THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
VOLLEYBALL | 8A Jayhawks fall to in-state rivals Junior outside hitter Karina Garlington had 18 kills, but it wasn't enough for the Jayhawks.
WWW.KANSAN.COM
A WHOLE NEW GAME PLAN
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
Junior Linebacker Steven Johnson and freshman A.J. Steward wrap up a tackle Saturday against Georgia Tech. Johnson's experience on special teams helped his conditioning.
Defensive scheme will change for Friday
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
PAGE 10A
Junior linebacker Steven Johnson has dealt with all the rushing offense he can take in the first two games.
"The first two games were just all pound, pound, pound," he said. "Just running the ball, Ugh."
Game one had North Dakota running the ball 32 times as opposed to the 22 passes in the slow-
Johnson
paced loss. Last week, Georgia Tech's triple option offense went ballistic with 52 rushing attempts
But the defensive front is having a blast.
"That was the funnest game I've ever played in," freshman defensive end Keba Agostinho
said about Georgia Tech. "I was having fun before we even went out there."
It was a busy game for a defense that had its top three tacklers register 34 in the game. And somehow, they aren't tired at all, Johnson
said that he and Big 12 defensive player of the week Justin Springer never get tired on the field.
Johnson told his coach he could go a few more quarters after the game ended even after his 11 tackle performance. That's all thanks to him playing special teams last year and the strenuous practice regimen.
The team just goes from drill to drill, no time for breaks. Practices get harder than the games, Johnson said.
"If you want water," he said,
"you better get it on the run."
While the defensive line and linebackers are having all the fun, cornerback Chris Harris is waiting for something to come his way. He has six tackles on the season and has yet to break up or
intercept a pass.
"I haven't gotten any action the past two games," Harris said. "I'm ready to play a team where I know their best receiver is going to be in the boundary"
Friday's game against Southern Mississippi can change that.
If the game is anything like last season, the defensive backs will get some work. Led by receiver DeAndre Brown, who has 165 yards and two touchdowns this season, the Golden Eagles passing offense is ranked 28th in the nation.
Brown had 85 yards and a touchdown against the Jayhawks last season, but Harris has a
new weapon to use against him. Because this year, Southern Miss' offensive coordinator last year, Darrrell Wyatt, is the new wide receivers coach at Kansas. Harris is using that relationship to his advantage.
"I expect to continue to be in his ear to see their weakness that I can use to my advantage in the game," Harris said.
But even the defensive front is glad to be back to playing against a normal offense.
"We had to change a lot of things," Agostinho said, "but I'm glad we're back to our normal defense."
Edited by Tim Dwyer
FOOTBALL
Reesing's book offers inside look
BY MIKE LAVIERI
mlavieri@kansan.com
Thousands of fans attend football games on Saturdays. Few, however, know what the game's like on the other side of the stands.
Former Jayhawk quarterback Todd Reesing gives readers a peek into life as a Kansas football player in his new book "Rising to New Heights."
The first chapter of the book covers Kansas' 2008 Orange Bowl win. Reesing vividly describes the day, as if he was writing moments after the final whistle blew.
"It's a lot of insight," Reesing said. "I talk about what players think during a game."
Bob Snodgrass, CEO and publisher of Ascend Books, approached Reesing in the spring to write the book. Reesing said the book "came out of nowhere."
"It's a big part of our lives, so it really sticks with you," Reesing said.
About three months later. Reesing and Pulliam started meeting. Reesing said it went surprisingly fast.
Reesing started working with co-author, Kent Pulliam, and the two finished the first draft in about two months.
A lot of the detail Reesing gives
Reesing did not write much about former coach Mark Mangino. Reesing said that the events took place during two games out of a four-year career. He briefly touches on how the team was affected by the Mangino investigation.
is based on his memory. He did not review game film, but he did double check box scores and the play-by-play for accuracy purposes.
