Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Seniors Todd Reesing, Jake Sharp, Kerry Meier and Darrell Stuckey, among others, ended their days at Kivisto Field haunted by echoes of “Go Big Red.” It was a disheartening howl from a blue stadium tainted by red splotches. The 5-0 dream season that once sparkled with BCS hopes and “Reesing for Heisman” whispers has been shattered by a 0-5 record to follow the second leg of the season. That streak could very well climb to six as Kansas heads to Austin, Texas, this Saturday to take on the 10-0 Texas Longhorns.
Jayhawk Nation finds ways to cope by looking to basketball, and on non-game days, occasional tears. But despite the deep pains inside, please know that the horizon could still become brighter. Other teams of the past have defied their seemingly everlasting doom.
The Team: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers of 1976 and 1977
The Losing Streak: 26 consecutive losses
What Happened?: Tampa lost all 14 scheduled games in its first year in the league. Luckily, the schedule hadn’t yet been revised to 16. The following season, the team lost the first 12 before earning the franchise’s first victory, defeating the once-horrendous New Orleans Saints 33-14.
How They Overcame: It took awhile, but in the late ’90s and early 2000s, Tampa Bay was home to an outright vicious defense, touting names like Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Anthony “Booger” McFarland and Ronde Barber. With coach Jon Gruden at the helm, the Bucs went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders 48-21.
The Team: The Boston Celtics of 2006-07
The Losing Streak: 18 consecutive losses
What Happened?: The classiest team in the NBA and its 16 titles had suddenly became a laughingstock. Doc Rivers was looking like a poor fit in the Hub and ex-Jayhawk Paul Pierce, the cornerstone of the franchise, had his name swirling through trade rumors. The Celtics finally snapped the streak, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 117-97 in Boston with the help of 32 points from Pierce.
How They Overcame: The next season, general manager Danny Ainge traded his first round pick in NBA draft for “Sugar” Ray Allen. Then, free agent Kevin Garnett looked east and saw Pierce and Allen, fellow stars without titles and waiting for their third musketeer. Thus, “the Big Three” was created. Ainge’s wheeling and dealing coupled with Garnett’s unrivaled intensity inspired the Celtics to start playing some defense — absolutely incredible defense. Rajon Rondo’s emergence as an elite point guard and the trio’s dominance resulted in the Celtics seventeenth championship banner, soundly defeating the hated Lakers in six games.
The Team: The Chicago Cubs of 1908-present
The Losing Streak: 101 years without a World Series
What Happened?: It is known as the curse of the Billy Goat — Steve Bartman and Milton “No Game” Bradley. Just about everything has gone wrong for this franchise, and it continues to reach for hope year after year.
How They Overcame: To be continued ...
So how will Kansas respond to its own woes? Next year’s new wave of leaders features Kale Pick, Toben Opurum, Bradley McDougald and Huldon Tharp. Their effect on the team is unknown, but the traces of history and the words of Tupac surely tell us to “keep ya head up.”
— — Edited by Jacob Muselmann
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