KU Shows Signs of Life Against Iowa State

For the first time in weeks, KU football actually looked competitive. Yes, the Jayhawks lost again, 28-17 against Iowa State, yet KU was actually in the game (starting its third string quarterback). The moral victory could be a sign that KU may actually turn things around after all. That is a big maybe.

After blowout losses to Baylor, Kansas State and Texas A&M (not exactly the three power houses of the conference), KU wasn't expected to compete with an Iowa State team fresh off a road upset of Texas. However, KU, led by its third string quarterback and starting a bevy of freshmen and sophomores as usual, led at halftime and looked competitive all game long. It was a sign of life from a program that desperately needed anything positive.

After Mark Mangino won an Orange Bowl and took the program to never-before seen success, few thought the transition to Turner Gill would be smooth. Few also thought KU would be this bad in Gill's first season and not only lose, but lose the way it has. While moral victories don't build programs, it is nice to see that Gill is starting to slightly get it together, and KU was able to go on the road and be competitive. After this season ends and KU wins the Big 12 in basketball like it does every year, it will be interesting to see what Gill does in year two. At least its starting to look not as bleak.

Kansas State Routs Kansas

Heading into last night's Sunflower Showdown, most fans expected a tight game between two in-state rivals. Last year's game in Manhattan was close, and both the Wildcats and the Jayhawks were coming off bad loses in conference play. Nothing could have prepared either side for the final result, a 59-7 bloodbath in favor of KSU.

K-State is a good team, a team that will likely finish second or third in the Big 12 North and make a middle-tier bowl. There is no way, however, that the Wildcats are 52 points better than the Jayhawks. None. Coaching is 100% to blame for this loss and the final score. There already is a website dedicated to the firing of Turner Gill, and with each crushing blowout, the notion is becomming more likely.

Losing isn't what this is all about, its the nature of the loses and the direction of the program. KU Football is in a state of emergency and is close to destroying everything Mark Mangino built. Only 31 games ago, KU was winning the Orange Bowl. Now KU isn't just losing games, it is getting blown out. Instead of fixing the problems on the field, Gill is focused on implementing rediculous rules to "build character" in his players. I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet, but KU is on the verge of hiring a new athletic director. Gill better improve quickly, or his days are numbered.

KU beats Georgia Tech

After suffering one of the worst and most embarrassing defeats in school history, almost everyone had written off the season for KU football. The team, losing some of the most prolific players in the program's history, was deemed finished and many fans started calling for head coach Turner Gill's head. Many fans simply hoped KU could at least score a touchdown and keep it relatively close against a ranked Georgia Tech team who was fresh off a huge win over its own FCS opponent in week one.

KU was able to answer its critics and save its season, upsetting heavily favored Georgia Tech 28-25. The KU offense, now led by freshman quarterback Jordan Webb and freshman running back James Sims, moved the ball early and often and almost made the offensive debacle in week one a distant memory. KU's defense gave up yards on the ground, but was able to eliminate the Yellowjacket's passing attack and come up with several key stops on fourth down to help KU seal the upset.

The upset was exactly what first-year coach Turner Gill needed to gain back the faith of the Jayhawk fans and players. After an embarrassing loss, it was important for KU to at least be competitive against Georgia Tech, but the upset gives KU momentum and a fresh start to its season.

While the win is huge for the program, it is baffling how KU could look so terrible in week one and so much better in week two. It is possible KU had been overlooking North Dakota State with Georgia Tech on the horizon, however just one score against the FCS Bison would have provided a victory. One thing is for sure, KU has now become one of the most unpredictable teams in the country, and all predictions for the 2010 season are now meaningless. At the very least, KU football gave its fans a reason to believe again.