Monday. November 26, 2012
kansan.com
Volume 125 Issue 52
COMMENTARY
Manziel deserves Heisman trophy
Texas A&M freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel has captured the spotlight in the
college football world. Manziel continued his dominance after a 59-29 victory over Missouri, throwing for 372 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more.
In the history of the Heisman, zero freshmen have won the prestigious award handed to the best college football player. Only three sophomores have received the award since 1954. The history stacks against Manziel, but voters simply don't vote for freshmen.
The only issue is that Heisman voters see it differently. Some aren't impressed with his play, but one thing does stick out: Manziel is a freshman.
"Johnny Football" helped the Aggies clinch their first 10-win season in 14 years, despite the move from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference. Manziel's remarkable performance solidified his spot as a serious Heisman contender.
Heisman winners all lead their respective teams while increasing their production to incredible proportions. Those same players make plays that make spectators stare in disbelief.
Those are a few of many qualities that Heisman-caliber players possess. So what if Manziel is a freshman? He competes at the highest level and deserves to strike the famous Heisman pose and take the trophy.
However, it's time to put that to rest and just focus on the best player in college football. That player would be Johnny Manziel.
NO DAYS OFF
— Edited by Christy Khamphilay
"Johnny Football" completed the season throwing for 3,047 yards, 21 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Former Heisman quarterback winner Tim Tebow of Florida threw for 3,286 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions in more played games than Manziel. Another Heisman winner, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, only threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Look, if Texas A&M didn't have Johnny Manziel, think about the success of the football team. Instead of having 10 victories, the Aggies might barely have four or five. The victory over No. 1 Alabama wouldn't be possible without the freshman quarterback.
Manziel accounted for 439 yards of total offense against Missouri. That moves him to the top of the SEC single-season list for total yards, passing Cam Newton in 2010 and Tim Tebow in 2007.
The best part of Manziel's game is his rushing ability. On 172 carries, Manziel rushed for 1,114 yards and scored 17 times. Tebow only rushed for 895 yards while Newton ran for 1,473 and 21 touchdowns.
Manziel's dual-threat ability truly makes him a special talent. After the Missouri game, Manziel recorded his sixth game with two or more passing touchdowns and two or more rushing touchdowns. That tied Tim Tebow in 2007, during his Heisman year, for the most such games in a season since 2000. No other Football Bowl Subdivision quarterback has more than three this season.
ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
With extra practice time over the holiday break, Kansas looks to turn up the heat
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
For students, Thanksgiving break is a leisurely time to return home and gorge on turkey.
But for the No. 12 men's basket ball team (4,1) the break
tip off against San Jose State (2-2)
tonight at 8 in Allen Fieldhouse.
"Yesterday, we spent two hours just putting in four or five different wrinkles, stuff like that, which it takes time," coach Bill Self said.
One of the different facets the Jayhawks debuted in the CBE Classic last week was their use of full-court man pressure.
Freshman forward Perry Ellis said the team worked on this fullcourt approach in practice before the CRE Classic.
would say that a lot of that is on Elijah and Naadir to create the pace"
Self wants his point guards, Elijah Johnson and Naadir Tharpe.
3. play faster and push the hawkys' offensive tempo.
"I don't think our guards are creating near the pace that the game needs to be played at."
improve the pace of play is by placing more pressure on the ball-handler on defense.
Even as they installed some new facets to their game, the Jayhawks
still are not close to having their entire system in place.
Senior Jeff Withey drives to the basket late in Tuesday night's game. The Jayhawks won the championship game of the CBE Classic against St. Louis with a final score of 73-59.
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas volleyball ready to win NCAA championship
Sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Albert serves the ball in Kansas's first set against St. Louis University Wednesday, Nov. 21 The game was played inside Allen Fieldhouse.
GEOFFREY CALVERT
gcalvert@kansan.com
After a seven-year absence, the Kansas volleyball team is back in the NCAA Tournament and will host Cleveland State at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in Allen Fieldhouse.
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN
After a 25-6 regular season, including a 12-4 Big 12 record, Kansas knew it would be selected for the tournament. However, unlike the mens basketball tournament, the top 16 seeds in the volleyball tournament host the first round of matches in their own gyms.
The only drama for Kansas was whether it would be one of the 16 schools given a national seed and the right to host. When the television screen in Allen Fieldhouse's Naismith Room finally showed Kansas received the 11th overall seed, the room erupted in cheers.
"Oh my goodness, so excited," redshirt junior middle blocker Caroline jarmoc said. "We had a really high RPI coming in, but you don't ever really know what the selection committee's going to do."
When the selection committee gave Iowa State the 15th overall seed early in the selection show, there was some concern Kansas wouldn't get to host. The Cyclones
"When Iowa State came up as a seeded team, I thought, 'Uh-oh, maybe they jumped over us with their win last night against Texas,' coach Ray Bechard said. "But I think for three Big 12 teams to be seeded is very fair."
The layhawks benefitted from playing a tough schedule this year, which their No. 7 Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) ranking reflected. Kansas finished 10-5 against teams that made the NCAA Tournament.
If that was the case, Kansas' only hope to host was to be the 16th and final national seed. But it wasn't.
With Kansas still waiting to learn its destination, some Jayhawks thought Iowa State's victory against Big 12 champion Texas Saturday night may have catapulted the Cyclones over the Jayhawks in the selection committee's mind.
split the season series with Kansas and finished ahead of the Jayhawks by one game for second place in the Big 12.
After finishing last season 15-14 and 3-13 in the Big 12, Jarmoc said the upperclassman took on the responsibility of setting the tone during workouts and maintaining that focus throughout the season.
Junior libero Brianne Riley said that change in culture can
"Last year, we thought we had a chance, and this year we knew we had a chance," Riley said. "It was just a matter of now executing, getting those wins and getting a better seed and we did."
be seen in the Jayhawks' success this season in winning close sets, something they struggled with last season.
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Last Wednesday, Kansas hosted Saint Louis in Allen Fieldhouse because it knew the selection committee might pick them to host, and Horesi Family Athletics Center doesn't hold enough people to meet NCAA hosting requirements. Although the match was the night before Thanksgiving,
"It was awesome," Jarmoc said. "Especially being Thanksgiving break, I didn't expect that thered be 3,200 people showing up. Now that school's back in session, we're going to have a bunch more student body support. It was great. I loved playing in Allen Fieldhouse."
Kansas might get to avenge its early season loss to Arkansas, as the Razorbacks and Wichita State will join Cleveland State in coming to Lawrence. Even though the Jayhawks lost to Arkansas in the third match of the season, Bechard said that match showed
3,222 fans came to watch the Javahawks' 3-0 victory.
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After the Jayhawks won an emotional match in Manhattan to sweep the season series with Kansas State, Bechard was confident his team would make the NCAA Tournament.
"Even in a loss to Arkansas we kind of, we thought, dominated that match, and then we kind of got on a little bit of a winning streak," Bechard said. "And we thought we could get better because we didn't think we were all playing well at the same time."
him his team had the talent to make the NCAA Tournament.
— Edited by Andrew Ruszczyk