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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008
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COMMENTARY
PAGE1B
Kickoff chant candidates ready to meet press
FANCY FOOTWORK
All too frequently, our generation has been criticized as apa thetic, unproductive and just generally lazy.
Now is our time to step up and destroy that perception. We have an opportunity to institute a real change in the world, to shine a light where there was once darkness, to silence the critics.
An election is our opportunity for this generation's recovery. All we have to do is make the choice no one else can.
Not between a maverick and a mesiah, mind you. That little election in November pales in comparison to the Kick the Chant Campaign.
The environment? I'm going to be around for another 80 years, tops. All those icebergs have to last at least that long, don't they?
The economy? As long as my check from The Underground clears, I'll be OK.
joe the Plumber? If I hear any more about him, I may rip my own fucking head off.
The truth is that the decision as to what the new kickoff chant will be is the most important one you will ever make. It dwarfs such trivial matters as who will lead the free world for the next four years.
So, let's meet the candidates.
First up is "Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!" Truly, this is a candidate for the right-leaning traditionalists out there. Although this chant is strong with the base, it remains to be seen whether this candidate can bridge party lines and appeal to the more progressive Jawhaws.
If that choice seems just two letters too long, then "Rock Chalk Jayhawk!" should be your selection.
Still, there are those who think the University should look elsewhere for solutions. Multilateralists might favor the Notre Dame-inspired "Go... Jayhawks!" Although this appeal to one of college football's superpowers may seem like a valid means of solidifying Kansas' place on the national scene, some say that such a decision is just too derivative.
"Right Between the Eyes!" is a suggestion inspired by Kansas alumnus Kevin Harlan that could face similar problems. For a member of the KU coverage team to actually carry out the spoken intent of this chant, they'd have to break several NCAA rules. It's also likely that reaching inside an opponent's face mask could result in a substantial rise in broken fingers on the team. Some have also noted that, by no fault of his own, Harlan's sounding vaguely like sportscaster Marv Albert could give an entirely new (and woefully disturbing) twist to this chant's meaning.
The next choice, "Make'em Weep!" stands as a testimony to KU's fight song. Unfortunately, sensitive parents are already lining up to criticize the student body for this potentially traumatic choice. Still, this candidate has a lot of experience, making it a strong contender.
Don't like any of these choices? There's a second poll with suggestions from students. Online voting ends at 5.p.m. today.
That provides yet another reason why this vote is better than the one to decide the president. People complain about the lack of a legitimate third party in the United States' political system, but no such biases appear here. There are already five choices, not to mention the other six suggested by
SEE BEECHER ON PAGE 4B
Junior safety Justin Thornton gets tripped up on a cut by Oklahoma wide receiver Juana Irglesias during Saturday's game. The Sooners rushed for a total 674 yards, which is the fifth-most allowed yards in Kansas'1,169-game history. Kansas' defensive recovery will be important when the Jayhawks face Texas Tech's offense, which ranks second in the nation.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Kansas reevaluates game plan afterOU
BY B.J. RAINS
rains@kansan.com
Three days after the Kansas defense had one of the worst statistical days in the history of the school, players met with the media on Tuesday to try to explain what happened.
As safety Justin Thornton said, "It was a little bit of everything."
"I was embarrassed," Thornton said. "I feel like we're a good defense and I think
The KU defense allowed 468 passing yards to Sam Bradford and the Oklahoma offense, the third-most passing yards allowed by a Kansas defense in the 118-year history of the program. The run defense didn't do much better, allowing more than 200 yards rushing for the first time in 34 games. The 674 total yards were the fifth most allowed in the school's 1,169 game history.
we're better than what everybody's seen. They put yards up on us that they didn't even put up against less talented teams."
Oklahoma ran 97 offensive plays, which
Oklahoma has 97 of is more than any team he has run against Kansas this year. Some defensive players also were forced to help the struggling teams by joining those units as well. The combination was a tired group of Jayhaws gasping for air on the sidelines.
played a whole game's worth of snaps in one half. That takes a toll on you."
