8B
GAME DAY
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
FRIDAY. AUGUST 31.2007
KU KICK-OFF
ATAGLANCE
2007 is a big season for Kansas and this game is one of the biggest on the schedule. If the Jayhawks lose Saturday, fan expectations and the team's bowl hopes could both drop dramatically. Kansas hasn't had much trouble at home during Mangino's tenure, a trend it needs to continue in this early-season matchup against a formidable foe.
BY THE NUMBERS
29:29.0 ppg:
scoring offense
19:176.4 ypg
rushing offense
60:197.7 ypg:
passing offense
28:109.0 ypg:
rushing defense
119. 269.1 ypg passing defense
(National ranking:2006 stats)
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sophomore quarterback
Todd Reesing: This one is easy.
Much of the offseason talk surrounded the competition for playing time at quarterback and much of the in-season chatter will be devoted to Reesing's performance. If the season-opener turns into a high-scoring
shootout,
Reeing will need to outshine Central Michigan's star quarterback, Dan LeFevour.
Reeing has only played
Reesina
in three games and has never started, so he may have to battle his nerves.
QUESTION MARKS
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFE
Aqib Talib, and who else?
The Chippewas may opt to avoid throwing to Talib's side of the field, considering the junior cornerback is the only member of the Kansas secondary who has started more than four collegiate games.
How often and in what situations will each running back get the ball? Sophomore Jake Sharp, senior Brandon McAnderson and freshman Carmon Boyd-Anderson are all slated to see action.
TOTAL OVERHAUL ON OFFENSE
New coordinator Ed Warinner debuts his system Saturday
KANSAS VS CENTRAL MICHIGAN 6 p.m. Saturday, Memorial Stadium
OFFENSE
Heading into the season opener, Kansas' offense remains a mystery. New offensive coordinator Ed Warinner installed a new system this offseason, coach Mark Mangino recently named a new starting quarterback and the offensive line underwent a major makeover during the summer. Mangino said Kansas would set up its running game by establishing the passing game. If that is the Jayhawks' game plan, quite a bit of pressure is riding on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing.
DEFENSE
This much is certain — Kansas is strong at defensive tackle and cornerback. Outside of those spots, youth and inexperience reign. Senior defensive tackle James McClinton and junior cornerback Aqib Talib are team captains and the cornerstones of the defense. If McClinton can apply pressure to the quarterback it will help freshman cornerback Chris Harris stay out of trouble. The Jayhawks' linebackers shuffled positions this offseason but junials Mike Rivera and Joe Mortensen are impact players.
SPECIALTEAMS
Punter Kyle Tucker and kicker Scott Webb an flashy, but they get the job done consistently. Tucker and Webb, both seniors, have played a vital role for the past three seasons and should be above average once more. Kick returns should be a strong point for the Jayhawks. Junior Marcus Herford was outstanding enough to warrant All-Big 12 Second Team honors last season, and thanks to an NCAA rule change moving kickoffs back, he'll get more chances this season. Sophomore Raimond Pendleton and freshman Dezmon Briscoe are untested as punt returns.
MOMENTUM
Central Michigan
10-4
OFFENSE
Things did not end well for Kansas
in 2006, but the team and coaching staff is optimistic with good reason. An exciting new offense and fealty new starting quarterback have brought some life to a program that was nothing more than average in recent years. Reesing's contagious confidence and vocal leadership could jump-start the Jayhawks. If Reesing's encouragement is not loud enough, the Memorial Stadium crowd should help - Kansas has won its last 10 home non-conference games.
Quarterback Dan LeFevour set Central Michigan records in passing yards, touchdown passes and total offense last year. That was when he was a freshman. LeFevour should be even better this season with the Chippewas' leading rusher, junior Ontario Sneed, and leading receiver, sophomore Bryan Anderson, each returning. Central Michigan loses one of its most important players, though. Left tackle Joe Staley was dominant in college and was a first round pick in the NFL Draft. Without Staley, the offensive line is an area for concern.
DEFENSE
Head coach Mark Mangino has turned what was an absolutely atrocious program into one that should at least finish at .500 and could win eight games. The team's rise to relevance has been slow and a bit painful at times, but Mangino has made obvious progress. Defensive coordinator Bill Young has proven he knows how to stop the run. This year — and especially this week — he needs to prove he can hinder the passing game. Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner brought a new offense that is bound to be more exciting than what Kansas fans saw last season.
COACHING
The Chippewas defense wasn't exactly great last year, but it wasn't terrible either. They allowed 341:6 yards per game and 22.3 points per game. The defense could be better this year with seven returning starters. Senior linebackers Red Keith and Ike Brown are the leaders and will be eager to send a message to Kansas running backs early in the game. The defensive line is a vulnerable unit as only one player, senior defensive tackle Steven Friend, has started an entire season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Chippewes have a new kicker this year, sophomore junior college transfer Andrew Aguilla. Aguilla was a first-team All American at Campton junior college last season. Senior Tony Mukilec will handle the punting duties for the fourth straight year. Sophomore kick returner Eric Fraser is solid with 23 yards per return but lacks ideal speed and the ability to make spectacular plays that
returners often posses. He will also be counted on as a
punt returner for the first time.
