Kansas Jayhawks Football

I just had a few final thoughts I wanted to get off my chest before tomorrow night's contest with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

The Reserves

It occurred to me that there are a lot of guys we haven't seen yet this season. Not only have we been void of our favorite running back-gone-linebacker Toben Opurum, but we haven't seen a large number of the cornerbacks I think most people were expecting either.

Anthony Davis, Greg Brown, Corrigan Powell (cornerbacks), and Ryan Murphy (nickelback) are just a few of the defensive backs I expected to see have a small role outside of special teams.

On the defensive front, Randall Dent is still learning his way around the defensive tackle position, and Darius Parish is working on getting a little smaller around the middle. I think they could both be factors this season, but they don't appear to be ready at this point.

The Offensive Line

Did center Jeremiah Hatch's insertion into the offensive line really make as big a difference as the rushing yard difference between games one and two shows?

Possibly, but I'm sure more opportunistic play calling and an influx of different contributors at the skill positions played an equally large role.

Still, I'm a fan of bigger offensive (and defensive) lines, so I'm as happy as anyone to see him in there, although it came at the expense of Kansas' second biggest lineman, Duane Zlatnik.

Zlatnik still has some learning to do, but I think he'll still be a big factor this season.

The Wide Receivers

Nothing makes me madder than dropped passes. Daymond Patterson dropped a nasty one, but Bradley McDougald dropped at least one that I remember and tossed a second to a defender.

I know that McDougald and Patterson are yardage-after-the-catch types of guys, but I think everyone would rather see them make the catch first.

The Running Backs

I think everyone is excited to see James Sims take the field again, but I'm equally as excited to see what redshirt freshman DeShaun Sands can do behind better blocking and play calling in his second game.

I also like the occasional use of D.J. Beshears as a faster straight-line threat than Sims or Sands.

It will be interesting to see how the running game performs against a defense that, so far in 2010, has been average at best.

The Linebackers

If the offenses in game three pick up the pace against one another (as I believe is likely), our very shallow linebacking corps will find itself on the field a lot more than they have.

How will they hold up? Can Justin Springer, Steven Johnson, and Drew Dudley be effective in pass coverage late in the game, or will they wear out?

I look for Carl Torbush to integrate a fifth defensive back early and often, whether it be in the 3-3-5 or simply the nickel, just to give his poor linebackers a rest.

The King of the Nerds is back to discuss and analyze Week 3 of Kansas Football.

The Kansas Jayhawks will take on Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on ESPN on Friday night at 7:00 pm ct.

Coming off an upset win over #15 ranked Georgia Tech, the Jayhawks (1-1) should be motivated to continue their winning ways against Southern Miss (1-1).

The first road trip will be a test for the Jayhawks to see if they have moved on past the loss against North Dakota State, and are ready to compete the rest of the season. 

Here are the keys for the Jayhawks to win against Southern Miss.

1. Webb needs to have another big game.

Against Georgia Tech, Red-shirt Freshman Jordan Webb threw 3 touchdown passes, 179 yards and only 1 interception. He has the talent in the receiving core with Daymond Patterson and Bradley Mcdougald to have a similar game to the one on Saturday. 

Webb still has some incentive to play well, as he is still competing with Kale Pick for the starting quarterback job. He has played well in the position so far, but still needs to prove he is the Jayhawk's starter.

2. Justin Springer and the rest of the defense need to show up.

Kansas did really well in tackling and keeping the option contained against Georgia Tech, and will encounter the spread offense against Southern Miss. Southern Miss is averaging 434 yards a game so far in the season, so Kansas will need to step up defensively like they did against the Yellow Jackets to give Kansas a chance in this game.

Another thing is we need to force more turnovers on defense. We had one last week, which was on poor receiving. We need to be able to force at least 2 turnovers Friday night.

