PAGE 4B
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
FOOTBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
The Kansas football team runs onto the field before the game on Saturday, Nov. 16, against West Virginia. Kansas won 31-19.
Howard helps team to first victory in five-year Kansas career
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
As the seconds ticked off the clock in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win over West Virginia, fifth-year senior offensive lineman Gavin Howard searched the sidelines for someone willing to help dump a bucket of water over coach Charlie Weis.
Mostly his teammates were afraid that Weis would get mad.
"I was going to do it no matter what," Howard said. "So, finally I found another senior to do it with me."
Senior linebacker Darius Willis decided to help Howard in the end, and Weis had no problems with it.
"He wasn't mad at all. He was excited," Howard said. "Who can be mad after a good win?"
It was the first conference win that Howard has played in during his five years at Kansas. Howard has been through 44 losses, 27 straight conference losses and three head coaches during his time at the University.
Weis said that the fifth-year seniors are the players who have been through the most instability and criticism, and have still worked as
hard as anybody to improve.
"That's who I was the happiest for," Weis said of the fifth-year seniors. "I think even though there haven't been a bunch of rewards, a game like Saturday, it was so good to look in their faces."
Wais said that it was a look of pure iov.
After the game, Howard was the first player into the room to speak with media.
Howard wasn't a starter on the offensive line to begin the season, but as the unit struggled and Weis made adjustments, Howard found himself as the starting center by the
fifth game of the season.
He hasn't relinquished the spot since, bringing some confidence to a team that has had its share of criticism this season.
Though he's had some bad snaps he said he would like to have back, Howard's experience on the offensive line has made him a leader in the unit. He takes it upon himself to unite the group.
"The center is really the key to making sure the line is together as a unit." Howard said.
Senior Riley Spencer said that Howard is able to make sure everyone understands the situation and
where to be, and with the constant changes on the line this season, he's a useful guy to have at center.
Howard will play just two more games as a Jayhawk: this Saturday at Iowa State and a home game against Kansas State on Nov. 30.
"It's good to have a center that not only knows their position but knows everyone else's position, and that has been his biggest asset," Spencer said.
If the victory over West Virginia was dedicated to the seniors, Howard isn't satisfied just yet.
"I really think the biggest dedication would be to win the last three
games," Howard said.
It had been three years since Howard had seen his last Big 12 win, and he said the time felt longer than that.
But he remains focused on building up his teammates. He wants to give them something that will bring confidence for next season.
"It's been a rough ride, but we have a chance to right the ship here at the end, and they can take the momentum into next year," Howard said.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
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