THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2006
SPORTS
9A
> 'HORN BORN, 'HAWK BRED
Easier schedule gives 'Hawks hope
BY TRAVIS ROBINETT
Expect Kansas to improve its record this season, and not because it could be better, but because of an easier schedule.
For the first time in two years, Kansas won't have to play the three recently best teams in the Big 12 Conference: Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. What a relief.
With those three off the schedule, Kansas will be spared much heartbreak and embarrassment. Remember it was Texas Tech that came back from a 25-point deficit two seasons ago in Lawrence. And last season Oklahoma's defense completely shut down Kansas' offense. Then there's Texas, who beat Kansas like a drum last year: 66-14.
Thank goodness Kansas doesn't have to play any of them again for another two seasons. But now pressure is on the Jayhawks to take advantage of their fortunate scheduling.
Baylor and Oklahoma State are must-win games. If Kansas doesn't win those, don't expect a bowl game, because those two will most likely be the easiest conference competition the Jayhawks will face. The final South
team — Texas A&M — comes to Lawrence, where Kansas was 6-0 last season. To make things tougher for the Aggies, it's on the Jayhawks' Homecoming Weekend.
If Kansas can come out of those games 3-0 or even 2-1 — it's in a good position to make a run at the Big 12 North. Kansas is the only team in the North that doesn't play Texas or Oklahoma. Out of all the North teams, only Nebraska is good enough to match an undefeated record against the South. Its toughest game will be at home against Texas, but Nebraska has a daunting home-field advantage and a fairly good football team.
Unfortunately for Iowa State, it plays both Texas and Oklahoma. Welcome to the Jayhawks' world for the last two years, Cyclones.
For Kansas to pick up some steam as a program, it needs to play more teams that are of its caliber. Taking all the national championship contenders off of Kansas' schedule this year makes a mid-level bowl game, or even a Big 12 North title, obtainable.
If Kansas wins the North, maybe then it will play Texas or Oklahoma. And even if the Jayhawks lose, it's much sweeter losing in the Big 12 Championship game than in the regular season. It's nice the 'Hawks now have the schedule to do so.
Travis Robinetin is an Austin junior in journalism.
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Despite setback, Sooners'eyes on South
Defense, new quarterback to carry Oklahoma BY SHAWN SHROYE
Oklahoma's checklist for success in 2006 was simple:
Return a front seven on defense chock full of impact players — check.
Return a young group of speedy defensive backs — check.
Return quarterback from last season — not so much.
Return one of the best running backs in college football — check.
Jerry Lazure/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sophomore quarterback Rhett Bomar was dismissed from the team for being overpaid for a job he took with a team booster. Now Oklahoma will have to prove it can win without an ideal quarterback situation.
"As a team, we're coming off an 8-4 year and right now that's what we are." Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "In a month's time, the strength of the Sooners has shifted from offense to defense."
Senior linebacker Rufus Alexander was voted preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by conference media. He will headline a star-studded defense.
The Oklahoma defensive line features three players sure to give opposing quarterbacks headaches. Senior defensive end C.J. Ah You recorded seven sacks last season, which will mesh nicely with the players battling for playing time at the other end spot. Senior defensive end Larry Birdine missed all but one game last season but tallied 11 combined sacks his two previous seasons. In Birdine's place last season, senior Calvin Thibodeaux got to quarterback 10 times.
Volleyball vs. UMKG, 7 p.m.
Horejsi Family Athletics Center
athletics calendar
Alexander's 102 tackles and five sacks last season earned him recognition, but fellow senior linebacker Zach Latimer is not far behind him.
TUESDAY
Player to watch: Savannah Noyes, sophomore middle blocker, begins her
second season as a Jayhawk veteran starter. Last season, she started 30 games, and against Miami on Saturday, Noyes had a career high 14 kills.
Oklahoma defensive back Darian Williams, right, closes in on running back Adrian Peterson, left, April 8, 2006, during Oklahoma's annual Red and White football game in Norman, Okla. The loss of Oklahoma's starting quarterback would seem to put all the pressure on Heisman runner-up Peterson to carry the Sooners to success this season. If so, he isn't buying into it.
Cross Country, Bob Timmons
Invitational, 9 a.m., Rim Rock
Farm
Volleyball vs. Maine, 9 a.m., Temple Classic, Philadelphia, Pa.
Volleyball vs. Temple, 6 p.m., Temple Classic, Philadelphia, Pa.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Soccer vs. Cal, 6:30 p.m., Cal Invitational, Berkeley, Calif.
Football vs. Northwestern State, 6 p.m., Memorial Stadium
Volleyball vs. Rutgers, 2 p.m.
Temple Classic, Philadelphia, Pa
SUNDAY
Soccer vs. Saint Mary's, noon, Cal Invitational, Berkeley, Calif.
