2B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5,2009
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"There is one word in Ameri-
ca that says it all and that word is 'Your never know.'
— Joaquin Andujar
FACT OF THE DAY
Nine of 10 men's basketball players made their first shot of the night Tuesday. The one who didn't? Sherron Collins, who later made three straight three-point shots and finished with a team-high 19 points.
TRIVIA
Kansas Athletics
Q. Kansas scored 107 points against Fort Hays State Tuesday. How many times did it score 100-plus points last season?
A: Once. Against New Mexico State on Dec. 3.
-Kansas Athletics
FOOTBALL Stuckey is semifinalist for Jim Thorpe Award
Senior safety Darrell Stuckey was named a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist, it was announced this week. The award is given annually to the nation's top defensive back.
The committee announced 12 semifinalists, which will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 23.
Stuckey is Kansas' second leading tackler with 56 stops this season.
Other notable semifinalists are Tennessee's Eric Berry, Texas'Earl Thomas and Oklahoma State's Perrish Cox.
-Jayson Jenks
NFL
NFL Chiefs's safety Page on injured reserve
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jarrad Page, a three-year starting free safety, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Page was not at practice on Monday and coach Todd Haley said he had been injured during practice last Thursday. The Chiefs announced the roster move on their Web site Wednesday morning.
Associated Press
Too much talent on the KU bench
MORNING BREW
ill Self has a problem. Granted, it's a nice problem to have as a coach.
It isn't that the Jayhawks don't have the talent to win a National Championship — in that regard there's hardly a question, Kansas is stacked — the problem is there too much talent to go around.
Start with the freshmen. Sometimes it's a safe bet to assume that the newcomers will be the ones wearing the redshirts when the season rolls around, but after watching Elijah Johnson's raw athleticism, Xavier Henry's scoring touch and Thomas Robinson's explosiveness in the paint, it's hard to say that any one of them won't see action this year.
Johnson came out and said he saw no reason to redshirt, and frankly there isn't one. He'll log plenty of time as a backup to Sherron Collins, and of the three freshmen, he'll probably see the least amount of minutes. Henry will likely crack the starting line-up and Self said Robinson would see plenty of minutes thrown his way.
Last year's new guys seem to be the prime redshirt candidates
— namely Travis Releford and Mario Little — but I suspect neither is chatting at the bit to sit out on a team that has as good a chance as any to take home a title in Indianapolis later this year.
Both sat out Tuesday's exhibition — only incoming players can play exhibitions and still be eligible for a redshirt. Little, in particular, seems like an odd candidate because of his age, but as of right now, it's impossible to predict what he could bring to the Jayhawks when completely healthy.
If Litle could provide an athletic presence at the three to balance Xavier Henry, he'd be a perfect fit for the lajwhays. If he struggles with injuries or consistency, it will be a wasted
senior year for Little, something neither he nor the Jayhawks want to see.
On the other hand, it would surprise me to see Releford take the floor this year for Kansas. As much of a fan favorite as the local kid was last year — Releford played high school ball in Kansas City — it's unclear at best whether or not he's ready to be a consistent contributor, especially on a team as deep as this year's lavihawks.
Two players, C.J. Henry and Brady Morningstar, would seem to be perfect redshirt candidates this year, had they not already burned them.
Henry may get lost in the shuffle at point guard, the deepest position for the Jayhawks, but he wore a redshirt last year for the Memphis Tigers.
He also took three years away before that as a minor league baseball player. Keeping him away from basketball any longer would only be doing him a disservice.
Morningstar was suspended for the first semester after being
arrested for a DWI. Had he not worn a redshirt during Kansas' national title year, it would have made only too much sense for Self to bench Morningstar for the year.
Selflessness will have to prevail should this years Jayhawks live up to their considerable potential. There's just too much talent to keep everyone happy.
It's a problem. But it's a nice one to have.
- Edited by Jonathan Hermes
Follow Tim Dwyer at twitter.com/timdwyer
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Mizzou's Smith shines against Colorado
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Big 12 has plenty of elite defensive linemen — Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Jared Crick and Texas' Sergio Kindle to name a few. It may be time to add Missouri freshman Aldon Smith to the list.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Smith's three sacks of Colorado's Tyler Hansen in the Tigers' 36-17 win last week gave the Raytown, Mo., native eight for the season — the most in the nation for a freshman and just three shy of Justin Smith's (no relation) single-season Missouri record.
Smith has four regular-season games remaining to try and get the record, starting Saturday when the Tigers (5-3, 1-3 Big 12) host Baylor (3-5, 0-4).
He also leads all freshmen with 13 tackles for loss.
He's third overall among Big 12 defensive linemen with 43 tackles, trailing only Crick and Suh.
Those are impressive numbers for a player who began the
season second on the depth chart at defensive end. It wasn't long before he moved into the starting role.
Teammates and coaches have been impressed.
"He's one of the best players around that I've seen at Mizzou," senior captain linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. "He doesn't know how good he can be, but he'll find out soon that the sky's the limit."
Smith's effort has drawn high praise from coach Gary Pinkel, who compared Smith's ability to adapt to those of two standout offensive players from the recent past.
"He could be in the wrong place at the wrong time and end up where the ball was supposed to be, somehow, somewhat." Pinkel said. "Brad Smith and J-Mac (Jeremy Maclin) could do that."
Even in the Tigers' 41-7 loss to Texas, Smith managed to turn heads with 11 tackles, four for loss, and two sacks.
At 6-5 and 255 pounds, Smith is
the tallest player on the Missouri defense and his unique type of rangy athleticism makes him a menace for opposing offensive lines.
"He's very physically gifted," defensive coordinator Dave Steckel said. "He can run, he's strong, he can change direction. He's the whole package."
Smith has also developed a
nose for the big play.
