SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WIZARD FANS WELCOME ALL PAGE 10B
WWW.KANSAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2007
DIGGIN' FOR A GOOD CAUSE PAGE 3B
PAGE1B
NO TIME FOR HYPE
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Kansas coach Mark Mangino has coached the Jayhawks to a perfect 8-0 record so far this season. Despite rising to No. 8 in the Associated Press poll and grabbing national attention, both players and coaches say that the team is no different than it was when the season began.
Jayhawks remain down-to-earth
Mangino keeps undefeated Hawks focused
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Kansas coach Mark Mangino keeps answering the question with the same response.
The eighth-ranked Jayhawks are receiving more and more national recognition for being one of only five teams left undefeated. And everyone wants Mangino to explain how he keeps his team down-to-earth and how he shields them from the unforesseen hype.
"coach's speak." But day after day and week after week, he alludes to staying focused as the primary reason for consistent performances out of his team.
"I know you'll chuckle when I tell you this but
Maybe, the reason really is more likely.
"We don't do anything extraordinary here. We just stay in our routine. We stay focused on our work and task at hand."
we prepare for a nonconference game just like wed prepare for a top-10 team," Mangino said. "We don't do anything extraordinary here. We just stay in our routine. We stay focused on our work and our task at hand."
MARK MANGINO Coach
The answer makes reporters wince, fans giggle and sports radio hosts poke fun. Mangino's philosophy is cliché and it's
on really is more legitimate than a mindless response to a repeated question. After all, Mangino's team has beaten its eight opponents this season by an average of nearly 30 points per game.
That just hasn't happened for many other teams this football season, where massive upsets have occurred as frequently as hot
weather in the summer. Mangino said the Jayhawks haven't been knocked off because they feel no pressure.
"We're not standing to prove anything, we're willing to earn our own way, we talked about that with our players and they are comfortable with earning their own way," Mangino said. "We're not trying to make any
statements."
Too late. With a list of accomplishments lengthier than the list of amendments to the United States Constitution, the Jayhawks have made a statement. Sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing was named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, the defense ranks second nationally in scoring defense and the Jayhawks are 8-0 for the first time in 98 years.
Mangino said that while he was proud of his players for the accolades, the team spends no time talking about it. Sophomore running back Jake Sharp said the team's success reflected back to Mangino's attitude.
"Coach just tells us, 'a win is a win,' Sharp said. "A win is a win if we beat Michigan. Who we are playing and what they are ranked that week has no effect on us and I think that's the way you have to approach it."
The week-to-week ideology has worked at other schools where Mangino saw it first hand. He said his time Norman, Okla,
SEE GAMEPLAN ON PAGE 4B
Players keep season in perspective despite media buzz about team
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
If the members of the Kansas football team aren't keeping up with current events or staying in touch with happenings around the nation, they can't be blamed. After all, they have had plenty to distract
them from newspapers and television since the beginning of September - namely, winning eight games.
The Kansas coaching staff and players have received inch after inch of newsprint, substantial hype from television experts and quite
a bit of online buzz. But the Jayhawks have distanced themselves from the swelling media attention.
"I really think we have a good group of kids that really understand what is taking
Cantrell
place here," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "In house — our work with the kids, our every day routine — nothing has changed and nothing will. We'll just keep the same routine as we always do and the same focus."
The players are kept away from the storm of coverage while they are at practice or in the football facility, but the coaches do not interfere with them once they leave the football building. Mangino said. Most of the Kansas players have the opportunity to flip on the TV to see ESPN analyst Lou Holtz heaping praise on sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing — but choose not to indulge in the extra attention.
"I actually don't have cable at home right now," junior center Ryan Cantrell said. "So I've been watching a lot of movies and stuff."
As Kansas has picked up steam
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 4B
COMMENTARY
Tables turned in North vs. South
In the Big 12 conference's history, the South has dominated the North in football. But with the many unexpected game outcomes so far this season it's no surprise that the roles have switched.
This past Saturday was a good example of how far along the North has come in terms of competing with the South. The North claimed victory in three of four games against the South. Kansas defeated Texas A&M, Colorado won at Texas Tech and Kansas State stomped Baylor. Nebraska played Texas and even though the Cornhuskers led most of the game against the Longhorns, Nebraska couldn't quite pull the upset in Austin, Texas.
As for those Jayhawks, not only have they won against two of the Texas schools, they have also proved they can do it on the road. Before this season the Jayhawks had only won four road games with Mark Mangino as head coach and none against Southern opponents. They have almost doubled that total so far this season, with three total conference road wins. And with only one true road game left (and at least one more on a neutral site), Kansas looks to finish strong and get a nod for a BCS bowl game.
Nebraska lost for three straight weeks and a win on the road against Texas would have saved (and been the highlight of) its season. The media would maybe stop talking about whether head coach Bill Callahan is going to be fired and maybe give the team a boost going into this Saturday's contest against undefeated Kansas.
Many other shocking upset victories that prove the North's worth have included Colorado over then No. 3 Oklahoma, and Kansas State's win at then No. 7 Texas. The Buffaloes scored 17 unan-
SEE JOHNSON ON PAGE 4B
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
Wanted: skilled player to fill Rush's void
BASKETBALL
He knows something extra that's making him better — the plays. It's taken him three years, but he finally knows exactly what to do.
Practice is a little easier for Rodrick Stewart this season.
"I don't know how many we have, but it can change depending on who we play," Stewart said. "It changes so much. Sometimes it's like, 'man is this ever going to stop' I think I approach it more seriously this year knowing it's the last time. I have to take everything more seriously this year."
Kansas coach Bill Self is rewarding him by seriously considering giving him significant minutes while junior guard Brandon Rush is out with a knee injury, Stewart, sophomore guard Brady Morningstar and senior guard Jeremy Case each have the opportunity to show that they can step up in Rush's absence.
"I'm excited for Jeremy, Brady and Rod because in Brandon's situation one of those guys needs to emerge." Self said. "And if they emerge, then I would think they would continue to be part of the rotation and part of a group that helps us throughout the season. It should be exciting for those guys. They're better players than they used to be."
1.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 4B
Rodrick Stewart, Jeremy Case and Brady Morningstar battle to acquire significant playing time in the wake of Brandon Rushs absence. Coach Said self said Stewart consisted in practices this season.
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