6B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2005
FOOTBALL
Special teams tackles records
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORT WRITEER
One school record has already fallen, and several personal bests have been set in a so-far successful season for the special teams unit.
Sophomore place kicker Scott. Webb has handled the field goals, point after attempts and kick-offs.
In the first three games, Webb converted all five field goal attempts, including a career-long 47 yard field goal against Louisiana Tech.
“C
Brian Luke, senior quarterback, said it was important to have sound special teams.
Special teams is your best weapon in a game. Our special teams is coming along, I still don't think we have reached our potential"
seven times he kicked off. On the other three, Louisiana Tech did not advance the ball past its own 20.
Kansas' kick-off coverage has aided Webb. Kansas is holding opponents to little more than 13 yards per return in the first three games.
Junior cornerback Charles Gordon runs past Louisiana Tech safety Alton Bryant during a punt return Saturday, Sept. 17 at Memorial Stadium. Gordon and the special teams unit will look to make an impact during the game against Texas Tech Saturday at 6 p.m. in Lubbock, Texas.
"It helps us offensively if we know that we are at least going to get three points if we are in their territory," Luke said. "We know we are in Scott Webb range."
Webb has misfired once this season, missing an extra point in the team's second game of the season against Appalachian State.
Sophomore punter Kyle Tucker has handled the punting duties all season and is averaging slightly
tential"
Jerome Kemp Junior safety
Webb has also pleased coaches and teammates with his kick-offs. In the team's last game against Louisiana Tech, Webb kicked the ball out of the end zone four of the
less than 40 yards per punt. Tucker has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line six times.
Kansan file photo
Tucker's season started with a career-long, 58-yard punt in the first game of the season, against Florida Atlantic.
"With Kyle Tucker punting, we know he can boom the ball," junior safety Jerome Kemp said. "He can get the other team pinned down deep in their own territory, and that gives the defense momentum."
The punt coverage has also been impressive. Teams are averaging 1.4 yards per punt return. Kemp played considerable snaps on special teams last year and remains on the punt coverage team this season. He said the team took a lot of pride in
special teams and practiced it
ever dav.
"Special teams is your best weapon in a game." Kemp said. "Our special teams is coming along, I still don't think we have reached our potential."
keep working on fundamentals, not missing tackles in the open field and knowing everyone's assignment.
Junior cornerback Charles Gordon also has contributed on special teams this season. Against Florida Atlantic, Gordon became
Kemp said the team needed to
the Jayhawks' career punt-return leader. Gordon has 721 yards on 67 punt returns. The previous record was 606 yards, set in 1968 by Donnie Shanklin. This season, Gordon is averaging 10 yards per punt return in 12 attempts.
Gordon, he is something to watch," senior wide receiver Mark Simmons said. "It's not just him either. The punt-return team gives him great blocks, and takes pride in what they do."
"Our punt returner, Charles
Edited by Jonathan Kealing
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
K-State running back charged with battery
MANHATTAN — Kansas State running back Thomas Clayton was charged yesteday with misdemeanor battery, stemming from a complaint that he almost hit a university parking services official with
his car earlier this month.
"I wasn't aware of that," Clayton said, when informed that Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson filed the charges that morning. "It'll have to be taken care of obviously."
Parking services officials
Clayton, a junior from Alexandra, Va., was arrested Sept 16 on a complaint of aggravated battery.
said that he nearly hit employee James A. Seymour while trying to avoid having his vehicle immobilized for parking violations.
He has not played since, but coach Bill Snyder said Monday that Clayton will play Saturday in the Wildcats' Big 12 opener at Oklahoma.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Snyder has not said whether Clayton will start.
Apparent heart attack kills coach in Missouri
dell Redden of the university's sports information office. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Ware was discovered in his office after 10 a.m. and was taken to a hospital, said Wen-
JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern football coach John Ware died yesterday of an apparent heart attack. He was 46.
Jasper County coroner Jerry Neil told The Joplin Globe the apparent cause of death was heart failure, though an autopsy was scheduled for today.
Ware was in his second year as the Lions' coach, having
joined the university after 19 years at Truman State University in Kirksville. He was head coach there for nine seasons.
A star offensive lineman at Drake, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers after graduation. Ware was also a five-time U.S. Senior National Powerlifting champion, Missouri Southern said.
- The Associated Press