Volume 124 Issue 12
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
DAY VIEW
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
TION KU
COACHING
Viator
Matt Viator leads McNeese state, his alma mater. Viator is starting his sixth season as coach for the Cowboys. Previously, Viator served as the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys. Under his tenure, the Cowboys have never finished below second in the Southland Conference.
PAGE 13
BABY JAY WILL WEEP IF ...
The Cowboys blitz causes enough confusion to disrupt the Jayhawks offense. If the Jayhawks offense can't get rolling, it could be a long day in Memorial Stadium, similar to last season's fiasco against North Dakota State.
MOMENTUM
McNeese state is ranked 20th in the FCS coach's poll heading into the season. They are picked to win the Southland conference along with defending SLC champ Stephen F. Austin University. This is the Cowboy's best opportunity to make waves against a Bowl Championship Series opponent.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2011
AT A GLANCE
McNeese State returns only eight starters from last year's squad that finished second in the Southland Conference, yet enter the season ranked 20th in the Football Championship Subdivision rankings. Coach Matt Viator has led the Cowboys to winning seasons in each of the past five years, and has never finished below second in the conference during that stretch, while winning three titles.
The Cowboys are more talented than the North Dakota State team that spoiled Turner Gill's debut last season. Even so, the talent levels of the two teams are nowhere near equal and Kansas should win the home opener for the first time under Gill.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior running back Andre Anderson. Anderson is a transfer from Michigan State and earned Southland Conference Newcomer of the year award for his 2010 campaign when
he rushed for 855 yards and five touchdowns despite starting only four games. Anderson's season also earned him All-Southland Conference and Team MVP awards.
Anderson is an explosive runner who, if left uncontained by the Jayhawks defense, could cause the team headaches. Anderson was also tied for second on the team in receptions, catching 21 balls for 185 yards.
Anderson
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Cowboys are experienced on special teams as they return All-SLC kicker Josh Lewis and senior punter Ben Bourgeois. Lewis converted 13 of his 16 field goal attempts last season
and 26 of his 29 PATs. Lewis was named Preasonal AI-SLC for 2011.
QUESTION MARKS
Lewis
Can McNeese State translate the success they've had against conference fees into success against onponents from BCS conferences?
Last season McNeese faced off against two teams from BCS conferences, Missouri and LSU, and lost both games. The Cowboys got throttled at Missouri, losing 50-6, and lost by a much more manageable haint against LSU, falling 82-10. This is one of the best chances McNeese may have in avail at knocking off a team from a BCS conference, as the Jayhawks' loss against FOS North Dakota State still tugs in the back of the minds of Jayhawk faithful.
STARTING LINEUP OFFENSE
The Cowboys return four starters on offense, including Southland conference Newcomer of the year Andre Anderson. The Cowboys return their top three rushers from last season, including two who put up more than 150 yards in a single game, so expect a solid rush attack to help take the pressure off sophomore quarterback Cody Stroud, who has only
Stroud
Anderson
two career starts under his belt at the college level. The offense took a blow when All-SIC OM Giegel Gauthieux went down with a left leg injury in camp.
Pos. NAME No. Year
QB Cody Stroud 18 So.
HB Andre Anderson 22 Sr.
FB Kegan Myers 49 Jr.
WR Wes Briscoe 85 So.
WR Diontae Spencer 4 So.
TE Harold Turnage 86 Sr.
LT Taylor Johnson 73 Jr.
LG Jonathan Landry 72 Jr.
C Carson Chaisson 63 Jr.
RG Arinze Agada 77 So.
RT Alec Savie 79 Jr.
K Josh Lewis 2 Jr.
DEFENSE
Lighten
The Cowboys have a blitz-happy defense. They return four starters on defense. They will be led by first team All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana senior defensive end Desmond Lighten and All-SLC junior defensive back Malcolm Bronson. Lighten has 168 career tackles and Bronson led the team with five interceptions. The Cowboy's base
Bronson
the interceptions. The Cowboy's base formation is a 4-2-5, which has one more
defensive back than a traditional defensive front. The formation has become more popular as a base defense as more and more schools are switching to the spread offense.
