THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013
PAGE 5B
KANSAS
Football players unite with hopes for NCAA reform
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
Kansas defensive lineman Keon Stowers was one of several players that wrote the words "APU" on a piece of his equipment for the game against Texas Tech on Saturday.
The letters stand for "All Players United," a campaign launched two weeks ago by college athletes. Players representing teams from the Big 10, ACC, SEC and Big 12 have written the three letters on their equipment as a sign of their unity for NCAA reform.
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They include minimizing college athletes' brain trauma risks, raising the scholarship amount, preventing players from being stuck paying sports-related medical expenses and eliminating restrictions on players' ability to directly benefit from commercial opportunities.
The National College Players Association has a list of 11 goals on its website, ncpanow.org.
The NCPA organization was founded by former UCLA football player Ramogi Huma in 2001 and has helped athletes plan the APU movement through conference calls with representatives from each team.
"The NCAA president and conference commissioners are talking about reshaping college sports, and really the players don't have a voice in this," Huma said.
“It's for the players, it's something started by the players,” Stowers said. “I'm definitely 100 percent behind it.”
One of the issues represented by the APU campaign is a reform of conclusion policies by the NCAA. On Saturday, the NCAA running
On Saturday, Kansas running
back Tony Pierson was injured after a 39 yard completion.
Pierson landed out of bounds and remained still on the ground for several minutes as he was attended to by medical trainers.
"When I went over there he was breathing a little bit, but his eyes weren't open yet," Kansas head coach Charlie Weis said after the game.
Weis said that Pierson had a possible concussion and could miss a "substantial" amount of time.
"The NCAA has not addressed concussion reform at all," Huma
"It's for the players,it's something started by the players.I'm definitely 100 percent behind it."
KEON STOWERS Kansas defensive lineman
said. "If you look at the NFL and the NFL Players Association, they've negotiated a lot of good policy and rule changes. They've redirected resources, investing a hundred million dollars in research. The NCAA can be doing the same things."
Stowers saw the play as a perfect example of what players are risking each time they step on the field.
"There are guys getting hurt every Saturday." Stowers said.
Stowers said the APU campaign represents something personal for him as well, and that was part of his reason for writing the letters on his wrist tape.
He said everything that APU
stands for can benefit college athletes in everyday life, not in being paid like professionals, but in helping with their regular living expenses as a college student.
“It's guys that are in a situation like I was, that come here and don't have the parental financial part to be able to provide for yourself," Stowers said. "We're not asking for people to change our lives. We're not asking to be able to go out and buy a car, no, no, no. When you aren't able to provide for yourself at the end of the month, then it is a problem."
Jake Heaps also said that he supports the APU cause, though he did not write the letters on any of his gear, at least for this game.
He was one of several players that Stowers said has been involved in talks amongst players about the issue.
There is a sense of unity and purpose behind players that wear the APU letters, and support the NCPA.
"I do think there needs to be change within the NCAA in the way they handle players." Heaps said.
Weis said he did not see the writing on any of the players' equipment, and that he didn't know what the campaign was.
"I don't even know guys at other schools that are wearing APU, but if they've got it on, I stand for them and they are my brothers." Stowers said. "It's about all players coming together to fight against the NCAA"
Edited by Casey Hutchins
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Kansas offense stalls after quick start against Texas Tech
Junior defensive lineman Keon Stowers joined All Players United, a campaign to reform NCAA policies.
CHRIS HYBL
chybl@kansan.com
FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Kansas started Saturday's game looking like they were ready. Kansas struck early, cashing in a Ben Heeney interception for a field goal. The next drive, Kansas quarterback Jake Heaps capped off a 79-yard march down the field with an easy 25-yard TD pass to Jimmy Mundine. Kansas looked good.
The defense didn't allow Texas Tech across midfield until midway through the first quarter, and made three early defensive third down stops, giving up one first down in the first 10 minutes of the game. Kansas had a lot of energy and it continued to build as the crowd got louder throughout the first quarter.
'Things changed in the second quarter. Texas Tech strung together its first two drives of the second quarter for 10 points. After a failed fake punt attempt from Kansas' own 16, Tech scored for its first lead, never relinquishing it, and easily coasting to victory.
The fake pun*
With the score tied 10-10 in the second quarter, and after a failed third and 10 pass to James Sims for a loss of three, the unthinkable
happened. Faced with a fourth and 13, punter Trevor Pardula easily received the snap, and proceeded to run in an attempt to get a first down.
Pardula could only manage to get back to the line of scrimmage. Tech took over at the 16 and scored a touchdown two plays later.
It was unclear as to whether Pardula had sporadically elected to audible and make a dash for a heroic first down. But the reaction of the lead blockers to veer towards the sideline with Pardula behind was evident.
"It was a situation where we decided if something happened, take it. And he got caught in limbo," said head coach Charlie Weis.
Weis took no blame for the play that seemed to send Kansas in a sharp downward spiral. Tech added three more points to the score before the half ended. Down 20-10, Kansas was still within striking distance to open the second半. But on the first play, Heaps attempted a 5-yard pass over the middle to Tony Pierson. The ball was thrown high and Pierson could only tip the ball in an attempt to catch it, and it landed right in the hands of Texas Tech defender J.J. Gaines, who returned the ball all way to the
Kansas 8. yard line. Tech scored on the first play follow the turnover, making the game 27-10 only 18 seconds into the second half. It was over from there.
Kansas offense
After converting two of five third downs in the first quarter, Kansas only managed one more third down conversion in the entire game, finishing 3 for 16 on third down. The Kansas offense was stagnant in the second half. Of Kansas' three drives in the third quarter, all of them were three-and-outs. This led to the defense getting worn down by the fast and explosive Texas Tech offense.
After the early third quarter interception, things only got worse for the Jayhawks. Kansas was unable to convert on any of its third down plays in the third quarter, burying any chance of a comeback and allowing Texas Tech to extend its lead to 37-10. Tech scored 54 unanswered points before a Michael Cummings touchdown pass to Andrew Turzilli with 7:43 left in the fourth quarter.
Edited by James Ogden and Evan Dunbar
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DAVID AZERRAD Heritage Foundation
No budget or timetable for the renovation has been set. But Zenger says that last month, Kansas began the design process for an eventual renovation. Officials met with Kansas
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a massive fundraising effort and the school's four consecutive losing football seasons create an obstacle. The Kansas City Star (http://bit. v18/xDVts) reported.
KU eyes major renovation of football stadium
Associated Press
ATHLETICS
KU
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
The University of Russia
Zenger acknowledges that a Memorial Stadium project would require
LAWRENCE, Kan. — University of Kansas Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger has revived plans for a major renovation of the Jayhawks' football stadium.
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