Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Jayhawks show self-reliance
The volleyball team is pushing for a solid start to its season. SPORTS | 3B
Goalie gaining confidence
Freshman works on voice for field; team prepares for Pepperdine. SPORTS | 4B
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2009
FOOTBALL
- Edited by Jonathan Hermes
Time to put "Enter Sandman" to sleep
The loud buzzing from the packed stands gets turned off like a light switch. Every one looks, whether sitting or standing, like dogs suddenly being called by their master.
PAGE 1B
The video board goes black under the swing Campanile in the fall evening Kansan sun. A familiar sound drums into the horseshoe of Memorial Stadium. A sound that has been heard coming from the giant video board for 10 years now: "Enter Sandman" by Metallica.
The repetitive, hypnotic, riff corning from Kirk Hammett's guitar in "Enter Sandman" admittedly inspired me the first time I heard it in Memorial Stadium. I was a freshman walk-on football player with hopes of running out on the field as the next starting tight end
I was in awe of the Kansas football experience. However, by the seventeenth game I had seen at KU's home field. I was harder to impress. Not to say that it affected me like the Sandman should (making me fall asleep), but it no longer made my heart almost jump out of my chest.
As mentioned before, the song "Enter Sandman" has been booming from our speakers for 10 years now. According to Mike Lickert, the director of video services, the song has been used ever since video board in the south end of the stadium was added in 1999. Since then, we have accompanied the song with attention-getting videos to add to the drama of "Enter Sandman" like our current video in which two jets fly over our great state and stadium. It shows our unique history of KU Football, and it shows our state with great panoramic views.
Now, I'm all for traditions, especially at the University of Kansas where tradition makes us who we are. The Rock Chalk Chant gives me goose bumps every time I hear it because it is original to us. But "Enter Sandmar" is not original to us. Virginia Tech, our rivals in the 2008 Orange Bowl, use the song in their entrance to the field and have for a while longer than we have, and some of the Hokies fans complained that we had copied them and their own inspiring, traditional march to the field.
The song, however, is a rock and roll, get hyped up, cliche with at least one other college using it. I say keep the great video, but try a new song.
I don't want to bash on our pregame football ritual too much, because I still enjoy it for what it's worth, and I anxiously await every kickoff this season. So instead of just burying the Sandman back into the ground he came from, I'll sprinkle some of my own advice on your eyes.
My top choice for a new entrance song would be "Cochise", by Audioslave. This song has a similar feeling to "Enter Sandman," with a repetitive, building bass and drum line. Then right as the doors would open to let the players loose, the guitar riff would send the crowd wild. Or that's at least how I picture it. Other suggestions would be "Kashmir," by Led Zeppelin, "X," by System of a Down, or "Boom," by Nelly (which was used in the movie "The Longest Yard").
PHOTOS OF THE PRACTICE FACILITY ON PAGE 6B
STATE OF THE ART SPACE
Kansas basketball's new practice facility first open to the media on Wednesday afternoon.The facility is connected to the west side of Allen Fieldhouse, providing space for both the men's and women's basketball teams.
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
FOOTBALL
Offensive line 'coming together'
jjenks@kansan.com
BY JAYSON JENKS
Coach Mark Mangino watches over offensive lineman Jeremiah Hatch, Dallas sophomore, during a blocking drill at an open practice on Wednesday. Hatch will transition to a different role for the team this year. The Jahwahs will have their home owner on his phone. 5. San Antonio Northern Colorado
But Hatch is still making a transition this year. After starting every game last season at one of the two tackle spots, Hatch slid inside this year to anchor Kansas' offensive line at center.
Sophomore Jeremiah Hatch isn't new to the offensive line this season. Actually, he's not even new to the starting rotation.
And the move puts increased responsibilities on Hatch's shoulders.
"Guys look to me for the calls," Hatch said. "They look to me to get them hyped up for practice. I pretty much took that role."
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
This season marks an adjustment period for the offensive line as a whole. Gone are veteran starters and interior linemen Ryan Cantrell, Adrian Mayes and Chet Hartley. Enter in a cast of three new faces.
So far this offseason, coach Mark Mangino said, the line has slowly progressed from an unknown to a more consistent unit.
"The offensive line is young, but boy it's starting to come together," Mangino said. "I really like how they are getting off the ball, but there are just fundamental things that we need to work out."
True, the Jayhawks are inexperienced at certain spots along the offensive line. But there are a few familiar faces back this season. Hatch joins fellow sophomore Jeff Spikes as returning starters, offering the Jayhawks a healthy amount of game experience.
Spikes started all 13 games last year and was named to the Phil Steele Freshman All-American Third Team. At 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, Spikes possesses all the physical tools to be a dominant lineman in the Big 12.
"He's going to know what he got away with last year, and he's going to know guys have a year of film on him," Cantrell said. "He ain't going to be able to get away with any of that stuff anymore.
"The kid's a monster, he's huge. He looks like a tackle. And if he can get his proper sets and get his footwork down, it's going to be lights out for any defensive end in the Big 12."
Hatch, meanwhile, spent the offseason learning the intricacies of the center position. The adjustment process had less to do with technique and more to do with added verbal responsibilities.
Not only must Hatch know his own assignment, he must be able to communicate everyone else's along the line.
"Center is a whole different animal than tackle." Cantrell said, "At tackle you're pretty much one on one with that guy on the outside the whole game. At center, you're really the quarterback of the line."
And what happens if the communication along the line is inadequate? Simple.
"The result is a bad play, a negative yardage play," Mayes said. "If you're not all running on the same cylinder - it just takes one defensive player to make the play."
At this point, freshman Tanner Hawkinson has a solid hold on the left tackle position. The guard positions are currently being filled by senior Sal Capra and junior Carl Wilson, although junior Brad Thorson practiced with the first team offense during Thursday's open practice.
But regardless of who plays what positions, the line will need to perform for Kansas' offense to be successful this season.
"That group," quarterback Todd Reesing said. "they're really going to be the key for us this year."
— Edited by Alicia Banister
Follow Kansan football writer Jayson Jenks at twitter.com/ JaysonJenks.