Monday, April 16, 2007
More than 8,000 fans got a taste of fall at the Spring Scrimmage on Sunday at Memorial Stadium, filling stands for a glimpse at next year’s team nearly five months before the first game of the season.
The scrimmage was a dress rehearsal for everyone involved. A referee backpedaled into a pylon and tumbled to the delight of the crowd, Hank Booth misspoke a couple of times over the loudspeaker, and the team worked under the direction of a new offensive coordinator. The leaves on the trees around the stadium were budding rather than changing colors, but the blare of the fight song, the yell of the cheerleaders and the smell of beer in the air gave the day the feel of a Saturday in fall.
Though not as numerous or rowdy as on a normal game day, hundreds of fans showed up early to tailgate on the hill and enjoy the warm, sunny weather.
pullquote
I want to see what moves he does and what works against bigger people.
-Malik Thompson
Danny Kessler, Lawrence resident, and a group of friends drank beer and grilled burgers near the base of the hill next to a big blue bus with red-tinted windows and “Jayhawk Nation” painted on the side. Kessler said they tailgated at every game last season, usually with a keg on the bus, which his brother owned. They settled for five coolers of beer instead of a keg on Sunday, but Kessler said they’d been there since 11 a.m., 4 1/2 hours before the start of the scrimmage.
Just up the hill an air pump labored to fill a moonwalk that functioned as a magnet for the children in attendance. Malik Thompson, 10, eagerly waited his turn in line. Soon after, his attention turned to his favorite player, senior running back Brandon McAnderson.
“I want to see what moves he does and what works against bigger people,” Malik said.
Malik attends Kennedy Elementary School and hopes to play running back on his youth football team this year. He said McAnderson was his favorite player because he attended several of Malik’s football practices last year. Malik said McAnderson encouraged the players to do well in school and gave them pointers on the field.
The moonwalk deflated at the start of the game, and the crowd migrated into the stadium, where fans had a rare chance to be both dedicated supporter and fair-weather fan at the same time. With the team playing against itself, fans clapped and cheered at every big play, showing favor to whoever succeeded rather than rooting solely for the first or second team.
Aric Toler, Iola freshman, said he was particularly impressed by sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing’s running and junior cornerback Aquib Talib’s coverage.
The crowd buzzed with talk of Reesing and fellow sophomore quarterback Kerry Meier, who will compete for the starting job.
Toler attended with four of his friends. They were split on who should be the starter, but Toler said he felt the competition would make them better.
“I think they need to stick to one once the season starts to give the team stability,” he said.
Fans eager for the start of the season on Sept. 1 at Memorial Stadium against Central Michigan were optimistic about the team’s prospects.
Kessler repeated the word “potential” when describing the team and said the program was on the rise. Toler was more specific about his hopes for the team.
“Seven wins and a bowl game,” he said. “That’s all I ask.”
Kansan staff writer Kyle Carter can be contacted at kcarter@kansan.com.
— Edited by Carissa Pedigo
Fan’s bus promotes school pride
Marine Corps Sgt. Rodney Kessler and Lawrence resident Bryan Berns restored the ...
Fans keep tailgating despite construction
The construction of the new Anderson Family Football Complex has caused some ...
Game day goes smoothly despite construction
The Athletics Department said navigating construction was not a problem for most ...
Fans face game day construction
Changes to parking and tailgating will affect pregame activities before Saturday’s season ...
Beery good time on ‘The Hill’
Tricked out tailgates
Bringing alumnus back
Fans meet players at appreciation event
Kansas football fans saw the Jayhawks in action Wednesday night. Some lucky ...
A look inside a Kansas game day
Pregame spirit has never been higher for the football team after recent ...
Reesing a star at Big 12 Media ...
Mangino said the quarterback will have to zone out all the hype ...
Scrimmage to set tempo for fall season
Sunday's scrimmage at Memorial Stadium will be the teams first exposure to ...
Dufek: Why ESPN should vote Todd for ...
No one on ESPN’s expert panel has deemed Reesing worthy of appearing ...
Preparation finally ready to pay off
A new offensive coordinator, starting quarterback and a few other roster changes ...
Dodd: Fans should seize game day opportunities
Whether you are looking to embarrass opposing players, get the best view ...
Jenks: Spring football game starts next season
Fans enjoy a day on the hill and players put off-season work ...
Football Notes: November 19, 2007
Here's what's going on in college football
The Ten Commandments of tailgating
In a town where football is more religion than pastime, tailgating is ...
The highs and lows of Spring Scrimmage
Performances at the Spring Scrimmage helps Mangino - and fans - decipher ...
Season ticket sales set record
The Kansas football program is on pace to set a single season ...
New procedure should shorten tailgate wait at ...
Parking changes that separate Kansas and Missouri fans at the Nov. 29 ...
Arrowhead’s neutral site changed tradition
Football's second-longest rivalry between Kansas and Missouri affected Kansas tradition.
Quarterback job still unknown
Reesing finished the scrimmage 10-for-20 for 171 yards, and Meier finished 13-for-27 ...
New players, new plan
A gutsy fourth-down decision by coach Mark Mangino sparked an outstanding performance ...
Kansas wins 30-14
Jake Sharp scored three touchdowns to help Kansas pull away in the ...
Students, teams react to fights
Chancellor chastises teams; basketball and football players unite to apologize; and students ...
Reesing's book offers look inside the lines
Former Jayhawk quarterback Todd Reesing recently co-authored a book about his life ...
GSP-Corbin hosts tailgate party
The Department of Student Housing decides to sponsor event to foster an ...
Wheeler: Two teams bound for top Big ...
For the first time in Big 12 history, the Kansas football team ...
Mangino goes all out for win
Kansas wasn't conservative in its season-opener, going for a fourth-and-one and showcasing ...
KU students enjoy varied sports traditions
Game days and Traditions Night anchor the school’s sport history.
Toland: No place like the hill
Gale Sayers has returned to his home on the hill. Who could ...
Reesing will start over Meier
Sophomore Todd Reesing will be the Jayhawks’ 2007 starting quarterback, coach Mark ...
Soccer hype happens in Kansas City
An area known as the “Cauldron” sizzles in Arrowhead stadium when fan ...
Toland: Good time to build up Reesing
It's been a rough stretch for Reesing, but now is a good ...
Former Jayhawks weigh in on Reesing’s legacy
Although Todd Reesing might not pan out in the NFL, Gale Sayers ...
Gridiron Club expansion still on track
Despite Coach Mark Mangino's departure and the six-game losing streak, plans for ...
Buying power of game days to be ...
Program on KJHK to examine the economics of a typical Saturday at ...
He’ll always be a Jayhawk
Former head football coach Don Fambrough will never lose his love for ...
Football Notes: October 22, 2007
Check out some of the lesser-known facts about Saturday’s game against Colorado.
Offensive coordinator brings new style
The KU football team will start this fall with a new offensive ...
Saturdays with Bob
How KU football brought my dad and me closer together.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID