How will the team react on Sat?

[larrysarmy]

Do you think it's good that the team got on a plane and away from Ames during this ordeal? Get away and come together as a group?

or

Will it cause a huge distraction and thus spill it's way onto the field against BU? Not to mention the roadie losing streak...


Either way....Huge Game....only now it gets a lot more interesting

 

[Bobber]

If Arnaud was leaving, I'd say it would be a big deal, but since Bates was the second guy I think the impact will be limited. Probably more disappointment than anything.

 

[bos]

I think they will miss him, but I think they want the win more than anything. Its not like Bates died, he left.

 

[SSSSState]

They will rally behind their starting quarterback and leader as well as the new #2 QB who will see some snaps to get some live game experience.

 

[DaddyMac]

Once the ball is in the air, I don't think it matters much.

I'd hope that right now the players are more ticked than "concerned".

If the coaches had planned to split series between AA & PB, I can see that being a minor factor. But not much, since he didn't see the field last week.

If anything, I think it might help Austen since he really doesn't have to look over his shouldner any more.

 

[Palmer]

didn't Knute Rockne say one time?


'win one for the quitter!'

 

[tazclone]

Its good that they are out of town. I doubt many people outside of iowa and Nebraska care that ISU's 2nd string QB quit so the team won't be bothered by the media.

Chizik and Co should use this to stress the I am a Warrior A member of a TEAM.. I am physically and MENTALLY tough... I NEVER QUIT!!
I AM A CYCLONE

Do you think it's good that the team got on a plane and away from Ames during this ordeal? Get away and come together as a group?

or

Will it cause a huge distraction and thus spill it's way onto the field against BU? Not to mention the roadie losing streak...


Either way....Huge Game....only now it gets a lot more interesting

 

[larrysarmy]

They will rally behind their starting quarterback and leader as well as the new #2 QB who will see some snaps to get some live game experience.

Agreed....Huge spot for AA. If he LEADS the team to a big roadie win..then some big Mo could start rolling...

Then the Nebbie game is even bigger...with all the PB to Neb talk. Don't think there won't be a little added juice to that game.

 

[vmbplayer]

Once the ball is in the air, I don't think it matters much.

I'd hope that right now the players are more ticked than "concerned".

If the coaches had planned to split series between AA & PB, I can see that being a minor factor. But not much, since he didn't see the field last week.

If anything, I think it might help Austen since he really doesn't have to look over his shouldner any more.

I'm not so sure about that. I thought Bolt insinuated in the DSM rag article that it was going to effect the game plan and seemed kinda like it was more than a no big deal this week.

That said, I think you're right the team won't care once the ball is in the air. Wayne might have to rework his game plan a little but not much.

 

[Melvin]

This should not effect the play on the field unless AA goes down. I think Chizik has this team to the point where 1 person does not effect the team.

If ISU loses, they will blame the loss on PB, Fair or Not. In that respect, the stakes get higher for this Game. A win, and PB leaving has no impact. A loss, and PB leaving ruins the season.

 

[Wx4Cy]

No negative reaction. If anything this removes the distraction of dueling QBs and allows the team to finally and fully focus on AA.

 

[tejasclone]

If ISU loses, they will blame the loss on PB, Fair or Not. In that respect, the stakes get higher for this Game. A win, and PB leaving has no impact. A loss, and PB leaving ruins the season.

I doubt that. If we lose, there will be plenty of reasons we lost, none of which involve Phillip Bates, and Chizik won't stand for excuses anyway.

Hopefully the guys come together and just play football, and deflect all of this nonsense. It has no business being on the field this weekend. Earlier this week we were all talking about Baylor, now we are all talking about Bates. Hopefully the team is still talking about Baylor.

 

[trajanJ]

Am I missing something here? I'm a Jayhawk and I just watched you guys come one pass away from beating us and Bates didn't play a down. Arnaud looks good. Bates read the writing on the wall and wants to go somewhere he can play QB. Happens all the time, no big deal. A couple of years ago KU BBall lost a McD's AA because of playing time. Didn't seem to hurt them, in fact, it helped team chemistry. It's no big deal, just means your team is getting better and a talent like Bates isn't good enough to start. Think of it this way. You have a RB that is going to play next year because he wasn't going to see time at Florida. The team will be fine, they may even become closer.

 

[Clonefan94]

Am I missing something here? I'm a Jayhawk and I just watched you guys come one pass away from beating us and Bates didn't play a down. Arnaud looks good. Bates read the writing on the wall and wants to go somewhere he can play QB. Happens all the time, no big deal. A couple of years ago KU BBall lost a McD's AA because of playing time. Didn't seem to hurt them, in fact, it helped team chemistry. It's no big deal, just means your team is getting better and a talent like Bates isn't good enough to start. Think of it this way. You have a RB that is going to play next year because he wasn't going to see time at Florida. The team will be fine, they may even become closer.

I think a lot of it is the fact that it was done mid year. It leaves a lot of speculation open for the character of a person. I believe had this happened after our bowl game this year:wink: and everyone knowing AA was our starter for sure, it would have been a big deal, but not gotten the scrutiny it's getting now. Other than that, I agree with everything you are saying. Our team on the field is no weaker now than we were against Kansas.

 

[Steve]

Bates leaving may or may not affect the game on Sat. It will almost certainly affect practice for the remainder of the season. Until now, AA & PB worked on the game plan while Bueker & Tiller were able to focus on showing different looks with the scout team. From here on out, I would expect that both backups will have to be worked into the game plan. The result is that McFarland will have to spend more time grooming a backup and Bolt may not have as many looks for his defense to practice against.

 

[cycloneryan]

I think they will pull together fairly well. I hope they win so the press doesn't start saying they are falling apart because of this, even though it would likely have very little to do with it.

 

[Chris]

If they are truely buying into the program that's now in place, there should be minimal effect; if not, then the team has a long road in front of them because it would be counter to what the program now stands for...

 

[CYdTracked]

I can see this benefiting AA the rest of the season because he now knows he'll be taking every snap under center and even if he has a bad game he doesn't have to worry about the staff playing Bates more.

 

[ISU_Alum_2000]

Am I missing something here? I'm a Jayhawk and I just watched you guys come one pass away from beating us and Bates didn't play a down. Arnaud looks good. Bates read the writing on the wall and wants to go somewhere he can play QB. Happens all the time, no big deal. A couple of years ago KU BBall lost a McD's AA because of playing time. Didn't seem to hurt them, in fact, it helped team chemistry. It's no big deal, just means your team is getting better and a talent like Bates isn't good enough to start. Think of it this way. You have a RB that is going to play next year because he wasn't going to see time at Florida. The team will be fine, they may even become closer.

Excellent post, trajanJ. It's good to hear an outside perspective - especially the reminder about Bo Williams.

I think we all knew that there was a chance Bates would transfer if he did not win the QB job this year. The two major "gripes" about the situation are:

1) Quitting mid-week/mid-season is bush-league, and puts a major strain on (a) the gameplan for this week, and (b) the personnel/depth at QB

2) We REALLY don't want to have to burn Tiller's redshirt