KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 / SPORTS
7A
FOOTBALL
Patterson's switch to receiver boosts aerial assault
BY BLAKE SCHUSTER bschuster@kansan.com
Before Saturday's victory over Georgia Tech, the last time fans rushed the field after a Kansas football game wasn't to celebrate a Jayhawk victory, but rather an agonizing defeat to Colorado.
"It wasn't a good feeling," he said, "For it to happen the other way, it just makes it that much better."
One player who remembers that day all too well is junior wide receiver Davonmond Patterson.
As the clock wound down on Saturday's upset of then-No. 15 Georgia Tech, Daymond Patterson was recognized by fans as a hero of the game as they rushed to him.
Just as true freshman James Simms did in the same game, Patterson established himself as a go-to guy for coach Turner
for coach Turner
Gill.
This is the same Patterson who spent last season and the second half of his freshman season at cornerback, Former coach Mark Mangino decid
"It's the position I've wanted to play since I got here," he said. "I finally got my chance to move back, and I'm having probably the most fun I've had since I've been here."
his natural position.
Wide receiver is where Patterson has done his best work. In his junior and senior years of high school in Mesquite, Texas, Patterson racked up 1,319 receiving yards, 109 catches and 16 touchdowns.
Patterson is looking to return to his Friday night lights form in tonight's game at Southern Mississippi. He has already left an impression on his opponents this season.
"No. 15 made some unbelievable plays," said Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson after Saturday's game.
"I'm having probably the most fun I've had since I've been here."
Against Georgia Tech, Patterson
gained 85 yards on seven receptions
ed Patterson was best fit for the defensive position, but Patterson has proved through two games that wide reciever is where he belongs.
Patterson understands his opportunity and is grateful to be back in
DAYMOND PATTERSON Junior wide receiver
and scored the game-winning touchdown.
Playing along side senior Jonathon Wilson and sophomore Bradley McDougald, Patterson is part of an aerial assault expected
to be one of the best receiving corps in the Big 12.
Edited by Joel Petterson
Dalton Gomez/KANSAN Junior wide receiver Daymond Patterson runs a 32-yard reception to for Kansas' fourth touchdown against Georgia Tech. Patterson spent his first two seasons at cornerback before switching this year.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Southern Miss WR heeds harsh words
ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON, Miss. — Southern Miss receiver DeAndre Brown got the message.
Tired of Brown's prima donna ways, Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora used the uncharacteristic tactic of publicly blasting Brown during a press conference last week, citing a lack of consistent effort.
Brown says he didn't read any newspapers or websites in the aftermath, but word travels fast in Hattiesburg. With his ears still ringing, the 6-foot-6, 239-pound junior said he's out to prove his critics wrong when Southern Miss (1-1) hosts Kansas (1-1) on Friday at Roberts Stadium.
"It stung and it leaves me with a chip on my shoulder," Brown said. "It kind of angered me, but now I'm just taking it upon myself to change some things and become that complete receiver"
Brown said the Golden Eagles' offense was out of sync the entire game.
It's the Golden Eagles' second chance to knock off a team from a BCS conference this season. South Carolina beat Southern Miss 41-13 on Sept. 2.
USM has a nine-game home winning streak dating back to 2008.
Kansas is trying to build on its stunning 28-25 upset victory over then No.15 Georgia Tech last weekend. That win snapped an eight-game losing streak dating back to last season.
"I don't want to say we didn't give our best effort, because everyone was trying." Brown said. "But we just didn't bring out the"A game that day. The last few weeks we've been grinding and trying to get better. We want to prove that
Iayhawks coach Turner Gill said his defense will certainly have its eyes on Brown, who is considered one of the nation's best receivers despite playing in the relative obscurity of Conference USA. Through two games, Brown has caught nine passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
Fedora's criticism of Brown came a few days after USM's loss to South Carolina. During the game, Brown was openly feuding with coaches and pouting on the sidelines. He finished with four catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, but all of that production came in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of hand.
"He's somebody we have to limit," Gill said. "We're not going to shut him down, but we do have to limit his big plays."
game was just a fluke."
Fedora said Brown was much improved during Saturday's easy 34-7 victory over Prairie View, even if the performance came against an obviously inferior opponent that didn't have the size or speed to defend him. The biggest improvement was consistency and effort.
"He played harder, made plays, was blocking and getting after people," Fedora said. "He played the game the way he can play the game."
Though a better Brown would certainly improve the Golden Eagles' chances of winning, the defense has to do its part after looking shaky against South Carolina.
Kansas had a terrible game on offense in its season opener, scoring just three points in a loss to North Dakota State. But Gill made several changes before the Georgia Tech upset, inserting a new quarterback and starting running back, and the Jayhawks received much better results.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Webb completed 18 of 29 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia Tech. True freshman James Sims rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown.
NFL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Delhomme's status up in the air for Sunday
BEREA, Ohio — Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme missed his second straight practice because of an injured right ankle.
Cleveland coach Eric Mangini said Delhomme has made progress with his ankle, which he hurt while throwing an interception in the closing minutes of the first half in Sunday's season-opening loss at Tampa Bay. Delhomme has been wearing a walking boot to stabilize his ankle.
If Delhomme is sidelined for Sunday's home opener against Kansas City, back Seneca Wallace will make his 15th career start. Wallace, a career No. 2 QB, took all the snaps
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Sept 18
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Not wanting to tip their hand, the
with Cleveland's first team offense on Wednesday. He's expected to do so again Thursday.
his debut for Cleveland. Mangini said Delhomme could start, be the backup or Cleveland's No. 3 emergency quarterback.
Browns could wait until game time Sunday against the Chiefs before making a decision on Delhomme who threw two interceptions in
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