Kansas
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football images
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Above: Kansas wide receiver Michael Chandler hauls in a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zac Wegner. Chandler was the Jayhawks' leading receiver with four catches totaling 38 yards.
Right: Kansas wide receiver Michael Chandler hugs linemen Chuck Jarvis and Chris Enneking after catching a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zac Wegner. Chandler led the team in catches with four.
Stories by Michael T. Rigg
Photos by Matt Daugherty
New quarterback Smith suffers concussion near end of game
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The concussion bug has bitten Kansas' quarterbacks again.
In the wake of a disappointing 48-13 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Kansas received more bad news when it was discovered that quarterback Dylan Smith had suffered a second-degree concussion.
Smith's concussion came only months after incumbent senior quarterback Zac Wegner was cleared to play by his doctors. Wegner suffered three concussions, two on the field and one off, in 1988.
Smith's received the concussion with only 1.55 left in Saturday's loss when he scrambled out of the pocket and was hit by Notre Dame defensive lineman Ryan Roberts.
The concussion was a down point in the day where Smith made his major college debut after entering the game midway through the third quarter. Smith split time with Wegner, who started and also finished the game after Smith's injury. Kansas coach Terry Allen was pleased that both Smith and Wegner saw playing time on Saturday, but remained unconvinced about their level of play.
Doug Vance, Kansas' assistant athletics director, said it remains unknown how much time Smith will miss because of the injury.
"We liked the fact that they both got snaps." Allen said. "Obviously, we would have liked for them to do so in a little better fashion, but it's nice for us to have two quarterbacks."
Wegner passed for the only two Jayhawk touchdowns and threw for 124 yards, but he also threw two costly interceptions. Wegner's first
interception was returned 22 yards for Notre Dame's second touchdown, and the second one resulted in a missed Jim Sanson field goal. Also, Wegner's third quarter fumble was ran back 31 yards by Notre Dame's Anthony Denman to make the score 34-13. After the game, Wegner spoke about the costly mistakes.
"I don't feel like I played great, and I don't feel like I played horribly, either," Wegner said. "We did some very costly things in the first quarter, obviously, with my interception and two fumbles."
"There were some encouraging things today." Wegner said. "We were down by 20, came back and scored 13 points, but it was all downhill from there. But that was probably the only good about today. We can't put our defense in a situation like that if we want to be a successful football team."
Fans get dose of tradition
Wegner also was encouraged by the way his team battled back from a 20 point first-quarter deficit.
Smith, meanwhile, only threw nine passes on Saturday that resulted in 25 yards. Smith had one near touchdown pass to redshirt freshman Anton Paige batted away at the last second by Irish safety Deke Cooper.
Kansas great enjoys Notre Dame's aura
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — While Kansas running back David Winbush was struggling with fumbleitis, former Kansas great Gale Sayers watched from the press box.
Sayers was the Jayhawks' ceremonial captain for the pre-game coin toss opposite former Irish great Paul Hornung. Although Sayers never had a chance to play at fabled Notre Dame Stadium as a Jayhawk, he was impressed with the stadium's aura.
"It's a great tradition here, and the fans get behind the players and the team," Sayers said. "It's great to go out on the field, and I still go goosebumps."
"They both did good things, and they both did bad things," Allen said.
One thing Sayers wasn't impressed with was the 1999 Jayhawk football team.
"I don't know how good ND is, but right now, Notre Dame looks better than Kansas." Sayers said. "(The Jayhawks) still have a long way to go. Many publications have them picked for sixth in the Big 12, and it'll be a difficult year if they can't improve on that. You need players. Right now, I'm not sure Kansas has the players to compete for a championship in the Big 12 Conference."
Smith will be re-evaluated this week in Lawrence, and the severity of his injury will be determined at a later time. Vance said.
Kansas had a chance to view Sayers' greatness first hand when they toured the College Football Hall of Fame, where Sayers is enshrined. The Jayhawks were treated to a post-prac-
Edited by Mike Loader
Kansas can't blame the 35-point loss on a lack of support, as more than 6,000 Jayhawk fans made the 600-mile trip to South Bend to see the game. Although many fans left Indiana disappointed after the Kansas loss, they still felt the trip was worthwhile because of Notre Dame's impressive tradition.
The atmosphere surrounding Notre Dame Stadium impressed Jayhawk athletes who aren't on the football team. Both Corey Harrington, Lincoln, Neb., sophomore, and Ryan Klockstein, Minnekota, Minn., sophomore, play for the Kansas baseball team and made the trip from Lawrence. Harrington and Klockstein were impressed by both the Irish fans' spirit and the fact that the Jayhawks only trailed by seven points at halftime.
“This is football heaven,” said Jennifer Platter, Dll. Ind., junior. “Growing up in Indiana, all everybody ever talked about was Notre Dame football.”
The hall, built in 1995, is one of South Bend's largest attractions and features Kansas greats such Sayers, Ray Evans, and Tony Sands. The museum also features Kansas vs. Missouri in the "Great Rivalries" exhibit.
"This is both a beautiful campus and an awesome atmosphere," Harrington said. "The fact that we wung in the
"It's been a really nice trip," Valentine said. "There's a lot of Jayhawk fans here, and everyone's been really nice."
Fans support Kansas
Some fans had more personal ties to the team. Lawrence resident Joanna Valentine was engaged in March to Jayhawk defensive lineman Jeremy Hanak.
ballgame was great. This can only boost their confidence."
Of course just because the Irish fans welcomed the Jayhawk fans doesn't mean the local police were nearly as accommodating.
tice lunch at the hall on Friday, then toured the building for almost two hours.
"it's been a great trip," Klockstein said. "We only got one speeding ticket."
Doherty's new home
As is the tradition before every football game, the students at Notre Dame threw a pep rally the night before the game. Friday's theme was "You're not in Kansas anymore," and featured "The Wicked Jawhack of the West."
Notre Dame game's basketball coach Matt Doherty, a former Jayhawk assistant coach under Roy Williams, also spoke at the rally.
"In 1931, the state of Kansas took Knute Rockne from us," said Doherty, referring to the plane crash at a Kansas farm that took Rockne's life. "Now it's time to get them back."
Doherty also received a standing ovation from the crowd and exchanged high fives with his players after his speech.
Edited by Brad Hallier
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Left Kansas wide receiver Harrison Hill runs by a Notre Dame defender after catching a pass. The catch was Hill's only grab of the day.
Kansas
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Kansas quarterback Dylen Smith attempts to duck under Notre Dame defenders Lamont Bryant, left, and Ronnie Nicks. Smith suffered a second-degree concussion in the fourth quarter of the game Saturday, adding to the history of quarterback injuries.
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