SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
9
'Hawks ready for spring game
Kansas football feels pressure as it turns to winning program
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswriter
Perception is a word in Coach Glen Mason's vocabulary that he likes to use often.
In his five years as the Jayhawks coach, Mason has changed the perception of the Kansas football program losing the scoring program to a winning program.
Mason will get a good indication of what the perception of the 1993 Kansas football team will be in the annual spring football game at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Memorial Stadium.
The game is free and open to the public.
"I'm very pleased about spring practice." Mason said. "I think we've made a lot of progress, especially at the quarterback position."
Junior Fredrick Thomas has
emerged this spring as the leading candidate to replace Chip Hilleary, and junior Asheli Preston has developed as a solid No. 2 quarterback.
"I think, at least on paper, that both of them have potentially better running ability than Chip Hillary," Mason said. "When Fred Thomas throws the ball, just purely throwing the ball, he's got as strong an arm as any gun I've ever around."
Another area that has pleased Mason has been the team's attitude since the conclusion of last season.
The 23-20 victory against Brigham Young in the Alaho Bowl ended a three-game losing streak for the Jayhawks and created a positive feeling among the team.
"Our whole program has been upbeat since we came back from Hawaii," he said. "We came back feeling real good about that, and that carried over into our winter conditioning program and spring practice."
Mason said that the chemistry and work ethic of this Kansas team was better than Kansas teams of the last few years.
hawks because of back-to-back winning seasons has helped the team achieve an improved attitude, said senior defensive tackle Chris Maumalanga.
"I see a team that's a lot more cocky," he said. "A team that once on the field has a lot more confidence, which goes with winning."
"Guys aren't afraid to talk a little smack at each other, and when somebody gets popped they're not afraid to get in their face and tell them about
The confidence gained by the Jayof commencement once later. Plus when al, matching regalia through
Mason said there was pressure to keep Kansas improving since the perception of Kansas football was changing to a winning program.
Mason said he enjoyed the pressure of living up to the winning tradition that the Kansas football program had established in the last two years.
"I firmly believe that either as a player, coach or program, you either get better or get worse," he said. "You never stay the same."
"Pressure forces a team to reach a different level of expectations or you fail," he said. "The pressure will be helpful in our situation."
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Does it seem like only yesterday you were a scared freshman getting lost on campus and afraid that the next four years of school would never end? And now you are a senior about to graduate, with so much in front of you and so many memories behind.
Relive the memories with your closest college friends in a special Kansan section on the last day of class.
For as little as $15 you can leave a special message in print that will show your closest friends how much they mean to you. Submit a photo of you and your friends for only $5 more. Don't let the time pass you by, stop by 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall today to reserve your space or call 864-4354 for more info. Deadline for ads: Thursday, April 29, by 4:00 p.m.
April 23,1993 *K-you* - AUTOMOTIVE
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