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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25. 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE VIEW FROM PRESS ROW
Rvlan Howe/KANSAN
Senior linebacker Nick Reid and junior cornerback Charles Gordon are expected to anchor the Jayhawk defense. Both Reid and Gordon were named to the preseason All Big 12 team.
PAGE 1B
KELLIS ROBINETT
krobinett@kansan.com
This year's Kansas football team will only go as far as its defense will take it.
Last year, the defensive unit was good, and the Jayhawks were in every game. The problem was that the solid effort was only good enough to win four games.
Defense holds key to successful Jayhawk season
At first glance, the blame for most of those losses landed squarely on the offense. It's the stance that almost everyone took after last season, and most fans are hoping that a quarterback will emerge to
take pressure off the defense this year.
A scenario where the KU offense allows the KU defense to stay off the field and have the occasional slip up would truly be grand. But if you compare this year's defense to the offense, it's clear more should be asked of the defense.
That's due in large part to two players.
sistently stellar defense to a Super Bowl victory.
To do that, the defense doesn't have to shut out every opponent. It only has to do the little things, such as making the routine tackle, not committing that foolish penalty and staying sharp throughout each game.
Had the KU defense done that last year,we'd be talking three bowl games in a row.
When opposing offenses line up against the KU defense, they should know they're in for an all-day struggle.
At Northwestern, the Jayhawk defense
junior cornerback Charles Gordon and senior linebacker Nick Reid.
It's up to these two to motivate the Kansas defense to get angry, step up and become a unit that other teams hate to play. When opposing offenses line up against the KU defense, they should know they're in for an all day struggle.
Kansas needs to be like the 2001 Baltimore Ravens, who, despite having one of the NFL's worst offenses, rode a con-
They are the leaders of this team, the best players on this team and two of the best players in the Big 12 Conference. Not only do they make great plays themselves — Gordon led the NCAA with seven interceptions last year, and Reid led the Jayhawks in total tackles — but they make the players around them better.
held the Wildcats in check all day, but once Kansas finally took the lead, at 17-13, and needed a stop to secure victory, the defense allowed a four-play, 81-yard drive in just over a minute. The Jayhawks lost 20-17.
The same was true against Texas Tech. After jumping out to a 25 point lead, the Jayhawk defense completely fell apart and let the Red Raiders score
26 unanswered points.
Against Texas, the Kansas defense had two opportunities to hold on to victory, but forgot the meaning of the word blitz, forgot how to tackle, and coughed up another late lead — albeit aided by a questionable call.
In other words, by making three more plays on the defensive side of the ball, Kansas would have been 7-4 instead of 4-7 last year, without any offensive improvements.
Although the offense must contribute, it is the defense that has the potential for greatness. If the Jayhawks turn things around this year, it's going to be because their defense takes that leap from good to great.
♦ Robinett is an Austin, Texas, senior in journalism. He is Kansan sports editor.
FOOTBALL
Fans gather at stadium for appreciation night
A young fan meets KU football players (from left) James McClinton, Eric Butter and Rodney Allen. The football team held its Fan Appreciation Night yesterday at Memorial Stadium.
Mangino praises fans' attendance in the rain
Josh Kirk/KANSAN
BY RYAN COLIAANNI
rcolaianni@kansan.com
KAMANS SPORTWRITER
Memorial Stadium looked ready for the season opener last night. An inflatable Jayhawk greeted a few thousand fans as they entered the stadium. Meanwhile, the band was playing fight songs, the cheerleaders were leading the crowd and the football team played on the field.
But last night wasn't the season opener; it was the team's annual Fan Appreciation Night. Fans were first treated to the end of the team's football practice and then were granted access to the field, where they mingled with players and received autographs.
Senior Matt Berkey roamed the field after the practice looking for more players and coaches to sign his already-cluttered Kansas jersey. Senior quarterback Brian Luke signed his jersey with a silver pen. By the time Berkey was finished yesterday, he had 18 signatures.
Berkey said he was excited for the upcoming season and that he was not going to listen to the media pundits, many of whom are picking the
Berkey began getting signatures from players and coaches last year when coach Mark Mangino signed his jersey at a team pep rally.
Jayhawks to finish last in the Big 12 North division.
"I am hoping for seven wins this year and get us to a bowl," Berkey said. "That is a good place to be."
