold off Wildcats once again
A 67-61 victory means that Kansas will face Texas for the Big ...
KU faces must-win game against rival
Jayhawks and Wildcats meet with state bragging rights on the line in ...
KSU’s accuracy, strength prove fatal in Big ...
In the Jayhawks’ season opener against the Wildcats, inconsistencies and a weak ...
Wiebe’s women’s Big 12 basketball update
Andrew Wiebe’s take on the Big 12 women’s teams
Jayhawks put Sunflower Showdown on hold
Despite the excitement about the Sunflower Showdown, the Jayhawks turn their focus ...
Beneficial rivalry
K-State's emergence has also benefited Kansas basketball.
Kansas’ mistakes prove costly against Kansas State
The Jayhawks drop fourth consecutive game with 17-10 loss in Manhattan
No. 2 Kansas handles Robinson's absence with ...
The Jayhawks routed Iowa State despite not having Josh Selby or Thomas ...
Football team must follow two-step plan
Jayhawks can regain honor by beating Kansas State and Missouri.
Kansas Game Day
Get the final update before Kansas faces off against Kansas State on ...
Men's basketball wrap-up
A wrap-up of the men's basketball victory over Colorado.
Basketball prepares for Border Showdown
The rivalry game marks the beginning of the toughest stretch of the ...
Kansas hopes to win Big 12 North
Toland: How will Kansas handle adversity?
The Jayhawks are in danger of losing their third game in a ...
Jayhawks feel the sting of another loss
Kansas couldn’t get back into the groove and fell 17-10 to Kansas ...
With football, expect the unexpected
Kansas' up-and-down record shows that nothing can be predicted.
Home sweet home proving true for Big ...
Teams struggle away from home court, fans
Morning Brew: Hawks could score Big 12 ...
A weak Big 12 North could be the key to Kansas' conference ...
Practice makes perfect for recovering Kansas
Although they’d much rather play a game, the women’s basketball team is ...
Baseball doesn’t control its postseason
The Jayhawks' hopes are dependent on how Oklahoma, Baylor and Texas Tech ...
Wheeler: Shutout not forecast of Big 12 ...
Though KU had its first shutout since 2000 last weekend, Southeastern Louisiana ...
Baseball enters key weekend against Alabama A&M
The Jayhawks are trying to leap over Kansas State for the final ...
Big 12 Women's Basketball Power Rankings
Andrew Wiebe evaluates the Big 12's women's basketball teams
Kansas to hit Colorado with blitz
Jayhawks will face shaky Colorado quarterback, so defensive attacks will be a ...
Forget last week, focus on Sunday
Montemayor: Jayhawks lost their spark
Another disappointing weekend for Kansas played out on the national stage.
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
Football has last chance for North title
It's also possible for every team in the North to go 3-5. I like that one. Or if KSU loses to us and MU but beats Nebraska, they'll be 4-4 in conference, probably win the north, but not be able to go to the championship game because they won't be bowl eligible.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID