Turner Gill and the team answer questions about last weeks embarrassing defeat

Can we reCover?

Football on Film
Game day
Volume 2 Issue 2

a look behind the lens of the ku football documentary

kansas Vs. GeorGIa Tech saTurday, sePTember 10, 2010

sePTember 10, 2010

PresenTed by The unIVersITy daIly kansan

2 table of contents

ThE WAvE vol. 2, iSS. 2

SEPTEMBEr 10, 2010

FroM ThE EDiTor

Saturdays game left the Jayhawk nation with a lot of questions. How and why being at the top of the list. This magazine, and I would guess nearly every other publication, predicted a KU victory. As Gill and other players admit in their interview with Kory Capenter, mistakes were made. But no use in crying over fumbled passes. The Jayhawks are prepared to learn from their loss, and maybe new starting ADAM voSSEN quarterback and freshavossen@kansan.com man Jordan Webb will surprise the hell out of everyone and play a great game against Georgia Tech. Whatever happens, well be able to look back in 20 years and watch it all in the KU football documentary Gridiron. Meg Lowry gives us a behind-the-scenes account of the making of the documentary, which will be filmed throughout the season. So the Jayhawks better up their game, because now theres going to be film evidence if they continue to lose.

12
The Wave staff
Editor-in-chief Managing editor The Wave editor Sports editors Designer

Inside the locker room

Former player and KU alum Micah Brown, makes a documentary about the current football season

8 Gameday Preview

The Waves sports writers offer up their observations about Saturdays game against Georgia Tech

About The Wave

Photo editor Business manager Sales manager News adviser Sales and advertising adviser Ryan Waggoner Joe Garvey Amy OBrien Malcolm Gibson Jon Schlitt The Wave is a weekly sports magazine produced by The University Daily Kansan. Copies come out with The Kansan every home game week

Contact us
The University Daily Kansan 2000 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Drive Lawrence, Kansas 66044 (785) 864-4810

Alex Garrison Nick Gerik Adam Vossen Corey Thibodeaux, Tim Dwyer Dan Rezaiekhaligh

ON GAME DAY
(MUST PRESENT COUPON)

GET THE BEST VIEW

SELECT SUNGLASS FRAMES

25% OFF

785.838.3200 - 935 IOWA STE. 3

*OFFER EXPIRES 12.31.10

THe WAve

SepTeMBer 10, 2010

THe UnIverSITy dAILy KAnSAn

COLUMN 3

Put loss in the past and aim for uniformity

efore we start pointing fingers at kansas less than stellar performance against north dakota state last saturday, lets remember one thing: Coach turner Gill never said things would be pretty. heck, he never said this team would even win, let alone accomplish that feat in a beautiful mindaltering fashion. however, none of us had expected the high rate of errors and overall lack of consistency that bore in its season opener. introduced as mark manginos successor last december, Gill landed in lawrence with expectations loftier than most, expectations that now seem to be deemed unrealistic. maybe it was the way Gill wooed a fan-base that had been left in shambles after the 2009 debacle that was the todd reesing and friends farewell tour. Or perchance it was Jayhawk fans expecting a refocused and more team-oriented approach. whatever our reasoning for placing optimistically high hopes upon Gill and his newly reformed roster, those hopes were unfortunately shattered when the team took the field without surnames on their uniforms, a first since 1981. the idea was to show a

AAron Berlin
Guest columnist
team that was program first. unfortunately, big Jay was the only Jayhawk that actually decided to show up this season. For most of the first half kansas fans found themselves watching an entirely different team than manginos star-studded, pass-first attack. instead, fans observed a division i football team struggle to grasp the concept of having eleven players on the field for special teams and a team that struggled all evening to simply catch the ball. saturday night kale pick became the first man not named reesing to start at quarterback since kerry meier back in 2006. pick showed his inexperience early on. not only did he appear unprepared, he at times looked confused by the defensive packages the bison were throwing at him, and unsure of himself. the Jayhawk offensive line, perhaps the most highly touted facet returning this season, allowed a

frustrating four sacks by games end. it also struggled to keep north dakota states pass-rushers from maneuvering into the backfield and hurrying the aforementioned pick. this caused throws to go too wide or miss altogether, never allowing pick and the rest of his offensive line to get in any kind of rhythm. looking forward to this weeks game against Georgia tech its easy to sit back and harp on the mishaps that occurred against ndsu. the real challenge will be continuing to support Gill and his staff as they change the atmosphere of this program. with Joshua nesbitt and Georgia tech visiting this week, Gills and the rest of Jayhawks best bet is to forget last weeks misfortunes and attempt to find a method of team uniformity by season end. after all, without reesing and friends roaming the sidelines, its the only way this program will succeed.

Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN FILE PHOTO

Junior tight end Tim Biere reaches to make a catch near the goal line during the fourth quarter. Biere dropped the ball, forcing the Jayhawks to try a game-tying field goal, which was missed. Kansas went on to lose the game 6-3.

the university daily kansan

the wave

september 10, 2010

4 FOOTBALL

Words from the Big 12 Writers from around the conference weigh in on their teams
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Defense carries Wildcats to victory

