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Kansas retains its focus

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:55 CDT

Jake Laptad smiled. The mistake had already been made, a somewhat sophomoric gaffe by Kansas' sophomore sack specialist. Asked about the Oklahoma Sooners, KU's opponent next week, Laptad did the unthinkable: He answered.

"We'll be ready for them," Laptad said before realizing what he had done. Then came that goofy grin from the defensive end. "We're not supposed to talk about them, actually."

No, no, no. After their 30-14 victory over Colorado, the 16th-ranked Jayhawks had strict orders from KU coach Mark Mangino not to talk about the Sooners.

They were supposed to talk about how well the defense played in sending CU quarterback Cody Hawkins, the coach's son, to the bench for the fourth quarter. They were supposed to talk about how Laptad's sack of Hawkins in the second quarter, which resulted in a safety, was the play of the game. They were supposed to talk about KU running back Jake Sharp carrying the ball 31 times for 118 yards and three touchdowns.

Anything, really, other than OU. Heck, even the Jayhawks' woeful special teams units were a hotter topic than the just-beaten Sooners, who will undoubtedly be a very angry bunch when KU opens the second half of its season next weekend in Norman, Okla.

JAYHAWK REPORT

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

First quarter

Key play: A 37-yard punt return by Colorado's Josh Smith switched the field position in CU's favor. The Buffaloes eventually cashed in to take a 7-0 lead.

Key stat: 5. The number of yards for KU running back Jake Sharp on six carries.

Second quarter

Key play: KU defensive end Jake Laptad sacked CU quarterback Cody Hawkins for a 16-yard loss in the end zone for a safety and a 9-7 KU lead.

KU BOX SCORE

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

Scoring

Colorado (3-3, 0-2)	7 0 7 0--14
Kansas (5-1, 2-0)	0 9 7 14--30

Attendance --49,566

First Quarter

Col--Crawford 11 pass from C.Hawkins (Goodman kick), 3:15

Second Quarter

Kansas gets top recruit

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

For a 17-year-old kid, Thomas Robinson has shown an early knack for understanding the big picture.

This last summer, he decided to leave his home in Washington, D.C., to attend Brewster Academy, a boarding school in Wolfeboro, N.H.

"So I could improve myself for college," Robinson explained, "so that I could be a step ahead of the seniors that are coming out of high school. I will already be used to college life a little bit."

Turns out, Robinson's year at Brewster will be preparing him to play basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. Robinson, a 6-foot-8, five-star power forward, gave an oral commitment to KU coach Bill Self on Thursday night, choosing the Jayhawks over Memphis.

It's no surprise that the chance to work on his game every day with KU assistant coach Danny Manning was a big factor.

Kansas defense gets boost from blitz

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:40 CDT

Nothing gets Kansas' "bash brothers," linebackers Joe Mortensen and Mike Rivera, excited like a call for them to blitz.

"It's all about want," Mortensen said. "When Coach calls your number to blitz, you gotta get there and act like there's no one in coverage."

Mortensen says he would blitz every play if he could, and it appears he just might have to this season for the No. 16 Jayhawks to get pressure on the opposing quarterback, starting today against Colorado.

In the first half last week against KU, Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud seemed to have all day to pick out his receivers. In the second half, KU turned up the heat with its blitz packages, sacking Arnaud twice.

On the surface, it seems the Jayhawks are a much more effective defense when they are aggressive in blitzing. Should they blitz more as the year goes on?

COLORADO AT KANSAS

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:39 CDT

11:30 a.m. today at Memorial Stadium (50,071), Lawrence

Radio: KFH, 1240-AM, 98.7-FM

TV: ESPN2, Ch. 33

WHAT'S AT STAKE TODAY

For CU: Chance to break a two-game losing streak this season, two-game streak to KU.

KU freshman making quick work of transition

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:08 CDT

Jeremiah Hatch says that he doesn't care which position he plays on the offensive line at Kansas, but his eyes got pretty big when reminded that left tackles get paid the most money in the NFL.

