RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, September 30, 2006 7:00 pm
The somber group of players and coaches filing into the Kansas locker room took no solace in coming close.
“We’re disappointed we don’t leave with a win. It’s painful for players, coaches, everybody,” coach Mark Mangino said. “The fact of the matter is that it’s my job to look at the big picture, I’m looking at the long haul.
“I’ve been in this conference since it was the Big Eight and there were times when KU came up here and the players were tailgating at halftime — the Nebraska players. This is not the outcome we wanted, but things are improving.”
Considering that Kansas spotted Nebraska a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, the Jayhawks had some things to appreciate despite losing 39-32 in overtime.
But a fumble inside the NU 5-yard line, three interceptions (including one in the end zone) and two dropped passes in the end zone represented plays the Jayhawks can second-guess and regret.
“I just played bad. It was probably the worst quarter of my life — high school, junior high, Pee Wee football, backyard football,” Kansas quarterback Adam Barmann said. “It was bad, it really was. But I knew it couldn’t be that bad the whole game.
“I got forced on a few things, but that fumble was just inexcusable. After that, I felt like we got ourselves in a little bit of a rhythm offensively and we were able to put some points on the board.”
Mangino said he entertained no thoughts about pulling Barmann from the game.
“If Kerry (Meier) had been available, he would have been in,” Mangino said of redshirt freshman who is nursing a sore shoulder.
“When Adam had a bad quarter, I challenged him and he met the challenge. Settling down days are over — he’s a senior.”
Kansas cut the deficit to 24-10 at halftime and put a scare in Husker Nation when the Jayhawks scored the next 15 points.
Jon Cornish scored on an 8-yard run after Joe Mortensen recovered a fumble. On the next KU drive, Scott Webb connected on a 35-yard field goal. With 6:52 left in the game, the Jayhawks took their first lead of the game when Derek Fine caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Barmann.
The Huskers came right back with a 75-yard touchdown pass and a 32-25 lead with the two-point conversion.
But KU wasn’t done. Barmann guided the Jayhawks down the field, driving 81 yards on 11 plays. Brian Murph caught a 26-yard scoring pass with 46 seconds left and Webb tied it up.
Mangino was asked if he had any thoughts about going for two at that point.
“No, it never did (cross my mind). That was not what we wanted,” Mangino said.
Defensive end Russell Brorsen said Kansas has nothing to be ashamed of in losing to the Huskers.
“It’s disappointing. We made a lot of big mistakes. Give credit to Nebraska, they beat us fair and square,” he said. “A loss is a loss. You can improve from it, but you still lost the game and you can’t ever get it back.”
Linebacker Mortensen, who caused a Nebraska fumble in addition to recovering one, said the Jayhawks must learn from this.
“Our two road losses are two overtimes. We have to start winning them,” he said. “If we’re down 21-0, we know that’s three big plays we have to make.”
Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.