THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24. 2007
O
SPORTS
5B
FOOTBALL
Kicker consistent cog of team
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
Senior kickster Scott Webb boosts the ball to the other side of the field in kansas 19-14 victory (almost) Saturday Weekly 48-44 yard field goal opened for the打 jury in the game.
Anna Faltermeier/KANSAN
Early in the second quarter of last Saturday's game, Kansas took a 3-0 lead on a 48-yard field goal by Scott Webb. Though the points would go down in the record book as three of many scored by the Jayhawks this season, the kick was phenomenal because of its context.
Senior holder Kyle Tucker somehow plucked the errant snap from the air several feet above its ideal position, rushed the ball to the ground and spun it into the correct position. All the while, Webb waited, and waited and waited.
The senior kicker shuffled his feet for what seemed like an eternity while Tucker aligned the football and the Colorado rush bore down on the backfield. At the last possible moment, Webbs's foot found the ball. From there, everything worked perfectly. The ball sailed through the uprights as routine as could be, and three points appeared on the scoreboard.
In the press box high above Folsom Field, onlookers craned
their necks to catch a glimpse of the television replay, asking themselves, "Did he really do that from 48 yards out?"
It may have alarmed the sportswriters, but it didn't catch Webb off guard.
mark on extra point attempts. The kicker has scored 71 points this season - equal to the number Kamas' opponents have scored combined in 2007.
"Not really."
Webb provided consistency in his first two seasons as Kansai main kicker, making more than 70 percent of his field goal attempts in 2005 and 2006. But his performance has skrocketed this season, something
Webb said, when asked whether his range on the stutter-step kick surprised him. "I can hit from 60 and in."
"Since I've been at KU I've gotten a lot stronger. Our strength and conditioning coaches have done a great job, especially this past summer."
Webb has made 11 of his 12 field goal attempts this season, 16 of his last 17 dating back to last season and eight consecutive field goals, not to mention his stellar 38-for-38
SCOTT WEBB Senior Kicker
he said could be traced to his work in the weight room.
past summer. "
"Since I've been at KU Ive gotena lot stronger," Webb said. "Our coaches and strength and conditioning staff have just done a great job, especially this
Thanks to a newNCAA rule that moved kickoffs back five yards to the 30-yard line, leg strength has been placed at a premium for kickers. Webb did not struggle to kick the ball into the end zone on kickoffs before this season, and his production in that area has not wavered.
webb's stats
11 of 12 field goals made
38 of 38 on extra point attempts
71 points total
Kansas opponents have started 40 of their 49 drives inside their own 20-yard line in part due to Webb's ability to plant the ball in the end zone.
If Webb continues kicking at his current pace, some school records could fall in the coming weeks. The Tulsa, Okla, native sits in third place in career field goals made and second place in career field goal percentage. Webb needs 52 points to eclipse Dan Eichloff as Kansas' all-time leading scorer.
As nice as the numbers look, praise from his coach could be the most telling testament to Webb's success — and Kansas coach Mark Mangino has had plenty of praise for the kicker.
"Scott Webb is kicking the ball probably as well as anybody in the country," Mangino said.
— Edited by Luke Morris
Jayhawks break road curse
FOOTBALL
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
The smiles gleaming from Kansas fans's faces in Boulder, Colo., after a 19-14 victory against Colorado showed their excitement. But there was also an element of surprise.
After all, it was 12 years ago when the Jayhawks last won two consecutive road games. And last season, fans became accustomed to collapses from the team on the road. So what exactly has changed in 2007?
"The team has a different mentality from where they were at a
year ago, it's got a tough mental edge to it. we've got some hard-nosed kids," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "You know we've got some talented kids but the heart and soul of this team are
But when Kansas found itself trailing Colorado in the third quarter last weekend, it remained calm and collected. It took less than a minute and a half and five plays for Reasing, sophomore running back Jake Sharp and senior wide receiver Marcus Henry to star in a scoring drive that put the Jayhawks back on top.
at Baylor and committed five turnovers in a double-overtime loss at Toledo.
"Our offense, I think when the pressure gets put on us, we really respond well and that's an attribute to all the guys working hard and
"We've still got a lot of football to play here. But I'm proud of how our kids played in a hostile environment."
Coming into this season, the Achilles' heal of the Mangino-era Jayhawks was their play on the road. Mangino had posted a paltry 2-18 Big 12 conference road record in his first five seasons.
But with victories already in Manhattan and Boulder this season, Kansas has rid itself of the curse that haunted it in prior seasons. While Mangino credits a renewed focus from his players, the players think it's the other way around.
MARK MANGINO Coach
"Coach keeps us focused," junior cornerback Aqib Talib said. "Coach makes sure he has a speech for us every week to keep us down to earth."
Perhaps Mangino's speeches weren't as poignant last season. The Jayhawks' failures on the road were like an avalanche: once it started, there was no stopping it. They surrendered an 18-point halftime lead
executing our plays." Reesing said. "When these situations come, we have no doubt we can take the ball right down and score."
Mangino said having Reesing on the field also helps the team play better on
the road. In the past couple of seasons, Mangino's team have been ravaged by quarterback injuries and inconsistent play. Reeing's calming
road record
presence in the huddle gives the Kansas offense much-needed continuity, according to Mangino.
Mangino doesn't feel ready to celebrate the road success of his undefeated team yet. But he can't help but show a little relief.
"We've still got a lot of football to play here," Mangino said. "But I'm proud of how our kids played in a hostile environment."
Whether it's the mentality on the players, the motivation from Mangino's speeches or the comfort of a solid quarterback, Kansas has played significantly better on the road this season. The Jayhawks need all of those positives to come together Saturday when they visit Texas A&M at Kyle Field, a venue generally considered to be one of the toughest places to play in the country.
Edited bv Ashlee Kieler
Anna Faltermeier/KANSAN
The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate after beating the Colorado Buffaloes 19-14 inbound. The Jayhawks won their second consecutive road game for the first time in 12 years Saturday.