"I got a LONG way, LONG, LONG, LONG, LONG way to the NFL," said Hatch, a redshirt freshman now starting at left tackle. "Trust me, I'm not even thinking about the NFL."

Hatch is living in the moment, just as he did as a freshman at Carter High School in Dallas when his basketball coach told him that he had to play football to play basketball. Hatch had never played football before, and he's pretty sure the request from the basketball coach was no coincidence.

"I think it was more of the football coach telling the basketball coach," Hatch said.

Carter coach Allen Wilson must have known what he was doing. Hatch was starting on the varsity by the end of his sophomore season, playing center for one of the Metroplex's most notable high school football programs.

SCOUTING COLORADO

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:35 CDT

1. Rodney Stewart was not supposed to be the freshman running sensation. Fellow CU freshman Darrell Scott was the No. 1 rated running back in the country last season but has sat behind Stewart for most of the fall.

2 CU wide receiver Josh Smith is the player that the Buffaloes want to feed the most. He leads the team in all-purpose yards with 221 receiving, 153 on punt returns and 435 on kickoff returns.

3 The Buffaloes have been outscored 132-121 and outgained 1,771-1,628 this season.

Key matchup

The interior of KU's offensive line vs. Colorado defensive tackle George Hypolite. The Jayhawks want to continue their success running the ball in the second half of the Iowa State game, and Hypolite is the man standing in the way. If KU can run between the tackles consistently, the Jayhawks will win big.

Rivera learns to deal with pain

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:39 CDT

Mike Rivera Sr. wants to make sure you know what his son has been doing for the last four years at Kansas, so he e-mails you a resume.

Mike Rivera Jr., a KU linebacker, finished his bachelor's degree in communications studies in four years and is working on a master's degree in sports management. He serves on the executive board of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, which helps student-athletes get in touch with the local community, and has been involved in five charity projects.

On the field, Rivera has been chosen All-Big 12 honorable mention the past two seasons. He is a two-time team captain, picked by his teammates as a sophomore in 2006 and again this season.

But, thus far, 2008 has not followed the blueprint. According to his father, Rivera has been playing with a serious injury. He went down the second week of fall camp and has struggled to regain his form. Rivera was benched for the Sam Houston State game on Sept. 20, and KU coach Mark Mangino said his decision was based on a lack of effort.

"At KU," Mangino said after the game, "you have to play every play like it's your last. When you don't do that, then you don't play. It's a privilege to play here. It's not a right."

Obscene fan chant gives KU pause

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:32 CDT

Curtis Vineyard is caught in the middle of a crossfire. He is a freshman at Kansas, and he likes going to the football games, which means he has a decision to make every Saturday, each time the Jayhawks kick the ball off: Should I do the chant or not?

Thus far, Vineyard has decided yes, joining in with the thousands of students who yell "Rip his (expletive) head off!" at the top of their lungs.

"I do, kind of just because everyone else does," said Vineyard, a native of Marysville. "But it's probably not one of those things we should do."

Hey, that's college. Every student has to battle peer pressure.

Ever since the chant began years ago -- based off a line from the 1998 Adam Sandler comedy, "The Waterboy" -- students join in. But, this week, Vineyard and the rest of the KU students are going to hear a different message about the chant as the Jayhawks' home game against Colorado on ESPN2 approaches.

Kansas rallies for win

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:19 CDT

Mark Mangino didn't tell Jake Sharp last week about his change of heart. For all Sharp knew, he was destined for another frustrating Saturday.

Certainly nothing from the first half against Iowa State would have given Sharp any hope. Through one half of abysmal football, Sharp had one carry -- and the 16th-ranked Jayhawks had no points.

"Me and Jake talk a lot," KU wide receiver Kerry Meier said. "He just kept telling me he wanted a shot. Just one little shot."

