1
6B the university daily kansan
sports
friday, november 21, 2003
JAYHAWKS 5-6
STATS
This season
PASSING
Name Comp. Att Yards TD INT
Whittemore 194-121 1921 15 3
Barmann 57-85 564 4 5
Luke 28-47 285 3 3
RUSHING
| Name | Yards | Carries | Avg | TD |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Green | 841 | 178 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Randle | 453 | 77 | 5.9 | 2 |
| Whittemore | 365 | 89 | 4.1 | 7 |
| Barmann | 28 | 53 | 1.9 | 1 |
RECEIVING
Name Catches Yds. TD
Gordon 50 624 4
Simmons 37 757 7
Rideau 37 482 5
Green 36 401 1
PUNT RETURNS
Name Yards No Avg.
Gordon 298 22 13.5
PUNTING
Name Yards Punts Avg.
Ansel 1602 39 41.1
ON THEM
Kansas coach Mark Mangino on Iowa State's 2003 struggles following three straight bowl berths:
"I know Dan McCarney is a great football coach. He has done an outstanding job there. When you are team that is trying to build and climb into the top echelon of this conference and then stay there, you can't afford any injuries, you can't afford to have any bad games with turnovers. The margin of error is very small. Their best defensive tackle was out for a period of time. They haven't settled their quarterback situation at least until this week. You have to have one field general out there calling the shots and the kids believe in him. We are lucky here at Kansas. We have a starting quarterback the kids believe in."
KANSAS PLAYERS TO WATCH
All eyes will be on senior quarterback Bill Whittemore, who is starting his first game in nearly a month after sustaining a shoulder injury. Not only is his much anticipated return to action on senior day, but it is also in the most dire of situations, as the Jayhawks need one win to become bowl eligible. If Whittemore plays to full strength, the season will be extended another month. Put your money on that.. sophomore linebacker Gabe Toomey has added incentive this weekend because of his bitter relationship with Iowa State. Toomey originally committed to play for the Cyclones, but backed out and found himself in Lawrence. Now, Toomey would like nothing more than to continue Iowa State's winless Big 12 conference campaign... freshman tailback John Randle was inserted as the team's kick retURNer last Saturday, but never got a chance to un one back. Mangino likes his field vision and acceleration. If Randle gets one shot to take one back, it could be the play that busts things open for Kansas... junior defensive tackle Travis Watkins was supposed to be the man this year on the defensive line. In his first game back against Oklahoma State he struggled, but a weaker offensive line this weekend plays in his favor. Even though it's a bit late, Watkins could have his 2003 breakout tomorrow... sophomore wide receiver Mark Simmons was KU's deep threat when Whittemore was healthy, and has disappeared in his absence. With Whittemore back, Simmons could very easily crack the 100-yard barrier.
Standings North
| | Conf. | Overall |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Kansas State | 5-2 | 9-3 |
| Nebraska | 4-3 | 8-3 |
| Missouri | 3-3 | 7-3 |
| Colorado | 3-4 | 5-6 |
| **Kansas** | **2-5** | **5-6** |
| Iowa State | 0-6 | 2-8 |
South
| | Conf | Overall |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Oklahoma | 7-0 | 11-0 |
| Texas | 6-1 | 9-2 |
| Oklahoma State | 4-3 | 8-3 |
| Texas Tech | 4-3 | 7-4 |
| Texas A&M | 2-5 | 4-7 |
| Baylor | 1-6 | 3-8 |
KANSAS SCHEDULE
Aug. 30 Northwestern L 20-28
Sept. 6 UNLV W 46-24
Sept. 13 @Wyoming W 42-35
Sept. 20 Jacksonville St. W 41-6
Sept. 27 Missouri W 35-14
Oct. 11 @Colorado L 50-47 (OT)
Oct. 18 Baylor W 28-21
Oct. 25 @Kansas State L 42-6
Nov. 1 @Texas A&M L 45-33
Nov. 8 nebraska L 24-3
Nov. 15 @Oklahoma State L 44-21
Nov. 22 Iowa State
---
KANSAS VS. IOWA STATE
WHEN/WHERE: Tomorrow, 1 p.m. Memorial Stadium
TELEVISION:11 p.m., Channel 6
RADIO: 90.7 KJHK
HOW THEY COMPARE
After an up-and-down season it all comes down to this game for the Jayhawks. On the line is a chance at a bowl game for the first time since 1995. The Iowa State Cyclones are like last season's Kansas Jayhawks: Winless in the Big 12 Conference. The season has been a rocky one for the Cyclones, who have played the nation's third toughest schedule without two of their
best players, senior running back Hiawatha Rutland and senior defensive end Tyson Smith, who were lost for the season to injury. Don't expect the Cyclones to lie down for the Jayhawks, though Iowa State has little quit and has defeated Kansas three seasons in a row by a combined score of 132-27.
