3 Questions: Kansas at Texas

Posted by Asher Fusco November 21, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

1. Where will Kansas find its motivation?

When it comes to sports, intangible qualities aren't usually worth discussing. We have numbers and figures that sum up what happened, why it happened and what will most likely happen in the future. Why try to measure, assess and compare "grittiness" and "poise" and all those other qualities we should assume any high-level athlete possesses?

This week is different.

Kansas' football team has suffered through a year's worth of turmoil in the past five days, and there's no denying the seemingly tenuous standing of coach Mark Mangino's job could affect the Jayhawks on game day.

From what has been reported in the days since the Journal-World broke the story, we know some players expressed concern about Mangino's behavior while some have taken the high road by standing behind their team and coach. What happens to the head coach next has more to do with Mangino and KU athletics director Lew Perkins than it does the scoreboard at Darrell K. Royal Stadium on Saturday.

Nevertheless, a situation can be envisioned in which KU's players put in extra effort to help save the job of their coach. But who knows? The Jayhawks could just as easily give up on Mangino further and fall to 5-6 on the season.

2. Will Texas flex its rushing muscles?

Much has been made in the past few days of Texas' supposed return to smashmouth, run-it-up-the-gut football in the wake of the Longhorns' 224-yard rushing performance last week at Baylor.

The strong rushing game came on the heels of back-to-back sub-100 yard sums on the ground and showcased 250-pound powerhouse Cody Johnson (109 yards) and speedy freshman Tre' Newton (80 yards) alike. If either of Texas' top two backs get rolling Saturday, it won't bode well for KU.

If Texas jumps out to an early lead on a KU turnover or a quick strike or two from quarterback Colt McCoy to receiver Jordan Shipley, Texas could launch its supposedly-improved running attack by the middle of the first quarter. If that happens, KU's recently-shaky offense might be a long shot to engineer a comeback.

3. Who will be KU's featured back?

sharp.jpg

Senior Jake Sharp: Will he finish his career strong?

One of the more interesting KU football storylines this season has been the emergence of freshman running back Toben Opurum and the give and take of carries between Opurum and senior Jake Sharp.

An argument could be made in favor of or against each back.

Opurum (131 attempts, 4.1 yards per carry) bruised the Jayhawks' first five opponents to the tune of 4.5 yards per carry on 18.6 attempts per game. Since then, the Texas native's production has slipped. Over the past five games (all losses), Opurum has averaged 3.2 yards per try on 7.6 carries per game.

Sharp looked, well, Sharp during the season's first two weeks. The Salina product topped 104 yards in each of KU's first two victories. Since a three-week stretch during which he carried the ball only five times because of injury, Sharp has averaged 3.1 yards per carry.

Sharp's KU career has often been temporarily derailed by lingering injuries that seem to sap his energy and potentially game-changing speed.

It will be interesting to see whether Sharp finishes his collegiate career on a high note by succeeding in his final two games.

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red6102003 (anonymous) says…

Mangino is coaching today to keep his job. He will be throwing every play in the book at Texas and if he can pull off the upset. He will be getting more a vote of confidence in keeping his job because if they win today they are going bowling.
November 21, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.
dudedog12 (anonymous) says…

It's gonna be a big noogy fellas.
November 21, 2009 at 11:13 a.m.
distant_voice (anonymous) says…

You've got to be kidding! The three big questions for today are:

1. Can Kansas avoid being beaten by 40 or more points?
2. Can Kansas keep its record of consecutive losses to respectable opponents perfect this season?
3. Will Kansas fans accept a coach who verbally abuses his players, just because he can win?
November 21, 2009 at 11:24 a.m.
Bob_Keeshan (anonymous) says…

some players expressed concern about Mangino's behavior while some have taken the high road

IMO, those players aren't taking the high road anymore than other players are taking the low road.

By using that phrase, you are indicating that the players standing beside their coach are either turning a blind eye to his presumed behavior or just ignorant. You are dismissing the notion that those players and their stories about Mangino are just as accurate or even more accurate than the players expressing concern.

That's unfair to your readers and it is grossly unfair to those current and former players. I would think their opinions matter at least as much as the opinion of Jocques Crawford.
November 21, 2009 at 3:51 p.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

If KU wins today, my bet is the Phred Phelps will start marrying gay couples and kissing boys. and monkeys will fly from my nether regions.
November 21, 2009 at 6:51 p.m.