Sharp, a junior from Salina Central, was supposed to be a key part of the offense this season. But, through four games, he had carried 26 times for 86 yards and found himself relegated to mop-up duty against Football Championship Subdivision opponent Sam Houston State.

Still, Mangino's instincts had been telling him that Sharp was the guy. But for some reason, he couldn't pull the trigger. Had he waited any longer on Saturday at Trice Stadium, the Jayhawks might have lost a must-win game.

JAYHAWK REPORT

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

First quarter

Key play: Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson got the Cyclones a much-needed first score on a 16-yard dart to the end zone.

Key stat: 110-24. Iowa State's advantage in total yards.

Second quarter

Key play: With Iowa State leading 20-0, KU linebacker Joe Mortensen sacked Austen Arnaud and forced a fumble that the Jayhawks recovered at their own 13. The play kept the Jayhawks within three scores.

KU BOX SCORE

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

Scoring

Kansas (4-1, 1-0)	0 0 0 0--0
Iowa State (2-3, 0-1)	0 0 0 0--0

Attendance --47,847

First Quarter

I--Robinson 16 run (Mahoney kick), 10:45.

I--Hamilton 8 pass from Arnaud (Mahoney kick), 3:56.

Quigley takes starting role

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:43 CDT

For a Kansas offense that hasn't featured a 100-yard rusher yet this season, the Iowa State defense couldn't be coming along at a better time.

The Cyclones have allowed an opposing running back to reach the 100-yard mark in each game this season and have given up an average of 187.5 rushing yards. The Jayhawks spent much of their bye week trying to bring their ground game to life, and KU coach Mark Mangino moved leading rusher Angus Quigley into the starting role for the Big 12 opener.

"The running game sets the tempo for the game," Quigley said. "You come out and you're able to run the ball, it sets up everything. We need to establish the run in conference play, and we need to start that this Saturday."

Quigley will get the opening carries, but the KU coaching staff is planning to play Jocques Crawford and Jake Sharp as well. The guy with the hot hand will get the most time in the second half.

KU offensive coordinator Ed Warinner, despite seeing his offense average just 119 rushing yards per game, doesn't think the running game has struggled as much as some may think.

KANSAS AT IOWA STATE

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:41 CDT

11:30 a.m. today at Trice Stadium (55,000), Ames, Iowa

Radio: KFH, 1240-AM, 98.7-FM

TV: VERSUS, Ch. 257

WHAT'S AT STAKE TODAY

For KU: A victory that most other Big 12 North rivals will also get later on.

Fields heals in time for Big 12

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:36 CDT

Dexton Fields is not Daymond Patterson.

Fields, a senior wide receiver, is not flashy. He is not going to blow defenders away with his speed like Patterson, and he is not going to have Kansas fans standing on the tip of their toes when the ball finds his hands. Nevertheless, the Jayhawks have missed Fields since he went down to injury in the season-opener.

"He's the type of guy that flies a little bit under the radar," KU offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. "But he's a consistent blocker. He's a consistent pass catcher. He's played a lot of football games. He knows how to make adjustments. All those things... experience, consistency... he's a good football player."

Those are the kinds of descriptions you get about Fields. He's just a good football player -- so good that he led the Jayhawks in receptions last season with 63 -- and he'll be back in the lineup Saturday for KU in its Big 12 opener on the road at Iowa State. That means more consistency and less flash from the Jayhawks receivers, an exchange KU coach Mark Mangino will make any day.

SCOUTING THE CYCLONES

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:38 CDT

Three things about Iowa State

1. Iowa State will likely play two quarterbacks, Austen Arnaud and Phillip Bates. Both players can make plays with their feet; Bates averages 6.9 yards per carry and leads the team in rushing with 166 yards.

2. Iowa State's running backs have struggled. The Cyclones' top back is Alexander Robinson with 147 yards in four games.

3. The Cyclones appear to be solid against the pass, allowing only 176 yards per game through the air. But Iowa State hasn't played an offense like Kansas' either.

