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SWIMMING TEAM HAS QUIZ BEFORE SEASON
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008
PAGE 1B
OPENING MOVES
Special teams could be pivotal against Colorado
The worst kick return unit in the country meets a team that allows 31.5 yards per return who will blink first?
BY TAYLOR BERN
Wangan barely escaped Folsom Field in Boulder last year with a 19-14 victory against the Buffaloes. This Saturday's game in Lawrence will see the Jayhawks try to improve their weak kick return statistics.
tbern@kansan.com
Kansas' first kick return in its 11:30 a.m. home game against Colorado on Saturday might be the most important play of the day.
Something's got to give.
That's because Jayhawk return man Marcus Herford, the 15th best kick returner in the nation last year, leads an attack that averages 13.2 yards per return, the worst in the country. On the other side is Colorado's kickoff unit, which allows an average of 31.5 yards per return, the most in the country.
Whichever team overcomes its special teams weakness will win the field position battle.
From there, it's up to the offenses to take control, and each one learned something drastically different about its running game last week.
Running back Jake Sharp spurred a furious second half comeback to lead 16 Kansas to a 35-33 victory over Iowa State last week. His performance effectively ended coach Mark Mangino's search for a feature tailback.
"Jake is a very competitive guy," Mangino said. "He didn't like the way things were going in the run game and he wanted to do something about it. He not only got it done in the running game, but also in the passing game. He comes to play and he takes great pride in his performance."
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
In Boulder, the rushing situation got a lot worse in the Buffaloes' 38-14 home loss to No.5 Texas.
Darrell Scott has struggled through injuries this year, which have resulted in decreased rushing yards each week. On Saturday he injured his ankle in the third quarter, effectively ending his day with two carries for four yards.
Heralded freshman running back
and a banged up offensive line.
Coach Dan Hawkins' front line has been dealt so many injuries that he's toying around with the idea of playing freshman defensive tackle Eugene Goree at offensive guard on Saturday. Goree has no previous offensive experience.
there," Hawkins said to Colorado reporters on Wednesday. "We're trying to play the best people in there and trying to get some fortification going on. Right now we just have such a dire need over there."
His absence has put extra pressure on fellow freshman tailback Rodney Stewart
Goree, 6-foot-1 and 300 pounds, said he's excited about the opportunity to take some snaps on the other side of the ball.
"We're just trying to get some help in
"I'm really interested in it." Goree said. "It's something new—a new challenge, and I like challenges."
Kansas is used to a challenge when it plays Colorado. The Jayhawks won the last two matchups by a combined nine points.
- Edited by Kelsey Hayes
VOLLEYBALL
BY JOSH BOWE
jbowe@kansan.com
Usually a weekend off would call for rest and relaxation, but not for the Jayhawk volleyball team.
Sophomore outside hitter Jenna Kaiser said she thought it would be the latter.
Kansas will have its bye in the schedule this weekend, after a tough five-set loss to Texas A&M on Wednesday night. This weekend will either give the Jayhawks more time to mull over the heartbreaking loss or give the team ample time to prepare for its border rival on Wednesday.
"I think we will be very focused and ready for Missouri," Kaiser said. "You can't not be ready for Missouri; it's the Border Showdown."
It will be a weekend that coach Ray Bechard can hammer out some of the issues that have plagued the Jayhawks all season. Kansas' biggest issue has been its starts this season. The Jayhawks have lost the first set in 10 of the team's 16 matches this season. Eight of those 10 matches have seen Kansas fall 0-2 to start a match.
"Maybe we'll have an online vote, see what everyone thinks," Bechard said jokingly about how to fix the Jayhawks' first-set issues.
While Bechard has never questioned the Jayhawks' effort this year, he said it had become clear that the consistent struggle in the first two sets was something that might be harder to solve than the team first thought.
But the players know it is on them to fix the problem. Sophomore outside hitter Karina Garlington said she wished that Kansas would start playing at the beginning of each set.
"We can't wait to be down five points before we start playing Kansas volleyball," Garlington said. "We need to start playing Kansas volleyball from point one."
Kaiser said it was the execution that seemed to slow Kansas down. She said the team needed to attain the higher level of execution needed to win in the Big 12 Conference.
"We're all frustrated," Kaiser said. "So we're just going to focus that into productive energy on the court."
— Edited by Jennifer Torline
COMMENTARY
Former starting quarterback contributes
It seems light years ago by now. There was a time when Kerry Meier was the next big thing for the Jayhawks at quarterback. After all, he did set the freshman record for touchdown passes just two years ago. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds and blazing speed, Meier fit the mold of a Big 12 gunslinger.
Then, in the midst of a lackluster performance from veteran quarterback Adam Barrmann at home against Colorado in 2006, coach Mark Mangino had to make an executive decision. With Meier injured, Mangino had no choice but to send a little kid from Texas named Todd Reesing onto the field to replace Barrmann. And guess what? It worked.
The kid, then a little-known redshirt freshman, would probably have not played if not for Meier's injury. With a 9-0 deficit, Reesing rallied the team to a 20-15 victory against the Buffalooes.
