NSAN
2007
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20,2007 PAGE1B
BORDER SHOWDOWN
They're not in Texas anymore: Reesing and Daniel prove size doesn't matter
Todd Reesing Completions:
228-360 (63.3 percent)
Completions:
228-360
(63.3 percent)
Yards:
2,900
(264 per game)
Touchdowns:
30
Interceptions:
4
Sacked:
18
Rating:
156.28
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Football fans from the state of Texas might feel a little nauseous while watching the Border Showdown between No.2 Kansas and No.3 Missouri on Saturday.
The discomfort will come from Kansas sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing and Missouri junior quarterback Chase Daniel. Reesing and Daniel, arguably the Big 12 Conference's two best quarterbacks, both grew up in Texas but moved north after receiving little interest from in-state schools.
Reeing and Daniel were considered undersized at 5-foot-11 and 6-foot, respectively. But it's 11 games into the 2007 season, and Reeing and Daniel have thrown a combined 60 touchdown passes and are Heisman Trophy candidates.
"I don't think there's any question they are great players." Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "A lot of people get caught up in that you have to be 6-2, 6-3 or 6-4. But I think it's obvious that several players are proving you can be an outstanding college football player at the highest level and not be a 6-5 quarterback."
Reeing and Daniel have shown that their size is irrelevant with outstanding seasons. Reeing has re-written the Kansas record book by throwing for 30 touchdowns and completing 205 straight passes without an interception. Daniel ranks seventh in the nation in passing yards with more than 326 per game and has thrown 117 straight passes without an interception.
The quarterback who plays better in the 116th edition of the Border Showdown on Saturday will likely lead his team to victory
"I don't even know who we played this week. It's over with. I don't even care about
anything; we won, that's all that matters," Daniel said. "Kansas, Kansas, Kansas. We can finally worry about it."
Daniel's immeasurable excitement for a game is understandable. After all, the winner automatically wins the Big 12 North division, and the loser is eliminated from the national championship picture. But there's even more on the line for the two quarterbacks because the one with a better game is nearly guaranteed to be a finalist for the Heisman.
Reeing said he was focused on his own preparation and didn't have time to think about the monumental showdown between Daniel and himself.
"Chase is a great player from the times I've seen him play. He finds a way to make plays," Reesing said. "He's a great quarterback, but that's not really my concern because I play against the defense and he plays offense."
Reeing might not be worried about facing his fellow Texas native in the biggest game of the college football season. But it's definitely a Border Showdown matchup that the nation is focused on.
With a national television audience watching the game from Arrowhead Stadium, everyone wants to see what the two Heisman-hyped quarterbacks are all about. Kansas coach Mark Mangino wouldn't comment on the award but did make one thing clear.
"Here's the best compliment I can give Todd," Mangino said. "I wouldn't trade him for any other player that's being considered for that."
He resembles Pinkel, who wouldn't trade Daniel. Reeing and Daniel might be smaller than the prototypical college quarterback, but on Saturday, they will be playing on the biggest stage.
Edited by Amelia Freidline
Chase Daniel
Completion:
309-446
(69.3 percent)
Yards:
3590
(326 per game)
Touchdowns:
30
Interceptions:
9
Sacked:
15
Rating:
155.06
Jon Goerina/KANSAN
Junior wide receiver Dexton Fields fends off a would-be tackler against Iowa State on Saturday. Fields has been a valuable receiver in Kansas' high-octane offense this season.
Border Showdown to put both teams on the line
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
Kansas and Missouri fans shouldn't need much reason to get excited for the Border Showdown. The two schools share a distaste for one another that dates back to the 19th century.
But this season's matchup is about more than history. Kansas is undefeated and ranked No. 2, one-loss Missouri is No. 3, and both teams are playing for a spot in the Big 12 Championship. The two have flown through 12 weeks of blowout victories and endured a season's worth of questions about this weekend's matchup.
"Everybody obviously prepares week in and week out, but it has been in the back of everybody's mind," junior defensive end John Larson said. "We've been waiting for this game because it's been so highly anticipated. We're just excited to
The game that has provided media and fans with endless fodder for speculation is here: It's finally Mizzou week.
The teams' paths to the matchup at Arrowhead Stadium look strikingly similar. Each team plowed through the nonconference portion of the season undefeated, scoring more than 30 points in every game. Missouri defeated BCS Conference opponents such as Illinois and Mississippi while Kansas preyed on lower-level competition such as Central Michigan and Toledo.