》 ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
BY C.J. MOORE
for the 2000
home schedule, the Kansas
Athletics
Department
announced
Monday afternoon. The previous record
for season
ticket sales was
in 1969, when
With the Kansas football team coming off its best season in 10 years and its first bowl victory since 1995, KU fans are showing a hoops-like interest in the football team.
The Jayhawks have sold an alltime record 28,100 season tickets
largest home crowd ever to witness a game at Memorial Stadium, 51,750 fans.
Because of an NCAA rule change allowing 12 regular season games, Kansas has upped the number of home games to seven and will again add another home game in 2007.
"Even though we lost a lot of players, we've got very good players coming in that people are excited about."
JIM MARCHIONY Associate athletics director
Marchiony said fans were also
the team sold 27,700 season tickets following an Orange Bowl appearance the previous year.
excited about the team's finish last season. The Jayhawks won four of their final five games, including a 42-13 victory against Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl.
"There is an anticipation for this year," associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said. "Even though we lost a lot of players, we've got very good players coming in that people are excited about."
In 2005, Kansas sold approximately 26,700 season tickets and averaged a school record 43,675 fans during its six games at Memorial Stadium. Six of the Jayhawks' seven victories were in Lawrence last year, including the team's first victory against Nebraska since 1968. The 40-15 victory against Nebraska was the
Kansas students helped break the
season-ticket sales record by purchasing roughly 7,800 sports packages to date.
Kansas opens the season at home 6 p.m. Saturday against Northwestern State. Individual tickets may also be purchased for football home games.
Sports combo packages for students cost $150 and are still available at the Allen Fieldhouse ticket office.
Kansan staff writer C.J. Moore can be contacted at cjmoore@ kansan.com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
oklahoma schedule
Sept. 2 - vs. UAB
Although the junior running back was bothered by an ankle injury most of last season, Peterson is poised to come back better than ever. At the Big 12 Media Days, Peterson said his goal for 2006 was to rush for 2,200 yards. Only two Division 1-A running backs, Barry Sanders and Marcus Allen, have ever cracked the
Junior cornerback DJ. Wolfe had perhaps the most impressive 2005 campaign. He switched to corner from running back last season, started 11 games, was third on the team in tackles and intercepted two passes.
Oklahoma's starting secondary combined for 25 starts last season, vet none are seniors.
Latimer posted 84 tackles and four sacks in 2005.
Sept. 2 - vs. OKA
Sept. 9 - vs. Washington
Sept. 16 - at Oregon
Sept. 23 - vs. Middle
Wolfe teams up with sophomore cornerback Reggie Smith, freshman strong safety Keenan Clayton and junior free safety Darien Williams to keep receivers from catching any passes that opposing quarterbacks actually have time to get off.
Even with the loss of Bomar on offense, the cog of the Sooner offense is still in place: Adrian Peterson.
Tennessee
Oct. 7 - at Texas
Oct. 14 - vs. Iowa State
Oct. 21 - vs. Colorado
(numbercoming)
Oct. 28 - at Missouri
Nov. 4 - at Texas A&M
Nov. 11 - vs. Texas Tech
Nov. 18 - at Baylor
Nov. 25 - at Oklahoma
State
Source: Dishubma a didetics department
2,200-yard barrier.
Thompson split time between quarterback and wide receiver last season and was supposed to play receiver exclusively this season.
The success of Peterson and Oklahoma's receivers in the passing game will ultimately come down to the new starting quarterback, senior Paul Thompson.
Big 12 media revealed their high expectations for Peterson, voting him preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
While the Sooners could lose hope after Bomar's dismissal, it's more likely they will use the loss to reinforce a lesson they learned last season.
In limited time at quarterback in 2003, Thompson had a 50-yard scramble and a 29-yard touchdown run.
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@ kansan.com.
"Last season we learned that it's not given, winning is not given," Alexander said.
Edited by Derek Korte
Chiefs cut Reid as rosters cut down to 53
undrafted rookie free agent, but had trouble getting on the field the first three preseason games because the Chiefs have several linebackers.
"I just think he was in the wrong place at the right time," Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. "We have some pretty good linebackers here. He was a heck of a college player, and he got better. It's a veteran group of linebackers. They've been here. So they had a little edge
NFL
on him."
The Kansas City Chiefs cut former standout Jayhawk linebacker Nick Reid on Monday as part of their efforts to cut their roster to 53 members by Saturday.
Reld was named by coaches last year as the Big 12 defensive player of the year and signed as an
"A lot of things could happen. Injuries come into play when you cut players now. He has some ability. He could show up on a practice squad, too."
Edwards said he was confident Reid would get an opportunity with some other team, and could even wind up one day with Kansas City.
Associated Press
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