Editors Note: After football games, the Kansan will feature a "football Jayhawk," describing something important about the game. The Jayhawks will all be created by Ben Rumback.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FOOTBALL
For Jayhawks, a win is a win
PAGE 1B
Barmann falters Luke steps up in home opener
BY RYAN COLIAIanni
rcoliaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Instin O'Neal/KANSAN
Senior running back Clark Greene leaps on the back of senior quarterback Brian Luke in celebration of Luke's second-half touchdown pass. The Jayhawks beat the Owls 30-19 Saturday at Memorial Stadium. To the right is Florida Atlantic defensive back Greg Joseph.
Kansas football coach Mark Mangino didn't get the quarterback performance he wanted in Kansas' season opener against Florida Atlantic, and he's still not sure who the starting quarterback will be for next weekend's game.
Junior quarterback Adam Barmann lasted just more than a quarter before Mangino replaced him with senior Brian Luke for the remainder of the contest.
Iared Soares/KANSAN
After the Jayhawks' 30-19 victory against the Owls, Mangino said he was prepared to use two quarterbacks in each game from now on.
"We will rotate," he said. "Our objective is to win and have a successful offense. I think it is a positive. We have two guys who can play. If we have to play two, we will play two every week."
On the team's first drive of the game Barmann threw on all three plays, but he didn't complete a pass, and the team was forced to punt.
Overall, Barmann was 5-11 for 56 yards with a rushing touchdown. He threw one interception when he greatly overthrew junior comback Charles Gordon.
Mangino said he intended to use Luke during the game and had envisioned Luke would get his opportunity during the second quarter. With 9:33 remaining in the half, Mangino put Luke in the game.
SEE OPENER ON PAGE 5B
Fans link arm-to-arm during the singing of the alma mater Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kansas won the game against Florida Atlantic 30-19.
FOOTBALL
Serious fans show true colors
Painted hawks go the extra stroke for game
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWITER
Editor's Note — Are you a Kansas football fanatic? Maybe just a fan of Kansas athletics? Each week, Kansan reporter Miranda Lenning will be looking for the best Kansas fans of the game. Want to show the school how big of a fan you are? If you have something planned before the game, send an e-mail to sports@ kansan.com and let us know.
It was a beautiful Friday night outside Memorial Stadium the perfect place to crash after a long night at the bars.
Just ask Jesse Plous. He spent the whole night camped
out in a tent in the grass outside the stadium.
Plous is one of the three members of "The Blue Man" group, a company of fans who paint themselves blue for every Kansas home football and softball game. Because of Plous' overnight endeavor, members of group had prime front row seats
Normally, Plous, New York City senior, and his group members, Josh Bailey, Lawrence senior, and Will Paulson, Wichita senior, paint their entire bodies blue, leaving room for "K-U-1" to be painted on their stomachs
"We do it because we love Kansas football." Plous said.
in the student section.
Bailey is the traditional bearer of the K, while Paulson reserves rights to the U. Plous has the exclamation point. But on Saturday afternoon, Plous and Bailey found themselves among a slightly larger group than usual, despite missing Paulson. They had enough stomachs to spell "I-A-Y-H-A-W-K-S!"
"Normally it's just us. We've been doing this for two years," Bailey said. "But we have more people this time. We pretty much take anyone we can find."
SEE FANS ON PAGE 8B
"I didn't get a lot of sleep," Plous said. "But it was worth it because I was first in line to get in the stadium."
Plous doesn't really remember falling asleep late Monday morning, but he does remember a friend of the group bringing him doughnuts at 1:30 a.m. And he definitely remembers Bailey waking him up at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Rush cleared by NCAA to play
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTWRITER
Add another high-profile recruit to the Jayhawks' 2005 recruiting class. Brandon Rush, a 6-foot-6 small forward from Kansas City, Mo., will definitely wear a Kansas uniform this year. Rush joins Mario Chalmers, Micah Downs and Julian Wright in one of the best recruiting classes of 2005.
After more than a month of questions regarding Rush's academic paperwork — he attended four different high schools — the NCAA Clearinghouse cleared Rush for an athletic scholarship late Friday afternoon.
"Brandon and his family rightfully have been waiting for positive feedback from the NCAA Clearinghouse concerning his eligibility," coach Bill Self said. "We received information from
the Clearinghouse today, and Brandon is eligible to pursue a college career this academic year."
Rush initially declared for the NCAA draft but later withdrew his name. He has been on campus for the past two weeks and enrolled in classes at the University last week. Rush said he waited on a definite answer from the Clearinghouse before he began attending classes and working out with the team.
"I'm very happy about coming to school and getting this out of the way." Rush said.
The long wait left Rush and Self frustrated that Rush could
SEE RUSH PAGE 8B
THE COLUMN
Ask anyone and they'll tell you that Brian Luke has greatly improved since he was first introduced to fans two years ago in a blowout loss at Kansas State.
Resilient and improved, Brian Luke is the 'Hawks best bet
Luke filled in for Bill Whittemore, who left the game with an injury. Luke came in and didn't exactly wow fans in a 42-6 defeat against the Wildcats.
The injury to Whittemore and Luke's performance led to the introduction of junior quarterback Adam Barmann the next week at Texas A&M.
Ironically, two years later, it's the very same Brian Luke who gives Kansas the best chance at being successful. That was apparent after Luke replaced Barmann in the second quarter of the 30-19 season opening victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday night.
JIMMY CHAVEZ
jchavez@kansan.com
After Barmann struggled in the first quarter, Luke stepped in and showed poise and confidence.
Now, some would tell you he completed fewer than half the
passes he attempted. They may not tell you that receivers flatout dropped several passes, two of which would have been sure touchdowns.
Despite the statistics, Luke is starting to show the same command that Whittemore, who was the best quarterback during the Mark Mangino era, showed as leader.
This started last year against Texas when Luke was forced into action after injuries sidelined the other three quarterbacks ahead of him. Fans were uncertain about the Jayhawks hopes for winning, but Luke stepped up and nearly helped upset the then No. 6-
ranked Longhorns.
The next week, Luke won Mangino his first Big 12 Conference road game with an improved and poised performance at Missouri.
Ask Garv Pinkle.
This year, Luke has seemed to pick up where he left off, and if he can stay healthy, he could lead the Jayhawks further than they've been a long while.
The Jayhawks don't need someone to be a gunslinger, but instead, someone more like a field general that will manage the
On offense, Kansas must rely on a consistent leader that the team will rely on.
Luke already has shown
If Kansas is serious about the Big 12 Championship chase, it needs leadership at quarterback that reflects that which is on defense, the kind that shows initiative and perseverance.
In 2000, Dilfer lead the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory with a confident and superb defense and by playing mistake-free football. Unfortunately, it looks like Ray Lewis won't be lining up on defense this Saturday for Kansas, but there are some pretty good players who will.
game and be a rock for the team.
Ask Trent Differ
this by telling Mangino after spring practice that he wanted to be considered for the starting job,after it was assumed he would be the backup quarterback.
He has gotten to this point by putting in yeoman's work at improving his skills and earning the respect of coaches, teammates and fans — 2003 couldn't be farther away.
Now it shows, and this Saturday could further prove that Kansas has found itself a quarterback. But don't ask me.
Ask Brian Luke.
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♦Chavez is a San Antonio senior in Journalism
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