The Blame Game

Source: KU Sports

Kansas held a 24-13 lead late against the Rice Owls. Each unit (offense, defense, and special teams) had a chance to finish off the game. None of the units did, and Kansas lost, 25-24. On Saturday, Kansas led Northern Illinois on the road 23-13 in the fourth quarter, and again, had the opportunity to win the game via offense, defense, or special teams, but didn't, losing 30-23. At any and every level, from pee-wee to the NFL, when a team blows a fourth quarter lead, whether we'd like to or not, as humans, we look for someone to blame. Kansas has blown two in just four games. I am human. Therefore, I will spend this blog trying to place the blame on somebody. Who is the goat?

Just Out of Reach

Source: KU Sports

Kansas leads the nation in forced turnovers with 12. They have allowed just a little over 20 points per game through 1/4 of the season. They just wrapped up 3 games at home. Why are they 1-2?

Nobody said this would be a quick fix. Rome wasn't built in a day. But, that doesn't mean Kansas can't surprise a few teams this season. They just about did it on Saturday, until No. 15 TCU pulled away, 20-6. Kansas is showing some signs of improvement. Some signs of an actual football team. But they are only signs. Kansas is going to have a tough time turning those signs into wins in the Big 12.

Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

Source: KU Sports

We (Kansas Football fans) must be gluttons for punishment. Each and every season, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Each and every week, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Each and every game... you get the point (I can feel my hopes swelling for the TCU game on Saturday this very minute).

Kansas led the Rice Owls 24-13 with a little over 11 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Had you told me that Rice would finish the game with just 25 points scored, I would have all but assumed KU was heading into the Week 3 matchup with TCU, 2-0. As the football gods would have it, that just wouldn't, shouldn't, and couldn't possibly be the case. Kansas was held scoreless by a very suspect Owl defense, and Chris Boswell nailed a 45 yard field goal (twice) as time expired, handing KU a 25-24 loss. The Hawks fell to 1-1 on the young season, and while it is "just one" loss, it's also probably one of the few games that Kansas could have won this season. Kansas might get "just one" win this year. This one sucked.

A Win is a Win is a Win is a Win

KU Sports

If you haven’t figured out by now, I am usually one of two things after a game: mordant and bitter or Pollyannaish and aroused. More times than not, I am mordant because KU has, honestly, lost quite a few games in the past 2 and a half seasons. Comedy is sometimes the only remedy. But tonight, despite its general sloppiness, was in fact a win, giving rise to an unreasonably good-humored post.