Pos. NAME No. Year
LE Chris Loveless 99 So.
LT Justin Breaux 56 Sr.
RT Pat Williams 90 Jr.
RE Desmund Lighten 57 Sr.
LB Deonte Thompson 51 Fr.
LB Joe Narcisse 45 Jr.
BS Ford Smesny 1 Jr.
CB London Durham 10 Sr.
CB Seth Thmas 8 Jr.
FS Malcolm Bronson 34 Jr.
WS Darrell Jenkins 9 Sr.
P Ben Bourgeois 23 Sr.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 McNeese State players named preseason All-Americans. Its also the number of consecutive winning seasons the Cowboys currently have.
Times last season HB Andre Anderson rushed for 170 yards or more last season. Anderson rushed for 171 yards against Nicholls, then almost matched that total two weeks later, rushing for 170 yards against Texas State.
XANSAN FILE PHOTO
and before er
death until the
nce held for him
I find out, I was ad," Johnson said, at game to him. I ot of passion, and bow hed want his
this post-coaching
known for his
aches to the team
tames.
lend Tim Biere
of Fambrough's
after Saturday's
Missouri game he ad to us. I was older guys that it nse, and I didn't be said. "He got started swearing
OUGH PAGE 3
University to institute wireless improvements
BOBBY BURCH
bburch@kansan.com
As students settle in for the new academic year, the University of Kansas' department of Information and Technology is busy improving services and telecommunication around campus.
After meeting with student body President Libby Johnson and Vice President Gabe Bliss, University IT began a project to expand wireless internet to frequently used areas of campus. The wireless expansion, which will continue throughout the fall semester, will eventually reach areas including Jayhawk Boulevard. Wesco beach and Potter Lake.
"It's terrible," Erickson wrote. "From experience, it only works in certain areas and even then it's slow and cuts out."
However, as IT expands wireless to new areas of campus, some students have expressed concerns about the University's existing WiFi internet access.
Patrick Henke, a senior from Olathe, expressed similar concerns about KU's wireless reliability.
Ann Erickson, a senior from Tonganoxie, replied to a University Daily Kansan inquiry on student wireless experience so far this year.
"We have problems in our room where it cuts in and out," Henke said.
In an effort to provide better service and more efficient technology support, University IT hired the Huron Consulting Group Inc., to review its technology services around campus in the summer of 2010. The group's report outlined that:
The University is behind the curve in terms of supporting technology-enhanced teaching in the classroom.
— Classroom standards have not been set, resulting in variable capabilities.
Overall need for more consistent consulting-level support for faculty and students related to technologies.
In an email notifying University deans, directors and department chairs of the new changes, Diane Goddard, Vice Provost for Administration and Finance, wrote that: "By fall 2011, we hope that the plan for increased academic technology support will be well on its way to filling the gap at KU."
Julie Loats, director of Enterprise Applications and Services for University IT, said that the merger of University IT and IDS will help
Following Huron's recommendations, the University's Instructional Development Services (IDS) merged its operations with the IT department, taking effect last spring.
Loats said that University IT hopes to further its service efforts by offering Blackboard technology support to students.
CLASSIFIEDS 10
CROSSWORD 6
"One of the things we heard last spring loud and clear was that students didn't feel they had a place to go if they needed help with blackboard," Loats said. "With this mergerwed like to be able to provide more support for students."
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 7
"It brings all of those staff together so it can be a more focused and holistic approach to classroom support." Loats said.
provide comprehensive technology support for students and faculty.
Edited by Jayson Jenks
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 4
CHECK OUT THE UPCOMING WIRELESS LOCATIONS
http://udkne.ws/qmL961
Don't forget
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
It's library card sign-up month. To check out books from any of KU's libraries, just flash a KU ID!
Today's weather
14
Forecasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast, see page 2A HI: 74 L0: 48 Perfect!