Archive for Sunday, November 8, 2009
KU coughs it up
Reesing’s slump continues; KU falls
Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing coughs up the ball against Kansas State in Manhattan Saturday, November 7, 2009.
November 8, 2009
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Audio Clips
2009 KU-KSU football
- Brad Thorson talks about the offensive line's goal against Kansas State
- Chris Harris talks about trying to re-focus his teammates after the KSU loss
- Jacob Branstetter evaluates his own performance against Kansas State
- Kerry Meier discusses KU's offensive struggles against Kansas State
- KU coach Mark Mangino full press conference
- Todd Reesing: "Guys are pretty frustrated ..."
- Todd Reesing talks about what he thinks has been the cause of his struggles lately
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Manhattan — Todd Reesing can’t explain it, and so, for the most part, he has given up trying.
As the Kansas University quarterback has stumbled through the roughest stretch of his collegiate career, he has been bombarded with questions about the source of his struggles — Inexperienced offensive line? Undisclosed injury? Broken psyche? — and what he has realized is that he doesn’t have any answers.
“Sometimes in life and in football, you hit stretches like this where things don’t go your way,” Reesing said Saturday after a 17-10 loss to Kansas State. “And no matter what you do, no matter how hard you practice, no matter how much you prepare and (maintain) a good attitude, sometimes you just get kicked down in the dirt, and it’s hard to get back up.”
Reesing and the Jayhawks got kicked to the dirt Saturday.
The quarterback turned the ball over three times — giving him 10 turnovers in the team’s past four games — and the offense stalled for the fourth straight week, and when the dust had settled, Kansas had fallen to rival Kansas State in a game that all but ended the Jayhawks’ preseason dreams of a Big 12 North title.
It was not an easy thing to watch.
Until Saturday, there was always the sense things would turn around for Reesing, the spunky, energetic Texan who arrived in Lawrence in 2006 and a year later began breaking records and leading the program to sights unseen.
Even as his play dipped over the past few weeks — three interceptions in a loss to Oklahoma and two fumbles against Texas Tech — there was always the sense that he was one big play or one extended drive away from snapping out of his recent funk and re-establishing himself as one of the nation’s premier quarterbacks.
This wasn’t the case Saturday, however, as Reesing threw a first-quarter interception and fumbled twice more to kill otherwise promising first-half Kansas drives.
Unlike last week, however, when the quarterback was benched in favor of red-shirt freshman Kale Pick in a loss to Texas Tech, KU coach Mark Mangino left Reesing on the field for the duration of the game, insisting afterward that Reesing will finish the season as the team’s starting quarterback.
“I’m not going to be critical of a player who gives his heart and soul to the program,” Mangino said. “He’s our starting quarterback, and that’s the way it’s going to be unless there’s something physical that prohibits him, and I don’t see that happening. He’s our guy.”
Reesing, who completed 27 of 41 passes for 241 yards, said he’s not playing through any more pain than any other player on the team and pointed to his rushing total against the Wildcats — he gained 48 yards on the ground — as evidence that he’s physically able to get the job done.
Injured or not, however, Reesing couldn’t get rolling.
And as a result, neither could the offense.
“We made some mistakes on offense that just got us,” Mangino said. “The turnovers, the penalties, a couple little things here and there, it doomed us. We have to face the fact that they played smart football today, and we did not.”
Despite featuring a far less flashy offensive attack — K-State quarterback Grant Gregory has thrown for a total of four touchdowns this season — the Wildcats did what they had to do. They burned the clock, made stops when they needed them and waited for Kansas to make mistakes — which the Jayhawks ultimately did.
“At the end of the day, we failed to execute and put points on the board when we had chances,” KU receiver Kerry Meier said. “And when you play a good ballclub like this, you can’t do that.”
For the sake of pulling a silver lining from the wreckage, it’s worth noting that, despite the ongoing struggles, Kansas was in the game until the final minutes.
For the third straight week, a previously written-off defense did its best to keep the Jayhawks in the game. Kansas held the Wildcats to just 66 passing yards, and although KSU running back Daniel Thomas rushed for 185 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, K-State’s 17 points were the fewest KU has allowed against a Big 12 opponent this year.
But the Jayhawks couldn’t get the stop it needed after a Jacob Branstetter field goal pulled them within a touchdown, 17-10, with 5:20 remaining.
On their ensuing possession, the Wildcats kept the chains moving long enough to bleed the clock dry before retiring to their quarters to collect the Governor’s Cup, the first time they’ve done so since 2005.
And with that, the running narrative of this Kansas season shifted from “Can Kansas win the North?” to “Can Kansas become bowl-eligible?”
Barring some unforeseen and highly unlikely developments, the Jayhawks will not win the Big 12 North this season. At this point — with games against three teams that have been ranked at some point this season — there is no guarantee that they will win the six games necessary to become bowl-eligible. Saturday, they’ll host Nebraska, then travel to Austin for a matchup with No. 2 Texas before taking on Missouri at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.
“Our kids are pretty resilient,” Mangino said. “They bounce back pretty good. At least I’m fortunate in that respect. I don’t have a lot of guys that feel bad for themselves and hang their heads.
“I’m blessed in the respect that our kids have a great spirit.”
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8 November 2009
at 10:12 a.m.
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toe (Anonymous) says…
It does not matter what the reasons for failure are, the coach will pay the price and Lew will get his pound of flesh.
8 November 2009
at 10:36 a.m.
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sundancewierdo (Anonymous) says…
toe (Anonymous) says…
…….the coach will pay the price and Lew will get his pound of flesh.
or several pounds. I don't know what's going on but our team lacks a killer instinct, pride, and energy. Our seniors aren't doing themselves any favors. i still think reesing has been found out. teams are willing to let him stand in the pocket all day because he can't see and wil probably throw a pick. Coaches need to find out wtf is going on in the locker room that makes these guys come out so flat…
8 November 2009
at 11:55 a.m.