3. We can not overlook Southern Miss.

If you think of Southern Miss,you might not think of a very good football team but then you are wrong. I was at the KU-SMU game last year where KU won 35-28. This is a very good team that KU's young players might overlook. Georgia Tech probably thought they were going to walk all over the Jayhawks and look how that turned out. 

Southern Miss is the favorite in the gambler's odds, which might make the young Jayhawks focus. Currently the Golden Eagles lead the Jayhawks in most offensive categories, which could spell doom for the Jayhawks if they are not prepared.

4. We must be motivated

The energy from Kansas on Saturday was excellent, and we need to have it again this Friday. We are on national television so the Jayhawks will need to have extra motivation to not be nervous in front of the country. 

Turner Gil did a great job motivating them last week, and needs to do it again for the Jayhawks to pull out of Mississippi with a win.

I am hoping the Jayhawks can keep riding momentum into Hattiesburg this week, and come out with a win. A win in this game will set the tone for the rest of the season. 

My prediction- Kansas 35 Southern Miss 31

Ben Gartland

9/15/10

James Sims is not LaDainian Tomlinson.  He's a true freshman at the University of Kansas who has played in one game, and who happened to play it well.

Not to knock on his performance, of course, which was both extremely promising and entertaining, but last Saturday is the only time we've ever seen the kid play.

Turner Gill's opening day loss didn't prove to be indicative of a poor future, did it?  In fact, thanks to last weekend, we still have only a minimal idea of what we're getting from Gill.

All I'm saying is that time and time again we "learn our lesson" about making quick judgments yet continue to faithfully leap into early conclusions.

I do understand, University Daily Kansan, that the comparison between Sims and Tomlinson was only made only upon similar running styles as a small part of a larger (and otherwise enjoyable) article.

Sims is good at breaking arm tackles, but that doesn't make him a 'power' runner like Angus Quigley.  I'd take Sims over Deshaun Sands anyday in a straight-line race, but comparing their distinct types of footspeed does Sands' lightning-quick laterals no justice.

Isn't saying things like this a bit like saying because he jumped over a single defender that he's as athletic as Knowshon Moreno?  They're physically similar, so it's very plausible, but also ambiguous.

Mostly, it's dangerous to mention Sims and Tomlinson in the same sentence because even these quasi-comparisons can attract the wrong kind of expectations from casual fans and readers.

I also wouldn't encourage Tomlinson's straight-backed manner of running.  He gets away with it, but the general consensus prefers a lower pad level and center of gravity for the sake of Sims' health.

Sims has immense potential and seems to be the real deal.  He won the starting job for week three and I can't wait to see what he does with the ball in his hands more often. 

I just don't want to drop all of that pressure on him just yet.

Speaking of poor comparisons and the University Daily Kansan, people seem to be having an issue distinguishing between quarterback Kale Pick and a dead duck.

Pick is the backup quarterback, and I couldn't be happier that Jordan Webb found a groove.  He's had my vote of confidence since his performance in the 2009 spring game as a first-semester freshman.

Still, the quarterback spot is far from etched in stone.  All it takes is one bad game from Webb against Southern Miss and we could start the whole ordeal over again.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but doesn't saying that the a Wildcat offense "may have breathed new life into the career of backup quarterback Kale Pick" infer slightly that he has been deemed forever a backup?

Webb has to keep playing well if he expects to keep playing.  Pick may have had a poor opener, but as Gill said several times, many other players did as well.  Pick is very athletic and very competitive.

And I'm surprised that so few of us, even I, were surprised to see Pick enter the game so quickly with Webb getting into a rhythm.

Even if the timing was questionable, don't good coaches always find ways to get their best backups game experience and utilize their unique talents?  Won't it be nice to have Quigley, Sands and Sims all back at our disposal?  Isn't it nice to have a deep, talented and young group of receivers to use?

I'd be upset if I find out Gill was only playing Pick to keep him happy: that's not the kind of football player or coaching I like.  Pick was played because, as Matt Galloway and Tim Biere both go on to say, he brings extra dimensions and positive potential to this offense.

