FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 11A
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Leading rusher goes for 1,000
Kansan file photo
Jon Cornish, senior running back, drives against an opposing defense. Cornish has tallied 961 rush yards so far this season and Saturday he will likely become the 11th Jayhawk in 117 years to surpass the 1,000-yard mark despite the fact that Colorado has one of the too high defenses in the nation. Last season, Cornish led the team in rushing yards finishing with 780 yards.
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
On the brink of achieving a mark that few Jayhawks have ever attained, Jon Cornish couldn't be any more disinterested.
The senior running back is just 39 yards away from breaking the 1,000-yard mark on the season. He would become the 11th Kansas running back to reach that mark in 117 years. Barring an unexpected development, Cornish should rumble over that mark on his sixth carry in Saturday's game against Colorado. That carry should come sometime in the first quarter.
But for Cornish, the benchmark achievement isn't cause for celebration. It's just one step on the way to achieving his true goal.
- When asked about reaching the
  £000-yard milestone Wednesday,
  Cornish just shrugged his shoulders.
- "It's never been the ultimate
goal for me," he said. "1,000 is a four-digit number as compared to a three-digit number."
Cornish's ultimate goal appears to be Kansas' single-season rushing record of 1,442 yards set by Tony Sands in 1991, though he doesn't like to say it public. All he's say is that he's on track — exactly on track — to reach his goal.
If Cornish hits the 1,000-yard mark Saturday, he would also be Kansas' first 1,000-yard rusher since June Henley in 1996.
Though Cornish hasn't put much thought into his impending achievement, his teammates certainly have.
Those who block for Cornish have helped make his 961 yards possible and are taking great pride in the milestone he's about to achieve.
said. From the special teams player nearly turned linebacker, Cornish's track to the 1,000-yard mark has been anything but a smooth one.
"I'm out there doing a lot of blocking, and it really gives me some pride along with the offensive line," junior tight end Derek Fine
For most of his career as a Jayhawk, the British Columbia native mostly saw time on special teams. It wasn't until last season, where he split time with Clark Green, that Cornish finally saw significant time in the backfield. Once he got the chance, Cornish took advantage of it.
As a junior, Cornish led the team in rushing yards, touchdowns, average yards per carry and average yards per game. In total, he finished with 780 yards in 2005.
He also recorded one of the most memorable runs in Kansas history with his 72-yard touchdown run that helped propel the Jayhawks to their first victory in 36 years against Nebraska.
CORNISH APPROACES 1000
With a solid season at running back behind him, Cornish set his
sights early. At the start of the summer, he was talking 1,000 yards. Then came 1,500.
Jonathan Kealing /KANSAN
Some dismissed Cornish's talk before the season, but he certainly
didn't shy away from it. So far this season, Cornish has broken his career-high three times this season.
SEE CORNISH ON PAGE 9A
VOLLEYBALL
Jayhawks struggle to reach their fourth postseason
BY DREW DAVISON
Kansas will have an opportunity to pick up a victory at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center against Texas Tech.
"We still have a huge chance of getting in," Brittany Williams, freshman middle blocker, said. "But there is definitely serious urgency."
The Kansas volleyball team needs to win at least five of its last eight matches to be eligible for postseason play.
Kansas lost a four-game match at Texas Tech earlier in the season. The Jayhawks, however, defeated the Red Raiders last year at home.
Jana Correa, senior outside hitter, knows how important the last eight matches will be for her team. Correa recently went back to her jump serve despite having two season-ending knee surgeries previously in her career.
Correa said she went back to the jump serve because she needed to do everything she could to help the team make its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament.
Kansas lost a four-game match to No. 20 Oklahoma on Wednesday. Texas Tech was defeated by Texas in a four-game match as well.
Kansas coach Ray Bechard said the team needed to win and win quickly. The Jayhawks received a bid to last year's NCAA tournament after finishing eighth in the Big 12 with a 7-13 conference record. This year, Kansas will need to finish with at least eight conference victories to be eligible for the tournament. Teams must be .500 or better to be considered by the selection committee.
