Barfknecht: Reesing, Jayhawks continue to struggle

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The last thing Kansas expected to be dealing with nine games into Todd Reesing's final season were questions about his quarterbacking.

A month ago, KU coach Mark Mangino touted the senior from Austin, Texas, as a darkhorse Heisman Trophy candidate, and rightfully so.

At that time, Reesing was 25-6 in his KU career as a starter. In 2007, he led the Jayhawks to a school-best 12-1 record and was second-team All-Big 12. He posted similar individual statistics last season.

But on Saturday, for the fourth straight game, Reesing was directly involved in the plays that led to another Kansas loss.

In a 17-10 setback to Kansas State, Reesing committed his eighth, ninth and 10th turnovers during a four-game skid. That slide essentially has killed any North Division title hopes for the Jayhawks (5-4, 1-4), who host Nebraska on Saturday.

So what's wrong with the cocksure, swash-buckling, walking bolt of energy named Todd Reesing?

“I have no idea,'' he said in even tones, his back symbolically against a wall outside the KU locker room.

“Your guess is as good as mine. This week was probably the best week of practice we've had in a long time. To practice that up-tempo in week eight or nine in the season is pretty impressive.''

But on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium — which was about 2,000 short of a sellout because of the ridiculous ticket price of $80 — KU had no tempo.

Reesing threw a first-quarter interception at the K-State 10 that led press box patrons to blurt out in unison, “Who was he throwing that to?''

In the second quarter, Reesing fumbled at the KU 24. But the Jayhawks' improving defense forced a field-goal try that failed.

But no one could bail Reesing out after his third turnover.

On third-and-10 from the KU 36 in the final minute of the half, Reesing scrambled but was stripped from behind. Kansas State got a 31-yard touchdown pass from Grant Gregory to Lamark Brown for a 10-7 lead.

When K-State (6-4, 4-2) took the second-half kickoff and drove 84 yards for a touchdown and a 17-7 lead, this game was over.

Kansas coach Mark Mangino called Reesing's 10 turnovers in four games (five fumbles, five interceptions) “a little bit of streak of misfortune.''

“And I don't know how to describe it,'' the coach said. “I'm not going to be critical of a player who gives his heart and soul to a program.''

One other unknown remains from Saturday: Is Reesing injured?

Kansas never discloses week to week injury information. People with ties to the program have speculated that Reesing is battling a groin problem and, after three or four throws in the turf Saturday, an issue with his throwing hand.

So, Todd, are you injured?

“No,'' he told me. “I'm not playing more injured than anybody else. Shoot, I had more rushing yards than anybody on the team today, take away the sack yards.''

Quickly review with me the two major aspects of teams not going public with injuries — and both are ugly.

First, it does a great disservice to a player of Reesing's loyalty to struggle this way if he indeed is injured and it isn't acknowledged. Second, playing dumb on injuries allows coaches to use injured players without condemnation.

Kansas now must try to regroup for Senior Day on Saturday against Nebraska.

Kansas State, meanwhile, creeps closer and closer to clinching the North Division by playing to its strengths, plus simplifying and executing.

That must be a real shocker to someone twirling a play-card cluttered with 300 options.

Coach Bill Snyder's Wildcats ran about six kinds of plays, and Kansas never did stop them. Tailback Daniel Thomas hammered 24 times for 185 yards. Quarterback Grant Gregory ran for 51 yards, passed for 66 and led a turnover-free effort.

“K-State is light years ahead of last year,'' Mangino said. “They are disciplined and very well coached. Coach Snyder hasn't missed a beat.''

The team with the better players didn't win here. The team that won excelled in the field-position game, managed the clock, produced timely defensive stops and found a way to persevere through any self-inflicted wounds.

“No one thought we were going to win today,'' Thomas said. “We were picked to be at the bottom of the Big 12 in every poll.

“But we know what kind of team we are, so we just want to show everyone. And it feels good.''

Kansas.............0 7 0 3—10

At Kansas St...............0 10 7 0—17

Second Quarter

KSt—FG Cherry 47, 11:12.

Kan—Briscoe 17 pass from Reesing (Branstetter kick), 8:18.

KSt—L.Brown 31 pass from Gregory (Cherry kick), :20.

Third Quarter

KSt—Dan.Thomas 5 run (Cherry kick), 10:27.

Fourth Quarter

Kan—FG Branstetter 46, 5:20.

A—48,306.

Kan KSt

First downs 19 16

Rushes-yards 23-60 43-266

Passing 241 66

Comp-Att-Int 27-41-1 7-16-0

Return Yards 1 40

Punts-Avg. 2-45.0 4-41.8

Fumbles-Lost 3-2 1-0

Penalties-Yards 6-43 5-55

Time of Possession 29:50 30:10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Kansas, Sharp 11-35, Reesing 8-25, Opurum 2-7, Team 1-(minus 1), Pick 1-(minus 6). Kansas St., Dan.Thomas 24-185, Gregory 12-51, Banks 2-32, K.Valentine 3-2, Team 2-(minus 4).

PASSING—Kansas, Reesing 27-41-1-241. Kansas St., Gregory 7-16-0-66.

RECEIVING—Kansas, Meier 8-92, Briscoe 7-76, McDougald 4-25, Sharp 4-12, J.Wilson 3-23, Biere 1-13. Kansas St., L.Brown 3-43, Mastrud 3-18, Banks 1-5.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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