Kansas QB Michael Cummings just looking for a win

Michael Cummings doesn't make much of the last time he quarterbacked Kansas against Texas Tech.

Two years ago doesn't matter to him anymore.

Too much has changed.

Kansas has a new coach - Clint Bowen - after the administration fired Charlie Weis on Sept. 28, for "lack of on-field progress."

That change brought a new approach for the team, and put Cummings back in the role of starting quarterback.

"Aside form the coaching change, the biggest change has been the mentality of this team," Cummings said. "We have come together as a family and are focusing on the positives instead of the negatives. ... And everyone wants to be out on the field trying to help their teammates."

Cummings has dealt with plenty of change during his time at Kansas. He has battled and seen three different quarterbacks beat him out for the starting job to begin the season, including former five-star recruits Jake Heaps and Dayne Christ. But, each eventually went to the bench in favor of Cummings.

"He (brings) what we wanted out of that position," Kansas interim coach Clint Bowen said. "Some leadership, some toughness, a guy that people could rally around. (Was it) pretty? No, not always pretty.

"Kind of a junkyard-dog-type quarterback."

Cummings has never won a game as a starter, though, carrying an 0-8 mark into Saturday's game against Texas Tech in Lubbock and he knows if that doesn't change he won't be the starter long.

"We came up short last week and I think wins solidify roles on the team," Cummings said. "I will start if I can get some Ws."

It doesn't matter that he nearly led Kansas to an overtime win over Texas Tech.

It was still a loss. And it was on his shoulders.

Cummings couldn't connect with Tre' Parmalee in the end zone on fourth-and-9 for Kansas to end the Jayhawks' chances. The two teams had traded touchdowns in the first overtime. Cummings found James Sims for a 5-yard score to put Kansas up 34-27.

Tech's Eric Stephens, who later threw the game-winning touchdown, tied it at 34 on a 1-yard run.

Cummings, who was a freshman at the time, rushed for 41 yards on eight carries that night and only passed for 29 yards. But, still he had a hand in nearly every touchdown and threw for two of them.

"These are two totally different teams that they were two years ago," Cummings said. "We are just going in this week knowing we have to execute at a high level and that's what we are going to try to do."

Weiss saw Cummings as merely a running quarterback. Now a junior, the former Killeen Kangaroo is a different player. He replaced sophomore starter Montell Cozart against West Virginia and got the nod again against Oklahoma State.

And against the Cowboys, he was allowed to uncork for the first time, completing 20 of 37 passes for 288 yards as the Jayhawks nearly pulled off the upset before falling 27-20. Cummings felt he was able to prove he could be a pure passer against the Cowboys, "to an extent."

But, in the end, what matter more is that he is tired of "nearly."

"It was an all right day," he said after the game. "If I had to grade myself, I'd grade it an L. We lost. That's really the only stat that matters to me.

"Now it is time to get some wins, man. That is the main goal."

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