Even in a Time for Giving Thanks, I Still Hate Missouri

Source: Wichita Eagle

Just when I thought that the scene of college sports was steadfast—or at least stood on somewhat stable ground—news broke Tuesday that Maryland and Rutgers are both heading to the Big 10 (or 11, or whatever the hell it is now) Conference, sending a tumultuous shockwave throughout the nation. Suddenly, without any sign of rational thought, everybody stops what they are doing and craps themselves. Message boards explode. A.Ds lose control of their motor skills. Everybody just freaks out. For no reason.

Beaten Black and Blue

Source: KU Sports

On a crisp, November night in Lawrence, 23 seniors ran out of the tunnel and onto Memorial Stadium for the last time ever. A warm crowd greeted them as the Hawks came out for warmups, dressed in the traditional blue tops and white pants, and an even warmer bunch greeted them when they came out for kickoff dressed in all black, with blue trimmings, and most importantly: white helmets with the Jayhawk on the side. The stage was set for a Big 12 win, KU's first in 19 straight tries, but redshirt freshman Sam Richardson and the Iowa State Cyclone would have none of that, beating Kansas into submission on its home turf, 51-23.

A Game of Inches

Source: KU Sports

On an arid, dusty field somewhere in western Texas, the Kansas Jayhawks lost again. It was just another road loss in yet another long, losing season. But, if you will allow me to say otherwise, this one was different. Kansas found itself down 21-7 on the road in Lubbock, Texas, in the first half of play. It was a situation that Kansas has often been in during these past three years. Texas Tech had the ball, and was looking to go up three scores. They were going for the jugular. They were planning to pound the Jayhawks into the ground... but they didn't. They couldn't.

The Bear Necessities

Source: KU Sports

I should have known better. Last week, the Jayhawks put together a string of 4 quality quarters against the Texas Longhorns at home, but still lost in the waning seconds. They would have snapped a 16 game Big 12 losing streak, and a nearly 70 year drought since last beating UT. They played well enough to beat them-- well enough to beat a lot of teams in this conference (Baylor included)-- but still couldn't. I should have known that it would be a lot to ask of this young team to respond with a road victory against an athletically superior Baylor team. How could I be so vain?