By Wendell Barnhouse
Big 12 Digital Correspondent
The lone bright spot so far for Kansas has been junior running back Ke'aun Kinner. He leads the Big 12 in rushing at 135 yards per game. And, as the old Michael Jordan commercial used to say, "It's gotta be the shoes."
Kinner arrived in Lawrence from Navarro (Texas) College for spring practice. In junior-college, he was accustomed to buying his own cleats if the school-issued shoes didn't fit. When he arrived in Lawrence, he was given size 10½. A slight problem since Kinner, despite his 5-9, 185-pound build, has 12½ feet.
"I didn't really say anything because I didn't want to be a problem, I guess," Kinner told ESPN.com.
After a few days in too-small cleats, Kinner was in the locker room when new coach David Beaty walked by. He noticed that Kinner's toes were bleeding. Beaty inquired and Kinner answered: "Coach, these shoes are just a little bit too small."
Welcome to FBS football. Kinner, who hadn't had time to shop for or buy new kicks, was quickly issued size 12½s
"He just thought whatever pair of shoes they gave you, that's what you got," Beaty said. "He was going through every one of those 5 a.m. workouts and never said a word. He just kept going."
Kinner is from Little Elm, a small suburb in the Dallas area. As a senior at Little Elm High, he gained 2,929 rushing yards and scored 28 touchdowns. He had back-to-back games of 55 and 57 carries. In 2014 at Navarro, he was the NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year.
When Beaty took over a depleted Kansas roster, Kinner decided to be a Jayhawk. He signed up without visiting campus.
"I trusted the coaching staff and Coach Beaty," Kinner said. "Everything he said, I could tell he was telling the truth."
If Kansas is this season's biggest underdog, then Kinner is fine with that. He considers himself an over-achiever who has been overlooked.
"I fit perfectly here," Kinner said.
And now, so do his shoes.
Pinch Kicker
About a year ago, Jack Cantele lost his kicking job. He missed three field goals (from 41, 42 and 22 yards) in Kansas State's six-point loss to Auburn. He was replaced by freshman Matthew McCrane, who went on to convert 18 of 19 field goal attempts.
"The hardest part was seeing my mom," Cantele told the Topeka Capital-Journal about the aftermath of the Auburn game. "She takes it harder than anyone and when I saw her after that game it was probably the worst feeling in the world, worse than missing the kicks."
Last Saturday against UTSA, McCrane injured his left leg after making an extra point in the Wildcats' 30-3 victory over UTSA. Cantele came on and made all three of his field goal attempts – 29, 27 and 21 yards.
"Matt is our guy and he'll continue to be our guy once he's ready, and we all hope that's sooner rather than later," Cantele said. "But it felt good to be back out there. I've been here for five years and time goes by so fast. I didn't miss a beat. Those are the guys, the snapper and holder, I've been practicing with for two years and it felt good."
Trumped In Ames
Iowa State matched its Week One record crowd of 61,500 for last Saturday's game with Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium. One of the attendees was GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Opponents Watch
Updates on Big 12 nonconference foes, past and future.
Georgia Southern, which was shutout (44-0) for the first time since 1995 by West Virginia in Week One, bounced back with a 43-17 victory at Western Michigan.
Tulsa is 2-0 going into Saturday's game at Oklahoma. The Golden Hurricane, under first-year coach Phillip Montgomery (Baylor's former offensive coordinator) is fifth nationally in total offense, 10th in passing offense and tied for 23rd in scoring.
Iowa State plays at Toledo Saturday, a week after the Rockets traveled to Little Rock and upset Arkansas, 16-12.
Texas Tech plays at Arkansas Saturday. The Razorbacks have allowed 91 total points in their last eight games for an average of 11 per game. On Monday, Arkansas' leading receiver Keon Hatcher had surgery and will be out about six weeks.
Minnesota, which lost to TCU in the season opener, won at Colorado State, 23-20, in overtime.
California, which plays at Texas Saturday, is 2-0. The Golden Bears are seventh nationally in scoring at 54 points per game, fourth in passing offense and 12th in total offense.
Recent Reads
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield's demeanor is making an impact on the Sooners.
Despite his team allowing nearly 100 points in his first two games, new Kansas coach David Beaty said he's "holding up great."
Great perspective here from former Iowa State running back Jeff Woody on the death of former Iowa defensive back Tyler Sash.
Jarvis Baxter's unlikely journey to become a wide receiver at Oklahoma would make a good Hollywood script.
Short Yardage
Oklahoma's Bob Stoops is in his 17th season as the Sooners coach. He made his debut in 1999 and when OU plays Tulsa Saturday it will be his 100th home game as head coach. During that span, Tulsa has had six head coaches: Dave Rader (1988-99), Keith Burns (2000-02), Steve Kragthorpe (2003-06), Todd Graham (2007-10), Bill Blankenship, Philip Montgomery (first season).
The jury is still out on Texas Tech's defense, which got bullied by Arkansas last season in Lubbock. The Red Raiders play the Razorbacks in Fayetteville Saturday and coach Kliff Kingsbury hopes his offense gets to a quick start and takes the pressure off his defense. So far, sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been outstanding as Texas Tech is averaging 3.8 points per drive and 8.03 yards per play. Mahomes is also spreading the wealth. He has completed passes to 10 different receivers with Devin Lauderdale (19), Jakeem Grant (15) and Ian Sadler (13) having double-digit targets as his favorite receivers.
In 2001, Texas' Charlie Strong was the defensive coordinator at South Carolina and he interviewed for the head coaching job at Cal. The school hired Jeff Tedford. Saturday in Austin, the Golden Bears play the Longhorns and Strong holds no grudges. Asked Monday how many schools turned him down other than Cal, Strong had a laugh. "Ooh, a ton."
Audibles
Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer on his unit needing to remain humble after a 32-8 victory over Central Arkansas:
"If they're ever satisfied, they're going backwards. That (Central Arkansas) game is so far gone. If you revel in that, it's poison. They have to be thinking, 'Look at all those mistakes we're making,' and, 'How are we going to play better next week?' People are trying to pat them on the back now, but you're one game away from all these congratulations being condemnations."
Texas freshman Malik Jefferson, reacting to a number of negative comments in the media after the season-opening loss at Notre Dame:
"They said a high school team could beat us. That's so disrespectful. A guy from Chicago said it. I really wish his high school would come play us."
Kansas State coach Bill Snyder on kickers:
"I wish we didn't have to use them so much. I wish we'd score touchdowns and they'd do the little extra point thing and be done."
TCU coach Gary Patterson on the injuries to key players around college football:
"It's always been can you stay healthy, and now can you grow up? Only time will tell, but that's always a key factor in what you do. We told them at the beginning that you never know when you're a couple of plays away from being a third-team guy to a first-team guy. I think they're all starting to believe it now."