THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY OCTOBER 3, 2008
SPORTS
FANTASY FOOTBALL
5B
B-listers you should know
With starters injured, backups have a chance to shine
BY KELLY BRECKUNITCH kbreckunitch@kansan.com
Here are some players that could come through as emergency starters on your fantasy squad.
MEWELDE MOORE,
RUNNING BACK,
PITTSBURGH STEELEs
Moore's shot at playing time looked slim at the start of the season. But with starter Willie Parker and backup Rashard Mendenhall injured, Moore is in the starting role this weekend. The Steelers rely heavily on the running game, and while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will shoulder more of the offensive load, Moore could have a solid game and should get at least one touchdown. If you're in a tough spot at running back, be sure to pick up Moore.
GREG OLSEN,
TIGHT END,
CHICAGO BEARS
The top tight ends have performed up to expectations this year, but the rest have been inconsistent at best. If you need some production at the tight end spot, look to Olsen. While teammate Desmond Clark is listed as starting tight end, Olsen gets more looks in the passing game. The Bears have been trying to establish the passing offense. Against a weak Lions squad, they could make a strong statement. It's a good time to pick up Olsen.
STEVE BREASTON,
WIDE RECEIVER,
ARIZONA CARDINALS
With the injury to wide receiver Anquan Boldin, the door opens for Breaston. He came up big with nine catches for 122 yards in the game last weekend against the Jets, matching teammate Larry Fitzgerald's performance. The Cardinals like to throw the ball deep. With Fitzgerald facing a potentially tough matchup against Buffalo cornerback Terrence McGee, Breaston could be a diamond in the rough this week, so pick him up soon.
KERRY COLLINS,
QUARTERBACK,
FENNESSEE TITANS
The Titans are built on defense and lean on the running game to
fuel their offense, but Collins is trying to power a balanced attack on offense. Collins doesn't have to do much to keep the offense on track, other than minimize mistakes, and so far he's done that. Collins has gradually gotten closer to 200 yards passing through each game this season. He draws a tough matchup against Baltimore this weekend, but beyond that he could be someone to watch if you need a quarterback.
BOLD PREDICTION
San Francisco running back Frank Gore will gain nearly 200 yards of total offense and score two touchdowns. Yes, San Francisco plays a rested New England squad, but I think San Francisco, playing at home, may have a little edge. Gore was the key to his team's offensive success early this season, and he could make more than 100 rushing yards and close to 70 receiving yards, at least that's the way I see it. But what do I know? I've blown the last two calls. There's a reason these are bold predictions. Still, start Gore and the reward should be high.
Edited by Adam Mowder
CROSS COUNTRY
Kansas prepares for meet Jayhawks focus on upcoming race at OSU Jamboree
BY JASON BAKER
jbaker@kansan.com
Since then, the Jayhawks has been doing more workouts and are feeling more confident going into Stillwater this weekend.
Two words: Clean slate. Those two words describe the attitude that the Kansas Cross Country team has going into Stillwater, Okla., this weekend to compete in the 2nd OSU Jamboree.
It has been three weeks since the team came in second place at the Missouri XC Challenge, but the team hasn't dwelled on that.
"We got some workouts under our belt," Junior Isaiah Shirlen said. "We're a lot more fit than we were three weeks ago. We're more
"You can't focus on the past or what you previously done because then you're not focused on what you have in front of you," freshman Zach Zarda said.
"It was a good experience to race another Division-I school," she said. "Now we're going to race a whole bunch of Division-I teams. We're on to bigger and better things."
Junior Lauren Bonds had a similar opinion.
race-ready."
The OSU Jamboree is the second new event on the Jayhawks schedule, but the oldest cross country race in the nation.
"It's a lot of top teams from across the nation," said Shirlen. "It will be interesting to mix it up."
There will be more than 100 college teams competing alongside the Jayhawks, including Arkansas, Indiana, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and top-ranked Division-II school Abilene Christian University.
Although the competition looks stiff this weekend, Kansas sees plenty of opportunity for themselves.
"This is a meet where we get points for at-large bids to go to nationals," junior Levi Huseman said.
Freshman Donny Wasinger believes that this meet is an opportunity to show what they can do after a long break. Wasinger said he's gotten used to running 8Ks, but said he saw plenty of room for improvement and had a goal for this weekend.
"If I feel good about the race, then I'll be happy with myself," he said.
Redshirt freshman Kara Windisch talked about strategy for this weekend's race.
