NASCAR will debut a new car in 2007 that is designed to improve safety and maintain performance. 2B Columnists from Texas A&M and Missouri weigh in on last weekend's game. 8B
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 1B
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Former tight end shines in defense spot
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Russell Brorsen, sophomore, defensive end has made a smooth transition from the offensive side of the ball to the defensive. Brorsen made an immediate impact in his first career start against Nebraska. Brorsen should continue to play significant minutes on defense the rest of the season.
Russell Brorsen proves himself back in the position that brought him first-team all-state years ago
BY SHAWN SHROYER
Two games into the 2005 season, Russell Brorsen found out he belonged on defense.
As a freshman last season, he earned his first career start at tight end in the game against Appalachian State. However, all Brorsen remembered from the game was dropping a pass in the end zone from quarterback Brian Luke on a two-point conversion attempt.
It was the only pass to come his way all season. Now a sophomore, Brorsen is back to his natural position at defensive end. He earned his first career start on defense last week and proved he could disrupt the opposition's passing game.
Brorsen had appeared in Kansas' first four games as a backup, but in that limited time was only able to hit the quarterback once. As the Nebraska game approached, a starting spot opened up for him in place of senior defensive end Rodney Allen. Kansas coach Mark Mangino said Allen was banged up, and Brorsen had shown he was comfortable enough in the defensive to start.
"It was pretty exciting to finally get my first start, and being at Nebraska made it even better," Brorsen said.
Despite making the start on the road in front of more than 85,000 raucous fans, he said he wasn't intimidated or overwhelmed. Instead, facing a starting offensive line that averaged. 305 pounds, the 240-pound
Brorsen couldn't be stopped.
Against the Cornhuskers, he recorded six tackles — one shy of tying for the team lead — recovered a fumble, and forced another when he sacked Zac Taylor. Three of the tackles were solo and one was for a loss.
Those numbers were reminiscent of the ones Brorsen put up at Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Okla. There he was named first-team all-state and amassed 287 tackles and 34 sacks in his career. However, a thin depth chart at tight end last season put Brorsen's defensive career on hold.
He appeared in 11 games last season at tight end and on special
teams, starting two, and was one of only three true freshmen to see action during the season.
When Kansas added more depth at tight end this season, Bronsen was able to move back to defensive end, but he had to completely relearn the position.
"It took me a little while to make the switch back, because on offense you have to be a little more controlled and your stance is different," Brorsen said. "On defense, you get a lot more freedom."
In addition, he had to correct some bad habits that he acquired in high school. As a result, Brorsen didn't even appear on Kansas' preseason depth chart.
To ascend the depth chart,
Brorsen said he remained confident in himself and worked hard to learn the system and get the feel for playing defensive end again.
With Kansas preparing for its matchup against Texas A&M, Mangino wouldn't rule out the possibility of Brors cracking the starting lineup again.
"I know that he'll play significant time," Mangino said. "Whether we're going to start him or not, I think that's premature. Probably not, but don't hold me to it."
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@ kansan.com.
- Edited by Natalie Johnson
VOLLEYBALL
Loss to Tigers perpetuates losing streak for Jayhawks
BY DREW DAVISON
The Kansas volleyball team continued its midseason slump after being swept at Missouri last night.
It was the Jayhawks' fourth straight Big 12 loss of the season. Last year, Kansas had an eight-game losing streak, but was able to bounce back and make the postseason. The team went through similar streaks in 2003 and 2004.
"We've kind of made it our style to go through ruts like that," Emily Brown, junior right side hitter, said. "We're going to need work hard and keep the morale up because we just keep piling up loss after loss, and you're like 'Oh my gosh.'"
Kansas (8-8, 1-6 Big 12 Conference) lost to No. 17 Missouri (12-4, 6-1), 19-30, 26-30 and 18-30 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.
The Tigers dominated the Jayhawks with 10 service aces, which came mainly from the jump serve.
"It comes in fast, and sometimes you think it is going out,
Correa
but they drop in," Jana Correa, senior outside hitter, said. "At the last minute they drop on the line."
Kansas coach Ray Bechard said
Missouri's aggressive serving consistently took his team out of its offensive system. He said the team also struggled with passing, which tended to break down the entire offense.
Kansas was unable to hit efficiently — Missouri posted a.421 hitting percentage compared with Kansas'. 187.
"We've got to play extremely clean, fundamental volleyball to win." Bechard said.
With the game tied at 14,
Missouri got on a roll to rout
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 2B
football brief
Meier cleared to play Saturday against A&M
Freshman quarterback Kerry Meier has been cleared to play in Saturday's game against Texas A&M by Kansas medical staff.
Kansas coach Mark Mangi-
no said he still must deem
Meler ready to play before any
official announcement on a
starter would be made.
But that's not a guarantee that he'll play.
"He has to feel good," he said after Wednesday night's practice. "He has to function in every facet of the game and that's what we're working on here in the last couple of days."
He has seen what Mangino described as a "reasonable" amount of snaps in practice this week. Because he has not seen any serious repetitions during the past few weeks, Mangino said Meier was dealing with some fatigue.
Meier was cleared before Tuesday afternoon's practice.
Mangino said he was unsure whether Meler would start or come in at some point during the game.
If Meier is not cleared by Mangino, senior Adam Barmann will start his third consecutive game.
Meier injured his right arm during a loss to Toledo three weeks ago. During the game, Meier had the worst performance of his career, throwing four interceptions.
If Meier is able to play,
Mangino with Meier told him after the loss to Toledo that the injury to his right arm occurred early in the fourth quarter of that game. Meier was running the ball when his right arm was driven into the turf.
Before the injury, Meier had thrown two touchdowns and two interceptions. After the injury, Meier threw an interception during the fourth quarter and during overtime. He also mishandled a handoff to running back Jon Cornish.
Ryan Schneider
THE RANT
Kansas State coach betrays player, team with decision
Congratulations, Ron Prince. You have brought nothing but losing and a lack of class to the Wildcats in recent weeks.
On Sunday, following Kansas State's 17-3 loss to Baylor, Prince told the media that true freshman Josh Freeman would start in place of senior Dylan Meier. The problem: Prince forgot to tell Meier. When Meier spoke with reporters following the game, he was surprised to find out he was no longer the starter.
trusted.
Prince's actions were completely disrespectful to Meier. He likely alienated his players for the rest of his tenure at Kansas State and sent a message to players and future recruits that the coach could not be
"We're not trying to send a message to anybody. It's just a matter of performance." Prince said.
Freeman has completed fewer than 30 percent of his passes this season.
Kansas State coach Ron Prince disputes a pass interference call during the second quarter of a football game against Illinois State on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006, in Manhattan, Kan.
Charlie Riedel/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prince must be talking about performance in practice or about Freeman's play in high school because Freeman has not looked like a quarterback who is ready to play in the Big 12 so far this season. He has thrown four interceptions and zero touchdowns. Freeman is expected to resurrect an offense that has averaged fewer than 300 total yards per game and was the first Big 12 team since the inception of the conference to not score a touchdown against Baylor.
Meier and Freeman are the only two quarterbacks on the Kansas State roster after Prince ran three other quarterbacks from the program before the season even started.
According to the Kansas State depth chart, true freshman Leon Patton replaced Thomas Clayton as
the Wildcats' starting running back. Clayton is not even listed among the team's backups, but he has been Kansas State's most reliable weapon.
averaging nearly five yards per carry.
SEE COLAIANNI ON PAGE 2B