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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TROUBLE AFTER THE SNAP
Football Notebook
Quarterbacks show no hard feelings in position battle
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
Heeney in, Pierson questionable
After sitting out for two weeks because of a knee injury, Ben Heeney is often listed on the Jayhawks depth chart at middle linebacker. Heeney is healed and will play at Texas on Saturday.
Tony Pierson, who leads the team in reception yards despite not playing against TCU or Oklahoma, is questionable this week.
Charlie Weis said that Pierson has been cleared to play by the medical staff, but Weis wants to be cautious with him.
Pierson started last week's game against Baylor, but after a deep pass from junior quarterback Jake Heaps, Pierson stood on the sidelines with his head down. Pierson told Weis that he was feeling dizzy, though he had not been hit on that play.
play.
"Maybe I'm overly concerned, but when the kid is out there for three plays and he feels dizzy when he hasn't been hit, you better be concerned," Weis said. "Especially when you know he's had his head
knocked around a couple times in the calendar year, I mean, isn't that one of the biggest points in football today, the discussion about concussions?"
Montell Cozart shows improvement
As a true freshman, Cozart is competing for playing time with junior Heaps, and while he's shown some promise. Weis knows that Cozart has a lot of room for improvement.
Cozart was 4-for-14 with 69 passing yards and 17 rushing yards against Baylor.
"Every time he gets out there, it's just going to get better and better," Weis said.
The plan is to play Cozart on a significant number of snaps this week at Texas so he can continue to gain experience.
It's not ideal for Weis to be splitting the plays in half for his two quarterbacks, but he's seeing how it goes for now.
"We want both the guys to know they aren't under quick trigger and looking over their shoulder," Weis said. "Because now you make one
mistake and you're afraid you're on the sideline."
Heaps and Cozart maintain positive attitudes
The situation at quarterback could potentially be a difficult one for coaches and teammates to handle, but Weis said Heaps has handled it positively.
"Jake is the one who has made this a little easier, because Jake is probably the most unselfish person we have," Weis said. "Whatever we have to do to give us the best chance, that's all he's concerned about."
Last week when Cozart had a successful play, Heaps was there to slap him on the back, and when Heaps threw a touchdown, Cozart was the first to congratulate Heaps. Weis said he didn't have to tell either one of them to do that.
It's not clear how long this quarterback battle will go on, but it does show Weis is being patient with both Heaps and Cozart.
Edited by Emma McEthaney
Middle linebacker Ben Heeney, left, recovered from his knee injury. Junior Jake Heaps, right, is sharing the quarterback position with freshman Montell Cozart (not pictured).
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas uses bye week to recover from Iowa State
BLAIR SHEADE
bsheade@kansan.com
Kansas (16-5, 6-2) had a bye week to prepare for tonight's match against the Baylor Bears (11-3, 3-5) at the Horejsi Family Athletic Center.
Senior middle blocker Caroline jarmoc thinks the bye week couldn't have come at a better time.
"Coach is giving us recovery time, because this is essential at this point in the season," Jarmoc said. "We're a bit older team and we're weary."
The bright point in the disappointing five-set loss against Iowa State on Oct. 23 was Jarmoc, who became the Jayhawks all-time career block leader. Jarmoc ended the history-breaking match with six total blocks and team highs of 16 kills and a .419 hitting percentage.
Jarmoc wasn't the only Kansas player who had a career night. Freshman middle blocker Tayler Soucie recorded 12 kills against Iowa State — her season high.
"I was getting a lot of sets, and I enjoy that," Soucie said. "Being able to step up and help my team was a good thing."
Soucie was set 27 balls against Iowa State — the most sets she has received all season. With Iowa State being a tough opponent, she
knew she had to step up.
"I was always looked down upon, so I strived for these big games." Soucie said.
The Jayhawks allowed two aces throughout the match, one of which came during a close fifth set.
"We're going to work on a little bit of passing," Jarmoc said.
"I was getting a lot of sets, and I enjoy that. Being able to step up and help my team was a good thing."
TAYLER SOUCIE Freshman middle blocker
The lajayhawks, who lost their second Big 12 Conference game of the season to Iowa State, dropped out of the top 25 this week. The loss formed a three-way tie for second in the Big 12 Conference between Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa State.
Baylor, fifth in the Big 12 Conference, is coming off a two-game win streak, but the Bears haven't won in Lawrence since 2010.
Baylor's go-to player is senior outside hitter Zoe Adom. Adom leads the Bears with 253 kills this
season, and she is averaging over three kills per set.
Baylor's Big 12 Conference record reflects the way the Bears are playing. The Bears are in the bottom half of the Big 12 Conference in hitting percentage, assists, kills and service aces.
Baylor has relied on Adom because she has been set 115 more balls than any other player on the team.
Baylor's offense doesn't compare to the Jayhawks' offense. Kansas' 14.46 kills per set leads the Big 12 Conference, and Baylor hit two less kills per set. Kansas leads the Big 12 in assists with more than 13 per set, while Baylor averages 11 per set.
Kansas has an edge over Baylor defensively as well.
Baylor is in the bottom half of the Big 12 Conference in blocks and digs. Kansas leads the conference in blocks with 2.75 per set. The Jayhawks are third in the conference with 16 digs per set, while Baylor averages 14 per set.
Baylor will be the redemption match for the Jayhawks after the tough loss to Iowa State.
The Jayhawks look to bounce back tonight against Baylor at 6 p.m.
Edited by Emma McElhaney
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
Senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc became Kansas' all-time career block leader in the Oct. 23 game against Iowa State.
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