PAGE 8B MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN FOOTBALL Spring game shows defensive improvement ETHAN PADWAY epadway@kansan.com In one of the Kansas football team's practices last week, sophomore linebacker Michael Reynolds had three different coaches talk to him about running the play full speed. At the end of practice, coach Charlie Weis called him out for it, trying to explain to him that they are going after him because he is one of the few players on the team who can make that play. points per game in the NCAA Division I last season. Reynolds, along with fellow linebacker senior Toben Opurum, played a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position normally seen more in a 3-4 defensive scheme than in the Jayhawks' 4-3. what his role will be in the fall. Because of Jackson's bigger build, he has the ability to play in the traditional halfback position as well as a bulkier fullback. "I'm very comfortable with it because it gives me the chance to stand up and rush the passer and also play in coverage," Reynolds said. Sophomore running back Tony Pierson noon's Spring Game at Memorial Stadium Weis likes playing more versatile players at both positions because it COMMENTARY "He could very easily be at 230 with a couple of cheeseburgers," Weis said. "That's what were going to have to decide, what weight we want him at, but you can see he has some natural running instincts." Weis'infl The zero on the board beneath the white squad's name is an impressive feat, but it must be noted that the An estimated 15,000 Jayhawk fans caught a glimpse of the new Kansas football team under the leadership of new coach Charlie Weis during the spring game Saturday. On a day when the University honored one of its football program's most significant figures, former coach Don Fambrough, it embarked on a new era. New quarterbacks Dayne Crist and Jake Heaps showed off their extraordinary passing ability that Kansas fans haven't seen since Tod KANSAS 66, TEXAS A&M 58 FEBRUARY 22, 2012 Junior guard Travis Reeford drives through his opponent to get to the basket against Texas Tech at Reed Arena where the Jayhawks defeated the Aggies 66-58. ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN Jayhawks defeat Aggies despite second half struggle KORY CARPENTER kcarpenter@kansan.com COLLEGE STATION, Texas—The rematch between Kansas and Texas A&M in Reed Arena wasn't totally unlike the first meeting on Jan 24. The tempo was slow, defense ruled all and the Jayhawks eventually won by a few possessions. How they got there, however, was a different story. "If you told me wet won by eight before we got here, I'd be ecstatic," coach Bill Self said after the 66-58 Kansas victory. "But we were up 21 with about 10 left, and you guys saw what happened down the stretch." There was actually 13:25 left in the game when Kansas held a 21 point lead over the Aggies. Texas A&M clawed themselves back though, cutting the deficit to 10 with 4:36 to go. Self blamed the minor meltdown on bad plays, among others. With 40 seconds remaining and the Jayhawk clinging to a 62-56 lead, a loose ball led to a pile-up on the floor. In the middle of it all, junior forward Thomas Robinson was called for a technical foul for apparently pushing an opponent. It was his fifth foul and his night was done, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds. foul. "Inexplicable," Self called Robinson's "There's a lot of teams out there that can focus, but there's not too many that can focus for 40 minutes," junior guard Elijah Johnson said. "Our goal is to focus for 40 minutes." Late game miscues aren't exactly new for the Jayhawks this season. In the 74-71 loss at Missouri on Feb. 4, Kansas was held scoreless in the final 2:05 of the game as the Tigers ended the night on an 11-0 run. Late mistakes against Kansas State earlier this month in Manhattan almost proved to be fatal as well, with the Jayahwks holding on for a 59-53 victory. Tyshawn Taylor said on the mishaps late in games. "We just need to focus in a little bit more defensively and offensively when the game is close or almost over." 34 "I don't know what it is," Senior guard A few empty possessions late for the Aggies and timely free throw shooting from Jeff Withey were just enough for Kansas when the clock read all zeros. "It's a good win and we'll be happy we won, but I'm not leaving out of here feeling great about anything." Self said. "I don't think anybody in our locker room is." "William Faulkner was a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Member." What other English Literature courses and assigned novels were written by fraternity men and sorority women authors? Which KU fraternity man was founding editor of the Book of the Month Club and ran for Kansas Governor on an Anti-Klu Kux Klan Ku Platform? (BONUS QUESTION) Tweeting about Lawrence? Win an iPod for it! LarryvilleKU.com Take part in the LarryvilleKU Social Media sweepstakes for your chance to win one of three $50 gift cards a week and in the process an iPad. For more details go to: larryvilleku.com/info/social.php Find the LarryvilleKU app on the Android and iphone stores 4.