By Ashley Dunkak
kansas state Collegian avenging last seasons loss at university of California, los angeles, the wildcats won their home opener with a score of 31-22. though they struggled to pass and take care of the ball, the wildcats prevailed on the strength of their defense and ground game. despite an alarming number of fumbles (two) and sacks of the quarterback (six), the victory showed the character of k-state and served as a good start to the season. wins are hard to come by, said head coach bill snyder. i do not care if you are the coach, the quarterback or the water guy. they are hard to come by, and they are important and good for everyone involved. snyder said he liked the way the defense responded to adverse situations. One instance he mentioned in particular was when k-state gave up a late touchdown on a 29-yard zinger from uCla quarterback kevin prince to receiver ricky marvay with 1:19 remaining in the game to cut k-states advantage to a mere two points. however, the wildcats did not allow the two-point conversion. there is some character there, snyder said. that takes more than just being a good football player. we have all been faced with adversities in our life, but it is how you respond to tough times that tells what kind of individual you are. that is what i was proud of our defensive football team for. Captain and junior linebacker alex hrebec led the team with 12 tackles. the number is one thing, but to watch hrebec in the game is a much better measure of what a great defender he is. On a punt return, uCla junior Josh smith broke loose for a 43-yard run, and he might have broken loose for more had hrebec not hauled a good 50 yards down the field to back up defensive back tysyn hartman and drag smith down. the secondary and defensive line also made life very difficult for prince and his receivers. Junior defensive backs david Garrett and terrance sweeney had an interception apiece and combined for five pass breakups and nine tackles. we knew they would have a height advantage, so we had to be physical against them, sweeney said. we had to keep hitting them and keep hitting them and then get to the ball. pretty good idea of what they were going to do. it comes down to execution, and

Quarterback leads strong offense in open

By Jake Lovett
iowa state daily in iowa states 27-10 win over northern illinois last thursday night, the isu offense had 403 total yards. a big reason maybe even the biggest the offense was so successful was the play of senior quarterback austen arnaud. at coach paul rhoads weekly news conference monday, he addressed the quarterbacks improved play in the opener. he did a great job of executing and running the offense, he did a nice job of running the football, rhoads said. im very pleased with austens first performance. during the 2009 season, arnaud completed 58.7 percent of his passes, good for eighth in the big 12. arnaud was 27-of-36 passing for 265 yards thursday night, but did throw two interceptions. he threw two bad interceptions, and they were bad decisions on his part, rhoads said, but he threw for 75 percent accuracy with 36 thrown balls, which is something he didnt do a year ago. arnaud tweaked his throwing motion during the offseason, which he said may have led to the increase in completions. arnaud and running back alexander robinson also had a great deal of success running zone read plays thursday night. On the play, arnaud takes a snap in the shotgun and then either hands the ball off to robinson or keeps it himself and runs straight ahead. its just the look the defense gives me, most of the time reading a defensive end or a linebacker, arnaud said. a lot of that has to do with the running back pressing the line and seeing the cut as the line develops it. robinson rushed for 97 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown out of the zone read, and arnaud had 45 yards. he also had a 53-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that was called back due to an illegalformation penalty. arnaud would later get a rushing score on a 2-yard run on a read play.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas is tackled by UCLA safety Tony Dye and linebacker Akeem Ayers and defensive back Ryan Sublett during the second half of the game Saturday, Sept. 4, in Manhattan. fortunately it got the job done. On the offense, passes came few and far between, but the running game did not disappoint. although 313 yards rushing and 64 yards passing does not reflect the balance snyder likes, nobody was complaining about that saturday. senior running back daniel thomas gained ground in his strong yet smooth style for two lengths of the football field and then some, furthering his reputation as the best running back in the big 12 Conference and maybe in the country. daniel is such a quiet young guy, snyder said. most of you have interviewed him and he doesnt have much to say, but he plays so hard. second, third, fourth effort, that is just his way. i am awfully proud of him. adding to thomas 234-yard contribution was senior running back william powell, who got his first touchdown amid six carries for 72 yards not bad for his first game back from injury. powell credits thomas with elevating the team as a whole and also him personally. daniel gets the whole team excited, powell said. i see him making plays, and that just makes me want to play that much harder. when he comes out and i go in, i dont want there to be any discrepancy. i want to get in there and be able to produce just like he does.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Tuberville happy with team despite close first game

By Mike Graham
the daily toreador head football coach tommy tuberville said he had not been sleeping very well leading up to the red raiders seasonopening game against smu sunday. while acknowledging there is still a lot of work to be done if tech is going to be the team he believes it can be, the new head coach said he was looking forward to sleeping sunday evening after his football team defeated smu 35-27. im proud to be part of this team, tuberville said during his postgame conference as the Goin band From raiderland could be heard still performing in celebration of the victory. tubervilles first game as the head coach was not always smooth sailing. smu had the chance to tie the game on its final possession of the game thanks in part to techs botched fourth-and-one conversion attempt from its own 34-yard line with about 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Quarterback taylor potts appeared as if he was set up to run a quarterback sneak under center Justin keown but the snap was mishandled and tech lost two yards. smu scored a touchdown and brought the game back within one possession thanks to that play. were not an every down snap underneath the center and the quarterback, tuberville said. it wasnt anybodys fault but mine. i put us in a situation where it should have been a no-brainer. we should have lined up and punted the ball. but all the other red raiders came to tubervilles defense.

the wave

september 10, 2010

the university daily kansan

FOOTBALL

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS TEXAS LONGHORNS

Texas faces strengths and weaknesses

By Laken Litman
The Daily Texan Cody Johnson sprained his ankle on the second play of Saturdays game but didnt tell the coaches until after the final whistle because he wanted to play. I asked him why he didnt tell us, and he said, Ive worked too hard to be the starter and I dont want to lose it, head coach Mack Brown said of Johnson. Johnson didnt want to appear weak. But as his ankle swelled throughout the game, it was harder for him to plant, cut and take advantage of goal line situations like the one on the Longhorns opening drive where Johnson was dropped back for a loss of four yards on fourth and inches from inside the one. Because of Johnsons injury and sophomore Tre Newton scoring three touchdowns Saturday, Newton has earned the No. 1 spot on the depth chart this week. If Johnson hadnt been hurt, Brown isnt sure if Newton would be starting against Wyoming this week or not. Its hard to say because [Johnson] only played two healthy plays, Brown said. I appreciate the fact that he tried to be so tough. Most players will tell you pretty fast [that theyre injured]. Brown liked the way his trio of running backs played and noted that Saturday was the first game since 2005 the year Texas won the National Championship that he had three backs run for more than 50 yards each (Johnson had 63, Newton had 61 and Fozzy Whittaker had 51).

