KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3. 2010 / SPORTS
5B
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Mike Gunnoe/ANSA Jonathan Wilson runs the gauntlet in a ball security exercise at practice. Wilson and other starters are adjusting to Gill and his coaching staff.
KICKOFF (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
"I think coach Gill is concerned about developing depth and what is going to be our greatest chance to win. I think the other great thing about position changes or guys coming into new roles is that everyone has been mature about it."
On the surface, the Mountain Valley Conference's Bison seem like an ideal opponent for Gill, Pick and the other unproven assets to make their debuts against. However, layhawk football coaches are only 2-6 in their debuts since 1971. Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush said nobody on the coaching staff is taking North
Dakota State lightly.
"We're going to have our hands full the first week, Torbush said. "I've been very, very impressed with North Dakota State on video. They run the ball extremely well. They're very, very patient and understand what they want to do."
One of the keys to the Bison offense is their tight end tandem of senior Landon Smith and junior Matt Veldman, who stands just over 6 feet, 6 inches.
"Both of them catch the ball extremely well." Torbush said. "They remind us of our tight ends in a way, only taller."
Adjusting to Gill's system and his coaching staff has been tough at times for the seniors who spent at least three years under former coach Mark Mangino's system. But without a single member from the previous coaching staff, they must quickly adjust to the more offensive mindset.
"In a sense it's going to feel different since we are not going to have the old coaching staff with us," Wilson said. "However, at the end of the day it is still football and I believe it is going to be the same."
- Edited by Alex Tretbar
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Barr spurns Irish for UCLA
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
LOS ANGELES — Here was a guy who could wake up some echoes. At least that was the expectation.
Anthony Barr was a top college football prospect who toted around so many Notre Dame connections that youd have thought his family history was carved in the blarney stone.
He was born in South Bend, Ind. His father was a running back at Notre Dame. His uncle was a running back at Notre Dame. Another uncle was a Fighting Irish linebacker. His mother attended St. Mary's College, just a punt, pass or kick across U.S. Highway 31 from Notre Dame.
His grandmother's brother went to Notre Dame, as did two of his aunts. Or was it three? Barr is not quite sure.
But Barr does remember the assortment of Fighting clothes, trinkets and other paraphernalia that made his bedroom look like a set from the movie "Rudy."
Yet, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound freshman is in Los Angeles, not South Bend.
Barr chose UCLA over family tradition. One consolation: "We can still watch him beat USC and we'll be very happy with that," said Lori Barr, his mother.
UCLA football fans won't have to wait long to become well-acquainted. Look for Barr at the multiple-purpose "F-back" position Saturday in the Bruins' season opener at Kansas State.
The plain-as-the-gold-on-your-dome fact is that Barr liked UCLA. He felt comfortable there. And, he said, the idea of "creating my own legacy" was appealing.
"Someone told me they would have bet money that Anthony would go to Notre Dame," Lori Barr said, laughing. "I told them I bet my son on it and I lost."
Why Barr was high on so many recruiting lists is apparent at first glance.
"You don't see too many kids who are 6-5, 230 and are as graceful as he is," UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said.
College coaches flocked to Los Angeles Loyola High to drop in on Barr even after he suffered a broken leg in the second game of his senior season. USC even took a shot, though Barr said, "With my family, I would have had to change my name if I went there. I would have been disowned."
Barr was a wanted young man even though he was hard to define. He gained 1,890 yards rushing as a junior, but his size, speed and other considerable skills
Norm Chow, UCLAs offensive coordinator, saw Barr as a perfect component in the Bruins' new "pistol" offense. The "F-back" position is a hybrid tight end-wide receiverrunning back whose goal is to create mismatches.
made him desirable at a number of positions.
"He scored 60 points in a game one time when he was 7," Lori Barr said. "The park manager came over and said, 'You guys can't be in this league.'"
"The first time he played football, he was running with the ball, knocking kids down," Lori Barn said. "It was flag football. Some parent came over and said, 'That kid is going to play Division I football.' I said, 'You're nuts' but inside I was thinking, 'Yeah, I know.'"
me" UCLA strong safety Tony Dye said. "I'm glad other teams have to worry about bringing him down on Saturdays."
Lori Barr was wrong, however, about where her son would play college football. Notre Dame seemed a given.
"The one thing to keep in mind when he's coming at you is, 'He can run me over or he can run around
Tony Brooks, Barr's father, rushed for 2,274 yards playing at Notre Dame from 1987-91. Reggie
"Someone told me they would have bet money that Anthony would go to Notre Dame."
LORI BARR Anthony Barr's mother
That has always been a chore.
Brooks, his uncle, led the Fighting Irish with 1,375 rushing yards in 1992 and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. Cedric Figaro, another uncle, was a Notre Dame line-
team's goals against total was 100 more than the amount of goals Kansas scored. For Prendergast and the rest of the team, the upside is that next year is finally here, and as of now, every team is undefeated. The books have closed on last season, and a new chapter in Kansas hockey is about to be written.
ICE (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
There are still Irish eyes shining within the family. Reggie Brooks is the manager of football alumni at Notre Dame.
backer in the mid-1980s. All three played in the NFL.
Those are ties that usually bind generations. But Barr was concerned about the coaching change in South Bend after Charlie Weis was fired. "It wasn't just the head coach, but the position coach I was close to during the recruiting process," Barr said.
Barr's family left South Bend when he was a baby but often returned to go to games.
The chapter starts with the new players. This season, upwards of seven new prospects join the team, and all are looking to be the stand-out that impresses Prendergast. Playing at the college level, rookies need to understand what the opponent is bringing to the table.
