THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2012
IOWA STATE 51
PAGE 11.
REWIND
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Kansas fans show their appreciation to the senior players after the match against Iowa State Cyclones Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Kansas fell to Iowa State 23-51.
Support from Weis, fans motivates players
FARZIN VOUSOUGHIAN
fvousoughian@kansan.com
Kansas coach Charlie Weis supported his players through thick and thin in his first year in Lawrence.
He dedicated all of last week to the seniors and did as much as he could to promote senior night and get fans to attend the game. The seniors knew what Weis had done all week. However, there was one more thing Weis had to offer his seniors.
The players went to the locker room after pregame warmups and were astounded to discover black jerseys waiting to be worn. It was one last motivational tool by Weis to add excitement for the players, the seniors specifically.
The players hoped that Saturday night would be the night where they'd have a different uniform to put on. But at some point before the game, the players came to the conclusion that it would not happen. The players already sported their traditional blue on white home attire, only to find out right before the game that they'd be going with a black-on-black attire with white helmets containing a Jayhawk.
"We actually talked before the game about wearing our throw-
backs," said offensive guard Duane Zlatnik. "We walked in after our pregame meal and were all kind of disappointed that we didn't have anything. Then we went out, warmed up, and did our Senior Day thing. When we walked back into the locker room I was one of the first ones in there, and we were all pumped."
Weis wanted to help the seniors go out on a positive note after all they had gone through, as most
of them experienced three different head coaches during their time as a Jayhawk. Many players felt the emotional vibe during the pregame ceremonies for senior night. Their families waited as the seniors had their names announced and were treated to a special video tribute.
— I'm always going to be trying stuff to get something to work. I'll never stop trying. I'll always keep trying."
"I'm always going to be trying stuff to get something to work. I'l never stop trying."
Quarterback Dayne Crist, who played under Weis in Notre Dame before the two reunited in Kansas, said that his attempt to make the seniors feel good was well received. Crist is not surprised by what Weis did for the seniors and will always appreciate that about him.
Although the senior night festivities didn't translate to a win Saturday night, Weis, who did not inform any player nor any assistant coach about the jerseys, has no regrets for what he did for the seniors all week.
"I wanted to do something special for the seniors," he said. "It didn't work, but I'll tell you what
CHARLIE WEIS Kansas football coach
"Everything he does is from the heart," Crist said. "As players, it is something that we felt great about knowing that he cared enough about us to make this
week about the seniors. He didn't have to do things, like buy the extra seats for the seniors. But he did and that just speaks volumes about the type of guy he is and the type of commitment he has to his players."
This year's senior class learned that not everything would go their way. The multiple head coaching changes made is an indication of what the team went through.
Even though he knew most of the seniors for less than a
year, Weis had a big influence on the players' lives. Safety Bradley McDougald even approached Weis before the game and thanked him for everything that he did for Kansas this season.
This year, McDougald and his teammates noticed a sign in the student section each game that read 'We still believe.' It helped inspire McDougald and the rest of the seniors to not give up on one another. McDougald and defensive end Toben Opurum walked off the field together following Saturday's loss while the senior video tribute was played one last time.
McDougald told Opurum that even though they may have lost many games, a select few could do what they've done and deal with the obstacles and challenges they were faced with.
"To come back and battle every week, day in and day out, it shows our mentality and you can knock us down," McDougal said. "But we're going to get up every time. Knowing that I got guys like that who are willing to do it with me, week in and week out, I wouldn't trade it for the world."
— Edited by Joanna Hlavacek
Nothing good came from the Jayhawks' decision to abandon the run game. Granted Iowa State had taken a ghastly lead, but Kansas is not built to throw the ball. Dayne Crist came in to prove otherwise, but poor passing and dreadful receiving stopped the offense from moving the ball.
OFFENSE
Grade: D+
DEFENSE
Here's what may be most shocking; Iowa State simplified its offense when backup Sam Richardson took over as quarterback. The Jayhawks were still baffled. Usually Kansas has trouble stopping the big play, but on Saturday, the team had trouble stopping most plays, as ISU racked up 548 yards on offense.
Grade: D+
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ron Doherty averaged 38 yards per punt, and Nick Prolago connected on his only field goal attempt, but ISU's Aaron Horne had 86 yards on four punt returns. The only bright spot is Bradley McDougald, who seems to make every tackle on special teams.
COACHING
Earlier in the year, Kansas coach Charlie Weis said he wouldn't play "musical quarterbacks." That wasn't the case Saturday. James Sims, Tony Pierson, Kale Pick, Dayne Crist and Michael Cummings all received snaps at one point, but none worked too well. And finally, a big 12 defense figured out the Jayhawks' run game.
Grade: B
Grade: D+
SCHEDULE
*All games in bold are at home
DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME
SEPT. 1 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE W, 31-17
SEPT.8 RICE L, 25-24
SEPT. 15 TCU L, 20-6
SEPT. 22 NORTHERN ILLINOIS L. 30-23
OCT. 6 KANSAS STATE L, 56-16
OCT. 13 OKLAHOMA STATE L, 20-14
OCT. 20 OKLAHOMA L, 52-7
OCT. 27 TEXAS L, 21-14
NOV. 3 BAYLOR L, 41-14
NOV. 10 TEXAS TECH L, 41-34 (20T)
NOV. 17 IOWA STATE L, 51-23
DEC. 1 WEST VIRGINIA TBA
"When you're down 38-17 at halftime, are you going to blame them, or are you going to blame you? I think for a team that's only won one game, I've been pretty pleased with the support the team has had."
QUOTE OF THE GAME
Charlie Weis on fans leaving the game early
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Kansas seniors line up with their families on the field before the match against Iowa State Cyclones Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Attention All KU Students!
The KU Theatre is seeking
Actors for
Intimate Apparel a play by Lynn Nottage
Auditions: December 2 - 4, 2012
The University Theatre, Murphy Hall, 1530 Naismith Drive
Performance Dates: April 3,4,5,7,9,10,11,2013
Open Call Audition
7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Sunday, December 2, Room 354, Murphy Hall.
Open Call Audition
5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Monday - Tuesday, December 3 - 4, Room 354, Murphy Hall.
To sign up for an audition time and get detailed information, go to www2.1k.u.edu/~utheatre.
Callbacks
The cast breakdown for Intimate Apparel includes 4 women and 2 men. Four of the roles are for African American actors.
Intimate Apparel, a personal and moving drama by Lynn Nottage, winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for her play Ruined, is symbolically a tale of dreams and disappointments in the African American experience in the early 1900s.
Questions about the play or auditions: contact Scott Knowles, director, sknowles@ku.edu, or Katherine Pryor, University Theatre managing director, kpyror@ku.edu.
Improve Medicine Improve Lives
- Qualified volunteers could receive up to $225 per night.
- Computer access, WiFi, and amenities.
- Great for students and part-time workers
Bonus Referral Program
Receive $300 per qualified referral.
*See studyforchange.com for details
QUINTILES
913.894.5533
facebook.com/QuintilesKC
www.StudyForChange.com