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez throws during the game against Western Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 4, in Lincoln, Neb.

Poor defensive effort from Cornhuskers

By Dan Hoppen
The Daily Nebraskan Amid the swirl of excitement surrounding Taylor Martinezs magical debut, it was easy to overlook something that most Husker fans now take for granted. Nebraskas defense didnt play to the same level as last year. Not even close. Not that it should have right away, anyway. It was the first game of the year, and the Huskers were replacing five graduated starters, not including the losses of Will Compton and Sean Fisher to injuries. Still, when coach Bo pelini claims that this years defense will upstage last years, the expectations are going to be high. Speaking of pelini, he was less than enthused with his units effort. I thought overall defensively it was an absolute embarrassment, pelini said. I thought it was coached poorly, and that starts with me. I didnt like anything we did defensively. I mean, there were a couple things that we did OK, but we didnt play up to our standard. The Huskers gave up 179 rushing yards, more than they gave up in any one game last season. Western Kentuckys Bobby Rainey had 155 yards, the most any running back has rushed for since pelini became Nus coach. Some of the responsibility falls on the starting linebackers, Lavonte David and Alonzo Whaley. David led Nu with 13 tackles, but pelini said hes still has work to do. I think Lavonte David made a lot of mistakes, he said, as did most of our other guys. David said he agreed with pelinis assessment. yeah, most of it was our fault, David said. everybody knew what we had to be, but we had to step up. A lot of people werent hearing us. The highlight for the Blackshirts was a fumble forced by DeJon Gomes just before Rainey crossed the goal line in the third quarter. Rainey sprinted 46 yards up the middle before Gomes caught him from behind. The ball popped out in the end zone, where it was recovered by eric Hagg. Its just a part of our culture, which is effort, Gomes said. you see a guy running, and Im pretty sure I and a lot of my teammates chase him down just so we can get that next-play opportunity and maybe get a three-and-out or a field goal on the board, just trying to make another play. I had the opportunity, and I was just going for the tackle, but the ball came out, too. Without that fumble, the Hilltoppers would have had another seven points, which would have given them more than any Nu nonconference opponent last year. But its just one game. The Huskers had five players making their first career start, including both starting linebackers, depended upon to make calls and direct the rest of the defense. And the team that had the most rushing yards against Nu last year? That would be Arkansas State, another overmatched earlyseason opponent. Its the first game, pelini said. Ive seen a lot of good things defensively through camp. I think were going to be a good defense.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texas running back Tre Newton jumps between Rice defenders during the first half of a game Saturday, Sept. 4, in Houston. Texas won 34-17.

The reason Texas ran for the majority of their offensive plays on Saturday was to experiment with the ground game because Rice was a team they could take risks against. The Longhorns running game is not as advanced as their passing game, which is why theyre working on it more. The message seems to be were going to line up in a wishbone and run it every play, Brown said. Were not. We want to run it better. We will be balanced. Well try to be 50-50, run and pass. We were not Saturday, but thats what were working on. The Longhorns want to be better at the end of the year than at the beginning, so a playbook dump of chiseled passing plays in the season opener might have ruined their chances. Brown wants to build upon his teams weaknesses before showing off all of its strengths.

To run or to pass? That is the question

Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp has talked about strengthening the inside of his defensive line in the tackle position next to veteran Kheeston Randall since last spring, but he still doesnt have his go-to guy. Junior Tyrell Higgins, sophomore Alex Okafor and redshirt freshman Calvin Howell will rotate in next to Randall by committee because they have not yet separated themselves from one another. I dont think theres anybody distancing themselves through the production of the first game, Muschamp said. Id prefer to have a guy step up, but we dont have that right now. I do think were getting positive production, so Im not disappointed. Theres just not enough of a difference in those three guys right now. To add some leadership and experience to the mix, Muschamp will add defensive end Sam Acho to the inside for a number of snaps.