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muckfizzou2 (Anonymous) says…
yummm, a mangino meat patty! nom nom nom
8 November 2009
at 12:15 p.m.
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greenworld (Anonymous) says…
Hey Coach- Winning ballgames is what you are getting paid for not losing them. Win ballgames=keep job…lose ballgames=fired
8 November 2009
at 1:19 p.m.
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rgh (Anonymous) says…
I expected last year to be tough after the Orange Bowl season with the increased strength of the Big XII south teams, but losing to Tech, K-State, and Colorado have been very disappointing.
If we were to have improved on last year and won the north as we expected we should realistically be 8-1 right now. As of now you really have to wonder if our coaching is the problem.
8 November 2009
at 1:23 p.m.
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camper (Anonymous) says…
Though it is a down year, it is hard to forget the many exciting wins and atmosphere from the last couple seasons. There is still time to make the best of the season and begin looking forward to the next. The bowl games and win at Arrowhead last year were remarkably memorable wins. This is still the best group KU football has compiled in recent history. I'm not down on them in the least and look forward to the possibility of some surprise wins on the remaining schedule.
8 November 2009
at 2:11 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
Need to use those unused practice fields more, or just maybe a little bit, maybe run laps, sprints. I hope Reesing Heismann chances aren't hurt by this.
8 November 2009
at 4:09 p.m.
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FREESTATEFAN (Anonymous) says…
That was the worst football game I have seen in years! Poor play calling, poor tackling, dropped passes, and just a terrible loss to an average KSU team! Just when we started to get KU football on the national scene, so we could get better athletes, and start to be able to compete with the Oklahomas and big name teams, we stink it up. Maybe the basketball team beating on them affected their psyche! If we lose to a sorry Missouri team, it's time to start looking elsewhere for football leadership!
8 November 2009
at 4:42 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
Apparently blasting rap music through neighborhoods blocks away from the stadium on a Sunday afternoon is the strategy to get back on track. Yeah, screw the people who could care less about football, I'm sure lew or mango would allow someone to sit outside their house with the stereo blasting, perhaps it is time to try that out.
8 November 2009
at 5:06 p.m.
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monkeyspunk (Anonymous) says…
How much is left on Mangino's contract?
23-37 In Big 12 play.
One >.500 Big 12 season in eight seasons.
Pretty horrible really, even for someone with zero head coaching experience at the division one level.
Let someone else have him. Let's go after a quality head coach who has been successful at this level or higher. Any c-usa, wac, or MWC coaches looking for a position?
8 November 2009
at 5:15 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
Wow, the usual loyal fans who thought he walked on water after the orange bowl and now they are ready for an other firing in mid season like Terry Allen got. KU after spending how much money and justified all kinds of crap are now throwing a tantrum because the coach isn't winning. Too bad getting rid of all the damage to the hill can't be replaced as easily as the ku fans turn on coaches.
8 November 2009
at 5:34 p.m.
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jhawks1510 (Anonymous) says…
When a team like this all of a sudden drops several levels during the season, it's got to be a question of coaching. But you have to admit, there have been a lot of dropped passes too. A lot of mental mistakes. The defense is on track, doing everything it can, and the offense both on and off the field is coming off the rails. Enough of putting Pick in there to do some 'trick' plays. They aren't working. My unsolicited opinion is that the running game needs to get moving. Need to give the ball to Sharp & Oporum at least a total of 40 times against NU. Run some misdirection, change up the backfield, and get those guys moving the line forward.
8 November 2009
at 5:39 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
But in sports it isn't about winning but how the game is played. If the coach isn't yelling profanities from the sidelines and boys are playing a clean game isn't that enough? Surely you all aren't going to turn on the sports team and the coach over a few games. Surely all the things that have been ruined that can't be replaced aren't to be taken lightly compared to losing some games. That is hardly the real problem at ku inc.
8 November 2009
at 8:14 p.m.
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Seamus (Anonymous) says…
Jack— Only nerdy kids who were last to be selected when dividing up into teams for kickball feel as you do. Winning is the only thing that matters. Losing football games means that KU is losing prospective students who apparently select institutions for higher education based upon the prowess of their sporting heroes. And I'm sure Mangino and Lew wouldn't mind loud music being blasted up in their posh neighborhoods, so long as the armed security guards drag the offenders in short order. And yes, it would be nice if the damage done to the hill could be fixed as easily as firing a coach, but we all know that the future of KU is to have the entire hill be nothing but a giant sporting complex. Perhaps Potter Lake can be drained as well, since it is doing nothing to promote sportiness.
8 November 2009
at 8:15 p.m.
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Seamus (Anonymous) says…
Oh yeah, the sports fans want to be taken seriously as adults yet behave worse than children when their favorite team fails to win every game.
8 November 2009
at 8:21 p.m.
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Seamus (Anonymous) says…
Great advice jhawks1510. I personally think that to stop losing games the Jayhawkers need to start scoring more points than their opponents. That's the advice I'd give Mangino. This is, after all, a life and death situation. It won't be long before our womanfolk are in danger of being dragged away by the invading hordes.
8 November 2009
at 8:25 p.m.
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barrypenders (Anonymous) says…
It's nice to know that the students are not playing for any other reason than to get a good education. Go students!
Stimulus, evolution and Posercare lives
Darwin bless you all
8 November 2009
at 8:40 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
My advice would also be a strategy of scoring more points. If that can be achieved victory is at hand. Purity of essence is guaranteed.
10 November 2009
at 4:44 p.m.
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Ricky_Vaughn (Anonymous) says…
Face it, Bill Snyder is like kryptonite for KU football.