THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007 SPORTS 3B FOOTBALL Offensive tactics compliment Reesing; familiar style helps quarterback excel Coaches say sophomore exceeds expectations for offensive leadership BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@ku.edu When Kansas coach Mark Mangino and offensive coordinator Ed Warner designed the team's new offense last spring, sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing had not yet become starting quarterback Todd Reesing. Luckily for Mangino and Warinner, Reeing has flourished as the field general of the new system. But that may not be purely coincidental – the team's new offense fits the team's new quarterback like a glove. "What we're trying to do suits Todd," Warinner said. "We play to his strengths by trying to keep the field spread out. He can look around and see who he wants to throw to and it gives him some options." Reeing, who played at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, is no stranger to the style of offense that Warinner installed. During his high school career, Reeing took snaps in the shotgun formation with four wide receivers – the same kind of offense he commands at Kansas. The possibilities are more varied in a college offense, Reeing said, but the bootleg passing plays and read-option running plays are similar to the schemes he used at Lake Travis. "There are definitely a lot of similarities." Reeing said. "It has helped me feel more comfortable because I did it for three years in high school, so it's helped me adjust." Reeing seems to have mastered any sort of Reesing adjustments he has faced as a starter thus far. Through three games he has completed 56 percent of his passes for 831 yards and thrown 10 touchdowns without a single interception. Reesing's 174.49 passing efficiency rating ranks second in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, and 10th in the nation, near famous names like Colt Brennan of Hawaii and Brian Brohm of Louisville, Ky. "We just want him to operate our offense, be a leader and execute plays," Mangino said. "If he does the things he's supposed to do, some respect and national attention could be a byproduct of taking care of business here." Reesing's numbers might be even more impressive had Kansas receivers not dropped eight catchable passes last week against Toledo. Despite the dropped passes, he bounced back and finished with 313 passing yards and 19 rushing yards. Mangino said the quarterback's ability to deal with adversity was one of the ways he had exceeded the coaching staff's expectations. Reesing's rushing total included an impressive 13-yard option scamper around the right edge of the offensive line - a play Kansas used several times against an aggressive Toledo defense. Each new wrinkle the coaches throw into the offense could be a surprise to fans, media and especially opposing defenders. But chances are Reeing will have seen it before. leaderboard Edited by Elizabeth Cattell Big 12 Conference passing efficiency SAM BRADFORD - Oklahoma, 219.50,79.7,823,11/1 Name, School, Passing efficiency , Completion %, Yards, TD/INT TODD REESING - Kansas, 174.49, 56.3, 831, 10/1 GRAHAM HARRELL - Texas Tech, 170.52, 75.0, 1317, 14/2 CHASE DANIEL - MISSOURI, 147.48, 66.9, 1017, 10/2 BLAKE SYZMANSKI - BAYLOR, 136.77, 57.3, 1039, 11/5 Kansas earns national attention K-STATE GAME SOLD OUT JAYHAWKS DON'T CHEAT FOOTBALL Kansas has been more than just efficient in all aspects of its game this season; it has been disciplined. The Jayhawks are tied for second nationally with an average of only 3.67 penalties per game. Iowa State is currently first in the nation, averaging 3.33 per game, and Wake Forest is tied with Kansas for second. The shortage of false-start and delay-of-game penalties could be because of sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing's command of the offense, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. According to the Kansas State Athletics Department, the Oct. 6 Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State is now sold out The official game time and television availability will be announced next Monday. NATIONAL ATTENTION Junior cornerback Qaib Talibs strong play through the first three games of the season has earned him more attention from national media. Rivals.com moved Talib to the top of its defensive back power rankings after recording six tackles and one interception against Toledo last week. Kansas offensive coordinator Ed Warinner also earned inclusion in the Web site's rankings — he is ranked No. 20 in the offensive coach category. FOCUSING ON FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL Russell Brorsen said. "If you watch them on film, it doesn't match up with their stats. They're very disciplined and very fast." Florida International's