Thickening the defensive line

THe uNIveRSITy DAILy KANSAN

THe WAve

SepTeMBeR 10, 2010

6 FOOTBALL

MISSOURI TIGERS

Tigers work to fill Washingtons shoes

By John Montesantos
The Maneater Starting senior tailback Derrick Washingtons permanent suspension from Missouri football, issued last week, leaves the remaining four Missouri rushers with some big shoes to fill. Washington started in every game in 2009, rushing for a team-high 865 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last years work followed an impressive sophomore season, when Washington rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns, just one shy of Missouris single-season record. The Raymore, Mo., native was primed to lead the Tiger backfield for his third straight season, but the suspension put that duty in the hands of his backups. Sophomore Kendial Lawrence and junior DeVion Moore will look to shoulder the load in Saturdays season opener. Lawrence was the clear No. 2 tailback throughout training camp, making him the new No. 1 going into the 2010 season. Despite being a year younger and seeing slightly less action than Moore in 2009, the sophomore is listed at the top spot. But with Moore now recovering from a recent big toe injury, both of them will be getting carries in game one. Coach Gary Pinkel said hes put the loss of Washington behind him and is confident in the switches at running back. We move them over, move them out, and there are no excuses, Pinkel said. When you have a situation like this, other teammates have to pick it up and play at a different level. Pinkel was unclear as to whom the go-to back will be, noting the skills Lawrence and Moore each bring to the table. You mature so much in your second year, and I think (Lawrence) is a very talented player, he said. DeVion has more experience than he does, but I think they will both do a great job. Rounding out the tailback position on the Tiger depth chart are freshmen Henry Josey and Marcus Murphy. The third- and fourthstring backs have a lot in common: Both are undersized (each is listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds), both are Texas natives and neither has played in a college game. The rookies have learned fast though, competing in practice and putting up strong numbers in the scrimmages. Josey recorded a carry and a reception in each of the three scrimmages, and Murphy racked up 55 receiving yards on two receptions in the second scrimmage. Now at the No. 3 tailback spot, Josey hopes his quickness can earn him some playing time. But the former all-district high school running back knows he has to earn it.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Missouri receiver T.J. Moe rambles up field after a reception during the fourth quarter of a game against Illinois Saturday, Sept. 4, in St. Louis. Missouri won the game 23-13. I would love to play this year, Josey said. Its at the top of my list. There are great competitors, so every day you have to come out ready to roll. Im just getting ready to be quick out there. Although the loss of Washington bumped Josey up a spot on the tailback list, the suspension of his close friend left him rattled. But the freshman knows his senior mentor will get through his situation. Junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert is also confident his team will work through the recent problems. We have to fight through it, Gabbert said. Things are going to happen to this football team, but were going to bounce back and fight on.

TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Aggies thirst for victory not quenched by win

By Austin Meek
The Battalion In a statistically impressive showing by both the offensive and defensive units, the Aggies 48-7 win over Stephen F. Austin university featured a heavy rotation of freshmen players such as left tackle Luke Joeckel and tight end Nehemiah Hicks as well as a huge game by sophomore receiver Ryan Swope. [The offensive line] played really well, senior quarterback Jerrod Johnson said. Luke played a heck of a game for his first game, and I think Matt Allen and evan eike had great games insideI know were going to try to stress the downward running gameI think our backs and our o-line are really kind of jelling together to find that synergy to run the ball well. Johnson put up numbers in keeping with his Heisman candidate billing, accounting for 328 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. The synergy Johnson was referring to is evident throughout the whole team. If you ask one guy about an impressive personal feat, hes always deferring the praise to his teammates. That kind of selfless attitude is characteristic of this football team and further proves the unity and humility of the squad. The receivers did a great job,Swope, who hauled in 13 catches for 106 yards, said. eZ [Nwachukwu] and Jeff [Fuller] and Terrence [McCoy] all did their job and they did a great job. Without them I wouldnt have gone anywhere, so I give all the credit to those receivers and linemen doing their jobs and blocking downfield. Fuller made his own mark on the game, registering four receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns. His scoring grabs brought his career total up to 18, one shy of Bob Longs 42-year old mark for career receiving touchdowns. He believes that this pass-catching corps possesses enough talent to rewrite the record books. I feel like were one of the strongest receiving corps ever to come through this school, Fuller said. But weve still got a lot more to accomplish. The records are great and you know thats definitely something wed love to accomplish, but we still need to continue to improve and get better. The defense performed admirably in the first game of defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyters newly implemented 3-4 system. The Aggies limited SFA to just seven points and 266 total yards, allowing a scant 31 yards to the Lumberjack running game. Sophomore cornerback Dustin Harris registered the first defensive points in 21 games when he returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown. One of the biggest question marks coming into Saturdays game was the Aggies lack of experience at important positions, most notably the left tackle spot. Nine freshmen saw playing time against SFA, and Head Coach Mike Sherman was pleased with some of the performances. I thought that both freshman tackles, Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel, did a nice job, Sherman said. Both kids are very coachable and they know the mistakes they made and they fixed them and they get better as the game went along. Freshman tight end Nehemiah Hicks was another first year player to see the field. For him to be a freshman and as big as he is and block as well as he does and have those soft hands, I mean hes going to be a really good player,Johnson said. Louisiana Tech is next on the schedule for the Aggies. Theyre aggressive, Johnson said.. They come after you, they play man, they bump your receivers, they get in your face. So we think we have some ways we can combat that.