He made brilliant passes, escaped defenders and ran all over a struggling Colorado team. The next week, Meier would return to duty as the starting quarterback and we would see very little of the mysterious comeback kid.
When Mangino chose Reesing, it looked as if Meier would never see the playing field again. For Mangino, there would no longer be a debate on whether Meier could win back the starting job. It's the kind of move that sends some players packing their bags and transferring to another school.
Outside the program, it seemed as if Mangino was taking crazy pills by choosing Reeing.
The rest is history. Reeing has gone on to rewrite passing records at Kansas, while Meier has done what he can for the team. Receiving, puncting, passing, you name it, Meier has done it all. Reeing established
himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation last season, while Meier landed himself on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a wide receiver.
This season, however, Meier has arrived as Reesing's No. 1 target at wide receiver. At the moment, Meier's 44 receptions and 514 yards put him on pace to break both single season records at Kansas.
Mangino has said before that he knew Meier was a talented guy, but he has also said he couldn't predict his success. As it stands, Meier still spends half of his practice time as Reeing's backup.
With his size and speed combined with the surest hands on the team, you have to think NFL scouts are watching him. Not a bad gig for a guy that lost his job as a starting quarterback.
Edited by Arthur Hur
Kansas single season receiving records
Kansas single season receiving records
Player Richard Estell Kerry Meier
Receptions Year
70 1985
106* 2008
*Projected statistics through 12 games.
Player Yards Year
Bob Johnson 1,144 1983
Kerry Meier 1,234* 2008
SOCCER
Junior goalkeeper Julie Hanley clears the ball downfield in a game against Colorado. The Jayhawks face off against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma this weekend.
Hawks brace for offensive powerhouse Oklahoma State
BY ANDREW WIEBE awiebe@kansan.com
awiebe@kansan.com
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Oklahoma State has one focus: score and score often.
So it comes as no surprise to see the 13th-ranked Cowgirls (10-1-1, 1-1-1) pacing the Big 12 in an astounding six offensive categories by wide margins. They lead the conference in goals scored by 12, averaging 3.75 goals per contest.
Tonight at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex in Stillwater, Okla., Kansas (8-4, 2-2) will meet Oklahoma State for the first time since Colin Carmichael's team defeated Mark Francis and the Jayhawks 3-0 in the Big 12 Tournament a year ago.
The Jayhawks haven't forgotten the game that ended their season, and they know exactly what kind of team they'll be dealing with.
"They are just really attacking oriented, and they have a girl in the center of the park that just goes at us," junior goalkeeper Julie Hanley said. "They are really organized and finish their chances well."
The daunting force in the middle of the park is Oklahoma State's senior midfielder Yolanda Odenyo, a two-time All American
and a key cog of the Swedish national team. The 2006 Big 12 Co-Player of the Year is already having her best offensive season with a career-high 10 goals in 12 games.
Supporting Odenyo is junior forward Kasey Langdon, who has accumulated even more jaw-dropping statistics this season for the Cowgirls. So far Langdon has racked up 25 points on seven goals and
eleven assists, surpassing her previous high of 19 points set a year ago.
Hanley said Kansas had been focusing on staying organized during practice this week in preparation for the rematch. Despite Oklahoma State's remarkable offensive numbers, scoring hasn't come quite as easily in its three Big 12 contests.
The Cowgirls dispatched Texas Tech 5-1
in Stillwater, but followed that up with one goal per contest in a tie with Colorado and a loss to Texas A&M.
Francis said he expected a tight match because both teams played similar styles and Big 12 position was on the line. Both teams employ a 4-3-3 formation and rely on ball possession to generate offense.
Junior defender Estelle Johnson said that she expected a physical game, but that stopping Oklahoma State wouldn't be too much of a transition from some of Kansas' other opponents this season.
"We have already played teams like Florida that are strictly offensive teams, and we've done fine," Johnson said. "I think as long as we stay compact and organized as a defensive line we will be fine."
said, this weekend is critical for Kansas' postseason aspirations.
Kansas will also travel to Norman, Okla., on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game against Oklahoma (1-11, 0-3). The two games represent the last time the Jayhawks play away from home until the season finale at Missouri. With her team at 2-2 and trailing conference leaders Texas A&M, Hanley
The Jayhawks have gone 4-4 since beginning the season 4-0.
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"We are definitely going into it looking for two wins," Hanley said. "I don't think we will be satisfied with anything else."
- See more KU soccer content and game notes at www.kansan.com/sports
HOMECOMING FOR MCCABE, SALAZAR
Junior forward Shannon McCabe and sophomore midfielder Sarah Salazar will be in familiar surroundings this weekend
in Oklahoma. Both hail from the Tulsa area and said they expected family, friends and former teammates at this weekend's games.
McCabe and Salazar both played with Oklahoma State players
in high school and on their club teams. Salazar said defeating the Cowgirls held more weight than other games for her.
"I'm nervous because this is the one team I really want to beat really bad," she said.
Edited by Adam Mowder
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