THE UNIVERSITY BABY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006
SPORTS
3B
FOOTBALL
Similarities abound between Kansas and Louisiana-Monroe
BY SHAWN SHROYER
There will be many parallels between Kansas and Louisiana-Monroe when the two schools meet for the first time ever on Saturday.
Like Kansas, Louisiana-Monroe is 1-0, has a quarterback making his second collegiate start this week and features new starters at nearly every position on defense.
But the storylines run even deeper with these two schools.
Louisiana-Monroe coach Charlie Weatherbie is a Kansas native, Born in Sedan, Weatherbie graduated from Fort Scott High School. Weatherbie Harwiches will be reunited with
former Jayhawk quarterback Bill Whittemore, who worked as a graduate assistant for Louisiana-Monroe last semester.
Whittemore, who is now a graduate assistant at Kansas, worked with the Louisiana-Monroe defense, but even with his insight he won't be leading practices this week for Kansas.
Against Alcorn State last week, Louisiana-Monroe scored the final 14 points of the game on its way to a 24-6 victory.
"It's going to be the same week for me as it was last week: Getting the film ready." Whittemore said.
Leading the way for the Warhawks
was a defense that forced five turnovers. Senior safety Kevin Payne caused one of the five turnovers with an interception and also led the team with seven tackles.
Freshman linebacker Cardia Jackson was second on the team
"They have really talented guys at the cornerback position with good speed and good change of direction." Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "I also like their play at the safety position, and their overall secondary is pretty decent."
Louisiana-Monroe's secondary features all four starters from last season, but the rest of the defense is made up of first-year starters.
with five tackles and had one of three fumble recoveries the defense recorded.
Senior defensive end Christianan Cambridge led the defensive line with four tackles, 2.5 of which were for losses.
"On defense, they are physical up front and like to play physical football," Mangino said. "This will be a much more physical game than last week."
On offense, the Warhawks posted 310 total yards with sophomore quarterback Kinsun Lancaster pro
Overall, the defense held Alcorn State to 40 rushing yards and 205 total yards of offense.
viding more than half of that total.
Kansas v. Louisiana-Monroe Saturday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m.
Much like Kansas freshman quarterback Kerry Meier, Lancaster is a dual threat under center. While Meier had 115 passing yards on eight completions and 62 rushing yards, Lancaster had 100 passing yards on eight completions and 67 rushing yards.
yards.
"He's got all the talent it takes to get it done," Weatherbie said of Lancaster. "I think he will make a ton of improvement from his first game to his second game."
So, with all the similarities between Louisiana-Monroe and Kansas, the Warhawks carelessness with the ball — they had four turnovers compared to one for Kansas — could make all the difference.
Nevertheless, Kansas won't underestimate the emotional boost Louisiana-Monroe might get from Weatherbie's homecoming.
"They are going to be ready to go because this is a big game for them," Mangino said. "Coach Charlie Weatherbie is coming home, so I'm sure it has extra meaning to him."
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@ kansan.com.
》 MEN'S GOLF
— Edited by Derek Korte
First tournament awaits A fresh start after a disappointing finish
BY ASHER FUSCO
The last time the KU men's golf team played in a tournament, it left disappointed. The Jayhawks finished eighth in the Big 12 Championship last spring and were hurt by an all-around poor showing in the final round.
If the last several weeks are any indication, things have been looking up for Kansas as it prepares for the first tournament of the fall season: The Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate this weekend in Sugar Grove, Ill. Coach Ross Randall put his players through eight rounds of qualifying in order to establish a five-man lineup.
Randall was pleased with the low scores and consistent results the jayhawks posted in the two
weeks of practice leading up to the season opener.
"We understand that we have a lot of work to do, but we feel pretty good about where we are right now," Randall said.
Seniors Gary Woodland and Tyler Docking have been the most impressive during qualifying, combining to shoot 79 under par in the eight rounds.
Rounding out the line-up will be senior Barrett Martens, sophomore Zach Pederson and freshman Bobby Knowles, who will make his first appearance this weekend as a true freshman.
"Freshmen don't usually play but he's going to, which is great," Randall said.
All of the Kansas players, however, will be equally inexperienced
on Rich Harvest Farms, the course they will play this weekend. None of them have played it yet. Rich Harvest Farms is the same course where the 2007 NCAA Regional Tournament will be played, giving the Jayhawks some experience that could come in handy this spring.
The 12-team field is not exceptionally strong and could allow the Jayhawks to come away with an early season boost in confidence.
Kansas will be joined at the tournament by three fellow Big 12 schools: Kansas State, Colorado and Missouri.
Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@ kansan.com.
Edited by Travis Robinett
You're outta there
New York Yankee Robinson Cano is tagged out at the plate by Kansas City Royals catcher John Buck, right, to end the top of the second inning of the game Wednesday, in Kansas City, Mo. Cano tried to score on a hit by Melky Cabrera.
John Sleezer /The Kansas City Star