8A SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY HARRY KANSAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2007
FOOTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 12A)
"We're trying to present as many problems as we can with different personnel groups and different schemes," Warinner said. "Our phi-
iosophy is to take what the defense gives us, and that's what we're trying to do."
THE PIECES
Reesing has plenty of versatile receivers and backs to whom he can distribute the ball. Senior tight
All the creative schemes and tricky formations in the world would not be much good with-
he's working well for us right now"
"We're trying to present as many problems as we can with different personnel groups and different schemes."
out versatile personnel — something Kansas has in spades, starting with the quarterback.
The only predictable quality to sophomore Todd Reesing's 2007 season has been his ability to make plays. How he makes those plays changes regularly. In his starting debut against Central Michigan, Reesing did damage with his arm, completing 20 of his 29 pass attempts. Two weekends ago against Florida International, Reesing got the job done with his legs, rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown. Both Mangino and Warinner said Reesing had exceeded their expectations this season.
ED WARINNER
Offensive coordinator
"Todd's playing pretty well right now," Warinner said. "He's done a good job. He has a good feel and is comfortable within the system so
end Derek Fine is not flashy, but he is one of the Big 12 Conference's best because of his ability to catch the ball — he has 16 receptions in 2007 — and to provide blocks for the running game. Senior
wide receiver Marcus Henry, who stands 6-foot-5, has reeled in 21 receptions and gained nearly 19 yards per catch while showing steady improvements.
"I think if you look at Marcus the last couple of years, he's been a reliable guy," Mangino said. "He's just gotten a lot stronger and developed a lot of confidence. He's always been a solid guy, but this year he knows it's his last opportunity and he's making the most of it."
Once the pass sets up the run, Kansas has two solid options. Sophomore running back Jake Sharp and senior running back Brandon McAnderson have split the load almost evenly and have proven to be hard to contain. Each is averaging more than six yards per carry and is on pace for more than 1,200 rushing yards
THE PRODUCTION
this season.
Warriner and the coaching staff evaluated the pieces they had to work with on the Kansas roster, drew up a plan to best utilize those pieces and are now reaping the reward for their labor — the offensive production.
The Jayhawks offensive numbers indicate a level of proficiency that is difficult to comprehend. Kansas is ranked 12th nationally in rushing yards per game, 10th in passing yards per game and third in total yards per game. The Jayhawks have scored the fourth most points per game in the nation and boast the 18th-ranked turnover margin. Individually, Reesing is ranked 10th in the country in passing efficiency, and Henry is 13th in receiving yards per game.
Has Warinner's arrival lived up to expectations? The blowout victories and the smile on Warinner's face say yes.
"It's very rewarding," Warinner said. "It's what Coach and I talked about doing when I came in — we felt that if we could get all of our ideas on the field and get the right guys in the right situations we could be pretty effective. At this point, we're pretty pleased with where we're at."
Edited by Tara Smith
The basketball team is having a meeting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct.10, in Hadi Auditorium for walk-on tryouts. Last year, senior guard Brad Witherspoon made the team after trying out.
WALK-ON TRYOUTS
basketball notebook
LATE NIGHT
Late Night in the Phog starts at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12. Admission is free, but the Athletics Department is asking fans to bring nonperishable food items to donate to charity. Late Night will feature an appearance from former football player John Riggins, video highlights, skits by the men's and women's basketball teams and scrimmages by both teams.
RECRUITING UPDATE
Greg Monroe, the consensus No. 1 player in the class of 2008, dropped Kansas from his list of choices, according to JayhawkSlant.com. Monroe's top five schools are now Connecticut, Louisiana State, Duke, Texas and Georgetown. Kansas still has only one verbal commitment, Travis Releford, for the 2008 class.