OFFENSIVE ADVANTAGE: Kansas
Senior quarterback Bill Whittemore will start for Kansas on Saturday. Before he was hurt, he was one of the nation's most efficient quarterbacks and was an All-America candidate, throwing 15 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions. Remember, Whittemore's first touchdown pass will give him sole ownership of the Kansas single season record for touchdown passes. Even if Whittemore is rusthe is still a step ahead of Kansas' other quarterback because of his instincts and leadership ability There may not be another quarterback in the nation who manages a game like Whittemore, which showed in the Missouri game. Despite not putting up great numbers in that game, his pocket presence and leadership were the difference. Kansas has to feel comfortable with its depth at quarterback if Whittemore struggles. Sophomore Brian Luke looked strong against Oklahoma State, while freshman Adam Barmann has lived up to the hype as the cool kid that never gets rattled. At running back, sophomore Clark Green and freshman John Randle should get the ball more in this game. Iowa State has a fairly tough defense, but it can be beaten if it gets tired. That should lead to more ball control and strong run blocking from a solid offensive line. Kansas' wide receivers alternated between dropped passes and spectacular catches last week.
Iowa State had a stable of running backs to start the season with Rutland, senior Michael Wagner and freshman Stevie Hicks. Wagner leads the team in rushing and had 8 carries for 102 yards against Kansas last season. Now Hicks is the man, and the freshman cannonball has
DEFENSIVE ADVANTAGE: Push
rushed for just under four yards per carry for the season. Senior Lane Danielsen leads a talented crop of wid receivers that haven't seen the ball as much with Iowa State' new quarterbacks. At quarter back, freshman Austin Flynn is a good athlete, but struggles with decision making. Junior Waye Terry started his second game against Colorado last week and could get the starting nod at quarterback again. The offensive line is unspectacular.
Both defenses have struggled this year. Iowa State's defense gives up almost 460 yards and 36 points per game. The defensive line is active, led by defensive tackles Jordan Carstens, senior, and Nick Leaders, sophomore. Defensive end Jason Berryman leads all freshman defensive linemen in the nation in tackles. The linebackers look good on paper but haven't lived up to the hype. Junior Brandon Brown leads the linebackers with 67 tackles. Senior safety JaMaine Billups may be among the best in the Big 12. This is a team that struggles against both the run and the pass, allowing 260 passing yards per game while giving up almost five yards per carry.
The linebackers have been the strength of the Kansas defense, but they were shut down against Oklahoma State. Sophomore Gabe Toomey only had three tackles, sophomore Nick Reid two and sophomore Banks Floodman had six. The defensive line has to generate
SPECIALTEAMS: Push
Kansas seems to have solved the extra point/short field goal issue with Jerod Brooks. Senior punter Curtis Ansel was a finalist for last season's Ray Guy Award. The coverage unit has been toasted on punt returns. Sophomore kick returner Greg Heaggans didn't start last week and punt returner Gordon hasn't been able to shake free in recent games.
Iowa State's senior kicker. Adam
Iowa State's senior kicker, Adam Benike, is consistent. The Cyclones have had two punts blocked this season. The return men are nothing special. Iowa State has given up both a punt return touchdown and a kick return touchdown.
- Compiled by Kevin Flaherty
COACHES: Kansas
more push. Junior Travis Watkins looked rusty in his delayed return from injury last week, but is a strong defensive lineman and should improve. The defensive backs did a strong job of staying with Oklahoma State's talented wide receivers. Freshman cornerback/receiver Charles Gordon had some of the season's best hits in last week's game, including a sack on quarterback Josh Fields. This defense will have to slow down the run to be successful against Iowa State.
Mangino appears to be headed on that same path, but he is a better recruiter than McCarney. Thanks to great recruiting and coaching, this team is just one victory from qualifying for its first bowl in eight years. The offense is creative while the defense shows flashes of great potential. This is a staff to watch in the off-season.
BOTTOM LINE: Kansas
Nobody has done more with less in the past few seasons than Dan McCarney. His team however, took a fall after starting last season 7-1, and the Cyclones have been 2-14 ever since. His teams never stop hustling, as they showed in the Nebraska game this season. After the Huskers jumped to a 28-0 lead at the half, the Cyclone defense stepped up and didn't allow another score the rest of the game.