"We're trying to pack run," she said. "Keep our number one through seven girls close and try to get some points."
Sophornore Danny Van Orslel
Hopes that his experience would be
an advantage for the Jayhawks. Van
Orslel ran the course in Stillwater
two years ago.
"It's mostly flat with a ravine in the middle that you go through a couple of times," Van Orsdel said. "It's nowhere near as hilly compared to Bob Timmons or Missouri."
Seven women and 12 men will compete, including freshmen Donny Wasinger, Austin Bussing, Rebeka Stowe and Lauren Nightengale. Nightengale said she was excited to make the travel squad for this weekend meet.
"I've been working really hard in practice and trying to get better and myteammates have been helping me a lot," she said.
The women's 5K race will start at 9:10 a.m., followed by the men's 8K race starting at 9:45 a.m.
WHEELER
Edited by Brieun Scott
(CONTINUED FROM 1B)
but Kansas cannot afford to give up that kind of yardage in conference play.
Texas' Colt McCoy, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, Missouri's Chase Daniel and Kansas State's Josh Freeman all rank in the top 10 in passing efficiency in Division-I FBS. Texas Tech's Graham Harrell and Nebraska's Joe Ganz are in the top 25. All six of these players will have a chance to torch Kansas. Harper may or may not be the savior to a wide-open secondary, but one thing is for sure, it's not going to get any easier for the lajwhayks.
FOOTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
*****
- Edited by Arthur Hur
Even McGrew was surprised by what happened next.
Harris arrived on campus before the 2007 season for practice with the mindset that he could play right away. McGrew wasn't so sure. As good as he knew Harris was, McGrew thought cornerback was one of the hardest positions to play in college right out of high school.
The difficulty didn't deter Harris. After then-junior cornerback Kendrick Harper got hurt before the season began, a starting position opened up in the secondary.
"I was going to compete with whoever," Harris said. "I didn't care who was at the corner position, I
was going to compete."
Harris won the job and started alongside All-American Aqib Talib at cornerback at the beginning of the season. Naturally, quarterbacks threw toward Harris and away from Talib.
The strategy didn't work. In the first eight games Harris started, only Kansas State's Josh Freeman threw for more than 200 yards. Harris was one of the key cogs in a pass defense that ranked among the top in the nation.
"He's just done a phenomenal job," Mangino said in an interview last year. "To come in here and essentially win the corner position. The way he did it — he showed a lot of enthusiasm, courage and
football aptitude for a freshman."
*****
Mangino isn't normally that pleased with freshmen cornerbacks.
Take the Sam Houston game this season for example — Mangino said he could cover receivers better than his freshmen cornerbacks. Mangino may have criticized their performance, but Harris has defended it.
Harris maintains that the three freshmen who played all have great potential. He said getting burnt by the Bearkat receivers could serve as an invaluable lesson.
"They can learn from the experience," Harris said, "and take that with them in their career."
Much like he did during his
high school career, Harris is trying to spread his leadership beyond the defensive backfield. He said during the bye-week he was also more vocal with the front seven.
"I tell them the more pressure you all get, the more picks we get," Harris said. "Basically, we just try to work together on that. The more coverage we get, the more sacks they get."
Although the silver chain with a No.16 pendant dangling from his neck and the sparkling studded earrings may suggest otherwise, Harris is modest. He says he's just one leader on a defense full of them. His teammates are more likely to expound on his leadership.
"He's a very good leader to our team," Harper said.
Harper is Harris' roommate. Harper missed the Jayhawks last three games after he suffered a head injury during the first game of the season against FLU.
Of course, Harper has eagerly wanted to get back on the field. Harris said his roommate has been frustrated and wished he had an extra year of eligibility.
But Harris has kept Harper's spirits high, Harper, who is expected to play against Iowa State, said Harris was always telling him to work through it and get back on the field.
"He's always smiling," Harper said. "He never has a bad day. He's a great guy to be around."
Edited by Jennifer Torline
AWAY GAME WATCH PARTY
"Your HOME when the team is AWAY." THIS SATURDAY Iowa State 11:30 a.m. kickoff
Jo Shmo's 724 Mass. St.
burgersbeerbocce.com
785-856-5867
KEGS & EGGS
$6 Breakfast Platters
$5 Old Style Pitchers
$3 Bloody Marys
$3 Jager Bombs
Many prizes to be given away, including a framed Orange Bowl poster!
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN