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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2007
SUNFLOWER SHOWDOWN
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In-state rivalry means more this time around
Undefeated Kansas No.24 Kansas State finally give bearing to 13th-most played college football feud
BY ASHER FUSCO
afusco@kansan.com
There are a few requirements a rivalry needs to satisfy in order to be deemed healthy, and for the first time in a long time, the Sunflower Showdown meets all of the specifications.
Geographic proximity? Check. Students' general disdain for their counterparts? Check. A football game that holds significance? Check — finally. For the first time in more than a decade, in-state rivals Kansas and Kansas State will meet in the midst of promising seasons. Kansas is currently a perfect 4-0 and Kansas State is 3-1 and ranked No.24 in the nation.
"Playing a ranked opponent is an exciting challenge for us," sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing said. "They've got national exposure from their season so far, so for us to go in there and have a chance to beat them and get our exposure is really exciting."
For the better part of the last decade, Kansas' match-ups against Kansas State have lacked luster, due in large part to the rising and falling fortunes of the two programs. The last time both teams were nationally relevant at the same time was 1995, when both finished 10-2 and in a tie for second in the Big 8 conference. Kansas State blew out Kansas 41-7 that year.
Kansas football abruptly fell off of the map after the 1995 season, winning just 21 games in five years under coach Terry Allen.
Coach Mark Mangino has slowly rebuilt the program since taking over in 2002, and has taken the 2007 Jayhawks to the brink of the Top 25.
Kansas State won more than 10 games in six of the past 10 seasons, but dropped off severely in 2004 and 2005, the final years of coach Bill Snyder's career. But coach Ron Prince, hired before the 2006 season, took the Wildcats to a bowl game last year and into
SEE HISTORY ON PAGE 5B
FOOTBALL
Sunflower Showdown conditions familiar Previous week's circumstances strangely reminiscent of rivalry's 2006 installment
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Kansas and Kansas State will battle in the Sunflower Showdown Saturday in Manhattan. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats 39-20 in the contest last year.
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Nov. 11, 2006: Kansas State 45, Texas 42.
Nov. 11, 2006: Kansas State 45, Texas 42. The Wildcat win was heralded as firstyear coach Ron Prince's signature victory and was said to symbolize a return to national prominence for the Kansas State football program.
The jubilation in Manhattan ended prematurely a week later when in-state rival Kansas dismantled Kansas State, 39-20.
Fast forward to the present and the Wildcats are facing a set of eerily similar circumstances coming into the Sunflower Showdown Saturday. They are coming off another season-defining upset victory against the Longhorns. And once again, the Jayhawks are eager for their shot at the Wildcats.
Prince doesn't need any reminder of the situation and said he hoped his team learned from the sloppy performance.
"I think every year the team has to be reborn," Prince said. "We went on the road to play a very important game in this part
of the country and then we turned the ball over six times."
The culprit of the turnover problem was then-freshman quarterback Josh Freeman. He threw four interceptions and lost one fumble.
Kansas rattled the young quarterback by sending excessive pressure and unleashing bruising hits on Freeman possession after possession. Kansas coach Mark Mangino said that while he was proud of the result of last year's game, the players won't even be watching the film to prepare for Saturday's game.
"That game is history and our kids put it out of their minds," Mangino said. "They are focused on the task at hand. We all are. It's a new season and there's some different players on the field for both teams."
But for the Kansas players one thing remains the same. While Kansas State players were in a physically-exhausting game with Texas last weekend, the Kansas players were spending their time resting, fishing and golfing.
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 5B
WOMEN'S GOLF
Hawks retain title at Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational
BY ANDREW WIEBE
awiebe@kansan.com
After finishing the opening 36 holes two strokes ahead of Missouri on Monday, Kansas emerged as repeat champions when the final round was cancelled because of thunderstorms in the area. Though the suspension of play was disappointing, coach Erin O'Neil said bad weather was a normal part of collegiate competition.
The same dreadful weather conditions that interrupted the University of Kansas women's golf team's first two tournaments this fall worked to its advantage yesterday as the team successfully defended its title at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational at Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan.
"That's pretty much college golf," O'Neil said. "It seems like if there's a golf tournament you'll have at least one day in kind of bad weather. You just have to adjust and tell yourself that everyone is playing in the same
conditions."
The team used solid performances from all seven players to complete the defense of the title it won last year at Alvamar Golf Course, the team's home course in Lawrence. Leading Kansas and finishing tied for fourth
was sophomore Camilla Svensson. Svensson made her first appearance this fall a memorable one as she shot an opening round of 75 and followed with an even par 72 to finish three-over-par. Svensson's total of 147 was only four back from individual winner Julia Potter of Missouri.
"It was great to play well after struggling a little bit in the beginning of the year," Svensson said. "I was very pleased with the way I played during the first two rounds, the way my teammates played and the way we completed the tournament. I am really
Svensson
happy. I was hitting the ball extremely well and I was able to stay focused. It was a tough course but it was great for our team."
Though Svensson posted the lowest scores of any Kansas player, her teammates were not far behind. Freshmen Meghna Bal and Grace Thiry, both competing as individuals, each finished tied for seventh, turning in nearly identical scorecards in the process. Freshman Jennifer Clarke, appearing in her first collegiate event, tied for 31st. Also continuing their solid play were sophomores Meghan Gockel and Emily Powers, who tied for 19th and 11th respectively. The team's lone upperclassman, Senior Annie Giangrosso, maintained her consistent play and finished tied for 15th.
Giangrosso said that while the team had hoped to earn the title over the course of all three rounds, the victory would provide a springboard for the remainder the fall and spring seasons as the team continues to exhibit the qualities that have driven its success so far.
results
Kansas
302-298—600 (+24)
(Team Competition)
Individuals
T4 Camilla Svensson 75-72—147
T11 Emily Powers 77-73—150
T15 Annie Giangrosso 73-78—151
T19 Meghan Gockel 78-75—153
T31 Jennifer Clark 77-80—157
Individuals Only
Individuals Only
T7 Meghna Bal 74-75—149
T7 Grace Thiry 74-75—149
"I think it shows that we have a lot of depth," she said. "We are a very, very competitive group, more so than any other team I have
SEE GOLF ON PAGE 5B
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COMMENTARY
Promotional video makes Hawks sick with laughter
"D don't forget your power towel!" There are the
"It looks like a 12-year-old who has their room decorated in trolls made the video," said Josh Kerney, Hillsboro, freshman.
These are the infamous words from Kansas State University head football coach Ron Prince that have been heard repeatedly on YouTube in a promotional video encouraging the fans to bring the specially made purple towl to all the football games this year, in hopes of starting a new Manhattan tradition. University of Kansas student reaction?
"If they wanted to intimidate us they could have at least made it modern," said Hunter Ketcherside, Wichita freshman
"It looks like a middle schooler made it," said Justin Blair, Girard, sophomore.
Poor production aside, how and why do you start a new tradition with a towel? And why does everything associated with Kansas State University have to have the word "power" in it? Everything in that town is stamped with the power-cat logo. Maybe power towels will be the new curtains in everyone's windows.
In each football stadium across the nation, at least one fan will have a towel of some sort twirling in the air in hopes of getting the home team fired up. Nevertheless, who thinks that thousands of people will affect a game by waving a towel in the air? What are they going to do, create enough wind current to move
SEE JOHNSON ON PAGE SB