Kansas football: Red Raiders ruin Jayhawk Homecoming
By Stan Unruh
Another slow start doomed the Kansas football team on Homecoming Saturday. The bye week did not help the Jayhawks as they fall to 1-4 on the season.
I thought the bye week might help coach David Beaty and the Kansas football turn the season around. The Jayhawks had a chance to make homecoming extra special. As a matter of fact, the game provided much of the same things the team did in the first four games as Texas Tech scored early and often on the way to a 65-19 victory.
The early start on a road trip did not slow the Red Raiders. The opening drive set the tone for the game. Texas Tech’s version of the Air Raid offense sped down the field gaining nearly 50 yards in the first 6 plays and scored easily. Before you could say Peyton Bender, the Jayhawks trailed 21-0. The hour-long first half and the six official reviews, that went mostly against the Jayhawks, upset me and everyone at Memorial Stadium.
Is it just me or did it seem the Kansas football team was not ready for action in the first quarter? The defense looked worse than I remembered from two weeks ago. The offense could not move the ball. The team that needed to avoid a slow start did everything but that Saturday.
The Jayhawks had a chance to possibly stay in the game late in the first half. They missed a chance for six points following Mike Lee’s interception. I don’t understand the Peyton Bender pass to Earl Bostic on second down. It wasted a down and the Jayhawks ultimately settled for a Gabe Rui field goal. They needed a touchdown not a field goal.
Next: Former Jayhawk Ben Heeney a better fit in Houston
As a matter of fact, it doesn’t matter who plays quarterback in Doug Meacham’s offense when the defense gives up almost 700 yards. Tech only scored 55 points against the Jayhawks last season. One team is improving the Jayhawks are not. Beaty needs to make significant changes as the team prepare for Iowa State.