losing streak is currently the longest of any Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team. Kansas' opponent this week, Florida International, may be in the middle of a 15-game losing streak, but the layhawks are not taking the game lightly. "They're a different team this year than they have been in the past," junior defensive end Asher Fusco FOOTBALL Florida International ready for new start BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com The Florida International football team, Kansas' next opponent, is infamous. And its infamy doesn't come from off the field issues with its players. In fact, the Golden Panthers' reputation stems from a singular on-the-field incident. Florida International players were part of a monumental brawl during a game with cross-town rival, the University of Miami, less than a year ago. Although the Golden Panthers' 2007 roster consists of fifteen players that were suspended for taking part in the fight, Kansas coach Mark Mangino said new Florida International coach Mario Cristobal has changed the team's culture. "Their new coach has brought some structure and discipline to the program," Mangino said. "It's quite obvious by watching them." Cristobal was hired for the head coaching vacation this off-season after former coach Don Strock resigned before the end of last year. Strock didn't find much success on the FIU sidelines in his five years with only 15 wins and 41 losses. But Strock's five years were also the program's first five years. The football team is now in its sixth year and the goal is simple: be competitive. The scuffle that made national headlines last October just makes Cristobol's task in getting to that point tough. Add in that the Golden Panthers posses the nation's longest losing steak, at 15 games, and a successful program seems generations away. Cristobal doesn't see it that way, though. He said he was enthusiastic about the way his team had played so far this season. "Slowly but surely our guys are understanding the process a little better and understanding our schemes better and sure as heck are putting every ounce of effort results Florida International's 2007 results: Sept. 1 at (17) Penn State: LOSS, 59-0 Sept. 15 at Miami (FL): **LOSS**, 23-9 Sept. 8 Maryland: LOSS. 26-10 into it," Cristobal said. "We feel like every single week we are going to take steps and push forward." So far, the Golden Panthers have gotten better every week. They suffered a demoralizing 59-0 thrashing at the hands of Penn State in their first game of the season, but then only lost by 16 points to Maryland. And last week, it played evenly with Miami for most of the game in a 23-9 loss. Mangino noticed the improvements and said Florida International's encounters with nationally-recognized teams made it a prepared opponent. "They played Miami toe-to-toe and a good Maryland team very well," Mangino said. "They are used to playing in big venues so this is a game we have to get ready for." Two teams from Florida International's conference, the Sun Belt, pulled upsets last weekend when Troy piled points on Oklahoma State and Florida Atlantic beat Minnesota. But Florida International has never finished in the top half of the Sun Belt standings or enjoyed a winning season. With a new coach and an urge to distant themselves from the events of last October, however, the Golden Panthers have to start somewhere. They'll try to make that somewhere Memorial Stadium this Saturday. - Rachel Bock CRIME ASSOCIATED PRESS Police arrest Missouri football players Police arrested two reserve defenders on the Missouri football team in separate incidents. John Stull, a redshirt freshman and defensive lineman, was arrested by Columbia police early Monday on a municipal assault charge, police said. A 26-year-old man told police that Stull punched him in the mouth in the parking lot of a local restaurant. The pair argued over money owed from damage to an apartment, the victim said. The fight took place about 4 a.m. on Sept. 6. Stull, Missouri's No. 2 defensive end behind starter Stryker Sulak, is on two years of unsupervised probation for a misdemeanor peace disturbance conviction from February 2006. The former Rock Bridge High School star has made one tackle in three games this year. Athletic Department spokesman Chad Molder said Stull's status with the team was being reviewed by coach Gary Pinkel. Columbia police also arrested backup linebacker Steve Redmond and former Missouri softball player Kendra Power at 3 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of throwing a nuisance party at their home. Both were issued summons and released. ZLB Plasma 816 W 24th St Lawrence, KS 66046 (785) 749-5750 www.zilbplasma.com www.zilbplasma.com Pet and donation times may vary. 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