8B the university daily kansan
friday, October 31, 2003
JAYHAWKS 5-3
STATS This season PASSING
Name Comp Att Yds TD INT
Whittemore 194-121 1921 15 3
Nielsen 8-12 33 0 0
Luke 6-9 92 1 2
sports
RUSHING
Name Yds. Carries Avg TD
Green 651 135 4.8 5
Whittemore 365 89 4.1 8
Rendle 349 59 5.9 2
Nwabuisi 17 4 4.3 1
RECEIVING
Name Catches Yards TD
Green 29 322 0
Simmons 28 635 6
Gordon 26 416 4
Rideau 24 380 3
PUNT RETURNS
Name Yards Number Avg.
Gordon 298 21 14.2
PUNTING
Name Yards Punts Avg
Ansel 1,093 27 40.5
ON THEM
Kansas coach Mark Mangino on Texas
ABM's skill position players
"Reggie McNeal, their quarterback, is an up and coming star in this league. He has completed over 50 percent of his passes. He is an athlete with the ball. Their tailback, Courtney Lewis, he is a talented guy. They have couple of receivers that have 25 catches apiece. They are athletic guys."
KANSAS PLAYERS TO WATCH
Freshman quarterback Adam Barmann will have the spotlight solely on his back should he get the start. Barmann is the quarterback in Mangino's stable that closest resembles the playmine abilities of fallen warrior Bill Whittemore. Can he handle the pressure in a packed house at Kyle Field?.Sophomore tailback Clark Green and freshman tailback John Randle have been the offense's area of consistency through all eight games this season. Green is the team's leading rusher and receiver, while John Randle is on the verge of his true breakout performance. A weak Texas A&M defensive front could be very inviting.Sophomore kick returner Greg Heaggans and freshman punt returner Charles Gordon will be largely responsible for giving KU's fresh-faced quarterback some good field position to work with. If they can repeat their performances of recent weeks, it should not be an issue.Junior place kicker Johnny Beck has been hit and miss this year, but is coming off a good game last week against Kansas State. Beck accounted for all the Jayhawks' points against the Wildcats by hitting on field goals from 18 and 51 yards. Beck is only 8-13 on field goals this season but the kicking problems may have been worked out with the insertion of freshman long snapper Zack Hood into the lineup.
STANDINGS North
Conf. Overall
Nebraska 3-1 7-1
Missouri 2-2 6-2
Kansas State 2-2 6-3
Kansas 2-2 5-3
Colorado 1-3 3-5
Iowa State 0-4 2-6
South
| | Conf. | Overall |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Oklahoma | 4-0 | 8-0 |
| Oklahoma State | 3-1 | 7-1 |
| Texas | 3-1 | 6-2 |
| Texas Tech | 2-2 | 5-3 |
| Baylor | 1-3 | 4-4 |
| Texas A&M | 1-3 | 3-5 |
KANSAS SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Result-Score |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 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 |
| Nov. 8 | Nebraska |
| Nov. 15 | @Oklahoma State |
| Nov. 22 | Iowa State |
KANSAS VS. TEXAS A&M ATM
WHEN/WHERE: Tomorrow, Kyle Field
TELEVISION:None
RADIO: 90.7 KJHK
HOW THEY COMPARE
Kansas enters tomorrow's game with Texas A&M limping slightly, both from last week's 42-6 loss, and the loss of starting quarterback Bill Whittimore. Still, Kansas (5-3, 2-2) believes it has a shot against a Texas A&M (3-5, 1-3) team that has struggled at times this season under first-year coach Dennis Franchione. Like the Jayhawks last year, the Aggies are building a program and this season appears to be a step in a positive direction. A&M has played well despite three career-
ending injuries to key starters, the most recent being leading wide receiver Jamaar Taylor blowing out a knee against Nebraska. Though the Aggies have five losses, the teams they have lost to — Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Texas Tech, Nebraska and Oklahoma State — are definitely not patsies, indicating that A&M may be better than its record suggests. It will be extremely tough for Kansas to come out with this victory on the road.