Sims' excellent debut does not an astounding career make, and neither must Pick's poor premier a career backup make.

At a tall 6' 3" and weighing in at 237 pounds, Justin Springer has the size and the potential for physical growth NFL scouts look for in an inside linebacker.

Georgia Tech's relentless rushing attack provided a rare opportunity for Springer to pile up a career game, but it still takes a great football player to stack up 15 tackles (three for loss and one sack) against an offense and an overall team as quality as the Yellow Jackets.

Big games on big stages are what it will take to put Springer on the NFL map.

But how does he stack up to other potential draftees?

In comparison to last year's draft, Springer matches up nicely with a number of different inside prospects.

In terms of size and speed, Springer is probably somewhere in between fourth-rounders Roddrick Muckelroy (Texas) and A.J. Edds (Iowa).  He plays faster than his times will show and, while he lacks elite pop, his instincts and downhill mentality get him into the action all over the football field.

Springer probably fits most realistically in the Travis Goethel (ASU, 7th round) mold.  He's not quite as athletic overall, but has the better frame for potential growth.

The Kansas senior fits in remarkably well from a physical standpoint with several potential 2011 draftees.  Obi Ezeh (Michigan), Brian Smith (ND) and Mike Mohammed (Cal) are all in the 6' 3", 240 pound range.  Each is probably a touch faster than Springer, but most of all each has put out statistics far more notable than Springer's in previous seasons.

This being said, if Springer can keep up this production (breaking into triple digit tackles, around 10 tackles for a loss and swatting down the occasional pass), it will be hard to ignore him.

Springer is not your average Big 12 case of an athletically sub-par, instinctive inside linebacker (a.k.a. former Buffalo Jeff Smart and Cyclone Jesse Smith) on a bad defense.  Springer is an athlete with a chance to spearhead a decent defense.

If Springer does in fact lead the Kansas defense and the team to anything above mediocrity, he's sure to catch the NFL's eye.

While I'm not big on predictions of this sort, if I had to guess (for fun) I'd say I can easily imagine him going in the middle of the sixth round with a maximum of the early fifth round and the obvious possibility of going undrafted.

The best thing Springer can do is to keep piling up the stats, keep his team playing well and, as an added bonus, an extra game on national television in late December wouldn't hurt either.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but last Saturday Kansas employed (more often than not, it would seem, but this is where I might be wrong) a 3-3-5 defense.

Normally, trying a three front defense when lacking depth at the linebacker position is discouraged.  It's also important to note that our three-front is vastly undersized, and an extra safety won't usually mask that.

Props to Carl Torbush and Turner Gill for utilizing the defensive personnel they do have.

The Front Three

Using not only the (relatively) diminutive defensive tackle Patrick Dorsey in the middle but also supplementing by using fellow tackle Richard Johnson as a defensive end in this particular scheme helped mask some size deficiencies.

Backup tackle John Williams did, I thought, an admirable job of using his immense strength to fill up interior space. Jake Laptad, usually the smallest of the front three, also did admirably in converting from his usual role of pass-rusher to space-filler.

All in all, the three-front was manhandled by Georgia Tech for most of the game, but Torbush utilized a great rotation of at least seven players and went full speed at the Yellow Jackets for four quarters.

The three-man-front did its job: it freed up the linebackers.

The Linebackers

Speaking of which, Kansas' three linebackers performed valiantly. Three fronts allow extra linebacker blitzes and, in Georgia Tech's case, an extra quarterback spy or two. 

Steven Johnson had a really big game, but props to Justin Springer for finding his way from sideline to sideline and even filling extra space up the gut when needed, producing from everywhere on the field.

Not much else to say other than that I'm glad the three primary Jayhawk linebackers are in tip-top performance shape.

The Defensive Backs

The success of our 3-3-5 was due in large part to Kansas' secondary depth and athleticism. At least nine defensive backs contributed regularly.