Asher Fusco
punt returner for the first time
MOMENTUM
There's no question that Central Michigan wins in this category. The Chippewas are returning fresh off of a season in which they won the MAC Championship for the first time since 1995, won their first bowl game, and were led by a quarterback good enough to make this season's Davey O'Brien Award watch list, a prize given to the nation's top QB, Central Michigan believes it can play with anyone and will be looking to make a statement at Memorial Stadium Saturday.
COACHING
West Virginia's offense has been arguably the best in the nation during the past two years. Butch Jones was one of its assistant coaches in that span; the same Butch Jones that will be making his head coaching debut for Central Michigan in Lawrence Saturday. Jones has certainly tinkered with the offense just as he did the coaching staff.The Chippewas also have new offensive and defensive coordinators, which makes the Jayhawks unaware of what exact formations and plays will be thrown at them.
Case Keefer
All rankings are based on a scale of five
CMU KICK-OFF
AT AGLANCE
Central Michigan opens the season following a magical 2006 campaign. Picked fourth in the MAC West, the Chippewas not only won the West but beat Ohio 31-10 in the MAC Championship Game. With a new head coach, they feel like they have more to prove in 2007 and start a difficult non-conference schedule at Memorial Stadium.
BY THE NUMBERS
23:29.7 ppg:
scoring offense
64:129.4 ypg:
rushing offense
22:245.9 ypg:
passing offense
48:126.5 ypg:
rushing defense
78:215.1 ypg
passing defense
(National ranking:2006 stats)
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior linebacker Red Keith: Keith is the overall top returning tackler in the nation with 326 career tackles since
his freshman year. He is also the leader of the Chippewa's defense at the middle linebacker position. Keith has
particularly found success in season openers, recording 15 tackles last year against Boston College and a career-high 16 against Indiana in 2005.
QUESTION MARKS
Who will step up and compensate: The Chippewas two best lineman from last year are now in the NFL. Who will take over for the loss of two standouts?
How will the new offense perform: Central Michigan has most likely perfected the tweaks added to its spread offense by new coach Butch Jones in practice. But how comfortable are they and how will it look in an actual game?
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Thursday
Kent St.23, Iowa St.14
Saturday
Time Game Television
11 a.m. Colorado St. at Colorado FSN
2:30 p.m. Nevada at No. 20 Nebraska ABC
2:30 p.m. Missourl at Illinois ESPN2
5: p.m. Baylor at No. 22 TCU CSTV
5:45 p.m. Oklahoma St. at No. 13 Georgia ESPN2
6 p.m. Arkansas St. at No. 4 Texas FSN PPV
6 p.m. N. Texas at No. 8 Oklahoma FSN
6 p.m. Montana St. at No. 25 Texas A&M *NA
6 p.m. Central Michigan at Kansas NA
6:45 p.m. Kansas St. at No. 18 Auburn ESPN
Monday
Monday Time Game Television 3:00 p.m. Texas Tech at Southern Methodist ESPN
*Not available
o
No. 2 LSU 45, Mississippi St. 0
No. 10 Louisville 73, Murray St. 10
No. 16 Rutgers 38, Buffalo 3
No. 24 Boise St. 56, Weber St. 7
| Time | Game | Television |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 11 a.m. | Appalachian St. at No. 5 Michigan | *Big 10 Network |
| 11 a.m. | East Carolina at No. 9 Virginia Tech | ESPN |
| 11 a.m. | Youngstown St. at No. 11 Ohio St. | Big 10 Network |
| 11 a.m. | Fla. International at No. 17 Penn St. | Big 10 Network |
| 11:30 a.m. | W. Kentucky at No. 6 Florida | NA |
| 2:30 p.m. | W. Michigan at No. 3 West Virginia | NA |
| 2:30 p.m. | Washington St. at No. 7 Wisconsin | ABC |
| 2:30 p.m. | No. 14 UCLA at Stanford | FSN |
| 6 p.m. | Troy at No. 21 Arkansas | NA |
| 7 p.m. | No. 15 Tennessee at No. 12 California | ABC |
| 9:15 p.m. | Idaho at No. 1 Southern Cal | FSN |
| 11:05 p.m. | N. Colorado at No. 23 Hawaii | NA |
Saturday
monday
Time Game Television
7 p.m. No. 19 Florida St. at Clemson ESPN *Not available with Sunflower Cable
TELEVISED GAMES
Friday
Friday Time Game
6:30 p.m. Navy at Temple
7 p.m. Washington at Syracuse
Saturday
Time Game Television
11 a.m. UAB at Michigan State ESPN2
11 a.m. Marshall at Miami ESPNU
11 a.m. Northeastern at Northwestern *Big 10 Net.
1 p.m. Virginia at Wyoming Versus
2 p.m. Southern vs. Florida A&M ESPN Classic
2:30 p.m. Georgia Tech at Notre Dame NBC
2:30 p.m. Iowa vs. Northern Illinois (Chicago) ESPNU
4:30 p.m. Arizona at BYU Versus
6 p.m. Purdue at Toledo ESPNU
7 p.m. Bowling Green at Minnesota Big 10 Net.
7 p.m. Indiana State at Indiana Big 10 Net.
9 p.m. New Mexico at UTEP CSTV
- Not available with Sunflower Cable
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