Kansas needs this game more than Iowa State and will play accordingly. Iowa State is really starting to find out how much of its success was related to its star quarterbacks. After Sage Rosenfels there was Seneca Wallace, but who will step up now? Flynn is still at least a year away from making a major impact. Without its passing game. Iowa State is easily defendable and therefore easily beatable. The Jayhawks will find that out in person at Memorial Stadium tomorrow. The 'Hawks will start off fast, roasting an Iowa State defense that can't stop anyone, and won't finish until the Rock Chalk chant. Iowa State won't quit, but Kansas will win this one convincingly.
Iowa State needs this victory to try and salvage something out of a damaged season. Kansas has senior day, the return of Whittemore and a bowl game on the line. Expect both teams to come out fired up in this one and eager to prove themselves. The team that wins will be the team that plays the hardest, and each team will have its nostrils flared.
X-FACTOR: Emotion
CYCLONES 2-8
STATS
This season
PASSING
Name Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
Flynn 79-167 1071 5 7
Terry 23-60 201 1 3
Love 26-56 410 3 1
RUSHING
Name Yards Carries Average TD
Wagner 409 90 4.5 3
Flynn 336 98 3.4 2
Hicks 270 69 3.9 0
Rutland 97 30 3.2 3
RECEIVING
Name Yards Catches TD
Danielsen 639 37 4
Young 359 22 1
Whitver 343 20 2
Montgomery 212 19 2
PUNT RETURNS
Name Yards Number Average
Miller 155 20 7.8
PUNTING
Name Yards Punts Average
Yelk 2213 53 41.8
IOWA STATE PLAYERS TO WATCH Senior wide receivers Lane Danielsen and Jack Whitver both have decent speed and were extremely effective last season. This season without a solid quarterback however, both have seen the ball less. Danielsen in particular had over 1,000 yards receiving last year, compared to his total over 600 this season...Freshman running back Stevie Hicks is a strong back with decent speed. The coaches have mentioned that they think he may be the future...Senior running back Michael Wagner is faster than Hicks and is more agile...Senior Jordan Carstenst is one of the better defensive tackles in the Big 12. Facing constant double teams this season, he has struggled, but has opened up the way for sophomore defensive tackle Nick Leaders and freshman defensive end Jason Berryman...Senior safety Jermaine Billups leads the team in tackles and is a very heady player. He is rarely caught out of position.
INTERESTING FACTS
This is usually the part where we tell you which quarters teams appear to be particularly volatile. For the Cyclones however, every quarter is tough. The Cyclons average a losing score in every single quarter. The Cyclones' efforts in the second quarter are particularly futile. But in a more serious fact, former Jayhawk coach Terry Allen is the tight ends coach. His impact at the position appears to be less than special — the Iowa State tight ends have caught a total of one pass this season. Allen himself rarely utilized the tight end in the passing game at Kansas.
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Result-Score
8/30 Northern Iowa W-17-10
9/6 Ohio W-48-20
9/13 Iowa L-40-21
9/27 Northern Illinois L-24-16
10/4 Oklahoma L-53-7
10/11 Texas Tech L-52-21
10/18 Texas L-40-19
10/25 Nebraska L-28-0
11/8 Kansas State L-45-0
11/15 Colorado L-44-10
11/22 Kansas
11/29 Missouri
PROBABLE STARTERS
OFFENSE
WR 82 Lane Danielsen
LT 71 Casey Shelton
LG 65 Bob Montgomery
C 58 Seth Zehr
RG 75 Aaron Brant
RT 53 Cale Stubbe
TE 86 James Wright III
QB 9 Waye Terry
TB 27 Stevie Hicks
FB 31 Ryan Hock
FL 80 Lance Young
DEFENSE
RE 84 Jason Berryman
DT 92 Jordan Carstens
NG 66 Nick Leaders
LE 52 Brent Curvey
SLB 58 Erik Anderson
MLB 33 Brandon Brown
WLB 47 Chris Whitaker
LCB 14 DeAndre Jackson
RCB 11 Ellis Hobbs III
FS 18 Marc Timmons
SS 6 Jamaine Billups
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK 49 Adam Benike
P 14 Tony Yelk
KR 13 David Banks-Bursey
80 Lance Young
PR 5 Todd Miller
DS 79 Matt Bockes
H 19 Casey Baldwin