"I was more tired than normal and I
In addition to allowing Oklahoma receivers to make wide-open catches, the
"We're out to make a statement. We're going to come out, play hard and rebound from this."
than normal and couldn't figure out why," Thornton said. "But then we were watching the film and I realized we ran 60-something plays in the first half, and that's on average what we run for a whole game. So we pretty much
JUSTIN THORNTON Kansas safety
write open catches, the KU defense struggled with their tackling. Several OU plays could have gone for short gains, but missed tackles allowed them to move the ball right up the field.
One reason for the poor tackling could be because the team rarely does any full-contact drills once
season begins. They will do some specific tackling drills, but rarely will they wrap up players and force them to the ground.
"We didn't tackle very well." Thornton said. "We had a lot of missed tackles. That
is one thing that the coaches and all of the players will be focused on this week in practice is just being more physical and getting guys to the ground."
"We had been pretty good at it until this past week," said coach Mark Mangino.
The vibe among players discussing the defensive problems was that the problems were surprisingly small and correctable. That's good news for KU fans, because Saturday's opponent, Texas Tech, is one of the top passing teams in the nation and runs a spread offense similar to Oklahoma's.
Thornton and the defense promised not to let another game like Oklahoma happen again.
"We're out to make a statement," Thornton said. "We're going to come out, play hard and rebound from this."
Edited by Brieun Scott
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Freshman point guard Angel Goodrich defends senior point guard Ivan Datic during Friday night's scrimmage. Coach Bonnie Hennickson announced Tuesday that Goodrich would be out for the season with a torn ACL.
Ion Gnerina/KANSAN
Freshman Goodrich out for entire season
BY DANNY NORDSTROM
dnordstrom@kansan.com
Freshman point guard Angel Goodrich will have to wait one more season before she can play for Kansas. The true freshman tore her ACL during Sunday's practice and will be out for the entire season.
"At media day, I said I wouldn't hide my excitement for what I thought she could do for our program, and I'm not going to try to hide my disappointment for her, personally," Henrickson said.
Coach Bonnie Henrickson solemnly addressed the media Monday, informing them of the injury.
Henrickson said the injury happened one hour into the team's second practice Sunday afternoon. After executing a crossover dribble, Goodrich landed wrong on her left leg and went down. Goodrich's six-month recovery period will begin with surgery, which will take place next Wednesday.
Goodrich was a top prospect from the class of 2008 and most likely would have seen substantial playing time this season. During her senior year of high school, Goodrich averaged 14 points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds per
SEE GOODRICH ON PAGE 4B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
New players trying to make smooth transition
Self has high expectations for young team
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
They talk about last season's historic run to the championship, but only half the players on Kansas' roster this season were even part of it.
They reflect on the national championship game against Memphis, but only two current Jawahors played in the game.
Defending national champions, the lavahows are. Same team, they are not.
"There's going to be a lot pressure coming from winning the national championship" freshman guard Travis Releford said. "We just want to be able to come out every game knowing that we are the defending national champions."
It might be tough to tell, however, by looking at the roster. Sophomores Cole Aldrich and Tyrel Reed and junior Sherron Collins are the only scholarship players left on the roster who played last season.
Defending national champions returning without the bulk of their roster is nothing new. In fact, it's common. Florida, which won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, lost its top six players going into last season. The Gators struggled throughout the year and missed the NCAA Tournament.
The five starters are gone. Eight of the top ten players in minutes — the two remaining are Collins and Aldrich — either graduated or declared for the NBA Draft. So where do the Jayhawks go from here? Kansas coach Bill Self hauled in a class of seven recruits that Rivals.com ranked as the second-best in the country. Most of them will contribute right away.
"I don't know what the ceiling is, but I can tell you this: Expectations will not change one bit, regardless of how young we are." Self said.
But the Jayhawks aren't expecting
SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL ON PAGE 4B
Championship Team
2007 Florida
2006 Florida
2005 North Carolina
2004 Connecticut
2003 Syracuse
how defending national champions fared
4
Result in the next season
NIT semifinal
NCAA Champions
Second round, NCAA Tournament
Second round, NCAA Tournament
Sweet 16, NCAA Tournament
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