THe WAVe

SePTeMBeR 10, 2010

THe uNIVeRSITY DAILY KANSAN

FOOTBALL

BAYLOR BEARS

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Quarterback leads Cowboys still have high expectations Baylor to big win
By Chris Derrett
The Lariat The Floyd Casey Stadium crowd may never again be happier to see quarterback Robert Griffin hit the turf, rise up and continue playing. The more than 42,000 Baylor faithful in attendance knew what it meant in the Bears 34-3 win over Sam Houston State: Griffin is back to prime form. I knew it was going to come, and I bounced up just like I said I would, Griffin said. President Ken Starr runs with the Baylor Line before the game. It felt so good to be back in the atmosphere of a football game. In the first quarter Griffin dashed to the right side for 15 yards before being brought down, rising back up to the crowds ovation. He finished that same drive with a 30-yard scamper into the end zone, pushing Baylor ahead 14-0. Griffin completed 19 of 36 pass attempts for 242 yards, and the defense held the Bearkats scoreless for three quarters as the Bears began their season on a winning note. While the offense struck early, the Bears defensive effort proved equally effective and kept Sam Houston State from breaching midfield until three minutes remained in the first quarter. Plugging running lanes and shutting down receivers has become easier for the Bears in 2010, especially considering the speed added to the depth chart. I couldnt get any tackles tonight. Every play I got a good break, I was trying to get downhill, but I couldnt get there because our [defensive ends] are so fast, senior safety Tim Atchison said. Redshirt freshman defensive end Tevin Elliot led all Baylor tacklers with 7.5 tackles. Despite several Baylor chances late in the game, the Bearkats kept the Bears out of the end zone for the final 27 minutes. Griffin and head coach Art Briles both admitted the offense struggled for much of the third and fourth quarter, but both remained confident in the Bears ability to execute its future game plans. As the game progressed a little bit ... I think we had some stuff we knew we should be getting and did not get, and then consequently we just needed to relax a little bit and play and be a little more patient, Briles said. Briles had more looks planned for his offense, but Sam Houston State prevented them after winning the possession battle

By Alec Schimke
The Daily OCollegian

Last August, former players Zac Robinson and Andrew Lewis graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. The seventh-ranked Cowboys were pegged as BCS contenders heading into the 2009 season and lofty expectations brought national attention, setting Stillwater abuzz when no. 15 Georgia came to town for the season opener. Led by a veteran core, experts foresaw the Cowboys as a legitimate threat to Big 12 powerhouses, Texas and Oklahoma, for conference supremacy. Last years team was not short on big name players either. Running back Kendall Hunter, wide receiver Dez Bryant, offensive tackle Russell Okung and defensive back Perrish Cox were popular preseason All-American picks. Fast forward to this season and uncertainty is the main headline hovering around Boone Pickens Stadium as opening weekend approaches.

Only Hunter returns from the group above and after losing a conference-high 15 starters, the national media has labeled the Cowboys as underdogs in 2010. The teams expectaions remain high nonethless. We won nine games last year and we want to win nine or more games this year, quarterback Brandon Weeden said. Weeden, 26, enters his fourth year in the program, after seeing limited action behind Robinson last season. Like many other new starters this year, Weeden will have big shoes to fill. One of the experienced players on defense is senior defensive back Andrew mcGee, who recorded 32 tackles last season, which ranks second among returning players. People look down on us because we are young, but we dont, he said. Coach mike Gundy is also optimistic regarding the teams new look. These guys have paid a price, Gundy said. They have worked extremely hard. They worked hard in the spring and they worked very hard in the summer on their own. We have had good practices in the preseason, so they have earned the right to win.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Baylors quarterback Robert Griffin throws for a short pass over Sam Houston States Chuck Obi during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 4, in Waco, Texas. with more than 35 minutes of offense. After reviewing film, Briles also said he felt the team lacked running production. The final score read 200 yards on 25 rushes, but four of those attempts went for more than 20 yards each. Sometimes it is frustrating because you know the game plan changes when they load the box like that, said running back Jared Salubi. But with the talented running back crew that we do have, we kind of like a challenge like that. Overall, the game allowed the Bears to continue working on its on-field cohesion as the team faces more difficult upcoming opponents. While Buffalo looks to consistently use fewer players in the box than Sam Houston State, the change in strength will further challenge Baylor. It is hard to feel challenged sometimes in football games, and that is the good part about this week, Briles said. We will feel challenged, we will be challenged and we will have to step our game up to come out with a W.

THE unIvERSITy DAILy KAnSAn

THE WAvE

SEPTEmBER 10, 2010

8 gamE Day
at a glancE
The Kansas football team will be heavy underdogs when the potent Georgia Tech offense visits Lawrence at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets, ranked fifteenth in the nation in the Associated Press most recent poll, run the famed triple option that is a trademark of their coach Paul Johnson.

gamE Day 9

kansas (0-1)
oFFEnsE
There is only one way for the offense to go: up. Whether they will take that step Saturday remains to be seen. The quarterback situation is in turmoil, with freshman Jordan Webb starting this week after sophomore Kale Pick started last week. Freshman running back Webb Deshaun Sands is highly questionable with a leg injury. And the offense could not muster a touchdown against their FCS opponent last week. Someone must step up and become the leader of the offense still looking to replace three legends.

georgia tech (1-0)

oFFEnsE
The defending ACC Champions return 26 letterwinners on offense, including six starters. Junior running back Roddy Jones ran for 45 yards and scored two touchdowns last week versus South Carolina State. Jones Jones combined with 12 other players to amass 372 total rushing yards, good enough for third-most in college football last week.

at a glancE

DEFEnsE
Although they only surrendered six points against the Bison last Saturday, the defense feels there is room for improvement. The Jayhawks linebackers, led last week by Steven Johnsons nine tackles, will have their work cut out preparing for the Johnson Georgia Tech offense, which gave 12 different players carries in their 41-10 victory against South Carolina State last Saturday.

DEFEnsE
The Yellow Jackets return eight starters on defense, including senior corner Mario Butler who has started 28 games at corner. The defenses strength could Butler be found in the secondary, where five upperclassmen combine for 79 career starts. Last week, Georgia Tech held South Carolina State to only 10 points.