It's a size-risk, but the strong safety and the nickel-safety were usually roaming around the corners of the box like extra linebackers anyways. This positioning helps stretch and piece apart the option run.

Chris Harris, Isaiah Barfield, and Calvin Rubles didn't have too much work to do (Nesbitt and his receivers weren't on the same page anyway), but they got the job done.

The key here lies in Keeston Terry and Lubbock Smith rotating as the single, deep free safeties. Like Springer, Terry and Smith did an excellent job of getting from sideline to sideline, finding their way into plays and usually making the very-necessary open-field tackles after the ball was pitched.

The Rotation

A huge key to the overall success of the Jayhawks was the rotation. The Yellow Jacket running game sputtered out, and the defense did not. At least 19 different defenders were on the field fairly regularly in that contest, and the fresh legs kept the defensive intensity at a 10 all day long.

I would have liked to have seen their quarterback Nesbitt get hit more often. Too many times did Kansas defenders freeze up in between the quarterback and the running back on Nesbitt's pitches.

If you freeze and a quarterback pitches the ball, you're not going to make it to the ball-carrier anyway. Get a head of steam and make Nesbitt wish he'd never leave the confines of the pocket again (legally, of course).

Still, that's in the past. The Jayhawk defense did what it needed to do.

Next Week

The 3-3-5 may pop up occasionally this Friday, but it's difficult to say how often. 

With a small-ish front three being used, producing a consistent pass rush with just one or two extra linebackers isn't plausible. Also, when Southern Miss spreads out their offense, the extra safeties will tend to veer away from the box, taking away the extra presence against the run.

So, it might come into play as a means of creative adjustment, but expect to see conventional defense the bulk of the time.

First of all, if you like quality, concise web journalism at all, you'll read Tom Keegan's "Five KU players to watch" article.

A good and simple yet interesting and meaningful article are one of the simple pleasures I get from sports journalism.

Secondly, I'm not usually a negative Nellie, but I'd like to post a counter-article to Keegan's five players on the rise.

Here are a few guys whose names we've heard little of this season, why, and how that can change in week three (if it needs to at all).

Honorable Mentions

Toben Opurum, Brad Thorson, and Deshaun Sands were slowed by injuries in Week 2.  I'd like to see Riley Spencer or Gavin Howard get to spend some time at the right tackle slot against Southern Miss.

No. 5: Chris Omigie and Christian Matthews (WR's)

Omigie is every bit of 6'4" and has great downfield speed for a guy his size.  Matthews is simply a great all-around athlete who could also be a factor as a gadget receiver if need-be. 

Erick McGriff could fall in this category as well, although Omigie and Matthews seem to offer more to KU in the immediate future.

The wide receiver position is thick with talent, but if Chuck Long and Jordan Webb continue to be more successful in hurry-up mode, Omigie and Matthews could see their numbers called this Friday.

No. 4: Tanner Hawkinson (LT), Trevor Marrongelli (RG)

Not many people want to hear these guys' names.  When it comes to offensive linemen, silence generally infers a certain amount of success.

The offensive line was poor in Game 1 but showed obvious developments in Game 2.  Marrongelli and Hawkinson's names never really popped up, so I think they've earned some praise.

I'd like to see fewer sacks, naturally, but that falls partially on both Webb and his receivers as well.

No. 3: Angus Quigley (RB)

Eight carries for 46 yards isn't terrible considering the changes made to the pace and style of the offense and the excitement of James Sims' success.

Due to Sims' success and Sands' return, unfortunately, the frequency with which we hear Quigley's name may remain similar to game two.

Even if overshadowed, there's no shame in what Quigley has done.  He's the type of player who will keep practicing and playing hard, and he'll probably be rewarded with starter's minutes.

No. 2: Drew Dudley (LB), Chris Harris (CB)

Last year's tackling stalwarts to no more than statistically-diminutive defenders in 2010?  Not exactly.

Every time I zoned in on Harris and Dudley in Game 2, they were doing a decent job of stretching out the rushing attack. 

