6A
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10,2004
Kansas predicted to win against Toledo
Well, some of you have to think I'm a total idiot by now.
You're saying, he claims he's going to pick Ohio State every week, and it's not on there. You're wondering, how could he be so dumb as to think Emporia State is a Division-III school. You're asking, where is the fifth Big 12 school we were promised?
I have to be honest, IT'S NOT MY FAULT. (Does anyone remember me saying that last week?) To be clear, there was a bit of a communication breakdown, and somehow my picks did not get communicated in time to make the paper.
So, I guess I'm stuck without my Florida State-Miami game. In its place, I find Memphis vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga. Tennessee-Chattanooga — the Mocs? Didn't we abuse them in basketball last season?
Well, as a dutiful Kansan writer, I must go on and pick the games I was assigned. Therefore, I give you Week Two of Kick the Kansan.
Kansas vs. Toledo
Well, Kansas had a good week one, and Toledo had a terrible one. Kansas rode the defensive bus to victory, and Toledo's defense must have broken down half way to Minnesota.
Toledo gave up more than 700 yards of total offense to the Golden Gophers of Minnesota and allowed 63 points.
Kansas' defense, which gave up an average of more than 400 yards of total offense last season, allowed just 141 yards and 3 points. If quarterback Adam Barmann has a big week, Kansas has this in the bag.
Pick: Kansas
New Mexico vs. Texas Tech
Only 10 of New Mexico's 22 projected starters are returning starters from last year. Texas Tech struggled mightily with Southern Methodist for a large
portion of its game. New Mexico is coming off a crushing loss to Washington State in the final seconds of its last game. This one is going to be close, but the nod goes to the home team.
Pick: New Mexico
Maryland vs. Temple
During the past 11 seasons Temple has won fewer than a dozen games. Even Baylor has won more than that.
Pick: Maryland
KICK THE KANSAN
Baylor vs. Texas State
Baylor has the dubious honor of landing at the top of ESPN.com's Bottom 10, a ranking of the worst D-I football programs.
After a 56-14 beating from the Alabama-Birmingham, Baylor will be looking forward to a home game against Texas State.
If Baylor doesn't win, it's looking at an 0-11 season. Baylor has been the doormat of Big 12 football for a while, but even they can win a game against Texas State.
Boston College vs. Penn State
Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions finished last year with a 3-9 record, the worst in school history.
Wholesale changes brought in fresh faces and a new style from Paterno. Boston College is coming off an 8-5 season, which included a bowl victory.
Pick: Baylor
While it does bolt for the Atlantic Coast Conference next season, this year it's going to compete for Big East honors.
JONATHAN KEALING
jkealing@kansan.com
The Eagles of Boston College are going to give the Nittany Lions more than they can deal with.
Pick: Boston College
Northwestern vs. Arizona State
Last week, Northwestern proved two things: 1) Its kicker is terrible. 2) It can come back
from way behind. Arizona State, meanwhile, proved that it can kick around lowly opponents. Last season, Arizona State wilted under high expectations.
This season, with no expectations, Arizona State's Sun Devils will perform much better.
Northwestern will be a solid opponent, but it's not good enough to repeat last year's bowl-worthy season.
I like to go for the gold, so I'm going to go against the grain and pick the Devils.
Memphis vs. Tennessee-
Chattanooga
Pick: Arizona State
Last week, I said Memphis was going to take Conference-USA and that it was going to beat Ole Miss.
The Tigers did beat Ole Miss, and they're still on the way to the Conference-USA title.
This week, some Southern Conference school named UT- Chattanooga is going to lose to Memphis.
but they'll dominate the Irish. Pick: Michigan
Pick: Memphis
Notre Dame vs. Michigan
Last season, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame experienced a vicious fall from grace, which included a losing record and lopsided losses. They may be back on track this year, with a new offensive coordinator and a more experienced defensive secondary.
While their record will improve this season, the Wolverines of Michigan are no easy foe for a rebuilding year. The Wolverines have a new quarterback and a new defensive line,
Kansas State vs. Fresno State
I sat at my computer for half an hour just staring at this game. I wanted to pick Fresno State. I needed to pick Fresno, but I kept coming back to that Kansas State team that plays just more than an hour west of here.
I talked to my friends and my roommates, and ultimately I decided to go with my gut. Fresno State came to play against Washington State, and K-State just didn't dominate Western Kentucky like I expected it would. Big, huge, enormous, gigantic upset of the week.
Texas Christian vs. Southern Methodist
Pick: Fresno State
Texas Christian's Horned Frogs are one of the top midmajor programs in the country. Southern Methodist held its own against Texas Tech, but its Mustangs are still coming off of an 0-12 campaign last year.
