SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Football tickets are still available
Visit the ticket office on the south end of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics at Allen Fieldhouse before the end of this week.The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WWW.KANSAN.COM
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2007
GET THE BALL ROLLING
Bowlers practice with precision for new season
Five days a week, team heads to the Jaybowl to fine-tune techniques and have some fun
BY EMILY MUSKIN emuskin@kansan.com
emuskin@kansan.com
On the first two lanes at the Jaybowl, a team of nine men and one woman is bowling. The atmosphere is similar to that of a night out with friends, but these bowlers are paying more attention to detail, trying to hone their skills for the semester's tournaments.
Monday through Friday, for two hours each day, the KU club bowling team can be
bowling national title.
KU bowling provides an opportunity for the inexperienced and advanced bowlers alike, but even though anyone can be a member of the team, it only travels with nine athletes.
"I like the people. The team is like a community."
Coach Trent Overbey said that he appre-
found practicing. The team is keeping alive a tradition that began more than 40 years ago and peaked in 2004 with an intercollegiate
KENNY GOODELL Wichita senior
that he appreciated the sport because a wide range of people were able to enjoy it and compete.
Competition is a main ingredient in the life of a KU bowler because the team attends eight tournaments each school year.
In the past they have traveled to Las Vegas, New Jersey, Omaha, Neb., and many locations in Kansas.
PAGE 10A
Photos by Andrew Wacker/KANSAN
Top: Team members bowl during practice at the Jaybowl on Monday. The team practices two hours a day, five days a week, learning to adapt techniques to changing conditions during competition.
Lower: Burton Geopard, Shawnee sophomore, displays his form during practice. Team members must observe their bowling balls' precise movements to make adjustments.
KU Bowling's top three returners
Name
Austin Arnett
Kenny Goodell
Burton Gepford
SEE BOWLING ON PAGE 7A
Year
Sophomore
Senior
Sophomore
Hometown
El Dorado
Wichita
Shawnee
Tournament average
cantaverage
205
200
195
Despite his size, Reesing measures up
FOOTBALL
BY ASHER FUSCO
afusco@kansan.com
Todd Reesing's measurements aren't too impressive. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, he stands four inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than fellow quarterback Kerry Meier. But in Reesing's case, it's the intangibles that impress.
"He has the mentality that he's going to make something good happen every time he gets his hands on the ball," coach Mark Mangino said. "That's the type of personalty you want at quarterback."
Despite his physical shortcomings, Reesing beat Meier in the preseason race for the starting quarterback job. Intangibles defeated measurements in August — a trend Kansas hopes will continue into the fall months.
Early last season, Reusing was overlooked by fans and media both. Despite
When he took the reins after halftime, Reesing led Kansas to a comeback win. In the process, he impressed the fans and coaches who overlooked him for the first few games of his
winning Central Texas player of the year honors at Lake Travis High School, questions about his durability and his ability to throw over taller defenders surrounded the
career. Reeing played in two more games later in the 2006 season, finishing 14-of-24 with three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.
Austin, Texas, native.
Until a late-season game against Colorado,
Reeing was overlooked by the coaching staff.
bent Meier, a sophomore who started eight games last season. Meier, who was not playing at 100 percent this preseason because of an injury, did not show as much improvement as Reesing did.
"He has the mentality that he's going to make something good happen every time he gets his hand on the ball."
MARK MANGINO Coach
This preseason he unseated the incum-
Meier is a better runner, but Reesing is a more instinctive player. His improvisational skills came in handy in the Colorado game when he scampered 64 yards for a crucial touchdown.
Reesing may not possess ideal height, but coaches and team
"Making plays when nothing is there is a strength of mine," Reesing said. "Good quarterbacks can do most things well, but leadership and how you handle pressure are what separates guys."
home in the team's new, more up-tempo offense. This preseason Mangino praised Reesing's ability to learn quickly.
mates have found plenty to like about him. Sophomore running back Angus Quigley said he felt very comfortable with Reesing under center. Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said the quarterback looked at
Reesing's uncanny ability to make something from nothing could come in handy as soon as Saturday. Kansas faces Central Michigan, a team that returns quality starters along the defensive line and in the linebacking corps. With no go-to option available at running back, Reesing could face a stiff test in his first career start.
So far this preseason, Reesing has passed every test he has been given. With a little help from his intangibles, Reesing is standing tall atop the Kansas depth chart.
Edited by Matt Erickson
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>> GET BUSY LIVIN'
Opportunities abound for game-day fun at Saturday's season opener
BY RUSTIN DODD
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
RDODD@KANSAN.COM
That's how long it's been since Kansas played a home football game at Memorial Stadium, a 39-20 victory against Kansas State. Let me be the first to say, Kansas football, welcome back.
There is something special about game days at Memorial Stadium. And that's saying something, considering the quality of the product on the field during the past decade.
Did you know that Kansas hasn't shown up in the AP Top 25 rankings since Sept. 28, 1996? Kansas was ranked 20th, then lost to Utah 45-42, and hasn't been back since. The program's record since that Utah game? 48-76.
But wait. Don't think this is some kind of Bruce Bowen-esque cheap shot at the Kansas football program. The point is that throughout all the onfield struggles, Memorial Stadium has remained a special place.
283 days.
"You're from Naperville? Wow, what a coincidence. I have family there!"
Maybe it's the campus, rising majestically over that glorious golden valley. Maybe it's the cozy charm of the surrounding neighborhoods, giving game days the feel of a backyard barbecue. Or quite possibly it's the loyalty of the student body, a student body that would never waste an opportunity to throw a party.
— Rule No. 3: Have an excuse and an escape route planned out. Something like, "Oh, you mean to tell me this isn't 1232 Ohio! Boy, do I feel like an idiot," will never fail.
Whatever it is, let's enjoy it. Whether you are a freshman experiencing game day for the first time or a super senior taking a victory lap, take a minute this Saturday to soak in some August evening sun, crack open a frosty beverage and immerse yourself in the atmosphere
— Rule No. 2: Do your homework. Yes, you need to be able to have a conversation about the team, but more importantly, you need to know a vast collection of information about the suburbs of Kansas City, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver and Dallas. You'd be surprised how quickly you can go from tailgate party crasher to guest of honor just by faking where you're from.
Still not sure? Well, here's a list of three activities that are guaranteed to make your game day memorable.
GO IN EARLY
CRASH A TAILGATE PARTY
Too lazy to throw your own tailgate party? Join the club. But wait, tailgate-crashing is complicated stuff. Don't just jump into it thinking that you can get by on charisma alone. You need a game plan.
— Rule No. 1: Make sure there are at least 20 people there. If there aren't 20 people there, it's a gathering, not a party, and at gatherings, people know each other.
College football games are long. I've seen people read entire Harry Potter books in the time it takes to play a Kansas football game. But remember, you'll get a good seat, you can always leave early and you'll have time to grab a roster of the other team and think of clever ways to taunt them.
SEE DODD ON PAGE 7A
I