+ 10 KANSAN.COM SPORTS 655 FROM PAGE 12 It was a blue Gatorade bath that Bowen got after that November afternoon game in Memorial Stadium. The dump was perfectly executed by tight end Jimmy Mundine and linebacker Ben Heeney. During the game, a full crowd of students on Memorial Stadium's east side started to chant, "Bowen! Bowen!" He got the game ball after his first win. Bowen has always maintained that it was never about him. To him, it was about the pure jubilation that the players experienced afterward: being surrounded by students after the game, the Rock Chalk chant in the locker room, the feeling of a win. That's what he remembers most about the game: smiles on the faces of his players. He expected to win that game; he would have been disappointed to lose. It was five games into his interim tenure, six weeks since Charlie Weis had been fired after going 2-2 in his first four games. Finally, it felt like the uncertainty in the Kansas football program had subsided; it had someone it could get behind in in Bowen. "I was just happy for the players," Bowen said. "Any time they get that success and they win, you're just excited for those guys, because they do, win or lose, those guys are still working." It's easy to parallel that win in 2014 and this weekend's game against Rhode Island. Kansas was in the cellar of the Big 12 before that game, and it is again now after going 0-9 in conference play last year. Then, an abundance of doubt from the fans about where the program was headed, and who the next head coach would be. Ever since that win, external doubt has lingered. Internally,the expectation has stayed the same. It's simple: ignore what's going on around the program, what people are saying, and win a football game. But this time, Kansas has waited and waited for that win. For the guys who were here in 2014 to see that win, it hasn't just been a couple of weeks, but almost two years. Finally though, the Jayhawks are anticipating a win again. "I'm excited for Saturday to go out there and play," senior kicker Matthew Wyman said. He paused, then cracked a smile. "And I know we are going to win, so..." It might not come with sticky blue liquid and a celebration like 2014. But Wyman can't wait to walk back to a locker room that is cheerful, not hushed and dreary like it has been for the last 655 days. File Photo/KANSAN Kansas defensive coordinator Clint Bowen runs onto the field with his players before a game against Iowa State in 2014, when he was interim head coach. File Photo/KANSAN 'Rock, paper, scissors' deciding quarterback battle File Photo/KANSAN File Photo/KANSAN Sophmore quarterback Ryan Willis looks for an open teammate to pass the ball to. BRIAN MINI @BrianMinimum Despite sophomore quarterback Ryan Willis' success last season, coach David Beaty assured everyone that the race for starting quarterback against Rhode Island is between three players. Listed atop the newly posted depth chart in a tie are redshirt junior Montell Cozart, freshman Carter Stanley, and Willis. As for how Beaty chose who gets first reps at practice, there's already a system set up for that. "We play rock, paper, scissors each day to see who goes first," he said. "We literally play rock, paper, scissors to see who goes first." Cozart started the season before Willis took over after an injury forced Cozart out of the Iowa State game. Stanley redshirted last season. Cozart was enjoying a solid start to last season and through just four games, already set his career high for passing yards in a season with 752 yards and a 62.9 percent completion percentage. Willis followed Cozart's start with 1,719 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. "From a quarterback standpoint, it's been pretty clear for a couple weeks that those three guys would be the guys that would kind of step to the forefront," Beaty said Tuesday. "But the good news is, I mean, you know, we got several guys in that room, and I think every one of them are going to be talented player here. It was a great, great race this year, for sure." Back in April, Cozart was granted hardship waiver, which allowed him to be redshirted after his injury. Last October, Beaty hinted that Cozart could possibly see time at a position other than quarterback. "He's way too good of an athlete to be standing [on the sideline] by me," Beaty said. "So we're going to find a way to get our best players on the field, whether he's at quarterback, receiver, defensive back." Despite breaking the freshman passing record for Kansas last season, Willis still won't be named the outright starter for the season opener. Beaty said that Willis is still "a baby" and "is by no means a finished product, at all." Beaty added that the reason for not naming a starter so close to Saturday is because there isn't very much separation. Despite the freshman Stanley being named as one of the three potential starters, "the two guys that are getting the most reps are Montell and Ryan," Beaty said. - Edited by Christian Hardy The Student Alumni Association presents Friday, Sept. 2 Friday, Sept. 9 Friday, Oct. 7 Friday, Nov. 11 Friday, Nov. 18 HOME FOOTBALL FRIDAYS KU vs. Rhode Island KU vs. Ohio University KU vs. TCU KU vs. Iowa State KU vs. Texas SPONSORED.BY at the Adams Alumni Center (across the street from the Kansas Union parking garage) 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. All Students Welcome! FREE FOOD-BEVERAGES GIVEAWAYS for current SAA members IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRUITY CREDIT UNION SAA is a level of membership for current students. Benefits include networking with successful alumni, access to Association events, free finals dinners, KU Bookstore discounts and more. Interested? Visit kualumni.org/saajoin Get ready to experience $\Sigma \mathrm {A T}$ Meet & Greet September $7^{\mathrm{th}}$, 7 - 9 pm Kansas Union' If you are interested in being a founding member of Sigma Delta Tau, join us for our Special Recruitment Check Out the GREAT LIFE September $ 8^{th} $ ,7-9 pm Kansas Union* THE GREAT LIFE Sigma Delta Tau is looking for women who are ready to create their legacy at KU! Cupcakes with Consultants September 1 $ ^{1} $ , 5 - 7 pm Naismith Hall' GRĪ£AT Givers, Leaders & Students September 9 $ ^{th} $ ,4-6 pm Kansas Union* "Watch on social media for exact room locations /SDTatKansas @SDTatKansas Sigma Delta Tau EMPOWERING WOMEN 4. --- +