FOOTBALL
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 9A
Mangino: Colorado a pretty good football team
BY SHAWN SHROYER
Coming off winning seasons and bowl appearances, Kansas and Colorado weren't supposed to be a combined 4-12 by week nine of this season.
Although only one of those victories belongs to Colorado, the buffalooes should match up well with the Jayhawks and could actually have momentum on their side heading into the weekend.
One thing is for sure: Kansas and coach Mark Mangino are in no position to take their opponent lightly.
"Colorado's record should not fool you," Mangino said. "They are a pretty good football team. Very good on the defensive side of the ball — they have a lot of talent there."
In the preseason, nobody doubted the strength of Colorado's defense. However, the Colorado offense appeared sketchy, at best, and has hindered the Buffaloes throughout the season. With the end of the season nearing, Colorado is showing improvements under first-year coach Dan Hawkins.
Linebacker Jordan Dizon has been a beast for the Colorado defense this season. After eight games, he is tied for second in the Big 12 Conference with 91 tackles, and 53 have been solo. His ability to stop opponents on third down has been astounding.
Dizon has 14 stops this season on third downs while the next highest total by a Colorado player is seven. Four more third down stops for Dizon will give him the Colorado single-season record. Dizon isn't the only linebacker Kansas will have to be aware of. Thaddeus Washington was named preseason All-Big 12 and is second on the team with 80 tackles.
With immobilequarterbackAdam
Barmann starting for Kansas, the Jayhawks should be more concerned about the Buffaloos' pass rush. Defensive end Abraham Wright is first in the conference and fourth in the nation with nine sacks. His 11 tackles for loss rank
yards a game, which is 10th in the conference, but cornerback Terrence Wheatley has been dangerous in Colorado's secondary. He's currently tied for the conference lead with four interceptions.
On offense, quarterback Bernard Jackson has improved considerably as of late, but on the season, he has thrown six interceptions to only three touchdowns. Jackson has been most effective running the
Colorado's defense could cause problems for an Adam Barmann-led Kansas offense. The Buffaloae's has allowed 88.5 rushing yards per game on the season. Colorado also has a defensive end that is ranked fourth in the nation with sacks and third in the Big 12 Conference with tackles for losses.
"They're a pretty good team, to be honest. I guess it's just the new system and they just haven't adjusted."
David Zalubowski/ASSOCIATED PRESS
DEXTON FIELDS Wide receiver
Between its linebackers and defensive line, Colorado has one of the best rush defenses around. Allowing only 88.5 rushing yards per game, Colorado is second in the conference and 15th in the nation. The Buffalooes will depend on their rush defense to contain Jayhawk running back Jon Cornish. Cornish is averaging 131 yards per game during conference play.
him third in the Big 12.
Colorado is giving up 228 passing
ball. He trails Colorado's leading rusher, running back Hugh Charles, by only 87 rushing yards with 419 this season.
The key for Colorado is getting Jackson to play consistently.
In Colorado's only victory, Jackson was 11-for-17 for 151 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and added 54 rushing yards and a touchdown. In last week's 24-3 loss to Oklahoma, he was 3-for-14 for 39 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He rushed for 54 yards again, but fumbled twice.
"If he can get some rhythm, he has shown that he can thrown the ball," Mangino said. "The key is not to let him get into a rhythm."
Of course, facing a Kansas defense that ranks next-to-last nationally in pass defense, Jackson should have no trouble finding a rhythm.
Regardless of Colorado's 1-7 record, Kansas players like wide
receiver Dexton Fields think the Buffaloes could be on the brink of breaking out of their slump under Hawkins.
"They're a pretty good team, to be honest," Fields said. "I guess it's just the new system and they just haven't
adjusted."
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@ kansan.com.
Edited by Erin Wiley
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