Key matchup

Big 12's inverse relation

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:26 CDT

Banks Floodman would have preferred that fans hadn't rushed the field after Kansas' dramatic win over Iowa State in 2005.

Of course, the KU students did it anyway, mirroring the players who were sprinting toward kicker Scott Webb, who had just knocked in the game-winning field goal in overtime. Whether Floodman, a senior linebacker on that team, liked it or not, that was KU football. Beating Iowa State was cause for celebration.

The Cyclones came into that game ranked No. 25, needing a win to clinch the program's first berth in the Big 12 championship game. Iowa State, under coach Dan McCarney, had been building toward that goal for a decade.

"It was great to be able to beat them and not let them celebrate a Big 12 North title on our field," said Floodman, who now works for the Williams Fund at KU. "As seniors, we didn't want to go out like that."

As No. 16 KU and Iowa State prepare for their Big 12 opener Saturday in Ames, Iowa, the 2005 game is looking more and more like a seminal moment for each program.

Turning the corner

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:41 CDT

Four weeks after Kansas cornerback Kendrick Harper was taken from Memorial Stadium on a stretcher, he is expected to play for the Jayhawks against Iowa State.

What that means for a KU defense that has given up an average of 339 yards passing the last two games is unclear. Harper, a senior, would appear to be an upgrade over the freshman cornerbacks who have been filling in for him. But, then again, Harper has spent as much time at Kansas in the training room dealing with injuries as he has on the field.

"We've had him penciled in for two years here, but he's missed a lot of work," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "For the amount of time we would have liked to have him in the lineup, he's been absent more than he's been present. There are things Kendrick needs to work on in his game. There are some unknowns about him."

Unknowns relating to a senior are more desirable than unknowns relating to redshirt freshmen Isiah Barfield and Ryan Murphy and freshman Corrigan Powell. Those three youngsters got a trial by fire against South Florida and Sam Houston State, and, surprisingly, their ugliest moments came against Sam Houston. They were beaten repeatedly on basic vertical routes by the Bearkats' receivers, drawing Mangino's ire.

"I don't mind going through growing pains," Mangino said after the game, "but we have got to be able to play some basic coverages with those young guys. We cannot get beat on a vertical every time somebody runs a vertical. I'd say, a couple of those plays, (senior associate athletic director) Larry Keating and I could have gotten underneath coverage faster than the corner did."

KU freshman is Pick of the future

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:38 CDT

In the classroom, in the grocery store, Kale Pick hears it from Kansas fans young and old: You're next.

The path has been laid out for Pick, a KU freshman quarterback from Dodge City. He will redshirt this season, soaking up as much as he can from entrenched starter Todd Reesing. He will get some experience in 2009, mostly in mop-up duty. Then, all signs point to the KU offense being Pick's to run in 2010, when he'll have three years of eligibility remaining. At least, that's the plan.

This is how most top programs groom their quarterbacks. Pick's deliberate advancement through the program would represent something of a change for Kansas, which has often been forced to start quarterbacks as freshmen or redshirt freshmen because of a lack of depth or a dependable starter during the Mark Mangino era. Now, theoretically, Pick can develop naturally, watching the maestro Reesing for the next two seasons.

"I learn from him every day," Pick said. "Actually, every practice, I try to get a good view of what he's doing. I try to take mental reps on the sidelines and (think of) where I'd go with the ball, what I would do. It's a great resource. He's one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. It's a perfect source right there."

For KU, everything worked out perfectly with Pick. But, as of May 2007, the Jayhawks were pretty sure they'd have to go in a different direction; Pick had orally committed to Arkansas. Pick's commitment to the Razorbacks was frustrating news for KU offensive coordinator Ed Warinner, who coveted the highly-regarded dual-threat quarterback when he arrived at KU from Illinois in the winter of 2007.