6B
GAME DAY
THE UNIVERSITY HAIRY KANSAN FRIDAY OCTOBER 19,2007
KU KICK-OFF
AT A GLANCE
Kansas is riding a six-game winning streak, its longest since 1995, and has outscored opponents 302-57. The team is at or near the top of the Big 12 Conference in every major statistical category and is one of the nation's most well-rounded teams. The Jayhawks seemed to have solved some of their road woes in a 30-24 victory at Kansas State two weeks ago but visiting Colorado has never been easy for the team — the last time Kansas left Boulder with a victory was 1995.
BY THE NUMBERS
(2007 stats national ranking)
50. 3ppg — 3rd scoring offense
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
297ypg-16th passing offense
218. 8.ypg - 13th rushing offense
9. 5ppg - 2nd scoring defense
160ypg - 7th passing defense
80ypg — 8th rushing defense
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior defensive tackle James McClinton. Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins is a redshirt freshman with seven games of collegiate experience. So far
this season,
Hawkins has not always made the best decisions when put under pressure, throwing 12 interceptions.
McClinton
McClinton
could be the source of some serious pressure Saturday. The defensive tackle has earned a spot among the nation's elite this season by getting off the line of scrimmage with unbelievable speed.
QUESTION MARKS
Will the thin air affect the jayhawks? Mangino and senior tight end Derek Fine both said playing at approximately 6,000 feet above sea level should not affect Kansas.
> How will the Kansas of-
fensive line fare? The Jayhawks'
interior offensive linemen
have performed well all season
long, but they face a stern test
in Colorado defensive tackle
George Hypolite. The 6-foot-1,
285-pound lineman is an
absolute freak in terms of speed
and strength and could catch
Kansas off-guard.
TAKING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD
KU looks to avoid upset at the hands of giant killers Colorado
KANSAS AT COLORADO 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo.
Kansas 6-0,2-0 Big 12 Conference
OFFENSE
Against Baylor last weekend, for the first time all season, the Kansas offense looked out of sync. The Bears' 4-2-5 defense gave the KU receivers fits, and they didn't help their own cause much by dropping a number of catchable passes. Despite the minor hiccups, sophomore running back Jake Sharp and sophomore quarterback Todd Reeing kept the offense above water, and Kansas ended up scoring 58 points — a school record in conference play.
DEFENSE
The Jawhack defense has been nearly flawless this season, and it's only getting better. The secondary shut down a potent Baylor passing attack last Saturday as freshman cornerback Chris Harris continued to evolve into a star, recording his first career interception. The front seven has been able to apply consistent pressure to opposing quarterbacks all season long, and senior defensive tackle James McClinton is an absolute beast against both the run and the pass. Through six games, the defense has been Kansas' most valuable asset.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The punting picture got even more confusing last weekend as sophomore quarterback Kerry Meier punted three times in place of senior punter Kyle Tucker. After an exceptional sophomore season and a decent junior campaign, Tucker has lost his touch in the midst of what coach Mark Mangino called a slump. But the kick-return game has been steady for Kansas, especially junior wide receiver Marcus Herford, who has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this
After a 4-0 nonconference season in which the Jayhawks completely dismantled and overmatched all of their opponents, it seemed the team couldn't get much hotter. Turns out they could. After defeating Kansas State in Manhattan for the first time since 1989, Kansas thoroughly embarrassed Baylor last weekend, stretching the team's winning streak to six games and pushing Kansas to No.13 in the BCS rankings. It's been a dozen years since Kansas football has enjoyed this kind of success.
MOMENTUM
COACHING
Add another tally to the ever growing list of great decisions by Mangino this season: Removing freshman wide receiver Raimond Pendleton from the role of punt returner was a necessary move because sophomore cornerback Anthony Webb looks a little less clueless — but a bit too reckless — while fielding punts. Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner also has been scheming hard in recent weeks, devising a new and exciting punt formation that further utilizes Kerry Meier's athleticism and makes coaches think twice before sending their punt-block defense onto the field.
Colorado 4-3,2-1 Big 12 Conference
Senior running back Hugh Charles missed two games early in the season and not coincidentally, those games accounted for the lowest production from the Colorado offense. Charles may be one of the nation's best-kept secrets as his blistering speed to the edges has led him to an average of more than six yards per carry. Freshman running back Demetrius Sumler adds depth but hasn't showed much explosiveness. Freshman wide receivers Scotty McKnight and Josh Smith have worked their way to the top of the depth chart and serve as quarterback Cody Hawkins' favorite targets. Hawkins first season running the offense has been impressive at times. He averages 240 passing yards per game but has more interceptions than touchdowns.
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
If any linebacker in the nation aspires to be better than Buffalo senior Jordon Dixon, they have some catching up to do. Dizon leads the nation with 97 tackles through seven games. He also can make an impact blitzing and isn't a liability in pass coverage. Senior cornerback Terrence Wheatley is the second stand-out player on the Colorado defense. Wheatley ranks third in the Big 12 with nine passes defended despite teams often throwing away from him. Most of the passing yards gained on the CU defense come from opposing quarterbacks throwing at the other defensive backs. George Hypolite, a 285-pound defensive tackle, uses his deceptive quickness to rush the quarterback and hunt down running backs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior kicker Kevin Eberhart became Boulder's town hero after booting a career-high 45-yard field goal to upset Oklahoma three weeks ago. Eberhart missed two field
during, though, as sophomore Matt Dilallo hasn't been as efficient as he was last year.
fect since. With playmakers Terrence Wheatley and Chase McBride handling return duties, Colorado has received consistent field position. It ranks only 64th in the nation in net hunting, though as sophomore.
