Sports
The Kansas men's basketball schedule is undergoing some changes to accommodate NCAA's tournament rules. One game has yet to be scheduled for the upcoming season. PAGE 5B
The University Daily Kansan
1B
Friday, August 29, 2003
Mangino: Jayhawks to play 'for keeps' against Northwestern
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan sponsor
It seems as though Kansas coach Mark Mangino has had something positive to say about everyone on his football team recently, giving fans and the media nothing but growing anticipation for the start of the 2003 season.
ur for the start of With a healthy Bill Whitemore as quarterback, an assortment of new weapons on offense and a defense that received a massive makeover, any and all hype will be put to the test when the Northwestern Wildcats pay a visit to
Memorial Stadium tomorrow evening
memorial stadium tomorrow evening. Both Kansas and Northwestern are hungry for an opening day victory after finishing at the bottom of their conferences in 2002. With a depth chart loaded with names nowhere to be seen as last season ended, Mangino is just as curious about how things will pan out as the Jayhawks' fans.
"You just don't know how things are going to go the first night," Mangino said. "When you line up in college football you are playing for keeps the first night out, and that is just how our kids will respond."
The Jayhawks under the brightest spotlight will be the defensive unit. The
"You just don't know how things are going to go the first night."
Mark Mangino
Kansas football coach
opening day depth chart includes eight new starters on defense, including five who were not on the team a year ago. Senior cornerback Remuise Johnson, who led the team in interceptions last season with six, will be replaced by junior college transfer Shelton Simmons.
"Shelton has never played a college football game at the Division I level and he will for the first time," Mangino said. "We have some newcomers and we are going to go through some growing pains, but we have some guys who can play."
On the defensive front, the team's anchor on the defensive line, junior tackle Travis Watkins, will be out for the first half of the season with a broken foot. Even with Watkins out, the Jayhawks will expect to improve on their 256.2 rushing yards allowed per game in
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 4B