Once Big 12 Conference play opened, the teams continued to impress. Missouri went 1-1 in the first two games of the conference season, but then won five straight games, including a 41-10 blowout of Texas Tech and a 55-10 victory at Colorado. Going into this weekend, Missouri's offense is rolling. Missouri has scored more than 40 points in each of its past five games, and quarterback Chase Daniel is ninth in the nation in passing efficiency.
go out and start preparing for the challenge."
Rivalry trash talking borders on hatred
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 4B
This year's matchup between the Missouri Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks is like no other.
With the Big 12 North title on the line and the possibility of the National Championship looming in the background for the victor, emotions are high for fans, students and players of both teams. With the Jayhawks ranked No. 2 and the Tigers ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 Poll, this weekend's game at Arrowhead is set for the biggest clash since the actual war that the rivalry is based on.
Whether you like the name, there is no doubt about it: This is the Border War. Fans and sports writers alike have disregarded the title "Border Showdown" for the most part. Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel, CBS Sportline's Dennis Dodd and The Kansas City Star all have referred to the rivalry as the Border War.
Former Kansas coach Don Fambrough still comes to practices to remind players that the rivalry actually is based on a war. With the game held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., and with each team's tremendous success on the gridiron this season, security will definitely need to be on top of things.
The last time Kansas and Missouri played in Kansas City was in 1945. The result was a 33-12 victory by the Tigers. Kansas leads the rivalry 54-52-9 and 12-6-3 in Kansas City. With about 80,000 fans in attendance, half of which most likely hate Kansas, this game could possibly be the most intense football game in this 117-year rivalry.
Showdown.
"It's definitely a Border War," said David Poppe, Leawood senior. "I can't stand Missouri. Ever since I was a little kid I can remember rooting against them, even when Kansas State was playing them. I believe that every time they win at anything, somewhere, a baby kitten dies. Every time they lose, I feel the world is a better place."
Other students told of their personal encounters with Missouri fans. Ryan Knuth, Prairie Village junior, went to see Kansas play Missouri in 2004 and said the possibility of getting muddied was a reality.
"I remember traveling to Columbia in 2004 with some friends, and Missouri fans threatened to beat me down if Kansas won," said Knuth. "When Kansas scored or made a big play, I was afraid to cheer. I didn't even want to risk taking off the black sweatshirt I had covering my Kansas shirt. I would say it's a Border War."
a high school friend's choosing to go to Missouri instead of Kansas.
Stephanie Rhoads, Wichita sophomore, expressed her disgust in a high school
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
BIG 12 COACHES WEIGH IN
A hot topic of conversation for Big 12 Conference coaches yesterday was the rivalry game at Arrowhead Stadium between No.2 Kansas and No.3 Missouri. None of the coaches would come out and directly predict which team they thought would win, but some made it obvious.
Ron Prince, Kansas State I just find Missouri very, very
are so good on defense and we witnessed the kicking game with their return man."
challenging. I think they are a very difficult team to deal with just because they have so many weapons and they
Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M "I think both of the offenses are
very good. I think Kansas' defense is a tad bit better and the special teams are about equal, so the kicking game could be important."
Mack Brown, Texas
"Mark Mangino and Gary Pinkel
are two of the
are two of the best coaches in the country, and we as coaches have known that. I look forward to doing our job Friday and then having a ch the game Saturd
then having a chance to watch the game Saturday."
Gene Chizik, Iowa State "They are both very worthy of
representing the North,
whoever wins.
They both
do different
things very
well. It will be
a great game,
and it would
be hard for me to
both very, very
be hard for me to pick. They are both very,very good."
A
as the head coach, they were taking me around to meet various people, and a lot of fans would say, 'I don't care.
Mark Mangino, Kansas "When I first arrived at Kansas
what you do all year as long as you beat Missouri. I would hear about beating Missouri all the time."
Gary Pinkel, Missouri
"Right after my first press confer
ence, I went to a reception at one of the hotels here immediately afterwards and the first 10 people came up to me right
in a row and said, "Coach Pinkel,
it's great to have you here, but
we better beat Kansas: I knew it
was a rivalry beforehand, but I
 didn't think it was that intense.
Obviously, I found out real quick
it's a great rivalry and one of the
best in the country."
Case Keefer