No Fun in Norman

Source: KU Sports

Trailing 10-0, and punting back to a hot and bothered Oklahoma offense, the Kansas Jayhawks needed a break. They needed a gift. They needed an answered prayer. They needed a turnover. And they got one. Gunner Josh Ford went barreling into former Penn State punt-returner, Justin Brown, jarring the ball loose, and recovering it at the OU 11 yard line. So Kansas took over, deep in OU territory, on the road, as 35 point underdogs. I'd say that certainly qualifies as a break. But what they did with that break is even more inconceivable.

On the first play of the drive, Tre Parmalee broke wide open in the flat. He was so open that he could have very well ordered carry out and walked into the end-zone while doing his Calculus homework. He literally had ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD. Kansas would trim the OU lead, 10-7. I mean he couldn't possibly have been tackled, right? Well, yes, but except for the fact that Dayne Crist, 5 star, all-world god, golden-armed Chuck Norris carbon-copy, threw the ball at Parmalee's heels. An uncatchable pass for the true freshman, Calvin "Megatron" Johnson, and Jerry Rice combined. On second down, with Charlie Weis adhering to his platoon QB system, Michael Cummings threw the ball into a cluster of crimson jerseys, and if not for a great hustle play by Kale Pick, becoming a defender on the play, it would have been intercepted. And on third down, Crist's name was called, and he was pummeled by Tom Wort as he tried to scramble out of the pocket. The ball was scooped up by Casey Walker, and returned 45 yards and into Kansas territory. A few hours later, Kansas walked out of Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium  with its tail between its legs, 52-7, but if not for a few series of plays, it might have been more respectable. But probably not.

James Sims still managed to rush for over 100 yards, and a few players made strides in the game (namely JaCorey Shepherd at cornerback), but overall, this was a step back for the team.

I'm not going to get to down on this team after Saturday, because I think KU's homecoming game against Texas will be a better representation of the team's improvement. Kansas should be able to make it a game early, and the longer they can stay in it, the more confidence they will gain, and the more pressure there will be on the Longhorns and Mack Brown. He has been complaining about the Longhorn Network lately, but it might just be his discomfort from the progressively warmer and warmer seat he is sitting on in Austin acting up.