THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2005
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3B
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
I he dur-
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Texas anticipates successful season
Longhorns look to national championship
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SWITCHWRENDER
Editor's Note: This is the sixth of 11 articles previewing Kansas' competition in the Big 12 Conference. The articles will run every day from now until Sept. 1. Tomorrow the Kansan will look at Nebraska.
2005 TXAS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Location Time
9/03/2005 Louisiana-Lafayette Austin, Texas 6 p.m.
9/10/2005 Ohio State Columbus, Ohio 7 p.m.
9/17/2005 Rice Austin, Texas 6 p.m.
10/01/2005 Missouri Columbia, Mo. TBA
10/08/2005 Oklahoma Dallas Noon
10/15/2005 Colorado Austin, Texas TBA
10/22/2005 Texas Tech Austin, Texas TBA
10/29/2005 Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. TBA
11/05/2005 Baylor Waco, Texas TBA
11/12/2005 Kansas Austin, Texas TBA
11/25/2005 Texas A&M College Station, Texas 11 a.m.
Brown has been happy with the aftermath of that Rose Bowl and said it has had a positive impact on the team.
Another reason fans are excited about the Longhorns' upcoming season is because of the team's thrilling 38-37 victory last season in the Rose Bowl, against Michigan.
It seems like Texas coach Mack Brown's job is in jeopardy every season. Last year there were several Web sites and newspapers calling for Brown's head after losing to rival Oklahoma for the fifth straight year
"I have been really pleased with the staff and the student athletes because all of them
This season could decide Brown's fate at Texas. The Longhorns were picked by the media in a preseason poll to win the conference, and expectations in Austin, Texas, are higher than ever before.
have taken it as a positive and as a motivator to improve," Brown said. "Our guys worked harder in the off season than ever before."
The Longhorns will be led by legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate Vince Young, junior quarterback. Young was put in the national spotlight after his performace in the Rose Bowl.
KANSAN file photo
Young racked up 192 rushing yards and ran for four touchdowns. He also threw for a touchdown and had 180 yards passing, which led to him being named most valuable player in the Rose Bowl.
"He has a chance to be the winningest quarterback in Texas football history, and we are really excited about him going forward," Brown said. "I think he will be one of the great quarterbacks to ever play college football before he leaves Texas, and I do think he will be an NFL quarterback, and a very, very good one."
Vince Young, then Texas sophomore quarterback, looks to pitch the ball during the second half of the Longhorn's narrow victory against Kansas last season. Texas is predicted to win the Big 12 Conference this year.
Young will be joined in the backfield by Selvin Young, junior running back. Brown said Selvin Young competed for the starting running back job two years ago, with current NFL player Cedric Benson, and almost won the job before getting injured.
Brown said he expected Selvin Young to take some of the pressure off of Vince Young.
Another player to watch on offense will be Limas Sweed, sophomore wide receiver. Sweed will be the main target for Vince Young and the most experienced player at the position.
On defense the Longhorns will be led by one of the best players in the country, preseason All-American Rodrigue Wright, senior defensive tackle.
Wright's list of acolades is too long to list, but Texas coaches were ecstatic when Wright passed on the NFL and came back to school for his senior season.
"He is ending up his career as one of the great ones to ever play at the University of Texas," Brown said.
Wright was hobbled by injury much of last season, but is healthy this year.
The linebacking unit is an area of concern for Brown. It will be led by senior Aaron Harris, but after that it is a young group who will try to replace Derrick Johnson, who was a first round
NFL pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Texas will get tested early in the season, as it travels to take on Ohio State in the second week of the season. Three weeks later, Texas will contend with its arch rival Oklahoma.
another tough game at Texas A&M.
Texas finishes its season with
If the Longhorns can get past those three games, they could return to the Rose Bowl, but this time playing for the national championship.
Edited by Anne Burgard
▼ ROWING
Rowing team hopes meeting draws prospective members
BY KRISTEN JARBOE
kjarboe@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Kansas' assistant rowing coach Jennifer Myers will lead the annual rowing informationa meeting tonight and tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. in the Wagnon Student-Athlete Center. The meeting is open to all KU women.
"The main thing we want to present is that you don't have to have past rowing experience to be on the team," she said. "We just want to inform and educate about the sport and show how rowing works in a Division I school.
"Both sessions will demonstrate rowing technique, show last year's video highlights, and have current or past rowers speak about their experiences."
"The highlight video was nice to see because it showed what you could be a part of," rower Dyana Lawrence said.
