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Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Soccer star back in the game
Senior forward plays after sitting out since late August. SOCCER | 8A
WWW.KANSAN.COM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009
The rise of unlikely heroes
Two midwest players change the game for their teams. FOOTBALL | 9A
PAGE 10A
GOING LONG
Offense breaks individual records
Offensive line gives the gift of time to Reesing on the field
BY JAYSON JENKS jjenks@kansan.com
The fans who appropriately wore their "Thank God for Todd" shirts Saturday may need a few more made for the rest of the team's offense.
After Kansas' game against Iowa State — and after the offence carry the Jayhawks past the Cyclones — senior defensive back Justin Thornton reverberated back to a more subtle, yet equally revealing, slogan-worthy theme from Saturday.
"Thank goodness for Todd Reesing, the offense and our o-line," Thornton said. "They kept us in the game."
They certainly did.
Senior Jake Sharp didn't play for the second consecutive week because of an undisclosed injury. Even without its top running back, Kansas' offense executed its most effective attack this season.
The Jayhawks piled up a total of 551 offensive yards, moved with relative ease against the Cyclones and led Kansas to victory in its first conference game.
"Our offense was fantastic tonight," coach Mark Mangino said.
Perhaps no unit performed as well as the offensive line — a group that was the offense's biggest uncertainty entering the season.
If Saturday serves as any indication, that label is no longer accurate
It was, in many ways, a basic game of pitch and catch for much of the afternoon.
On nearly all of his passing attempts, Reesing had time to drop back, settle into the pocket and simply wait for receivers to separate themselves from coverage down the field.
"The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage all night," Mangino said. "That's one of the finest jobs of pass protection I think I've been associated with in a single game."
Added Reesing, who threw for 442 yards behind the offensive line: "That was the best protection I've had in three years here as a quarterback."
Throughout his career, Reesing
SEE OFFENSE ON PAGE 8A
Junior wide reciever Dezmon Briscoe pulls in an over the shoulder catch for a touchdown Saturday. Briscoe had 12 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Gunnoe/KA
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
CLUB SPORTS
Lacrosse game reunites alumni, current players
Current club team defeats alumni 9-4 in annual game
BY JORDAN WILLIAMS
jwilliams@kansan.com
Football wasn't the only alumni attraction during homecoming weekend. The club men's lacrosse alumni game Sunday brought current players and past team members together for competition and reunion.
The club team bested the alumni team with a score of 9-4. Although the event isn't part of regular competition, it is listed as a game on the club team's schedule online and some club members view it as an informal way to test their competitive mettle.
"It's nice to get some real play and test our ability," George Ressler, St. Louis, Mo. senior, said.
Ressler organized the alumni game this year by contacting
undergraduate club members and a reunion with those who have graduated and moved on. Some alumni who attended this year's game graduated as far back as 1989 and
as many former club members through e-mail as possible. This yearly gathering functions as both a practice scrimmage for
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traveled from as far as California and Oregon to return to Kansas. One club member put it in simple terms.
"It's great to have a reunion and see all the older guys."
call together the booster club. Ressler oversees the booster club, which aims to help lessen team member dues by encouraging alumni, family and friends to donate their time and money.
After the game is complete, players and alumni meet to catch up and exchange stories.
"It's great to have a reunion and see all the older guys." Nathan Jones, Houston junior, said.
NATHAN JONES Houston Junior
This year's meeting place was
The annual alumni gathering also presents an opportunity to
Johnny's Tavern.
The friendly spirit between alumni and current students could also be seen and heard during the game. Laughter and nickname calling were audible from the sidelines.
At one point a club member fist.
bumped one of the referees as he passed him. The three referees themselves are club alumni, but mainly were there to call out obvious infractions.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
As the beginning of the regu-
SEE LACROSSE ON PAGE 8A
COMMENTARY
Vinny Santucci fires a shot at the men's lacrosse alumni scrimmage Saturday. The team meets three times a week at Shenk Sports Complex.
Road games at Colorado rarely pretty
Kansas must be on upset alert heading into Colorado this weekend.
Colorado this weekend after its performance against Iowa State.
Yes, Todd Reesing posted incredible numbers again last weekend. Throwing for 442 yards is hardly a statistic one can frown upon. But watching the game told a different story. On Kansas' second-to-last drive of Saturday's seesaw battle, two of Reesing's passes hit the dirt on a drive that could have sealed the game against Iowa State. Instead, as Iowa State threw one last pass to the end zone, thousands of freezing faces in the crowd were stuck in mirror images of Macaulay Culkin from "Home Alone." One of Reesing's errant passes came on third down, with only two yards to gain. Reesing threw a pass to wide receiver Jonathan Wilson that hit the ground before reaching Wilson's hands. That type of throw can be the difference between victory or defeat in the Big 12, especially when traveling to Colorado, a place that feeds off of opponents' little mistakes.
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Evidence of this came last week when Colorado led at halftime against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns IN Texas. Colorado, helped by some lucky plays, gained confidence in the first half and looked as if it might be able to pull off the impossible. But Texas, playing in front of a home crowd, came back in the second half.
There's something in the air, or lack of air, at Colorado's Folsom Field that causes trouble for opposing teams. The high altitude at the stadium, the surrounding jagged mountains and the close proximity of the student section to the field can intimidate visiting teams. Colorado has been able to pull off big upsets in years past, even when its record is less than respectable.
Colorado will be starting a new quarterback against Kansas on Saturday, Tyler Hansen, who will replace Cody Hawkins, will pose a double threat to the Kansas defense with his ability to scramble as well as pass. Corralling Hansen and throwing him off rhythm will be the key to keeping Colorado off the scoreboard and out of Kansas' way to the Big 12 North title.
In 2007 the Buffaloes beat the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners 27-24 in a season when they only won six out of 13 games. Last year, Colorado beat No. 21 West Virginia at home 17-14 but finished the year with a record of 5-7. The Buffaloes have a knack for somehow pulling off victories in their home environment, and the Jayhawks must do everything they can to prevent that.
Colorado's offense, which has struggled all year, has the opportunity to gain confidence against a Kansas defense that showed some uninspired play against Iowa State. If Kansas can stop Colorado early, take the fans out of the game and force the Buffaloes to rely on their passing attack, the Jayhawks will have a good chance to win.
- Edited by Nick Gerik
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