Sports
B-C-Yes indeed
Talib sets tone as KU gets signature win
Kansas safety Justin Thornton, center, celebrates with Mike Rivera, left, and Maxwell Onyegbule following his interception during the second half. The pick helped the Jayhawks beat Virginia Tech, 24-21, in the Orange Bowl on Thursday in Miami.
January 4, 2008
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2008 Orange Bowl
Miami, here we come
Journal-World KU reporter Jonathan Kealing is covering the fans in and on their way to Miami for the Jayhawks' first ever BCS bowl game. Check out some pitstops and potholes on the way to Miami and keep up with Journal-World Orange Bowl coverage from Miami on our interactive road trip map.
Audio Clips
2008 Orange Bowl KU-VT
- Aqib Talib talks about his MVP performance and Deion Sanders impersonation
- Dexton Fields talks about letting this one sink in for a bit before getting hyped for 2008
- Joe Mortensen discusses outplaying Virginia Tech's defense
- Justin Thornton talks about his pivotal pick deep in VT territory Thursday night
- KU coach Mark Mangino and players (Talib, Thornton, Mortensen, Reesing) took the podium for a moment after clinching the 2008 Orange Bowl win
- Marcus Henry talks about answering a daunting Virginia Tech defense
- Todd Reesing talks about proving doubters from all along the road wrong on his team's biggest stage yet
- VT linebacker Xavier Adibi talks about the toughness Todd Reesing displayed Thursday
- VT receiver Justin Harper talks about his level of respect for Aqib Talib after the Orange Bowl
- VT running back Branden Ore talks about what the Hokie offense saw all night from the KU defense
Miami — It was an early warning - albeit an illegal one - that Kansas University was here to win a football game and do so with a little spunk.
Aqib Talib, after jumping in front of a Virginia Tech pass, high-stepped his way into the end zone in the first quarter of KU's 24-21 Orange Bowl victory on Thursday.
It was the end of a 60-yard interception return, and the Deion Sanders-like dance ended up drawing a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Forgive him. After all, that shimmy electrified the KU sideline and showed that the Jayhawks came to Dolphin Stadium with a cocky confidence that no one dared think they should have.
It fueled them. KU, still regarded as a hollow story by some, beat one of the top teams in college football to win the Orange Bowl and finish a remarkable 12-1.
The fairy tale season officially has its storybook ending and its signature victory. Talib christened it by bellowing into the national-television cameras, "I guess they got to say we played somebody now!"
The giddy KU fans, sticking around in the stands, roared with approval.
"It's the greatest day of my life, man," linebacker Joe Mortensen said. "We really worked hard to be here, and we know we deserve to be here, and we showed it today."
Kansas, perhaps out of nowhere, beat Virginia Tech (11-3) at its own defensive game.
Talib's pick put KU up 7-0 and set the tone for a first half dominated by the Jayhawks. Kansas led 17-7 while ZZ Top was performing on the field at halftime.
But it wasn't just Talib. Freshman cornerback Chris Harris picked off a pass that set up a field goal, and Justin Thornton's nifty fourth-quarter pick was returned to the two-yard line and set up KU's final, back-breaking score.
After struggling against Missouri in its lone loss on Nov. 24, KU's defense was itching to show the nation a different look.
"We wanted to redeem ourselves for the show we showed against Missouri," Harris said. "We were so hungry after that game. That was the main thing."
Along the way, key plays surfaced Thursday - some wacky - that showed off the Jayhawks' creativity and just-win-baby attitude in the season's final game.
¢ A fake punt in the third quarter shocked Virginia Tech, as Brandon McAnderson took the snap and hurled a pass to gunner Micah Brown on the left side for 22 yards.
"We watched on tape for about a month of them leaving the gunners exposed," Mangino said. "We said that we're not going to let them do that."
¢ Down 17-14, Virginia Tech had a chance to tie the game in the third quarter. But Joe Mortensen slipped through the line and blocked the 25-yard field-goal attempt cleanly to keep Kansas ahead.
¢ Talib, the Orange Bowl MVP, actually returned a missed field goal 39 yards in the first quarter, giving Kansas a little better field position.
¢ McAnderson bullied his way within one yard of the end zone to get the final first down of the game with less than a minute to go. On the final play, KU quarterback Todd Reesing kneeled down, stood up and flung the football 30 feet in the air in celebration.
Soon after, Kansas players were dancing on a makeshift stage near the corner where KU fans were going nuts. The Rock Chalk Chant was as loud as ever.
Of course, this wasn't a game-long celebration. Virginia Tech (11-3) scraped its way back into the contest, getting within three when a reverse punt return was taken 84 yards to the house by Justin Harper just after halftime.
Kansas lost the momentum for a good quarter before Thornton's pick took it back. The Jayhawks went up 10 on a Reesing touchdown run with 10:57 left.
Virginia Tech added a score with 3:00 to go, but Raimond Pendleton recovered the onside kick, and Virginia Tech never regained possession.
So the party began. Players launched oranges into the KU student section, and hats and shirts were passed out to all the Jayhawks. The locker room was just as chaotic.
But it was Talib symbolically smacking the critics on national television that seemed to speak for the entire team.
"All season long, they've been saying, 'Who have they played? Who have they beat?'" defensive end Russell Brorsen said. "Tonight, we beat someone."
