SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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GIRL POWER
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2007
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE1B
Nevermind schedule, Jayhawks look strong
'Easy' opponents add confidence
What a boring start to the football season this year. First, the Jayhawks had a couple of blowouts, scoring 52 points in game one against Central Michigan and a measly 62 against Southeastern Louisiana. Second, there's no quarterback controversy, or at least not yet. I could start one, but won't because Todd Reesing is really good.
Winner by a wingspan
So is that a bad thing? Kansas hasn't played the most highly touted teams, but they haven't even come close to pulling a Michigan either ... knock on wood.
This Saturday when Toledo comes to Memorial Stadium the thousands in attendance will expect another "easy" win. I know I do.
The same goes for next week's opponent Florida International. The only way the Panthers have a shot is if Alex Galino decides to be quarterback for a game.
Everyone says the Jayhawks have a weak non-conference schedule and should have had some kind of a challenge to prepare them for their Big 12 conference schedule. But who is to say that these games aren't helping them?
The Kansas defense has only allowed seven points in two games and the offense is averaging 519 yards per game. It makes no difference who Kansas played, if the defense can
The Jayhawks haven't started a season 4-0 since 1995, which was 12 long years ago thanks to a setback by one Terry Allen.
hold two different teams to seven points or less and the offense puts up 14 touchdowns in two games, something must be working right.
The layhawks haven't started a season 4-0 since 1995, which was 12 long years ago thanks to a setback by one Terry Allen. This could be the year that the slump is finally broken. Kansas should have a perfect record going into its first conference game against Kansas State.
With an extra week to prepare for the Wildcats, the Jayhawks have every right to think that far less things can be achieved. Every week each player spouts the cliché that they are taking things one game at a time and not looking toward the future. But Oct. 6 has to be in the back of their minds. If they won't talk about the next important game, I will.
Last year, KU beat Kansas State easily in a 39-20 victory. It might not be as easy this year, but there isn't any reason why the Jayhawks shouldn't win.
The next two weeks will be fun to watch as the football team racks up points like it has been. In the meantime, despite the schedule, at least we know we aren't winless like a couple of supposed football powerhouses, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Edited by Luke Morris
Kansan sports columnist Erica Johnson can be reached at ejohnson@kansan.com
Ivan Dominguez, Cuban rider for Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team, celebrates his victory in stage one of the first ever Tour of Missouri as he crosses the finish line in the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. The Tour of Missouri is now the third international pro cycling tour to be held in the United States. The six day, 600 mile race across the state featured 120 international pros and started Tuesday in Kansas City. The tour will finish Sunday in St. Louis.
Andrew Wacker/KANSAN
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FOOTBALL
Receivers vital to revamped offense
Talib evolves into dual-threat player
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Aqib Talib's goal coming into the season was to intercept 10 passes.
But two games into Kansas' 2007 schedule the junior cornerback is on pace to reach the milestone in a different statistical category. Talib, a team captain, has already caught two touchdown passes as a wide receiver.
"He's such a talented guy and you've got to get your best guy on the field." Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "There's no question about his ability and you can't help but use him on offense."
SWITCHING SIDES
Talib has lined up on offense for less than five plays on the season, but every time he's made an impact. Talib has three catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns, placing him as the jayhawks fourth leading receiver.
Mangino said if it were up to Talib, he would never come off of the field. His attitude and playmaking ability put Mangino in a tough situation because he has to balance Talib's playing time between both sides of the ball.
"We've got to be smart and pick and choose our battles because he's a key guy on defense," Mangino said. "Every once in a while, I get the urge to pull him back up and I've just got to fight it."
One Jayhawk who certainly wouldn't mind seeing Talib on offense more often is sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing. Although Reesing is already blessed with one of the Big 12's deepest receiving corps, no one on the roster is quite Talib.
After all, none of the other receivers score 75 percent of the time they catch a pass. That's exactly what Talib has done
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
SEE TALIB ON PAGE 4B
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior cornerback Agib Talib is best known for his work on defense. But he is making a name for himself on offense
that he has taken down in both of the Jawah's games.
Marcus Henry has already set this season apart from his previous ones. The senior wide receiver has stepped up his game, and is on pace to break KU's season records for receiving and receiving vards.
Humble senior shines in final season
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
The senior wide receiver lined up in the slot and served as the third option in a Kansas offense that relied mainly on veteran receivers like Brian Murph and Mark Simmons. Now that Henry is the resident veteran of the receiving corps, he is making his mark on Kansas Football.
For three years, Marcus Henry flew under the radar.
"He has really improved his game tremendously," Kansas coach Mangino said. "He's gotten a little better every year that he been with us, but this year he really just has a good feel for things. He's more confident than he's ever been."
Henry may be confident, but he isn't cocky or overly self-assured. The Lawton, Okla., native speaks quietly — quietly enough to have earned the nickname
"Mute" from teammates — and usually punctuates each statement by praising the performance of a teammate.
Despite his low-key demeanor, it's a wonder he slipped by largely unnoticed for the first three-quarters of his college career. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Henry presents the ultimate in match-up problems for most opponents. He is fast enough to beat many cornerbacks deep down the sideline, tall enough to snare a stray pass and opportunistic enough to make big plays out of nowhere. In the first two games of the 2007 season, Henry has done all of that and more.
EARNING PRAISE
"Running routes, catching, blocking he's really developed into a heck of a
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SEE HENRY ON PAGE 4B
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