"Earlier in the season I was kind of relying on my athleticism but now I'm actually starting to understand the game a little bit better and starting to have a feel for it," he
hard working," Steckel said. "I think that's why Aldon is growing and maturing as a player, because he's working hard, taking coaching, he's growing each day as he gets better."
With all the hype beginning to surround him, Pinkel spoke to the importance of keeping Smith levelheaded and ready to play each and every week.
said. "I've just been watching a lot more film and focusing a lot more on technique."
"He's very physically gifted. He can run, he's strong, he can change direction. He's the whole package."
Coaches have taken note of Smith's strong work ethic.
DAVE STECKEL
Defensive coordinator,
Mizzou
"All of our players are very
"What I always tell players, kids that are starting to get that notoriety that they could be really good is to immerse themselves in the team," he said. "When you immerse yourself in your team, you're constantly doing things for the team,
getting better for the team, and it keeps you grounded."
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
TODAY No events scheduled.
FRIDAY No events scheduled.
SATURDAY
Swimming
vs. Drury,
Springfield, Mo.
2 p.m.
Volleyball at Oklahoma, 2 p.m.
Football at Kansas State, 11:30 a.m.
Rowing
Head of the
Hooch,
all day,
Chattanooga,
Fenn.
SUNDAY
Women's basketball vs. Emporia State, 2 p.m.
Rowing
Head of the
Hood,
all day,
Chattanooga,
Tenn.
NHL
Avalanche's Cody McLeod activated for next game
DENVER — Colorado Avallanche forward Cody McLeod has been activated from injured reserve after missing six games following an inadvertent stick to his left eye.
McLeod will wear a protective visor on his helmet Wednesday night as the Avalanche host the Phoenix Coyotes.
The 25-year-old enforcer was hit above the eye in a game at Minnesota Oct. 21. He still managed to get off the shot that led to Kyle Quincey's rebound goal.
McLeod said it took about a week for the blurriness to clear from his eye. He has three goals and two assists this season.
Associated Press
NFL
Chiefs linebacker not instant star
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Given Derrick Johnson's sweet, humble nature, it's a wonder he ever went out for football, let alone became an All-American linebacker and first-round draft choice.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson tackles Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell during the first half of a NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo. In this 2017 sent photo for six weeks, Johnson has been hitched.
He speaks softly and smiles warmly and never forgets to call his mom. But he's also 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds of lean, bulging muscle. An unusually gifted athlete, he set an NCAA record his senior season at Texas with nine forced fumbles and won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player in the land.
But the instant NFL stardom many predicted has not arrived. And if he doesn't win his starting job back, it never will. For about six weeks Johnson's been riding the Kansas City bench, jerked out of the lineup for reasons that have never been made public.
First-year head coach Todd Haley says he's satisfied that Johnson is working hard. Johnson says he's doing everything he can to get back.
But in the meantime, Demorrio Williams keeps playing well and giving no indication he's ready to return the job to the man who not so long ago was once hailed as the best defensive player in college football.
A player with Johnson's talent can't crack the starting lineup for a team that's 1-6? He wouldn't help a defense ranked 30th out of 32 tears?
To keep his emotions flowing in a positive direction, Johnson has called upon friends, family and
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"It stinks," Johnson said. "It stinks to not be starting or not be playing, or not be playing like I should. Not being out there on the field like I usually am. But it's made my mind stronger."
faith. Still, this isn't easy.
Chiefs fans, especially those who watched Johnson and the
Texas, a school that produced more than a few good players at his position, had never before had one who totaled 65 tackles for losses.
Longhorns beat Kansas his senior season, thought they'd grabbed the next great linebacker when he fell to them in the 2005 draft.
Johnson was an instant starter
with the Chiefs. Yet, plagued by little nagging injuries, he never seemed to fulfill the great expectations so many people had draped around his muscular physique. Some said he was too passive. Some said he lacked that fire in the belly that great defensive players carry around like business cards.
.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Week after rule change Meyer criticizes referees
AINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Urban Meyer believes Southeastern Conference officials missed a late hit on Tim Tebow in Saturday's game against Georgia.
Meyer said Wednesday the crew calling the game should have flagged Bulldogs linebacker Nick Williams for knocking his quarterback to the ground well after he had gotten rid of the football.
Meyer sent video of the play to Rogers Redding, the league's coordinator of officials. Meyer declined to reveal what the SEC told him, saying he didn't "want to step out of line"
punishment either a fine or a suspensions and doing away with the reprimands.
Last week the SEC changed its discipline policy about coaches publicly criticizing officials, making the
"That should have been a
Meyer told reporters on the weekly SEC conference call the play was directly in front of the referee and should have penalized. Tebow handed off to running back Jeff Demps, took a few steps to his right and wasn't looking when Williams came unblocked off the right edge and slammed into his chest.
"That should have been a penalty, in my opinion. Obviously it should have been. You've got to protect quarterbacks..."
Meyer didn't mention the play until asked about it Wednesday, possibly trying to avoid drawing punishment from the league. He also prefaced his comments by
penalty, in my opinion," Meyer said. "Obviously, it should have been. You've got to protect quarterbacks. That's the whole purpose. It's right in front of the referee. I'm not sure how they're going to handle that, but ... that was one of the plays we did send in."
URBAN MEYER Florida coach
saying he has "great respect" for SECofficials and the way the league handles complaints.
The SEC decided to stop handing out reprimands for ripping officials after three coaches in less than a week
were reprimanded last month.
Commissioner Mike Slive was given full discretion by the league's athletic directors and presidents to hand out the punishment. He will determine the amount of fines and lengths of suspensions on a case-by-case basis.
The SEC's officiating, and public complaints by Tennessee's Lane Kiffin and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, has drawn plenty of unwanted attention for the league.