Go figure
3
Interceptions by the Jayhawks
17
Points scored by KU off those interceptions
1
Interceptions by the Hokies
0
Points scored by the Hokies off that interception
5-32
Sacks-yards by the Jayhawks
4-24
Sacks-yards by the Hokies
50.0
Average for five punts by the Jayhawks
38.6
Average for five punts by the Hokies
Game balls and gassers
Candidates for Game balls
¢ Aqib Talib not only returned an interception for a touchdown, he gained more yards (17) on his first punt return of the game than Anthony Webb gained in 19 punt returns.
¢ Justin Thornton intercepted a pass and returned it to the Virginia Tech three-yard line, setting up a Todd Reesing touchdown that put Kansas up, 24-14, in the fourth quarter.
¢ Joe Mortensen blocked a field goal that would have tied the score, 17-17, and sacked Tyrod Taylor on a first-quarter play on the play after Russell Brorsen had a sack. The back-to-back sacks set up a third-and-29 for the Hokies.
Candidate for Gassers
¢ Ryan Cantrell was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul when Kansas had the ball at the 1, damaging a series that ended in an interception.
2008 Orange Bowl
- Keegan: Jayhawks prove they're best ever (01-04-08)
- Jayhawk heaven (01-04-08)
- Game doesn't 'fit' for Tech (01-04-08)
- Mortensen's kick block proves huge (01-04-08)
- Ads promoting Kansas run during Orange Bowl (01-04-08)
- Orange Bowl notebook (01-04-08)
- How they scored (01-04-08)
- KU-Virginia Tech Box Score
- 2007 Schedule
- 2007 Roster
- 2007 Depth Chart
More like this
- How they scored January 4, 2008
- Keegan: Jayhawks prove they're best ever 7 comments / January 4, 2008
- Mortensen's kick block proves huge January 4, 2008
- Game doesn't 'fit' for Tech January 4, 2008
- Orange Bowl notebook January 4, 2008
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4 January 2008
at 3:54 a.m.
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asimpleman (David Roberts) says…
Apparently, KU still has a hard time getting respect. Check out the following link on Sports Illustrated website. As of a few moments ago, it showed Virginia Tech as a 12-2 team (having beat the Jayhawks 24-21).
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foot…
4 January 2008
at 3:57 a.m.
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asimpleman (David Roberts) says…
What? We lost???
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foot…
4 January 2008
at 7:25 a.m.
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HUSKRLIFR (Anonymous) says…
Congratulations to our Neighbors. Mangino has a done a great job with these young men and all should be congratulated. As a team they played smart and hard all year long, on and off the field. They, the players and the University staff, deserve all that thay have coming to them. And Finally to you the fans.. ENJOY!!!
4 January 2008
at 7:47 a.m.
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chet_larock (Anonymous) says…
SI still shows KU losing. wtf??
4 January 2008
at 9:05 a.m.
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jazzttt (Anonymous) says…
To Huskrlifr: Thanks for the comment, another example of good sportsmanship after KU set the tone by taking a knee late instead of scoring a meaningless TD. Better luck to you guys next year [except against KU.] Time now to rally around the BB boys who have a hard game Saturday AM on the road, and start the road to the Final Four!
4 January 2008
at 10:33 a.m.
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BunE (Anonymous) says…
Yowza, what a game!
4 January 2008
at 10:39 a.m.
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KStater (Kristen Murphy) says…
asimpleman: KU will never get respect because of the state they reside in. When K-State was great in football (98', 03') - they never were talked about for their accomplishments. No matter how hard KU plays or how many times they are in the Top 10 - they will never have respect from Sports writers across the country. Promise you that. Same thing is happening with K-State basketball - we have the #1 recruit from last year on our team and yet they NEVER talk about how he averages a double/double every game.
On that note - their win last night proved a lot to everyone. They are for real. Which is scary to the Big XII considering how young they are.
4 January 2008
at 10:57 a.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
Beasley only averages a double-double because he never gets taken out of the game. At least Coach Self has the class to take out the starters when we're up by a ton of points.
4 January 2008
at 10:57 a.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
Beasley only averages a double-double because he never gets taken out of the game. At least Coach Self has the class to take out the starters when we're up by a ton of points.
4 January 2008
at 11:15 a.m.
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KStater (Kristen Murphy) says…
Actually I watch Sports Center religiously so please don't assume that I don't read up on sports. ESPN is horrible at reporting about Beasley and whatever K-State does. Beasley had the game of his life (so far) a while back and all they could do was kiss up to the Dallas Cowboys.
And yes - Beasley does sit the bench - is it Martin's fault that he wants to win?
Do you make it a habit to follow posters around Confrontation?
4 January 2008
at 11:15 a.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
“Promise you that. Same thing is happening with K-State basketball - we have the #1 recruit from last year on our team and yet they NEVER talk about how he averages a double/double every game.”
KSU's team is awful this year for the talent they have. They just lost by 25+ to someone.
Otherwise, KU won't get respect as long as they schedule like KSU did. KSU started getting respect when they scheduled USC, but by that time, the party was over.
4 January 2008
at 11:19 a.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
And, not to bag on you, Kstate. I want KSU to be good at hoops. Anything to help our previously sorry conference (this year is looking pretty good so far!). KSU hired the wrong coach and they are going to pay for it. Cal win was nice, though.
4 January 2008
at 12:09 p.m.
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KStater (Kristen Murphy) says…
I totally get you Original Bob - You're right - You can use the “they are young” excuse all you want but their coach was the wrong fit - he was clearly hired to keep Beasley and Walker.
And Bowhunter - I had no intentions of getting turning this to K-State! I'm impressed they won - they are for real.
4 January 2008
at 3:46 p.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
“Do you make it a habit to follow posters around Confrontation?”
You wish you were that special, KStater. The smell is too bad from your end, so I try to keep my distance.