Mark Dent
football notebook
IN THE POLLS
The big upheaval that took place among top-25 teams during the weekend shifted the Jayhawks' standing in both major polls. Kansas received three votes in the AP poll this week, down from six last week, placing the team in a tie for 40th. In the USA Today Coaches poll, Kansas gained ground by earning 48 votes, up from last week's total of 20, placing it 28th in the rankings. USA Today's Sagarin computer rankings did not shuffle Kansas too far, moving the team from 38th to 33rd. The computer ranking system, which takes strength of schedule and margin of victory into account, ranks the Jayhawks' strength of schedule as the worst of the 119 FBS teams.
HISTORY A FACTOR
Kansas not only will be facing a talented Kansas State team this weekend, but the Jayhawks also will have to overcome history. The Wildcats moved into the 24th spot in the AP Top 25 poll last Sunday. This might not bode well for the Jayhawks, considering Kansas is 23-137 2 all-time against
Mangino
at Kansas State since then and 0-7 against ranked Wildcat teams. Kansas coach Mark Mangino's road record could be the most substantial historical hurdle. Under Mangino, Kansas is 4-21 as the visiting team and 2-18 in Big 12 Conference road games.
SUNFLOWER
SHOWDOWN
Although Saturday's game is sold out, Kansas fans will be able to catch the 11 a.m. contest on Fox Sports Net, Sunflower Broadband channel 36. This is the third consecutive season and the eighth time that the game has appeared on TV Kansas State holds a 6-2 advantage in the televised games.
CRIME
Asher Fusco
University of Memphis athlete murdered on campus
BYWOODY BAIRD ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Classes at the University of Memphis were canceled Monday after a football player was fatally shot on campus in what school officials said was a targeted attack but city police later said could have been random.
By late Monday afternoon police had not identified any suspects in the slaying of Taylor Bradford, who was shot about 9:45 p.m. Sunday, apparently near a university housing complex.
After the shooting, the 21-yearold junior crashed a car he was driving into a tree. Police said they had not determined whether he was shot before or after he started driving the vehicle.
Police were responding to a car crash when Bradford was found slumped over in the vehicle on a campus street about 200 yards from his apartment complex.
"It wasn't until the paramedics got there that they determined there was a possible gunshot wound," said Bruce Harber, director of university
police. He was apparently shot once, police said, though an autopsy was pending.
University President Shirley Raines said authorities quickly determined Bradford's killers were not a threat to other students but still banned all outsiders from campus housing throughout the night.
In an e-mail alert to faculty, students and staff members at 3:40 a.m. Monday, the university said "the initial investigation indicates this was an act directed specifically toward the victim and was not a random act of violence."
Memphis head coach Tommy West said. "He was well respected and a popular member of our team."
The Memphis Tigers host Marshall University on Tuesday night, and a moment of silence was planned before the game.
"We really don't know whether it was a random act or whether or not this individual was targeted," he said.
Godwin said witnesses saw two unidentified men running from the area where investigators believe the shooting occurred and other witnesses reported hearing gunfire.
"We feel like the campus is safe, but we'd rather err on the side of safety than not," spokesman Curt Guenther said.
The university, which is primarily a commuter campus, still decided to cancel classes. The University of Memphis had 20,562 students enrolled for last fall, according to its Web site.
City police, who are handling the case because it is a homicide investigation, expressed less certainty that
Bradford, a 5-foot-11, 300-pound defensive lineman, was a junior who transferred to Memphis last year after two seasons at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. The Nashville resident was to have begun playing for the Tigers this season.
"Everything I've heard about him ... he was just a good kid," Godwin said.
Godwin said investigators had no evidence that Bradford was involved in any illegal activity.
Monday afternoon, several foot-
City Police Director Larry Godwin said a motive for the shooting had not been determined and police had no suspects identified.
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Bradford had been specifically targeted than university officials did.
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ball players and others tied a large red ribbon to the tree Bradford struck with his car and put up a large poster board for friends and acquaintances to leave personal notes.
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A picture of University of Memphis football player Taylor Bradford is placed at the tree in Memphis, Tenn., Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, where his car hit after he was shot Sunday evening. Bradford, 21, who was pronounced dead in a hospital, apparently was shot near a university housing complex in what police believe was a targeted attack. Classes were canceled Monday as a precaution.
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