Let's all do a little Venting...
Rock Chalk Talk community I have to get some things off my chest...and I encourage you to do the same. Now this isn't meant to be a bashing of our team and certainly not a personal attack on any individual players, but lets talk a little about what went wrong.
First and foremost I think we may have underestimated Texas Tech, and as our friend Antiswarm from Double T Nation tried to tell us this is a different Tech team than the one in years past that has consistenly had the one bad game. The Texas Tech offense was unbelievable and there defense was more than servicable.
Kansas came out ready to get into a shootout and quickly realized we were out gunned. So where did things go wrong? Obviously we've discussed the need for a pass rush, but with that possibility unlikely what could we have done different? The Running game seemed to be firing early on but once your down 14 you can't help but move away from it, can you?
I don't know all the answers and this one was as dissapointing a Kansas football loss as I've ever witnessed. I'm not down on the team and I don't think this is a sign of a downward spiral. It is simply an unprepared, outmanned team that was beaten handily today. 8-4 is still on the table but isn't looking very likely at this point. I'm very interested to see how this team responds next week against Kansas State. That to me will be the most telling indicator of where this team is headed.
I guess my feeling is we need to rebound in a big way, gain some confidence in beating K-State and then go into Lincoln and get our first win since Adam and Eve. If we can do this we are 7-5 at worst, a bowl game is in the cards this year and we can keep the momentum going toward getting bigger, faster and stronger athletes in the system for future success. Here's the thing we went from 6-6 to 12-1 and Orange Bowl Champions. The schedule got a whole lot tougher and most expected a season somewhere in between. This is a process, you don't go from being a disastrous program to a perennial power overnight and if you had told me 5 years ago that we would be in the bowl picture consistently I would have been thrilled. The expectations were raised big time last year and while I'm not content to say we shouldn't expect it ever again, I will say it takes time to build a consistent winning program and in the Big12 just like the SEC, Big10, Pac10 there are going to be highs and lows. Let's enjoy the ride and keep things in perspective. In the words of the wise Lou Holtz, Things aren't as bad as they seem and they aren't as good as the seem, usually you lie somewhere in between. I'm sure someone else said that but I'll credit Holtz.
Enough rambling, just wanted to get some things out there while I was recovering. I'd be interested to hear from others out there. Thoughts, concerns, questions...
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Not Venting
Because I’m not angry anymore. We simply aren’t on the same level we were on last year. We are too young and too weak at too many positions.
Kansas football has never gone to back to back bowl games in its history. Breaking that streak is still the #1 goal of this season, and would be the best sign that Mangino really is building something here.
I really hope we don’t end up replacing senior starters from this year with freshman again next year. It would be a shame to waste the final two seasons of Todd Reesing and Kerry Meier’s great careers with middling records.
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Oct 26, 2008 10:02 PM CDT reply actions
Agreed...
greater consistency will come when we can replace outgoing Seniors with upperclassman or a the very least Redshirt Sophomores. The reality is there is so much physical maturing that goes on in the course of a four year college career that it takes a unique, special case to be able to step in immediatly or after one year and be lights out.
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Wow
I needed a day to look at any articles or even talk about this game. I scored a ticket to it, I left after a half because I couldn’t watch anymore. Went to a nearby friend’s house, watched the 3rd quarter, and then turned it off because that was unbearable.
First things first. I underestimated how good Texas Tech is. What a great team. Where did that Defense come from? I think Tech definitely played much better than they had played against the other 2 Big 12 foes and we played a lot worse than we had against anyone (save first half of Iowa St.).
We’ve got a lot of issues. After this wooping, new goals should be set. I agree, Back to back bowls is definitely the first. If Mizzou continues to win like it should, then that means we can afford to lose 1 more game right? That means @ home to TX. That is going to be a really tough game in Lincoln. First things first, we have to slow down K-State.
by I need more Esteban on Oct 27, 2008 10:48 AM CDT reply actions
I think...
we all underestimated tech a bit…and while I’m sure the team didn’t, I don’t think anyone saw their defensive performance coming. There were times when our tackles weren’t even out of the stance before the ends blew past them…I guess we all have to remember we are replacing Seniors w/freshman and when a program is doing that there is still work to be done…
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Definitely
There is a lot of talk over at KUsports.com about Bowen being at fault, and “how can we be this bad from losing only 2 players”? IMO, that is redicous. Aquib Talib is playing as a rookie on one of the best defenses in the NFL! McClinton was a NFL caliber DT. They were very important players and it is showing how important they were.
by I need more Esteban on Oct 27, 2008 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions

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