Dudley isn't quite as fast as Justin Springer or Steve Johnson, so defending an option attack won't do his stat sheet any favors.

As far as Harris is concerned, I'm always pretty pleased when I don't hear cornerbacks' names too often.  Even in Georgia Tech's case, that tends to mean that Harris's receiver coverage is more than adept, a quality that should prove very useful against the Southern Miss spread. 

No. 1: Jake Laptad (DE)

Laptad was a guy I predicted to have a monster season defensively, and yet he's posted only two total tackles and two quarterback hurries on the season.

I'll give him and all the other defensive linemen a pass for Game 2, because I sincerely enjoyed seeing Carl Torbush's 3-3-5 with two safeties patrolling around the box.  Props for using the talent you have, Torbush.

The defensive three-front looked pretty weak against Georgia Tech's offensive line, but in the end fans should know that apparently that three-front (usually consisting of Patrick Dorsey in the middle and Richard Johnson and Laptad on either end) did its job.

If those three linemen aren't occupying at least a few gaps like a good three-front should, there's no way linebackers Springer and Johnson unleash on the Yellow Jackets in such dominant fashion.

In the upcoming contest with Southern Miss, look for Laptad to get a few more four-man pass rush opportunities.

The aftermath of the Bison’s stunning upset over Kansas, 6-3 last Saturday in Lawrence, temporarily stopped the heartbeat of the Jayhawks.

As well it should have.

Heading into this afternoon’s game against ACC power No. 17 Georgia Tech and their always lethal quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, most tuning in to watch the game were all but primed to trace back over the Kansas Jayhawks certificate of death for the 2010 season.

In his first collegiate start as a Jayhawk, redshirt freshman quarterback Jordan Webb paced Kansas following a first-possession blunder on a Bradley McDougald drop that had trouble spelled out for the Yellow Jackets...had the pass been completed.

Joshua Nesbitt wasted no time jogging untouched into the end zone, giving Georgia Tech the early 7-0 lead.

Staring directly at the monstrous offensive line of Georgia Tech, Kansas faced the daunting task of suppressing a rushing game trashing defenses by prepping up 4,136 yards. 

Nesbitt finished second on the team behind Jonathan Dwyer with 1,037 yards on the ground in 2009.

Averaging 295 yards per game rushing the ball, Kansas sealed every gap minimizing Paul Johnson’s Ramblin’ Wreck ground attack. 

However, following a Jordan Webb touchdown pass to tight end Tim Biere putting the Jayhawks up 14-7, Nesbitt and company literally hit the turf running.

Georgia Tech went on to own the rest of the second quarter taking a 17-14 lead into the locker room at the half.  They also finished the with 291 rushing yards after a slow start.

Kansas freshman running back James Sims displayed the reason Turner Gill is enormously high on him as he finished the game with 17 carries for a 101 yards against a stout Yellow Jacket defense. 

Of course on one particular carry, Sims hurdled one defender while two others completely whiffed him as he turned a minor gain into an electrifying pick up sparking Kansas to another score.

The Yellow Jackets pulled to within 28-25 and ground back to the Kansas 40, but multiple penalties sunk Georgia Tech backing them up and aiding a failed fourth-down conversion with 1:01 remaining allowing for the Jayhawks to hang on for the win.

Die hard Jayhawk fans wanted new head coach Turner Gill’s job after Week 1's embarrassing loss to North Dakota State, but remember, Gill can’t be the type of savior to suit up and run onto the field to bail out players who aren’t getting the job done.

Three turnovers including two lost fumbles, one interception, and two missed field goals can’t be shoved down a head coach’s throat.

Today the 48,417 jammed into Kansas Memorial Stadium witnessed a redshirt freshman quarterback grow up before their very eyes, not to mention those watching the game across the country on TV.

Webb closed the afternoon 18/29 for 179 yards, three touchdowns and just a lone interception.  Kale Pick entered the game giving the Hawks a different look from time to time showing a wildcat style offense.

