SPORTS
GREEK LEAGUE FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SOFTBALL SWEEPS WEEKEND
PAGE 5B
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 PAGE 15
PAGE 4B
COMMENTARY
KANSAS 55, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 3
Kansas has yet to be tested
BY SHAWN SHROYER
The Jayhawks are off to their first 4-0 start since 1995. As Austin Powers would say, "What does it all mean, Basil?"
Chances are, not even Basil is sure what to make of Kansas' hot start. Sure, Kansas outscores its first four opponents 214-23 is impressive, but those four schools' combined 3-13 record isn't.
Team rolls to 4-0 record
Basisically, the only sure bet is, two weeks from now teams will no longer hand Kansas victories. After Kansas' bye this week, it plays at Kansas State, where the Jayhawks can't expect the Wildcats to make the same mistakes the Florida International Golden Panthers made Saturday night.
FIU's five turnovers don't even tell the whole story of how hopeless the Panthers looked on offense. The fact that the team had nearly as many yards punting (239) as they had of total offense (255) does the FIU offense a little more justice. Kansas' swarming defense had something to do with that, but the Panthers shot themselves in the paws time and time again.
At the start of the second quarter, FIU trailed 10-3. Kansas had just turned the ball over on the FIU 24-yard line on downs. This was the Panthers' chance to make the game interesting. In a way, they did.
Aqib Talib, junior cornerback, makes an interception in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the game against Florida International Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Talib returned the interception 100 yards for a touchdown setting the school record for the longest interception return for a touchdown.
SEE SHROVER ON PAGE 8B
The Panthers converted on third and 13 on the ensuing drive. The offense looked as though it was coming to life. Then FIU managed to lose 14 yards on the next three plays without committing a penalty or being sacked. That drive erased any expectations of a competitive game.
On the other side of the ball, it was hard to tell how many yards Kansas earned of the 615 it accumulated offensively.
When the Jayhawks got the ball back after turning it over on downs, they marched down the field for their second touchdown. The big play of the drive was a 19-yard connection between Todd Reesing and Aguilar Talib
Jayhawks end non-conference schedule with victory over Golden Panthers
afusco@kansan.com
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
Patience paid off for the few thousand fans who stuck around for the duration of Kansas' 55-3 victory over Florida International.
Trailing by 38 points early in the fourtnt quarter, Florida International quarterback Wayne Younger heaved a pass toward the end zone and into the waiting arms of Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib. Talib gathered the ball several yards deep in the end zone and sprinted forward without hesitation.
field, he was heading diagonally toward the end zone with just a few offensive linemen
The Kansas defenders turned into blockers and formed a wall as Talib raced down the left sideline. By the time he crossed mid-
end zone with just a few to beat. Sophomore safeties Justin Thornton and Darrell Stuckey teamed up to bring down the last Golden Panther standing in the way as Talib sprinted into the corner of the end zone.
most impressive plays that I've seen. The people in the stadium tonight got to see a real treat."
"That was one of the best plays I've seen from
"The people in the stadium tonight got to see a real treat."
a defensive performer in my career," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "I've had the good fortune to be around a lot of quality defensive players - All-Americans, first-round draft picks - and that was one of the
MARK MANGINO Kansas coach
Though the game was well under control at the time of Talib's interception, the sensational play added fitting punctuation to a completely dominating performance from Kansas. The lavahws outgained the
Golden Panthers 615 yards to 255 despite running only three more plays and holding the ball for five fewer minutes than their opponents. The Jayhawk victory moved Kansas to 4-0 on the season and dropped
Florida International to 0-4.
Though the final score accurately depicted the imbalance on the field, matters could have been much worse for the Golden Panthers. Kansas senior running back Brandon McAnderson fumbled twice in the first half and sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing misfired on a fourth-and-seven deep in Florida International territory early in the second quarter.
The layhawks only led 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, but picked up the pace of the offense in short order. Kansas scored 10 points on drives of 66 and 56 yards in the second quarter, relying on the arm of
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 6B
VOLLEYBALL
Brown fills up stat sheet in sweep
BY RUSTIN DODD
rdodd@kansan.com
The Kansas volleyball team was all smiles after its 3-0 (30-27, 30-24, 30-25) sweep of Texas Tech on Saturday — and for good reason.
Senior settler Emily Brown and freshman outside bitter Karina Garlington keyed the Jayhawks' best offensive performance of the season, giving them their second straight Big 12 victory. Brown recorded 10 kills, 25 assists and 11 digs for a rare volleyball triple-double — the third of her career — while Garlingen led the team with 14 kills and three service aces.
Kansas improved to 9-5 and 2-2 in the Big 12, while Texas Tech fell to 7-6 and 1-3 in the Big 12.
"Anytime in this league this year that you can get a 3-0 win, you have to be delighted, and we are." Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "I think that's as good as we've been."
Anna Faltermeyer/KANSAN
Freshman outside hitter Jenna Kaiser hits against two Texas Tech blockers during the game Saturday afternoon. The three-game sweep was Kansas' second conference win — just one short of the team's total last season.
EARLY MOMENTUM
Kansas grabbed hold of the momentum early in game one. A block by sophomore middle blocker Brittany Williams, sandwiched between kills from Garlington and junior
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 8B
Kansas falls to ranked foes
awiebe@kansan.com
The University of Kansas women's soccer team came into last weekend looking for two quality wins at home against nationally ranked opponents, No. 25 Illinois and No. 19 California. Despite playing two of its most complete games this season, Kansas wrapped up its non-conference schedule without adding to its lone win this season, a 1-0 victory against Missouri State on Sept. 18.
BY ANDREW WIEBE
Though the weekend was marked by two frustrating losses, the team showed why many believed it would be a contender for the Big 12 championship before the season began. A 2-1 loss to Illinois on Friday and a 1-0 defeat to California on Sunday afternoon brought Kansas' record to 1-7-1 heading into Big 12 conference play.
>> SOCCER
VS. NO. 25 ILLINOIS
A second victory continued to elude Kansas in a game memorable for the three frightening collisions between junior midfielder Jessica Bush and Illini goalkeepers.
After an even beginning in which the teams traded possession and moment
Game summaries
Shots
1st half KU 5 UI 8
2nd half KU 3 UI 5
Total KU 8 UI 13
ILLINOIS
Corner kicks
1st half KU 1 UI 2
2nd half KU 3 UI 1
Total KU 4 UI 3
CALIFORNIA
Shots
1st half KU 5 Cal 5
2nd half KU 6 Cal 6
Total KU 11 Cal 11
---
Corner kicks
1st half KU 0 Cal 1
2nd half KU 1 Cal 4
Total KU 1 Cal 5
1
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 8B