Lawrence attended the meetings last year as a sophomore and is continuing with the sport this year at the varsity level.
"I think hearing the women speak about past experiences was the determining factor on whether I was going to do the sport or not," Lawrence said. "They gave a good overview of why they choose to row and what it's like. They also answered questions on time commitment and traveling."
The rowing team is available on the side of Wescoe, in front of Stauffer-Flint, to speak to women interested in learning more about the team.
"We just want to remind
"We just want to remind women of the meeting and ge them to come out."
Jennifer Myers Assistant rowing coach
women of the meeting and get them to come out." Myers said.
Women who would like to learn more about the rowing team but cannot attend the informational meeting can contact Myers at 864-4207 or go to the rowing office, located on the west side of Allen Fieldhouse.
— Edited by Erin Wisdom
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chiefs' defense prepares for solid season with help from offense
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Practicing against the Kansas City defense was a lot more fun before all these new guys showed up.
With safety Sammie Knight and cornerback Patrick Surtain shadowing the wide receivers, pass routes are tougher to run. Offensive linemen, as a consequence, are hard-pressed to keep pass-rushers away from their quarterback.
With rookie linebacker Derrick Johnson dashing sideline-to-sideline, those backbreaking long-gainers that have proved so calamitous in recent years, undoing the work of one of the league's most explosive offenses, could become about as rare as they were in the days of the late Derrick Thomas.
Although encouraging for coaches and fans, the improved defense is proving frustrating for guys like Dante Hall.
"Last year, no matter what they had, you could kind of get them regardless of what the coverage was," said the wide receiver/kick returner.
"Now it's harder for us to get off the ball. They're a lot more aggressive. They're a lot more patient, more disciplined. They're smarter."
Two of the Chiefs' key offseason acquisitions have hardly been able to practice. But outside linebacker Kendrell Bell and defensive end Carlos Hall figured to get healed up enough to take part in Saturday night's exhibition game against Seattle and finally become a part of the package.
ther Cunningham can integrate all the newcomers into his aggressive, take-charge scheme and keep them healthy — and if an aging offense can hold its position among the league's elite for just one more season — the Chiefs could be headed for big things.
If defensive coordinator Gun-
Just a postseason appearance would be nice since they've had only one since 1997.
"Based on practice, I predict a top 10 defense easy," said Hall. "But it's yet to be seen if they can take it to the field and do it."
The Chiefs will also need a breakthrough season from Ryan Sims. The sixth player taken overall in the 2002 draft, Sims has been a disappointment on his best days, a bust on his worst. Last year he had just two sacks and 30 tackles.
Bring it on. We can take it.
Whether you choose to recycle curbside or to bring it to one of us,join the proud people of Lawrence who recycle.
Private Curbside Recycling Services
Community Living Opportunities - 865-5520, ext. 379
Home Recycling Service - 979-6833
Jeff's Curbside Recycling - 841-1284
Sunflower Curbside Recycling - 550-8610, kanesarecycles.com
Tree Hugger Recycling - 550-6267, treehuggerrecycling.com
Recycling Drop on locations
Checkers Foods, 2300 Louisiana - Newpaper and Cardboard
Dillon's Store, 4701 W. 6th St - Newpaper and Cardboard
Douglas County Bank, 9th and Kentucky - Newpaper
Hilcrest Shopping Center, 9th and Kentucky - Newpaper
Hobby Lobby, 1801 W. 23rd St. - Newpaper and Cardboard
Hy-Vee, 6th and Monterey Way - Newpaper and Cardboard
Hy-Vee, 3504 Clinton Parkway - Newpaper and Cardboard
North Lawrence, 740 N. 2nd St - Newpaper and Cardboard
Prairie Park Elementary, 2711 Kentucky - Newpaper
Westlake Ace Hardware, 6th and Kasold - Newspaper
Metal Recycling (will buy back metals)
Lonnie's Recycling. 501 Maple St.-841-4855
12th & Haskell Bargain Center, 1146 Haskell -865-3730
LAWRENCE WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING
The 12th & Haskell Bargain Center is now accepting:
www.LawreaceRecycles.org
832-3030
The 12th & Haskell
Bargain Center is
now accepting:
aluminum cans
steel "lin" cans
cardboard
chipboard
plastic containers
('#'s 1-4 with screw-tops
(please remove lids))
mixed paper
newspaper
magazines
1146 Haskell Ave.
865-3730
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Mon-Fri. 8:30am - 5:00pm
Sat. 8:30am - 1:00pm
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A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence 944 Mass. 832-8228
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