Turner Gill didn’t even hesitate by declaring the Union, Mo., native his starter for some time to come.  After a performance like that, Kansas fans wouldn’t have it any other way. 

In the receiving department, the wealth was spread around with sophomore Daymond Patterson putting the corps on his back, catching the ball 7 times for 85 yards and one touchdown.  Bradley McDougald had 5 receptions mounting 44 yards and one touchdown. 

Although the North Dakota State shocker is not a distant memory (and probably never will be), upending the No. 17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets certainly helps in stitching the wound slashed by the Bison.

Was it the Sept. 11 tribute clothing adding helping hand?

If so, then the stars and stripes must be implemented into mandatory game day gear from here on out.   

A lot has been going on in the KU football world within the past week.  The coming week, with the pending contest against Georgia Tech, could provide an equally entertaining amount of news.

Here are just a couple of thoughts I have concerning the Jayhawks this week.

Lew Perkins' Resignation

I've said before that Lew Perkins' eventual resignation could cause problems for new head coach Turner Gill.  It would appear that Gill's troubles have jumped him a bit early.

Unfortunately, Gill's opening loss to North Dakota State leaves a nasty taste in most Kansas fans' mouths.  A few more nasty losses will place a nasty taste in any new athletic director's mouth, too.

A poor season combined with any new A.D.'s notorious reputation for wanting "their guy" might spell bad things right off the bat for Gill.

I highly doubt Gill could ever get fired after a single season, but it certainly places a lot of pressure on him very early in the process.

The Quarterback Situation

In a season like this one that has already been dubbed a rebuilding year, utilizing and grooming two young quarterbacks isn't a terrible idea. 

Normally I'm all for sticking with one guy. In this particular scenario, however, it will be extremely beneficial to see which signal caller progresses more throughout this season in game situations.

Look for the combination of Chuck Long and Jordan Webb to play much more aggressively in a Week 2 contest that will take a lot of guts and a little luck just to avoid getting blown out of.

Tim Biere and Daymond Patterson

Not much to say here other than that Biere has been waiting a long time to get some attention and happened to have a horrible game.  It happens to everyone.

As far as Patterson is concerned, he played well enough but I'd like to see him more cautious and north-to-south in the punt return game (even though I understand his desire to make a play and the average-at-best-punt-return-blocking).

Angus Quigley and the Offensive Line

Angus Quigley was awfully disappointing coming out of the gates last week.  Many will blame the offensive line.  I suggest looking at offensive strategy.

Quigley's primary running play throughout Game 1 was the same quarterback-read play that hasn't worked for the past two seasons.  Quigley doesn't get out of the backfield fast enough for that play to work.

The worst part is that after all that talk the Hawks barely played under center.  Angus Quigley got stuffed his first time out of the backfield in an Ace-back formation, but coaches can't give up on the style so easily.

These offensive linemen have been bred as offensive linemen since arriving on campus.  Give these guys a chance to get their feet under them and, in last week's case, learn to drive and dominate weaker opposing lines.

The Defensive Line

I like the idea of running a three-front every now and then, but I don't think I'd do it much this season.  Only three letter-winner linebackers and only one defensive lineman over 300 pounds (who did not touch the field Saturday) and you're playing a three-front against an FCS opponent?

That played right into North Dakota State's hands: small.

Maybe when Patrick Dorsey or Richard Johnson Jr. packs on 30 or 40 more pounds I won't mind so much.  Had the defense not held their own during the second half of the game, this would be a bigger issue.

Toben Opurum

I hate to follow along with the crowd here, because I'm completely fine with Toben Opurum moving and staying at linebacker for the good of the team.

However, if I'd known that the only running plays Kansas was going to lose were a few receiver-reverses and that stupid read play, I'd have thrown my lot into the Opurum-for-runningback circle.

I'm not giving up on Quigley or Opurum at their respective positions just yet.  Still, of the two, name the back that has had more success running out of the shotgun. 

