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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BACK IN ACTION
Jayhawk football team ready to begin season
STELLA LIANG
@stelly.liang
Seventy-seven points. Eight rushing touchdowns. 516 total yards of offense. These statistics sound like they come from a video game. Instead, these knockout numbers were put up by a real college football team last week, Southeast Missouri State — the Kansas Jayhawks' first opponent of the season.
SEMO, which plays in the
Championship Subdivision, put on a show against Missouri Baptist on Aug. 29. Even though Missouri Baptist isn't a quality opponent (this is the team's annual season).
Kansas is not taking SEMO and its dominant performance lightly.
"The first game they were dominant in all three facets," Kansas Coach Charlie Weis said. "They were dominant on offense, they were dominant on defense, and I think that he [SEMO coach Tom Matutekewicz] was most pleased about they were dominant on special teams."
Of course, Saturday's opener for the Jayhawks is bigger than just who they're playing. The game is the first chance the team has to prove it has turned a corner and back up the general optimism coming from the coaches and players.
Weis, who is starting his third year, knows the fans are hungry. He also understande
this game could set the tone for the season.
"I think it's important for the psyche of our team for us to play well," Weis said. "If we come out and have a sloppy opener, a win is still a win if that's the case, but a sloppy opener doesn't help the psyche of the team."
The personnel for the Jayhawks will be a mix of up-and-coming players and veterans who have seen it all.
Listed on the latest depth
"I think if our offense can score enough points, we'll have a chance to win a whole bunch of games."
CHARLIE WEIS Kansas football coach
For the veterans, there is no one more important than sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart. Starting the season with an experienced Jayhawk quarterback is not something that has happened before in Weis' tenure at Kansas.
chart are six true freshmen, including place kicker John Duvic, who beat sophomore Matthew Wyman for the starting role. Weis said more than likely, all of the freshman on the list will see playing time Saturday.
"（Cozart）start camp and was doing really well and had a little bit of a lull, then came out of that and since that has been very good," offensive coordinator John Reagan said. "It's fun, it's exciting, and he
has every right to be where he is with his confidence right now based on his camp."
Also on the offensive side, many eyes will be on the running back position. Since senior running backs Brandon Bourbon and Taylor Cox were both lost for the season due to injuries, an air of mystery has surrounded the position. Junior college transfer De'Andre Mann and freshman Corey Avery are set to take over. Neither has
the starting job, so they look to share carries against SEMO.
The defense has the job of stopping the SEMO offense that proved it can rack up big yards. Quarterback Kyle Snyder completed
10 of 12 passes against Missouri Baptist with two touchdowns. Seven different players rushed for touchdowns; Snyder was the only one to run for two of them. Weis said he thinks his defense is ready for the challenge.
"I think our defense is going to be pretty solid, to tell you the truth," Weis said. "I think if our offense can score enough points, we'll have a chance to win a whole bunch of games."
Nassau will take on the SEMO Redhawks, who play out of Ohio Valley Conference this Saturday at 6 p.m.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
Senior linebacker Ben Heeney (31) dives to tackle a Texas Tech receiver on Oct. 5, 2013
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Junior safety Isaiah Johnson, right, takes down former Kansas State running back John Hubert on Nov. 30, 2013
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FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Senior tight end Jimmay Mundine and junior wide receiver Rodriguez Coleman celebrate during a game against Texas Tech on Oct. 5, 2013.
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