The Yellow Jackets should have no problem dispatching the Jayhawks. After breezing through South Carolina State last week, the number 15 ranked team in the country will look to test a few of its reserves in the fourth quarter against Kansas.

playEr to watch
Junior tight end Tim Bieres size, hands and deceptive speed make him one of the few legitimate NFL prospects on the Kansas roster, but his performance against North Dakota State was hard to watch. As a pass catcher, Biere Biere resembled an offensive lineman more than a tight end, dropping three passes and fumbling twice. Fans and pro scouts alike will have their eyes on the junior this Saturday.

playEr to watch
Senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt is one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch in the ACC. He Nesbitt has speed and can throw the ball. The dual-threat quarterback passed and ran for more than 1,000 yards last year.

spEcial tEams
Senior kicker Jacob Branstetter will try to rebound from a poor performance against North Dakota State. He missed two field goals against the Bison and has already missed a third of all of his misses last season (13-for-19 in 2009). Though their surrendered blocked Branstetter punt last Saturday did not lead to any Bison points, a similar gaffe against the ground specialists at Georgia Tech would be disastrous.

coaching

spEcial tEams
Senior Scott Blair is beginning his fourth season as the starting kicker for the Yellow Jackets. Last week, Blair was 5/5 on extra points but did not attempt a field goal. Junior punter Chandler Anderson averaged 42.3 yards/ Blair punt last year, good enough for third-best in the ACC.

coaching

quEstion marks
When will the defense allow its first touchdown of the season?
An impressive goal line stop against the North Dakota State offense prevented the Bison from scoring a touchdown in their only true opportunity last Saturday. But nobody will mistake the Bison offense with the option frenzy that is Georgia Tech. The question is not really if the Jayhawks will allow a touchdown this weekend but when. Still, if they can do enough damage control and force a Georgia Tech team that had only two completions last week to throw the ball, they should keep the game within reach for the offense.

Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush is very familiar with the unique Yellow Jacket offense. Torbush coached at Mississippi State last season when Georgia Tech bulldozed the Bulldogs 42-31 on Oct. 3 in Starkville, Miss. Coach Paul Johnsons Torbush option-filled playbook is a throwback to the older days of college football, but his quarterback Joshua Nesbitt is anything but a prototypical quarterback. Torbush knows that well; Nesbitt carried the ball 23 times in the victory against Mississippi State last season.

Sophomore wide receiver D.J. Beshears

The Yellow Jackets are coached by two-time defending ACC Coach of the Year Paul Johnson. Last year under Johnson, Tech was ranked the highest its ever been before, 7th, and played in a BCS Bowl Game for the first time in school history. Johnson has won 127 games, more than Johnson any other coach in college football history through their first 13 seasons. He is entering his third season as head coach of the Yellow Jackets.

quEstion marks
What will the experienced Georgia Tech secondary do to Kansas quarterback competition? Georgia Tech only lost two starters off last years defense and returns experienced juniors and seniors at the safety and cornerback positions. Inexperienced Kansas quarterbacks Kale Pick and Jordan Webb may have a hard time throwing around the older veterans.

momEntum

momEntum

The Yellow Jackets visit Memorial Stadium riding a wave of momentum. Their ACC championship and Orange Bowl appearance led to a lot of pre-season hype, and coach Johnsons team was able to avoid a let down in week one. A loss in Lawrence would shatter their long shot national title aspirations. Matt Galloway

Georgia Tech is coming off a 41-10 victory over South Carolina State last week. The Yellow Jackets went 11-3 last year and lost in the Orange Bowl to Iowa. They were picked to finish third in the ACCs Coastal Division. Tim Dwyer

by thE numbErs
Number of sports senior running back Roddy Jones plays. Jones had two touchdowns last weekend against South Carolina State and played in eight games for the Yellow Jackets baseball team last spring.

Jayhawks starting linEup

Offense
Pos. QB RB WR WR WR TE T G C G T Name Number Jordan Webb 2 Angus Quigley 22 Johnathan Wilson 81 Bradley McDougald 24 Daymond Patterson 15 Tim Biere 86 Tanner Hawkinson 72 Sal Capra 59 Jeremiah Hatch 77 Trevor Marrongelli 69 Brad Thorson 76 Year Fr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. So. Sr

Big Jay will cheer if

Year Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr.
.the Jayhawks are competitive against the Yellow Jackets. Nobody in the fan base is expecting a win, nor should they, but a decent showing against the defending ACC champion would do a lot for a team in rebuilding mode. And if the final margin of victory for Georgia Tech is in single digits, the Jayhawk fans will be ecstatic.

bison starting linEup

Offense
Pos. QB BB AB AB WR WR LT LG C RG RT Name Number Joshua Nesbitt 9 Anthony Allen 18 Roddy Jones 20 Embrey Peeples 24 Kevin Cone 82 Stephen Hill 5 Nick Claytor 75 WIll Jackson 52 Sean Bedford 79 Omoregie uzzi 77 Phil Smith 61 Year Sr Sr Jr Jr Sr So Jr Fr Sr So So

Defense
Pos. DE DT DT DE OLB MLB OLB CB SS FS CB Name Number Quintin Woods 93 Richard Johnson, Jr. 97 Patrick Dorsey 92 Jake Laptad 91 Drew Dudley 49 Justin Springer 45 Steven Johnson 52 Isiah Barfield 19 Olaitan Oguntodu 44 Lubbock Smith 1 Chris Harris 16

Defense
Pos. DE DT DE OLB ILB ILB OLB LCB RCB LS RS Name Number Izaan Cross 94 Logan Walls 96 Jason Peters 92 Steven Sylvester 34 Brad Jefferson 51 Kyle Jackson 59 Anthony Egbuniwe 41 Dominique Reese 26 Mario Butler 2 Cooper Taylor 22 Isaiah Johnson 1 Year So Jr Jr Jr Sr Jr Sr Sr Sr So Fr

by thE numbErs
The combined points scored by Kansas and North Dakota State last Saturday, the fewest in a Kansas football game since a 7-2 victory against Missouri in 1972.