The book gave Reesing an opportunity to talk about the highs of the 2007 season and the lows of 2009.
"I have nothing negative to say," Reesing said. "He was the only one to give me a chance."
In the forward of the book, former Kansas All-American quarterback John Hadl said, "Todd is probably the greatest quarterback we have ever had at Kansas."
Reasing took every advantage of that opportunity.
Reeing did not just perform on the field; he also excelled in the classroom.
He was humbled by the praise he received from professors. Finance professor Lisa Bergeron, who Reesing was a TA for, spoke very highly of Reesing. In the book she said Reesing did a good job balancing everything, even
with how busy he was.
He was disappointed he did not get an opportunity at an NFL camp this summer. Of the 14 quarterbacks drafted, only Dan Lefevour, Central Michigan, had more career passing yards. Reesing, however, was the shortest of those in this draft class.
Reesing's effort on the field was not enough to land him a job in the NFL. He signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League in May, but was released in June.
"It takes effort to make good grades and do well on the field." Reeing said.
"You can't help your size, speed or how far you throw the ball," Reesing said. "The NFL is looking at physical statures and potential."
Reesing is currently going between Lawrence and Austin and was at the Jayhawks first game versus North Dakota State.
Reesing's emotions were running high, who watched as a fan for the first time.
He had to adjust his mindset from player to fan.
If Reeing cannot land a job in professional football, he said he hopes to use his finance and economics degree to stay in sports from a business standpoint.
Chris Neal/Kansan
Edited by Tim Dwyer
Former quarterback Todd Reeings sign autographs on the practice field before the game against North Dakota State. Reeing's new book details what players thinking about during a game.
COMMENTARY
Finicky fanbase not what KU needs
BY KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Kansas City has never really been known for having fantastic sports
having fantastic sports teams. There have been great coaches, great players and even great decades, but neither the Chiefs nor the Royals have been much to brag about lately. The thing that always surprises me is that every home opener fans show up in masses with renewed hope in their hometown team. The same positivity at the beginning of the season is present in the local college fans as well.
A week ago many Kansas fans were ready to dismiss the entire season after a disappointing loss to North Dakota State, but miraculously this week fans are praising new coach Turner Gill and the team and have a renewed hope for the season. This does not go for all fans of course. The stadium was respectfully full for an 11 a.m. game, but there was something missing until that first touchdown. Suddenly, it seemed with the chiming of the Campanile that hearts fluttered, and the hope was back.
While fans may have no idea how the rest of the season will go for the Chiefs, they have hope that will stand at least until the next game. The same thing will happen here at Kansas. I do not want to say that fans are a fickle bunch, but there is a large group of people who will jump the bandwagon after a victory and hop off a loss. In my book, this is pretty much unforgivable in sports. Someone recently told me that my game day rituals and yelling at the television does not affect how the team will play. Really? Did you need to crush my dreams of contributing to the 2008 National Championship or 2007 Orange Bowl victory? Okay, I know that all of that is true, but fans do make a difference. The coaches and athletes always thank the fans and call us the "greatest fans in college sports." At some base level I like to think you enjoy having us up in the stands, hearing our cheers, feeling the hope and love for our college team.
A similar phenomenon took place during the Chiefs game on Monday Night Football. Despite the Chiefs' difficult preseason and a talented foe to face, fans piled into Arrowhead hoping for something great to happen so they could once again start their love-hate relationship with the team. But after their team's victory Monday night, fans' Facebook statuses were consistently filled with excited game updates, and students discussed the game on campus while wearing Chiefs gear proudly.
So dear readers, think about this the next time you are planning your weekend around whether or not to go to the games. Renew that hope that we start the season with and get to the games. Cheer until you lose your voice, don all sorts of Mardi Gras beads and other spired apparel and proudly wear the awkward tan lines you get from morning games. Give the team a chance. No matter what happens this season, we are still Jayhawks and always will be. That is something to be proud of right there.
Edited by Michael Bednar