MONDAY, JULY 14, 2014
PAGE 18
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL
Select players will help team succeed
The 2014 Kansas football season will kick off on Sept. 6 against Southeastern Missouri State at Memorial Stadium. Sitting a little less than two months away, many questions come to mind while thinking about this Jayhawk football team.
Sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart already had the majority of last year under his belt, yet we don't know how the former Bishop Miege star will respond in his first season as the uncontested starter. Former Rice Offensive Coordinator John Reagan will be taking over the position at Kansas, and in his play calling system, Cozart will likely be looking to throw the ball before running.
When it comes to passing, senior wide receiver Nick Harwell, a transfer from Miami University in Ohio will lead the way. Harwell sat out 2013 because of transferring, but was
very successful with the Redhawks from 2010-2012 and highlighted 97 receptions in the 2011 season.
With the loss of James Sims, the offensive backfield took a large hit. Senior running back Brandon Bourbon will most likely be the starter heading into the season, but senior running back Taylor Cox will also compete for the job as well.
The spot where there aren't many questions to be answered is at middle linebacker. Senior linebacker Ben Heeney, captain and a third-year
starter, has already proven himself as one of the best in the Big 12. The only question now is how good can he be this year?
He has been named to multiple preseason award watch lists, and named to the preseason Big 12 first team. These watch lists include: The Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation's best linebacker and The Bronko Nagurski Trophy Award, which goes to the nation's best defensive player.
Heeney is the first Kansas football player to receive national recognition since Todd Reesing in 2007 and 2008, when he was named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award in both years.
Heeney is the first player in Coach Charlie Weis' era to receive this sort of attention. To add on to Heeney's recognition, senior tight end Jimmy Mundine and senior punter Trevor
Pardula were named to their respective posisitions' nation's best watch list.
To some, the expectations haven't changed since last year. But to many close to this team and all the players and coaches, the expectations are as high as they've been in five years. This team is a year better than they were in 2013. They have upperclassman leadership, and they have young talent.
Most everyone will pick Kansas to finish last in the Big 12 for a fifth consecutive year. But the pieces are there to have a successful year. They want to win more games than the past two years combined. They want to have their best season since Mark Mangino left in 2009. The only thing left to do is to go out and prove it to everyone.
Edited by Ashleigh Lee
COMMENTARY
Use summer to develop different sports appreciation
Summer is a peculiar time in the world of sports. As a sports fan, I used to loathe the summer months. To me, summer was simply 12 weeks of arid heat with nothing to watch or follow. Call me crazy, but I counted the days until school started in the fall-I was desperate for something to do.
But now, things are different. For the past couple of years, my obsession and love of sports has forced me to cope with the situation. Many people are still in the mindset that the summer sports season is uninteresting, boring and slow, but I encourage those individuals to reconsider.
If you are one of those people that finds themselves a bit hungry for more in the summer months, there are a few things you can do to get your sports fix and get over the hump into fall.
First, gain an appreciation for
baseball. America's pastime takes a few minutes to learn, but at the same time takes a lifetime to understand. Games are on TV day and night, but baseball is best experienced inperson; grab a few friends and take a road trip to a nearby major-league park. Be sure to get a hooddog and peanuts before you sit down—you won't be disappointed with what they add to the already great atmosphere. If you are really interested, do some reading. The history of baseball is one of the most fascinating and
Second, embrace global sporting events. Competitions like the Summer Olympics and the Men's and Women's World Cup only happen once every four years, but they are set up to allow us to experience these international spectacles on a year-to-year basis. Watch parties happen in almost every sports bar and major city, so dress yourself up in your team's colors and go share your national pride with others.
interesting in all of sports.
If you can't get enough of global events, the Tour de France, Wimbledon and the Track and Field World Championships also take place every summer. The stories and drama, such as the recent Luis Suárez World Cup biting incident, that can surround these competitions are unlike anything else in the sports world.
Lastly, find your sporting niche. Summer is home to a plethora of
exciting outdoor sports like soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. Most of these events can actually be watched live on TV or on the Internet through a variety of networks.
If you're like me and are really into basketball and can't wait until October, you can follow the NBA Draft in June and watch every game of the NBA Summer League for free online. Additionally, the nonstop drama caused by the athletes and the media surrounding summer camps, trade deadlines, contracts and free agencies in professional leagues makes for some great stories too.
My suggestion is that you find what best interests and entertains you and latch onto it. Summer is hot and the days are long, but the sports don't have to end.
Fall will be here before you know it so cherish this unique time. Appreciate baseball, embrace the global
competition and find your niche.
Edited by Ashleigh Lee
KANSAS UNION LEVEL 2 * 1301 JAYHAWK BLVD. * LAWRENCE, KS 66045 * (785) 864-4640
+