James Sims for President

Source: KU Sports

A year ago today, Kansas was down in Austin, Texas, getting its brains beat out by a barely mediocre Longhorns team, 43-0. Kansas was crap, and the line favored Texas by 28 points, but nobody in their right mind would have predicted these numbers... That day, Texas had 35 first downs; Kansas had 3. Texas had 441 yards rushing; Kansas had -2. Texas converted 11 of 16 third downs; Kansas converted 1 of 10. Texas possessed the ball for 44:07; Kansas possessed the ball for 15:53. All this, just 12 months ago.

On Saturday, Kansas took Kivisto Field on homecoming as 18 point underdogs. Texas was top 10 in the nation in points scored, averaging over 44 points per game, and Kansas was near the bottom in the NCAAs, averaging less than 20 points per game. Texas would run up the score, and Kansas wouldn't be able to hold serve.

But that didn't happen. Instead, Kansas dominated the game for 3 and 1/2 quarters, imposing its will with a power running game, playing the game to its strength, right into the teeth of the Texas defense. This day, Texas had 16 first downs; Kansas had 18. Texas had 211 yards rushing; Kansas had 234. Texas converted 4 of 12 third downs; Kansas converted 7 of 15. Texas possessed the ball for 27:12; Kansas possessed for 32:48.

Kansas lost its bowl eligibility, falling to 1-7 (0-5), but gave its fans reason to believe that a bowl isn't out of the question for 2013. Kansas was a few plays away from beating Texas for the first time in over 70 years.

Texas Pre-Game Inspiration

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.

A Kicker! A Kicker! My Kingdom for a Kicker!

Source: KU Sports

Speaking of true fandom, if Saturday, with all the elements (the rain, the wind, the thunder, the hour and a half delay), wasn’t a test of character, then I don’t know what is.  Few students braved the weather for the first quarter, and even fewer stayed to the end as the crowd dwindled during the premature intermission and throughout the course of the game, but even after the scoreboard read zeros, and the team had come and gone after singing the alma mater, students stood proud, singing the Rock Chalk Chant in unison. Although small in number, the group matched the passion of a full student section. Kansas fell 20-14 in a hard fought comeback, but the game wasn’t without gain. We learned two things on Saturday: there are passionate diehards here, and Kansas is making some serious headway in becoming a Big 12 contender. Does it carry over in Norman, Oklahoma? I wish I could say something with any certainty, but at least this good feeling will last throughout the week.

Step Back From That Ledge, My Friend

Source: KU Sports

So here we sit, 1-4 and (0-2) in conference, coming off a 56-16 loss at the hands of the No. 7 Kansas State Wildcats. Our Hawks will be odds-on underdogs the rest of the way, and could be staring down the barrel of a 1-11 season.

Just down the road, Manhattan has its hopes set on a Big 12 Championship, a BCS bowl game, and a Heisman trophy. Here in Lawrence, however, interest in the football team is waning. Late Night in the Phog is just a few days away, and (sadly) Charlie Weis's boys will soon be an afterthought.

As the colors start to change, and the leaves and grass begin to die, so too does the fan support at football games. It comes and goes with the season, and, by some unspoken rule, it's basketball season now.

Check that, it's always basketball season in this town, and football is back to its rightful place in the rear-view mirror... (Cue the applause)