Kansas Football 2019: Still Unwatchable

There was a little optimism coming into Kansas game against Coastal Carolina. The Jayhawks were coming off a win and were favored to get a home victory over a Sun Belt team. And after dropping a 12-7 decision to Coastal Carolina on Saturday night, it's unlikely that KU fans will feel optimistic again this season.

The game started off well enough for the Jayhawks. Pooka Williams, returning to action after a one game suspension, didn't bust any big runs on the first possession, but he was used as a decoy to spring Khalil Herbert for a 41 yard touchdown to make it 7-0. The optimism briefly swelled.

On the second drive, Pooka came off the field holding his hip, causing panic amongst the KU football faithful, and the drive stalled. Coastal Carolina moved the ball down the field with ease of the next position, but got backed up on 3rd and long in the red zone. Fortunately, the Chanticleers missed the field goal.

Pooka would return for the next drive, and looked like he was ready to break a big one at any moment. He wouldn't get a chance though, as Carter Stanley threw an ill advised pass to the wrong team. The teams mostly traded lackluster offensive possessions until Carolina gutted the KU defense just before halftime, scoring a touchdown. Fortunately for the Jayhawks, the kicker would miss the extra point and KU took a 7-6 lead into halftime. Kansas had a chance to make it 10-6 as time expired, but had some kicking issues of their own as it was Jacob Borcila's turn to miss a field goal.

Coastal was pinned down at their own 7 after a penalty on the kickoff, and KU forced a 3 and out, then took over at the CC 39. Sadly, #StarterStanley threw another inexplicable pick which Carolina took back inside the Kansas 45. They then took it the rest of the way to the end zone, but failed to convert for two. Chanticleers 12, Jayhawks 7 with 7:58 remaining in the 3rd.

Kansas moved the ball a bit, but got stuffed on a trick play on 4th and short and gave it right back at the Carolina 40. After getting the ball back again, Kansas moved the ball and found themselves in 4th and 4 at the 15. Les Miles burned both remaining timeouts before calling a rollout pass in which a KU receiver was knocked down without a holding call. The play failed and the ball went right back to Coastal Carolina, who started chewing up both yardage and clock.

However, the kicking struggles reared their ugly head once again and a short field goal attempt was missed. Kansas took over in their own territory and went four and out. This was essentially the end of the game as Kansas was powerless to stop the clock. In case you forgot, Miles burned TWO timeouts thinking over that failed 4th down play earlier in the quarter.

No one expected more than maybe a handful of wins this year, but given the coaching hire it was disheartening to see more of what we've seen the last ten years out of this program: disorganization, incompetence, and terrible football.