Baby Jay will weep if

.Georgia Tech comes to Lawrence, blows out the Jayhawks, and exposes a defense that looked competent against North Dakota State. Current odds have Kansas as 14-point underdogs, but if Georgia Tech senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt uses Memorial Stadium as a campaign stop in his Heisman bid, the players may hear more boos this Saturday.

Straight bowl games Georgia Tech has played in. Kansas has only been to consecutive bowl games once.

13

Kansas record all-time against ranked teams in the Associated Press poll.

25-140-2

Georgia Tech 36, Kansas 23

THE uNIvERSITY DAILY KANSAN

Prediction:

FBS rank in passing yards this season. Georgia Tech only passed for 12 yards last weekend.

116

THE WAvE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

THE WAvE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

v 10 LAST WEEK

3 6 Confidence still strong

Gill pleased with defense but says that offense should learn from loss
By Kory Carpenter
kcarpenter@kansan.com There was not much to cheer about in coach Turner Gills first game as a Jayhawk. Starting quarterback Kale Pick threw for a mere 138 yards and an interception which led to his second half benching. Senior place kicker Jacob Branstetter missed two field goals, and the Jayhawks leading rusher was actually a wide receiver, Daymond Patterson. Mix those together and you get three points and a loss to the North Dakota State Bison. Tim Biere proved to be another disappointment. The preseason hype from coaches and players led to two fumbles on his only two receptions. Reserve quarterback Jordan Webb still has confidence in Biere. Hes one of the best tight ends Ive ever been around, he said. Webb, who relieved Pick in the second half, threw for second completions on 11 attempts, being sacked twice. Gill said the quarterback position is up for grabs once again. As the only BCS conference team to not score a touchdown in week one, Gills offense has a lot of work to do and the quarterback spot is not the only spot open for competition. Running back wise, were still trying to figure that out. Its not just a quarterback thing, he said. Gill stated that execution, not effort, led to the teams demise. The team committed eight penalties, lost two fumbles and missed on 11 of 15 third down conversions. The mental errors were capped off with Isiah Barfields interception. He decided to run out of the endzone, only to be taken down on the one yard, line giving his quarterback no room to operate. I think they played with great effort, but there were times when they were hesitant, Gill said. With only a week to prepare for Georgia Tech, more hesitation from the Kansas offense could lead to another ugly loss in Memorial Stadium. An upset could be huge for the team who is eager to get Saturdays ugly loss out of their memory. I dont know if it erases everything, offensive lineman Brad Thorson stated at Tuesdays press conference. But it would certainly go a long way to helping this team out. Weve got to move past North Dakota State. Theres no rest for the weary, as Gill and company will try to iron out the kinks while preparing for the Yellow Jackets Saturday at 11 a.m. As Gill mentioned, the team will have to play disciplined and efficient on offense to pull the upset. Youre only going to have so many possessions on offense because of their running attack, so we have to be very disciplined on offense and score a touchdown. That seems obvious enough for someone who did not witness the Jayhawks first game. Georgia Techs unique spread option attack will be tough for Carl Torbushs defense, a unit who held the Bison to only 168 total yards last week. Seeing the defense outshine and outperform the offense was something new for Jayhawk fans in Memorial Stadium. Gill was more than pleased with the defense as well. When you hold someone to six points in a ballgame, thats outstanding, it doesnt matter who the opponent is, he said. Georgia Tech comes to town as #15 in the AP poll, after beating South Carolina State 4110. While an upset would be nice on Saturday, Jayhawk fans may need to stay patient for another week. The Yellow Jackets and coach Paul Johnson are ACC conference favorites with a star quarterback in Joshua Nesbitt, and will prove much more challenging than FCS North Dakota State.

Kansas

North Dakota St.

Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN

Coach Turner Gill watches from the sideline during the game against North Dakota State.

THe WAve

SePTeMBeR 10, 2010

THe uNIveRSITY DAIlY KANSAN

FOOTBALL 11

the university daily kansan

the wave

september 10, 2010

12 FOOTBALL

where are you going

tales from the ? turf

KU alum tapped to film football documentary
By Meg Lowry
mlowry@kansan.com
a dozen football players are scattered around the desks, huddled over white booklets, writing carefully in pencil. defensive coordinator Carl torbush lectures from the front of the room, his tennesseen drawl echoing instruction. the only thing out of the ordinary for this college football scenario is micah brown sitting in the back of the classroom, silently attentive to his camera and the scene around him. the scene takes place in the third installment of the Gridiron, a documentary series that follows the Jayhawk football team on and off the field throughout the season. if we win those battles, then we win the ballgame, torbush says. they respond with understanding as turner Gill watches from the corner, clutching a playbook of his own. browns camera captures it all. brown is a ku alum and former kansas football player. he returned to ku for the project after he was approached by lew perkins and George mataskis, director of football relations, to shoot some videos for the team. brown proposed the documentary idea instead. while he was at ku, brown participated in track, football and majored in film. as a student, brown caught the attention of the athletic department and helped to create a documentary about the impact student athletes can have on the community. the department remembered his name when they made plans to shoot video promoting sports at the university. after he is done with the Gridiron,

To watch The Gridiron, go to kufootball.com

brown is going to do similar projects for other ku sports. before this, brown was in California editing movie trailers for films such as knight and day, the a-team, and date night. i knew him as a football player and work with him now, Jeff love, football video coordinator, says. and his work is outstanding. the documentary has been compared stylistically to hard knocks, the reality sports documentary television series on hbO that follows an nFl team through training camp, and Friday night lights, the nbC show about the drama surrounding a high school football team. metro sports, time warner and sunflower have all inquired at a regional and national level regarding making the Gridiron available Ondemand. you always reference different things when looking for a great idea, brown says. i knew i wanted to do something no other college team had done and bring a cinematic experience to the college football realm.

