Monday, October 25, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Kansas defenders smother Missouri running back Zain Gilmore behind the line of scrimmage on a third-down conversion try. Photo by Mott J. Daugherty/KANSAN
Jayhawks shut out Tigers with smothering defense
Kansan sportswriter
By Michael Rigg
sports@konsan.com
Kansas defensive lineman Dion Johnson entered Saturday's 21-0 victory against Missouri without a single sack this season.
On Saturday, both Johnson and Nesmith put together dominating individual performances that both solidified their spots in Kansas' defensive lineup and made Jayhawks coach Terry Allen a happy man.
Safety Carl Nesmith still was adjusting to a new position after being moved from wide receiver before the start of the season.
"It's a real credit to our defense," Allen said about the shutout. "The guys up front put pressure on the quarterback, and the linebacks and defensive backs played great coverage. Defensively, we had a great scheme, and, lo and behold, we shut them out."
Perhaps even more impressive
was that Nesmith came up with an assortment of big plays — including a key first-quarter sack of Missouri quarterback Jim Dougherty — in his first ever start for the Javhawks.
aynhawks
Nesmith still is trying to learn the safety position after switching from wide receiver before the season. Last season, Nesmith played wideout for Butler County Community College, where he also played quarterback. Allen said that Nesmith's learning curve has been steep, and he has been impressed with the development of his young defensive back.
"Carl has really progressed as a player for us," Allen said. "It's taken him a while, but now he's all over the football field making plays."
Nesmith agreed.
Nesmith said.
"I pick up the position more and more every game," Nesmith said.
"A lot of it was being patient, and I think I did a pretty good job today and made some plays."
and made some plays. In fact, the entire Jayhawk defense
was able to get pressure on Dougherty throughout the game, finishing with four sacks and forcing Dougherty into numerous hurries. Two sacks were by Johnson, who played seven games without collecting a single sack. It was simply a matter of changing his mental state, Johnson said.
"It was all emotion," he said. "We already lost against K-State, and with this rivalry, I just wanted to go out and leave it all on the field. I gave it all I got and came up big in the first half."
Allen, who is often befuddled with Johnson's lack of effort, also was clearly impressed with Johnson's performance.
"I think Dion just played hard and took advantage of some things," Allen said. "Dion was one of the recipients of a game ball, and you could see that his sacks in the first half were instrumental to our success."
Missouri takes field early, ruins color guard's flags
—Edited by Brad Hallier
By Doug Pacey sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas Band does not have good luck when the Missouri football team is near.
when the Missouri football team is near. Last year, it was pelted with bottles and rocks, and this year the Tigers' football team tore holes in the color guard's flags and disrupted its halftime show.
The band and color guard were performing at halftime when Missouri came back on the field and began stretching on the
south part of the field.
The color guard's flags were sitting on the sideline and Missouri players ripped holes in the China silk flags when they stepped on them.
"I looked back when we were doing the show, and I saw them back there," color guard captain Becky Miller said. "We decided that when we went back there that the show must go on. It was surprising, really couldn't believe it."
said that the Tigers just looked at them when they were performing around them.
Brandy Decker, color guard member
"We tried to go around them, and we asked nicely for them to move," she said. "But they just kind of look at you funny, like they don't know why you're there."
Kansas' band is not the only band that the Tigers upset. Missouri's band apologized for their team's behavior.
"the MU band was yelling at their football team to get off the field." Decker
said. "They apologized profusely to us for them. They also told us that they do it to them at their pregame shows in Columbia."
"I talked to our coach and Dr. (Robert) Foster and they said that we will send the bill to them," Decker said. "For the most part, they're ruined."
The color guard will send Missouri the bill to get the flags replaced.
Miller said that she did not know how much it would cost to replace the flags.
"We tried to go around them, and we asked them nicely to move. But they just kind of look at you funny, like they don't know why you're there."
— Edited by Katie Hollar
Game performances make Norris noticeable
Brandy Decker Color guard member
By Mike Miller
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Moran Norris could get used to all the attention.
Fullbacks usually don't get a lot of media attention, but there was Norris Saturday, answering questions, while his friends waited for him.
For the last three weeks, Norris had been staying longer and longer after games because his performances had been more noticeable, but his breakout performance during the 21-0 win against Missouri served notice that the junior from Houston is for real.
Against Southern Methodist he caught the first touchdown pass of his career. Against Kansas State he
nad a career-high 40 yards rushing, including a 28-yard scamper that was almost uncharacteristic for Norris, considering that he's 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds.
Now he's a featured back for the Jayhawks, in part because of injuries to running backs David Winbush and Henri Childs, and because he's made some equipment changes.
"Moran was the big blocking fullback with offensive lineman shoulder pads," coach Terry Allen said.
"He had trouble holding onto the ball, but we put him in some smaller pads. When you wear those big pads it's a little harder to hold onto the ball."
The added flexibility gave Norris an opportunity against the Tigers. His team-high 165 rushing yards on
"It was a typical war between these two teams, and Moran was the difference."
Terry Allen Kansas football coach
18 carries and two touchdowns were a large part of Kansas' win against Missouri. He showcased good speed and nifty moves on a 23-yard touchdown run during the second quarter, something for which Kansas' smaller backs usually are noted.
"I haven't seen those moves. Nobody has," wide receiver Byron Gasaway said.
But the performance came as no
surprise to Allen or to Norris' other teammates.
Dylen Norris gives the Jayhawks size and speed in the backfield. When matched with 5-foot-8, 230 pound fullback Tyrus Fontenot as a lead block, an intimidating backfield presence is something that might make other teams worry.
"I knew that he would do some good things for us," quarterback Dylan Smith said.
"When they see me and Tyrus in the backfield, I bet they do," Norris said.
At least for the Missouri game, Norris was someone the Tigers could have done without.
"It was a typical war between these two teams, and Moran was the difference," Allen said.
—Edited by Kelly Clasen
Kansas running back Moran Norris eyes the end zone on his way to his second touchdown run in the Jayhawks' 21-0 victory against Missouri. Photo by Matt J. Daughter/KANSAN
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