Jacob Branstetter

Branstetter has been doing good things for the Jayhawks for far too long to get bashed for a bad game.  Still, if he continues to struggle, he himself may decide to cede some of the kicking duties to true freshman Ron Doherty.

The experience would be invaluable to him in the future rather than having a kicker start cold-turkey next season.

Branstetter will always be the best tackling kicker in Kansas football history.

Aggressive Behavior

I thought the biggest difference I would see this season was how aggressive the Hawks would play, particularly in the running game and on defense.

I attribute part of the problem to the coaching staff having severely overlooked the Bison (didn't we all?) and, in an effort to surprise Georgia Tech next week, showing a modest piece of the full offense.  That's probably naive thinking on my part, though.

All I saw last Saturday was the same conservative running game (with the exception of the reverses, but I sincerely doubt those will be so effective so often), a more-conservative-than-ever passing attack, and a lot of four-man pressure and soft coverage on defense.

At this point, the coaching staff is going to have to take some chances to win some games.  You can't beat Georgia Tech by playing it safe, and just because they don't pass often doesn't mean you can give their receivers a 10-yard cushion.

The bottom line of this whole article and the summary of my overwhelming feelings from Saturday comes down to aggressiveness.

I thought we'd see more, but we got less.  That has to change.

Best of Luck, Coaches and Athletes

Trying to hit the field with any energy after an opening loss against North Dakota State.  I'm sure the athletes and staff aren't thrilled that the opportunity for redemption is against a Top 25 opponent.

Simply coming out on Saturday with a ferocious attitude and showing that you've really worked hard this week in practice would be a big victory all on its own.

For those of you too young to remember, "Candyman" was a campy horror flick made in 1992.

The premise of the story was a group of kids trying to validate an urban myth that stated the following: If you repeat the "Candyman" name aloud three times in front of a mirror, the "Candyman" would appear from thin air and begin hacking you to death with his hook.

I know, it's pretty moronic, however, it actually had a large enough following that the movie spawned two sequels.

This leads to my modern day horror flick that came to fruition on Saturday as my beloved Kansas Jayhawks battled mighty North Dakota State on the gridiron.

I was pleasantly surprised on Saturday when I realized the Kansas Jayhawks football team was being televised on the east coast during their matchup with North Dakota State.

Being a University of Kansas alumnus, I am always thrilled and giddy with excitement when the Jayhawk games are televised because they are not considered regional games where I reside.

Prior to kickoff, I went to the bathroom.  Before exiting, I looked in the mirror and remembered saying aloud the following: "I still can't believe my Jayhawks lost to frickin' Northern Iowa during the NCAA basketball tournament this past season."  As I walked back in to the room, I uttered the same thought before settling in to watch the game.

As the game progressed, I watched in horror as my Jayhawks were pummeled by a team they were supposed to beat by 30 points.

At that moment, I realized I had summoned the modern day version of the "Candyman" when I was in the bathroom.  You see...I uttered a variation of the the word "North" at least two times and the "North" revealed itself and opened a can of "you-know-what" on the Jayhawks.

Northern Iowa killed the chance of Kansas becoming national basketball champions in the spring.  Now, North Dakota State killed any possibility that Kansas had of dreaming about a bowl appearance in the fall.

With this in mind, I have decided to urge the University of Kansas to drop all schools from their athletic schedules that have any variation of "North."

It is apparent, that the new "Candyman" goes by the moniker "North" and is here to wreak havoc on any Jayhawk squad that dare play him under any circumstance.

To all Jayhawk fans, I can only offer my apologies for summoning the "Candyman"..er...uh...the "North" last Saturday.

Hopefully, KU won't play any schools from this point whereas you need a compass to determine their location.  Under this premise, we could possibly win multiple national championships in many sports.

However, for the aforementioned to happen, fans must avoid mirrors, and avoid uttering the monikers normally found on a weather vane.

Until then...Rock Chalk...go Jayhawks!!!