OFFENSIVE ADVANTAGE: Texas A&M
Kyle Field, located in College Station, Tex. holds over 80,000 fans and is one of the rowdiest stadiums in the Big 12 Conference. Whoever takes over for Whittimore at quarterback will have the tough task of not only playing a tough team, but facing the crowd as well. The three options right now look to be Brian Luke, John Neilsen and freshman Adam Barmann. Luke has the ideal size and arm strength for the position, but has struggled in big games. Neilsen relieved Luke after one play in the Kansas State game and didn't really make any mistakes, although he didn't move the offense either. Barmann may be the most talented of the three. He has a cool head, a cannot for an arm and can move around well, but he is just a freshman, and tossing a freshman into a
situation like Kyle Field be suicide. Whichever quarterback or quarterbacks play against A&M will have some very capable weapons at their disposal. Clark Green and John Randle comprise a two-headed rushing monster that can run over a defense or past it. The receiving corps of Mark Simmons, Brandon Rideau, Charles Gordon and Moderick Johnson is special. The offensive line, after starting the season well, has struggled against Baylor and Kansas State. They must establish themselves against a very physical Texas A&M defensive line.
Texas A&M is led by quarterback Reggie McNeal, a super-quick athlete who has a great arm. He struggles sometimes with his accuracy and needs to be more consistent for the Aggies offense to hit its stride.
who threatened school records last season as the starter. Courtney Lewis is a redshirt freshman running back who is on pace to become Texas A&M's first,1,000 yard rusher since current Kansas City Chief Dante Hall in 1998. Derek Farmer gives them more pop at the position. Neither back is over 205 pounds, but both are tough inside runners. The wide receivers are fast and athletic, led by Terrence Murphy.
The offensive line while young, has played well. Overall, this is a very balanced unit that averages over 200 yards in both passing and rushing, but the offense has the worst turnover margin in the Big 12.
DEFENSIVE ADVANTAGE: Push
Kansas' defense played well against Kansas State for much of the game, but was simply left on the field in poor position too many times. Linebackers Nick Reid and Gabe Toomey are both in the top five in the Big 12 in tackles this season, while Banks Floodman has been outstanding. The defensive tackles must be more consistent, while the defensive ends make a big play every game. Last game it was David McMillan's crushing blow on a sack to Ell Roberson. The defensive backs were banged up against K-State, but will return for Texas A&M. They have played fairly well since they were lit up for 419 vards passing at Colorado.
Texas A&M has had troubles at the defensive end position this season. The only teams the Aggies have held under 26 points were Arkansas State and Baylor. The defensive line has been playing well as of late, as the
Aggies have 17 tackles for loss in the past three games. Defensive tackle Johnny Jolly led that charge, and he is third on the team in tackles. Stud freshman Justin Warren mans one of the linebacker spots, while Scott Stickane and Everett Smith are solid at the other two positions. The linebackers were decimated by the loss of All-Big 12 candidate Jared Morris. He was a tough physical linebacker who anchored the defense last season. The defensive backs are strong, led by All-Big 12 candidate Jaxton Appel, the team's leading tackler at safety. Byron Jones breaks up a lot of passes at cornerback. The team's top two tacklers are the safeties, which demonstrates the trouble they've had defensively, giving up 33 points per game. These two defenses have put up almost identical numbers so far through the season.
SPECIALTEAMS: Texas A&M
All-Big 12 quality, while punter Jacob Young has seen time in several games this season and performed well during Scates' injury. Terrance Murphy is first in the Big 12 and second in the nation in kick returns, while Tim Van Zant saw his first punt return action last week, where he did nothing spectacular.
Johnny Beck accounted for all six Kansas points in Manhattan, including a 51-yarder. Punter Curtis Ansel was inconsistent at best. The snapping has been better as of late, and Charles Gordon and Greg Heaggans are prone to break a long one on any play.
Both kicker Todd Pegram and punter Cody Scates are
COACHES: Push
How Mark Mangino handles the quarterback situation will be important if this team still has bowl aspirations. Whoever he sticks with, Mangino and offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro have to loosen the reigns a little bit and let the quarterback throw downfield. As was evidenced in the Kansas State game, playing not to lose will not work with this sort of offense. The coaching thus far has been stellar, so they should handle the situation well.
Whittemore was playing at an All-American, and possibly Heisman trophy level before he was injured against Kansas State. Enter the three potential replacements. If one goes in and immediately succeeds, the transition would be a lot smoother, but if not, Kansas fans could see a bit of quarterback platooning. Kansas can't afford to play conservative offensive football, it's just not built that way. Either way, expect Kansas QB's to have a tough one in College Station.
This year's team lacks the personnel he needs to run his team, so give him a couple of years to turn Texas A&M around. If history holds true, that's all he'll need.
Dennis Franchione is renowned for building up programs and then leaving them after a few seasons. The Texas A&M job however, is one he's wanted for awhile, so don't be surprised if he sticks this one out.