Another area that Prendergast looks at is hitting.
"At this level kids know how to hit, they have more physical mass and have learned the art of the hip-check," he said.
"They are bigger, faster and stronger." Prendergast said. "You could be a really good high school player, but that doesn't make you a good college player."
The ongoing tryouts will culminate after the first two games of the season against Purdue. This first road trip is crucial for the squad's rookies. Prendergast is leaving two lines of veterans at home in an attempt to see what the rookies are made of, and cuts will be made after he can get a better idea of who fits with the program. As with any newcomer, walking into a new locker room is tough; teammates likely already have chemistry built and understand each other.
The layhawks are no different, except that they waste no time in renovating their bonds.
Prendergast leaves bonding up to his veterans. Along with football viewing parties, Grant Worden, team president and defenseman, said that road trips bring the team together.
"We like to get together for the football games," winger Josh Delesha said.
"Being in a hotel room with the other guys, you kinda get a feel for everybody," he said.
Delesha and Worden said last year was disheartening and hard to take, but now they are hopeful and anticipating a great season.
"It was a whole team letdown," Delesha said. "You work real hard to get a goal and they come back two seconds later and throw two in the net. It's hard to work hard after you've been put down 4-1 in the first period."
For Prendergast, working hard doesn't just involve practices and games. When it comes to his team.
Prendergast has a clear stance on his players' educations.
"Academics is the reason they're all here," he said. "So that has to be number one."
Prendergast
will help out this year. But with home games in Overland Park it can be hard to draw a big crowd. Prendergast said he thinks Kansas students should support the team more.
"You could be a really good high school player, but that doesn't make you a good college player."
"Hockey is a great sport to watch, it's one of the best spectator sports you can get," said Prendergast. "On a Saturday afternoon its a great way to get out and show some team spirit."
Using last year as fuel, the Jayhawks look to prove to the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association that the University of Kansas is here to play. In past years Kansas has been the underdog.
wants dedication to Kansas to come in forms other than on-ice production. He is looking for success in life after college hockey, with or without the game.
With the advancement of hitting and scoring at the college level, those who are new to the sport will surely be satisfied. It is the team's expectation that having a strong and supportive environment at home will give it an advantage this season.
TOM PRENDERGAST Coach
On the rink, however, the group hopes that some home cooking
2010 looks to be the year that the status quo changes.
"We are much more positive." Prendergast said.
NFL
This is a playoff-or-bust team, and with the squad that
Kansas has now, it looks to be an achievable goal. The Kansas Men's Hockey Club is here to welcome Kansas to the world of Hockey.
Edited by Alex Tretbar
Chiefs hold off Packers
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Matt Cassel and Brodie Croyle each led touchdown drives and the Kansas City Chiefs beat Green Bay 17-13 Thursday night for their first preseason victory since 2008.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a host of other Green Bay starters didn't suit up for the final tuneup of the preseason. Backup signal-caller Matt Flynn played into the third quarter and hit 23 of 37 passes for 304 yards, much of it against backups.
Running back Ryan Grant and cornerback Charles Woodson also did not dress for what was expected to be a rainy night but actually remained dry. Held out with injuries were nine other Packers, including four other starters: linebackers Clay Matthews and Brad Jones, defensive end Cullen Jenkins and tackle Chad Clifton.
Finally, facing a host of backups, the Packers (2-2) got rolling, driving from their 24 to first down at the 10. But rookie defensive back Kendrick Lewis broke up a pass on the goal line on
Rodgers, who led the No.1 offense on three touchdown drives in one half against Indianapolis last Thursday, watched Flynn go three-and-out in Green Bay's first four possessions.
third down and then a fourth-down pass was incomplete.
Cassel got off to his typically slow start, but wound up hitting 4 of 9 throws for 58 yards, with one interception and a 2-yard TD pass to a wide-open Leonard Pope late in the first quarter. The
drive, against many backups, covered 62 yards on 11 plays.
ago.
The Chiefs were 1-3 in preseason after going 0-4 a year ago.
C as s e l turned a 7-0 lead over to Croyle and the oft i n j u r e d backup engi
Croyle hit Tim Castille with a
Three receivers had a big night for the Packers. Swain caught 6 passes for 130 yards, Charles Dillon caught 6 for 85 and Patrick Williams had five catches for 70 yards.
neered an 8-play, 95-yard march in which Jackie Battle broke Jarrett Bush's tackle and went 49 yards. On fourth down, Battle plowed across from the 1, making it 14-0.
The Chiefs were 1-3 in preseason after going 0-4 a year
Trailing 14-3, the Packers got a 77-yard catch-and-run when backup cornerback Jackie Bates bit on a play fake and left Brett Swain wide open over the middle. Swain was knocked out of bounds at the 5. Two plays later, Kregg Lumpkin dived into the end zone from the 1. The play was first ruled no gain, but the Packers challenged and got the call reversed.
short pass late in the third quarter and the fullback broke a tackle, got a block and went 43 yards, setting up Ryan Succop's 26-yard field goal.
Bay's Mason Crosby kicked two 41-yard field goals.
G r e e n
Kansas City's first possession seemed to confirm the impression many have had of Todd Haley's second Chiefs team: inconsistent offense and greatly improved return game. Rookie Javier Arenas returned a pount 44 yards to the Green Bay 33, but the Chiefs went three-and-out.
The Green Bay punting battle between Tim Masthay and Chris Bryan tilted toward Masthay. He had three kicks for 121 yards while Bryan, an Australian Rules Football kicker, had two for 72.
The Chiers' Ryan O'Callaghan, tackle, and Tamba Hali, linebacker, were out with injuries.
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