Lawrence resident Doug Green brought his daughter Kaysha and his 2-year-old twins, John and Karson, to receive autographs from their favorite Jayhawks. Green has been a season ticket holder for seven years and has high expectations for coach Mark Mongoose team this season.
"There has always been a steady improvement since coach Mangino has been here, and I think he has got his players where he wants them," Green said.
Dozens of young children, including Green's, ran onto the field with footballs and pretended they were playing in a Kansas football game.
Junior quarterback Adam Barmann posed for pictures in the endzone with children after practice while other Jayhawk players gave autographs and pictures to lines of fans.
Before fans entered the field, Mangino and the team's five captains spoke to the fans.
"We have been busting our butts since last season ended so we can make this the best season in KU his-
FOOTBALL
SEE FANS ON PAGE 6B
Coach confident in secondary with cornerback in control
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTWRITER
When a player has a season like the one junior cornerback Charles Gordon had last year, it makes it easy to decide who will control the secondary.
Gordon led the Big 12 Conference and tied for the national lead with seven interceptions last year and was named First-Team All Big 12 and Third-Team AP All American.
Kansas coach Mark Mangino said Gordon was a shy and reserved person, but he was still the leader of the secondary.
Those accolades put Gordon in the national spotlight, and he was named a Preseason All-American this year. He's also listed on several postseason award watch lists.
"He's a corner, but he'll tell a safety where to line up. He'll make the adjustments. Charles is the leader back there."
Mark Mangino
Kansas football coach
"He's quiet, but it's efficient," Mangino said. "He's not quiet on the field though. He's a corner, but he'll tell a safety where to line up. He'll make the adjustments. Charles is the
leader back there."
Gordon will be joined at the cornerback position by senior Ronnie Amadi or senior Theo Baines.
Baines was projected to be the team's starting cornerback opposite Gordon, but has missed practice because of a nagging injury. Mangino said he was impressed with Amadi's performance so far and has named him the starting cornerback for now.
Mangino is eager to get Baines back onto the field and contributing again, he said.
"He's falling behind," Mangino said. "Theo's got to fight back and get healthy and compete for it again."
Ronnie hasn't been the only Amadi that has impressed Mangino in the
SEE SECONDARY ON PAGE 6B
TENNIS
Jared Soares/KANSAN
Senior tennis player Christine Skoda poses at Robinson Tennis Courts. The Jayhawks will look to the senior for leadership during the upcoming season.
Christine Skoda's skill leads tennis team
BY ERIC JORGENSEN
ejorgensen@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Some tennis players shoot glances at opponents or yell obscenities out of frustration, but not senior tennis player Christine Skoda.
"I'm told that I'm too nice," Skoda said. "I'm the easiest person to play against, mentally. I am not mean."
The Edmonton, Ontario, senior doesn't have to display a temper to win tennis matches.
Being nice didn't take away from her game, though. Her positive outlook helped her earn two Big 12 Conference Player of the Week awards: one during her sophomore year and another one last year.
Kansas tennis coach Amy
Hall-Holt said Skoda's oncourt demeanor led to players and coaches occasionally joking around with her.
"We tease her and tell her to show more emotion and fight," Hall-Holt said. "Skoda doesn't let anger get in the way; she doesn't show emotions. That's just Skoda; that's who she is."
She said she wanted to make sure this didn't happen with the Kansas tennis team on her watch.
Skoda's laid-back mentality molded her into the team leader for the Jayhawks. The sports and fitness management major said she noticed that other tennis teams struggle with internal problems.
"You hear stories about how other teams have girls that fight and don't get along," Skoda said. "Since
"My dad said I have one brother's forehand and the other's backhand," Skoda said. "This is good, because I got the good one from each."
She started playing tennis when she was five or six. Like many young players, Skoda said she watched tennis and emulated certain techniques, like the ones of her brothers.
Skoda said she learned the game of tennis from her older brothers and her parents, who were all tennis players.
Skoda said she was able to reach a high skill level by playing with and against her brothers and parents. She said they elevated her game to the next level.
"Just making it to college tennis is probably my best
I was a freshman, our team has always gotten along. The chemistry is good."
Christine Skoda Senior tennis player
"Since I was a freshman, our team has always gotten along. The chemistry is good."
achievement yet," Skoda said.
After this year, Skoda said she will continue to play tennis for recreational purposes
"I'm excited," Skoda said. "I know I'm not going to stop playing tennis. I have my family to play against."
- Edited by Becca Evanhoe