X-FACTOR: Quarterback situation
BOTTOM LINE: Texas A&M
With Whittemore healthy, the game would still have been a tough one to win. With three unproven quarterbacks now as the potential starters, it's hard to pick against the Aggies. Texas A&M has been a star-crossed team this season because of injuries, one of the nation's toughest schedules and turnovers. This could be the big win for Franchione's first season and propel that team to further success. Texas A&M is a good tough team, and Kyle Field is too tough of a place to play for Kansas to pull this one out with a backup quarterback. Look for Kansas to come out fired up though, after its only blowout loss this season, the players will have a bad taste in their mouths and could even make this one close.
— Compiled by Kevin Fisherty
AGGIES3-5
STATS
This season
Name Comp- Att Yards TD INT
McNeal 82-x 1248 7 6
Long 29-52 375 3 5
RUSHING
Name Yards Carries Avg. TD
Lewis 748 118 6.3 10
McNeal 272 80 3.4 2
Farmer 248 50 5.0 0
RECEIVING
Name Yards Catches TD
Murphy 378 25 0
Van Zant 176 15 1
Taylor 456
PUNT RETURNS
PUNTING
Name Yards Number Avg
Carter 85 12 7.1
Van Zant 53 8 6.6
Name Yards Punts Avg
Young 874 22 39.7
Scates 489 12 40.8
TEXAS A&M PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sophomore quarterback Reggie McNeal is speed (4.34 seconds in the 40 yard dash), but doesn't quite have great instincts...Freshman running back Courtney Lewis has been a surprise for an offense that expected to rely heavily on junior running back Derek Farmer. Farmer is listed as the starter, but Lewis is the team's leading rusher. Both will get carries...Junior wide receiver Terrence Murphy averages 31 yards per kick return. Murphy works on his quickness, doing short sprints and agility work at midnight by himself on the field..Sophomore safety Jaxton Appel is nicknamed Action Jaxton, and for good reason. He leads the team in tackles with 95, and interceptions...At first glance, the averages put up by punters Cody Scates, senior, and Jacob Young, junior, aren't very impressive. But the main strength of these punters is pinning opponents inside the 20 with minimal touchbacks.
INJURY REPORT
Senior wide receiver Jamaar Taylor suffered a career ending knee injury against Nebraska. Taylor was leading the team in catches, yards and touchdowns. Taylor was just 36 yards and ten catches from setting both Texas A&M career receiving marks when he was hurt. Taylor torched the Jayhawks for 151 yards and a touchdown in last season's meeting.
Senior linebacker Jerrod Morris blew out his knee in the Utah game. Morris was a physical presence for the Aggies during his time there, and was the leading active tackler when he went down.
Senior offensive lineman Andre Brooks was forced to retire because of recurring knee injuries during fall camp. Brooks started 15 games over the past three seasons and was looking to have a full time starting opportunity this year.
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Result-Score
8/30 Arkansas State W-26-11
9/6 Utah W-28-26
9/18 @Virginia Tech L-35-19
9/27 Pittsburgh L-37-26
10/4 @Texas Tech L-59-28
10/11 Baylor W-73-10
10/18 @Nebraska L-48-12
10/25 Oklahoma State L-38-10
11/1 Kansas
11/8 @Oklahoma
11/15 @Missouri
11/22 Texas
PROBABLE STARTERS
OFFENSE
WR\5 Terrence Murphy
LT 72 Alex Kotzur
LG 50 John Kirk
C 66 Geoff Hangartner
RG 76 Aldo De La Garza
RT 73 Alan Reuber
TE 98 Thomas Carriger
TE 87 Quinlin Germany
SL 3 Terrence Thomas
FL 83 Tim Van Zant
QB16 Reggie McNeal
A 7 Jason Carter
TB1 Derek Farmer or
25 Courtney Lewis
FB 4 Keith Joseph
(note- the "A" back position is a running
back-wide receiver hybrid position)
DEFENSE
DE99 David Ross
DT97 Johnny Jolly
DT91 Marcus Jasmin
DE88 Linnis Smith
SLB42 Everett Smith
MLB57 Scott Stickane
ROV10 Justin Warren
CB31 Sean Weston
FS 19 Jaxton Appel
SS23 Ronald Jones
CB11 Byron Jones
SPECIAL TEAMS
P 20 Cody Scates ur
30 Jacob Young
PK13 Todd Pegram
H 17 Dustin Long
DS69 Don Muhbach
KOR5 Terrence Murphy
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