STUDYABROAD

osa@ku.edu / 105 Lippincott Hall / 785.864.3472 / studyabroad.ku.edu

the wave

september 10, 2010

the university daily kansan

FOOTBALL 13

I knew I wanted to do something no other college team had done and bring a cinematic experience to the college football realm. Micah Brown
love, who works closely with the team and is responsible for editing and creating all practice films, recognizes that browns relationship with the team gives him an advantage in filming its every move. browns history on the team makes him a good fit for the job because of his knowledge of football, a trait the department was looking for when hiring, love says. perhaps most surprising about the Gridiron is the quiet presence of the football programs leading man. Coach turner Gill, with the exception of a locker room speech and a post-game consolation, plays a supporting role to the players. Considering his legacy of nebraska football and Orange bowl titles, as a standout heisman finalist and the coach of three national championship teams at nebraska, perhaps Gills role could be expected to be larger. screen time is made up for in the intimate moments of Gill that brown captures on film. a pensive Gill overlooks an empty field as well as groups of players wearing t-shirts which tout their slogan: believe. these intimate moments might have the gravitas they do because of browns relationship with Gill. browns father was teammates with Gill at nebraska and brown grew up with Gill as a family friend. their new working relationship hasnt affected their friendship, however. hes my boss, and i couldnt ask for a better one, brown says. even though he has a history as a football player, brown now watches the team from a different perspective. he sees a transformation in the team and attributes it to Gill, the most consistent person brown knows. Gill is creating a new culture for ku football, brown says, a process that doesnt happen overnight but that brown is confident Gill can achieve. the documentary follows the team throughout the week, from practices to field time, chronicling the progress of the program Gill came to rebuild. it gives the viewer an inside look at what really happens during the course of the week during the college football season, love says. there are a lot of programs where you are seeing more and more that fans love to be in the know, love says. the films, although helpful in reviewing game time mistakes or patterns, are really meant for outside viewers. the documentary will be used to recruit high school athletes and potential ku students, as well as something to enjoy for the student body and alumni. you get provided with an inside look that you gravitate to, love says. you feel like you are in the locker room with these guys and you cant help but be a fan. after a bleak loss to north dakota state saturday, Gill gathers his team in the locker room and reminds them to look ahead. its just one day, Gill tells them. its just one game. the men gather in a huddle, and on three chant their slogan: believe! while browns camera catches it all.

the university daily kansan

the wave

september 10, 2010

14 FOOTBALL

WEEK ONE PHOTOS

Ryan Waggoner/KaNsaN

Sophomore wide receiver D.J. Beshears stiff arms a North Dakota State defender.

Ryan Waggoner/KaNsaN Chris Neal/KaNsaN

A North Dakota State defender blocks a punt from senior punter Alsonso Rojas Saturday Night. Rojas had to punt four times averaging 43 yards a punt.

Junior tight end Tim Biere drops a pass late in the Jayhawks season opening game Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks turned the ball over three times.

FAN PHOTOS

YOUR FACE HERE

the wave september 10, 2010

Submit your photos from this weeks football game to The Wave and your picture could be featured in this spot on this page. Please e-mail photos to kansanwave@gmail. com by Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. All photos need to include the name, year in school and hometown of everyone in the photo.

the university daily kansan

AROUND THE BIG 12 15

Big 12 Week 2
KANsAs vs. No. 15 GEoRGIA TEcH
11:00 a.m. on Fsn

TExAs A&M vs. LoUIsIANA TEcH

6:00 p.m.

oKLAHoMA sTATE vs. TRoY

6:00 p.m.

No. 6 NEbRAsKA vs. IDAHo

11:30 a.m. on Fsn ppv

KANsAs sT. vs. MIssoURI sT.

6:00 p.m.

coLoRADo AT cALIFoRNIA
2:30 p.m. on abC

TExAs TEcH AT NEW MExIco

7:00 p.m. on the mtn. LAsT WEEKs REsULTs iowa state, 27 - northern illinois, 10 missouri, 23 - illinois, 13 Colorado, 24 - Colorado state, 3
ASSOCIATED PRESS

IoWA sTATE AT No. 9 IoWA

2:30 p.m. on abC

MIssoURI vs. McNEEsE sT.

6:00 p.m.

kansas state, 31 - uCla, 22 texas, 34 - rice, 17 Oklahoma state, 65 - washington state, 17 kansas, 3 - north dakota state, 6 Oklahoma, 31 - utah state, 24 baylor, 34 - sam houston state, 3 texas a&m, 48 - stephen F. austin, 7 nebraska, 49 - western kentucky, 10 texas tech, 35 - southern methodist, 27

No. 5 TExAs vs. WYoMING

6:00 p.m. on Fsn

Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones prepares to pass against Utah State in the first quarter of a game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 4.

bAYLoR vs. bUFFALo

6:00 p.m. on FCs

No. 10 oKLAHoMA vs. No. 17 FLoRIDA sTATE

2:30 p.m. on ABC

FIND OUR TABLE AT GATEWAY TO GAMEDAY AT THE UNION

the university daily kansan

the wave

september 10, 2010