MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014
PAGE 14
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WORLD CUP
World Cup promotes cultural experience
It doesn't matter who you are, you'll probably be tuning in to the World Cup when it kicks off in Brazil on Thursday. Yes, this is America and soccer doesn't matter near as much to people in this country as it does in others, but the World Cup has a unique way of bringing people together.
It's the greatest sporting event in the world. Like I said, it may not be here, but around the globe, fans from every country drop what they are doing and tune in. Every four years, the world shares one thing in common: love for the game of soccer.
The World Cup provides a way to
look into a country's culture, and a look into how some cultures are built around the game of soccer. This is the stage where these cultures clash and we as viewers are able see it play out.
The 2010 World Cup in South
Africa was rich in displaying its host country's culture—in the commercials, the crowds and the overall atmosphere. (I'll never forget the vuvuzelas.) The thousands of people who saw each game were thrust into a culture far different from their own.
Each set of fans had an intricate way of showing love and celebrating their country, which was especially seen in clothing and chants. It was a Ghanaian woman in a spectacular head dress with a flag draped over her. It was an American with a face covered in red, white and blue sporting a Landon Donovan jersey. Whatever the scoreboard read at the
end of the match, the emotion was raw, and the effect on the viewers was real.
As the 2014 World Cup approaches, Brazil is the site. We will experience a new culture before our eyes, and all we have to do is sit back and enjoy it. We will see a South American World Cup, and it will be far different than the previous one. The greatest action as always will be on the pitch, but don't look past the crowd, the atmosphere and the fans. They are the ones that make the World Cup unlike any other sporting event there is.
— Edited by Emma LeGault
COMMENTARY
Football: Past losses won't affect this season's team
It has been five long years since Kansas football has played their way into the postseason. The winning drought has been tough on locals, students and players alike, but three coaches and 46 losses later there is light at the end of a dark tunnel.
To become bowl-eligible, the team must win at least six—exactly half—of its games. Acquiring six wins in a power conference is no simple task, but the Jayhawks have the tools to do that and much more.
Fans can look forward to new leadership at the quarterback position this year. Sophomore Montell Cozart
will be starting the season under center for Kansas and will bring his talents to the field as a dual threat in both the running and passing game.
Cozart will not be without targets downfield. This year's roster has four senior wide receivers, including the talented hands of Tony Pierson. In December, the Jayhawks added tight end Kent Taylor, a transfer from Florida, who was rated the number one tight end coming out of high school in 2012.
On the other side of the ball, Kansas' defense remains largely intact and returns with much more depth. Senior linebacker Ben Heeney
and senior cornerbacks JaCorey Shepherd and Dexter McDonald will be key players in leading a secondary that struggled to defend the pass last season.
Changes on the sidelines have come right along with changes on the
field. This year Kansas adds offensive coordinator John Reagan, who spent five years as an assistant coach at the University from 2005-2009. Reagan comes back to Kansas from Rice University, where his guidance helped the Owls become the 17thranked rushing offense in the country. The Jayhawks also added wide receiver coach Eric Kiesau from the University of Washington who will help get the ball moving down the field and mentor an already talented group of wide receivers.
Charlie Weis is a coach that knows how to win. He's done it at the high school level in New Jersey, in college
at Notre Dame, in the NFL for New York and New England and he's going to win at Kansas. His 4-20 record in his first two seasons at Kansas are not truly representative of what Weis is capable of. Weis has built up the program and surrounded it with talented players and coaches that are motivated to turn this team around. The Jayhawks finally have it all together and are ready to fly.
Edited by Emma LeGault
RESERVE
ON WEST 31st reserveonwest31st.com
Fill-in Spots only Roommate Matching Available Waiving Signing Fee for August Leases
877. 730.3711 | 2511 West 31st Street | Lawrence, KS 66047
* KANSAS UNION LEVEL 2 * 1301 IAYHAWK BLVD. * LAWRENCE, KS 66045 * (785) 864-4640 *
+