The Horned Frogs threatened to throw the Bowl Championship Series into chaos last season and fought hard for a BCS bid.
A end-of-the-season loss at Southern Miss derailed that opportunity, but Texas Christian has gotten back on track. It's going to beat Southern Methodist just like it did last season.
Pick: Texas Christian
Wisconsin vs. Nevada-Las Vegas
Wisconsin has to be one of the toughest places to play football in the country. The Badgers are coming off a season of disappointments, including a couple of losses that easily could have been victories. They should be solid at running back, but their quarterbacks are as inexperienced as any in the country. Nevada-Las Vegas beat
Wisconsin last year, but victories were hard to come by the rest of the season. Nevada-Las Vegas lost six games last season, including one to Kansas. It should be much improved this season, but Wisconsin has improved enough to contend for a top-three finish in the Big Ten.
Pick: Wisconsin
Alabama vs. Ole Miss
This is an old fashioned SEC showdown.
Ole Miss is still hurting and will hurt all season from the loss of this year's first NFL draft pick. Eli Manning.
Meanwhile, two different sets of NCAA sanctions have decimated Alabama's scholarship total, but this year's recruiting class is still being touted by some recruiting services as the best in many years.
It'd better be, because these freshmen are going to be on the ball right away.
Both of these teams have been good in the past, but this year they reside firmly in the bottom half of the Southeastern Conference.
This is going to be a battle for third place in the SEC's west division.
Washburn vs. Emporia State
Pick: Alabama
OK, so this was supposed to be a Division III showdown, but someone didn't hear that Emporia State and Washburn are Division II. Washburn is named the Ichabods, and Emporia State was ranked 11th in Division II going into the season.
Therefore, I pick the Hornets of Emporia State to beat the Ichabods, because who calls their team the Ichabods anyway? Emporia State won this game last season 35-28 in OT. Look for another W.
Kealing is a Chesterfield, Mo. sophomore in journalism and political science.
Pick: Emporia State
Rams player released, resigned
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS — A day after the St. Louis Rams' signing of Jason Sechorn fell through, the team resigned a safety they released only four days earlier.
The Rams signed Justin Lucas and placed yet another safety, Zack Bronson, on injured reserve with torn ligaments in his left ankle. They also signed fullback Stephen Trejo and released tight end Mike Brake, continuing a flurry of moves in the final days before the season opener.
Since reaching the 53-man roster limit on Sunday, the Rams have made moves involving 10 players on the active roster.
Lucas was released in the final round of roster cuts Sunday. He was at his home in Arizona when the Rams called and resigned him in time to play against the Arizona Cardinals, his former team, on Sunday.
"I was talking to a couple of other teams and just waited, and the Rams called back," Lucas said. "I was going to jump on the first offer and I'm happy to be a Ram again."
Lucas was surprised the Rams released him on Sunday, considering he played extensively in the preseason. He was not surprised when the Cardinals released him in June after five seasons, because he was bumped well down on the depth chart after signing a contract in March.
"I pretty much knew it was going to happen in Arizona," Lucas said. "Dennis Green, he's trying to basically clean house."
http://hustofcool.com
hotbs.lostofcoo.com
hobbs.hostofcool.com
Join us FRIDAY, Sept. 10th from 7-9pm.
It's a Lift Off Party with the intergalactic grooves of KJHK's very own "DJ Slim Mochachino"
hobbs. 700 mass. 331-4622
"Space is the place and hobbs is so there!"
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
NewsNewsNewsNews
Now.
kansan.com
Wilkommen
Brats, Bierocks, Kraut, & Cold Beer! 2 Great Bands -1 Great Time Free Admission
at South Park 12th & Mass in Lawrence Sept 11 11:00am to 5:30pm
Cr B fank
Check out the latest fall styles from...
Steve Madden Chinese Laundry Pony Camper Diesel BCBGirls Franco Sarto Merrell Keen Mia & Others
FRIDAY,
The K teams will the Big course to in the V Topeka.
The m the same courses Champio season ts ometers four kilo
"In pea been a t seni, senior, importance course."
ARENSBERG'S SHOES
825 MASSACHUSETTS in Downtown Lawrence 843.3470
Check us out online @ www.arensbergshoes.com
Senior the Bol last Sat the new from ra they ha she said the benefit
GO
Rand encour as man this su
CONTINU
The rounds oversa preparing the
Playe Se
Ac Kans 24th
"It'coursewaysgoes,practiWe don'ttime."
Tourn