Wednesday, September 7, 2011
kansan.com
JAYHAWKS VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS The opposing team's statistics are not something to take lightly PAGE 6
COMMENTARY
GOALIES VYING FOR EQUAL PLAYING MINUTES ON THE FIELD PAGE 6
Kansas creates tradition
It's clear the Kansas Athletics Department understands this because they've added a four-foot-high, 700-pound bronze Jayhawk statue that sits on a base that is 40 inches high.
In the game, the lajahawks run out of the tunnel into Memorial Stadium with no schooner ahead of them, no sign to tap, and no animal on the sidelines. But that won't be the case for next year's version.
In the college football world, tradition and branding are two major components to building a program.
major emphasis for this year's version of NCAA Football 12, EEA Sports' annual college football game, was to immerse its users in the true college game day experience. They did so by bringing teams' pregame traditions into the game.
The statue is an impressive three-dimensional bronze image of the current Jayhawk Kansas uses. It sits openly outside of the Anderson Football Complex, with the hill and campanile looking down on it.
When you play as Kansas, there is nothing.
It may not be anything groundbreaking, but it's a start.
When you play at Texas, Bevo is there as the Longhorns run out of the tunnel. In Oklahoma, the Sooner Schooner leads the team out of the tunnel when you play in Norman. And at Notre Dame, you see the players tap the "play like a champion today" sign.
The players and coaches will tap, rub, kiss, or do whatwe helps as they walk out of their locker room and onto the field.
Edited by Jonathan Shorman
As for now, it's off to a 1-0 start in its attempt to create something new for Kansas football.
While the statue is by no means a well-known college football tradition, in 50 years if the statue is still around, it may be one. It may be the pride of Kansas football when the team walks onto the field, or it may become a joke about what the Kansas football program has become.
The hope is that recruits, players, and fans alike will respect the Kansas football name more than they ever have before.
The tradition and branding has to begin somewhere. Kansas wants the Jayhawk to be an intimidating figure on their side. When Kansas football players rub the Jayhawk, they're supposed to know they're going to win that game.
They are trying to encourage the players when they walk on the field. They are trying to get the fans riled up and loud when they witness the weekly event of the players touching the bronze Jayahwk.
When opponents see Kansas players tap the lajayhaws' beak on their way into Memorial Stadium, they're supposed to believe they are now at a disadvantage.
It happens when Clemson players touch Howard's rock on their way into the stadium and it even happens when the pregame video and music blare out of the speakers at Allen Fieldhouse.
It hasn't happened yet for Kansas football, but by adding the statue, they're trying.
When recruits come to Lawrence to watch a game, they'll see the players walk by the Jayhawk on their way in and out of practice. They'll watch the fans get excited as they see the players walking by the replica Jayhawk.
'PASSION' IS THE WORD
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN
Kansas coach Turner Gill paces the sideline during Saturday's game against McNeese State. The Jayhawks won 42-24.
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
Last week's catchphrase was passion. This week it's focus and discipline.
In order to get a message across to his team, coach Turner Gill has created a catch phrase of sorts, a one- to two-word description of how he wants his team to practice all week and execute on Saturday.
When he asked his players for passion against McNeese State, he got just that.
"There was nobody not into the game," Gill said. "They played hard and they played fast."
When sophomore quarterback Jordan Webb limped off the field after taking a hard hit in Saturday's game, he didn't let his backup, senior Quinn Meacham, come in. Webb may have been hurting, but physically he could perform, so he did and he never missed a snap.
Gill's players ran fast to the ball. There would often be two, three, or even four players getting in on a tackle. If a player missed a tackle, a frequent issue in Saturday's game, there would be someone running to the ball to limit the damage.
This week, with the key words being focus and discipline, Gill and his staff are trying to limit those mistakes, such as missing
a tackle, now knowing that they have the "passion" to back it up.
"We've got to be a lot more focused; disciplined on a lot more of the smaller details," Gill said. "I want to make sure our guys are on tune, because they are very, very good on the offensive side of the ball."
Senior linebacker Steven Johnson led the team with, 15 tackles, a personal record for Johnson, the team's top tackler from 2010.
While Johnson had a career day, he did miss tackles, as did the rest of the defense, and showed there are still plenty of ways to improve.
"We'll work on our technique
more this week," Johnson said. "Using your technique, being able to stay low, and even your alignment is how you can eliminate mistakes."
A portion of the spotlight of improved focus and discipline this week shines on freshman safety Keeston Terry, Terry, a former receiver, has the potential to be a big-time playmaker in the secondary, but against McNeese State, the game didn't go as planned.
Terry blew coverage on multiple plays, including a 32-yard touchdown pass McNeese State threw on third and 14.
"We were excited to finally get back out there and get a chance
to play," Terry said. "We'll watch some extra film, be confident in what we're doing, and when we get in practice, we'll do things the right way and it will become muscle memory."
The Jayhawks were able to get away with some small mistakes that are acceptable in a season opener against McNeese State. If those mistakes continue to show up, even in week two against Northern Illinois, they will pay for it.
"This team here can expose you if you don't get those things corrected," Gill said.
Edited by Jason Bennett
FOOTBALL
Cops arrest freshman for various crimes
KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
A Douglas County Sheriff's Office booking recap reports that a redshirt freshman football player was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning after being accused of obstruction, carrying a fake ID and misdemeanor battery on a law enforcement officer. Cooper Kerns, a freshman offensive lineman from Leawood later posted $500 bond and was released.
sive line for the football team at Rockhurst High School. He helped lead last season's team to a 14-0 record and a state championship. He was
Kerns, 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, earned three letters playing offensive and defen-
All-State,
All-Metro
and a nominee
for the Simone
Award in his senior
year.
Kerns
9
K e r n s was arrested
in the 400 block of West 14th Street in Lawrence.
Edited by Jonathan Shorman
SOCCER
Vidal dubbed 'Newcomer of the Week' for second time
Freshman forward Ingrid Vaughn points skyward after her goal on South Dakota State. Kansas had a 2-1 victory over South Dakota State.
RYAN MCCARTHY
rmccarthy@kansan.com
MAX MIKULECKY/KANSAN
For a third straight Tuesday, a Kansas soccer player has been named Newcomer of the Week.
Freshman Ingrid Vidal received the honor once again yesterday when she netted two goals this weekend against Missouri State and South Dakota State.
In the game against the Bearcats she scored a goal in the 83rd minute and assisted on the two other goals.
Vidal scored the Jayhawks' first goal in a 2-1 win against the Jackrabbits on Sunday.
Vidal is tied with her teammate, junior midfielder Whitney Berry, and Texas' Kylie Doniak for the most points in the Big 12 conference with 11 through six games.
Vidal is top 10 in several other
She is also second in the league with four goals scored.
individual categories including goals per game, assists, and assists per game.
Kansas currently resides in
second place of the Big 12 soccer standings with a five game winning streak.
- Edited by Rachel Schultz