Scott Webb
MOMENTUM
Although the Buffaloes looked sloppy in a 47-20 loss to Kansas State last weekend, the team morale should still be high. At this point last year, Colorado's record was 1-6, and it was merely playing for respect. This
season, the Buffaloes are playing for higher stakes: bowl eligibility and an outside shot at the Big 12 North. Add in that they get to play one of only six undefeated teams in the nation, at home no less, and the Buffaloes should be ecstatic.
COACHING
Coach Dan Hawkins didn't get off to the start he envisioned last year when Colorado went 2-10 in his first season at the helm. But in his second year, the team seems to be more used to his style and schemes. Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich's offense looks much improved as does Ron Collins' defense. But still, the coaching staff is only 6-13 overall at Colorado.
Case Keefer
CU KICK-OFF
AT A GLANCE
The Buffalooes return to the friendly confines of Folsom Field after two consecutive road games. Colorado won one and lost one on the trip. The last time it played at home, Colorado pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year by beating then-No. 3 Oklahoma 27-24 in the final seconds.
BY THE NUMBERS
(2007 stats — national ranking)
— Asher Fusco
26. 14ppg - 66tn scoring offense
122. 29ypg-34th rushing offense
241. 43ypg-46th passing offense
24. 43ppg—47th scoring defense
122. 29ypg----34th rushing defense
207. 86ypg----39th passing defense
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior linebacker Jordon
Senior linebacker Jordon Dizon. Dixon has a tendency to turn the football field into his playground. He sprints to
Dizon
the ball and knocks down anyone and everyone in his way. By averaging 13.9 tackles per game, he's a lock for All-Big 12 honors and
is an All-American candidate. The KU offense hasn't met a linebacker the caliber of Dizon, and he could give it fits.
QUESTION MARKS
How will they get pressure on Todd Reesing? The Buffaloes are last in the Big 12 with only eight sacks. George Hypolite is a fantastic pass rusher up front but doesn't have much help. Dizon also finds success when he blitzes, but he's too invaluable to the defense to send at the quarterback repeatedly.
Will Colorado win the turnover battle? Against Kansas State, it turned the ball over four times but had no takeaways. Cody Hawkins was responsible for three interceptions, and coach Dan Hawkins said he was forcing the ball into too tight of spots. On the season, the Buffaloes turnover margin is minus two.
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Game Time Channel
No. 5 Oklahoma at Iowa State 11:30 a.m. FSN
No. 22 Texas at Baylor 11:30 a.m. Versus
Texas A&M at Nebraska 1:05 p.m.
No. 24 Texas Tech at No. 16 Missouri 2:30 p.m. ABC
No. 13 Kansas at Colorado 4:30 p.m. ESPN
Kansas State at Oklahoma State 6:05 p.m.
THURSDAY
SATURDAY
No. 2 South Florida 27, Rutgers 30
Name Time Channel
No. 23 Cincinnati at Pittsburgh 11 a.m. ESPN-GP*
No. 20 Tennessee at Alabama 11:30 a.m. ESPN-GP
Vanderbilt at No. 6 South Carolina 11:30 a.m. ESPN-GP
No. Florida at No. 8 Kentucky 2:30 p.m. CBS
No. 13 USC at Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. NBC
Michigan State at No. 1 Ohio State 2:30 p.m. ABC
No. 10 California at UCLA 2:30 p.m. ABC
No. 9 West Virginia vs. Mississippi St. 3:30 p.m.
No. 7 Oregon at Washington 7 p.m. ABC
No. 24 Michigan at Illinois 7 p.m. ABC
No. 18 Auburn at No. 5 LSU 8 p.m. ESPN
Game
*ESPN-GP available on Pay Per View
TELEVISED GAMES
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Alabama A&M 31, Arkansas Pine Bluff 14
Utah 27, TCU 20
SATURDAY
Game Time Channel
Eastern Michigan vs. Northwestern 6 p.m. ESPNU
Louisville at Connecticut 7 p.m. ESPN
Game
Game Time Channel
Penn State at Indiana 11 a.m. ESPN
Iowa at Purdue 11 a.m. ESPN2
Central Michigan at Clemson 11 a.m. ESPNU
North Dakota State at Minnesota 11 a.m. BTN*
Northern Illinois at Wisconsin 11 a.m. BTN
Wake Forest at Navy 12 p.m. CSTV
Miami at Florida State 2:30 p.m. ABC
Buffalo at Syracuse 3 p.m. ESPNU
N.C.State at East Carolina 3:30 p.m. CSTV
Ohio at Toledo 6 p.m. ESPN-GP
Virginia at Maryland 7 p.m. ESPN2
New Mexico at San Diego State 7:30 p.m. CSTV
*Big 10 Network not available on Sunflower Cabie