Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Kansas football’s 40-10 thrashing of FIU didn’t seem much different than any of the lopsided victories the Jayhawks piled up last season. But Kansas has changed — for the better — in one very important department.
The ’08 Jayhawks have some serious talent at wide receiver.
We’re not talking Mark Simmons talent (steady but unspectacular), Marcus Henry talent (uber-athletic but inconsistent), or Brian Murph talent (couldn’t block worth a darn). We’re talking youth, excitement, speed and a surplus of skill at what is a crucial position in Kansas’ spread offense.
Sophomore Dezmon Briscoe hauled in nine passes, scored three touchdowns and showed no hint of the poor hands that plagued him as a freshman. Senior Dexton Fields, the group’s even-keeled elder statesman, caught a pass for the 25th consecutive game before leaving with a leg injury. Sophomore Johnathan Wilson enjoyed one heck of a coming-out party by catching five balls, and junior Kerry Meier displayed his soft hands, recording nine receptions.
The biggest winner among the receivers was the smallest of them all. 5-foot-9, 175-pound freshman Daymond Patterson made a grand debut, burning 75 yards down the sideline to turn a punt return into six points. His other punt returns went for 11, 19 and 30 yards. That isn’t bad, considering Anthony Webb tallied just 16 punt return yards all of last season.
Patterson is the kind of player Kansas couldn’t have recruited early in coach Mark Mangino’s tenure: Supremely talented, fast, and ... well, fast. How a stud such as Patterson escaped his home state of Texas without being snatched up by Texas Tech, Texas or Texas A&M is a mystery, and an epic victory for Kansas football.
Louisiana Tech
lookahead
Think Louisiana football, and you tend to think about Louisiana State University. But Louisiana Tech, a school of about 10,000 students in tiny Ruston, La., isn’t short on gridiron history.
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw directed the Louisiana Tech offense in the late 1960s. More recently, quarterbacks Tim Rattay and Luke McCown launched their less-than-prolific pro careers after playing at Louisiana Tech. Former Kansas City Chiefs standout lineman Willie Roaf also donned the Bulldog blue in the early 1990s.
Other big-name alums include former NBA star Karl Malone, USC basketball coach Tim Floyd, and fiery-yet-fashionable Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey.
Another year of
eligibility, please
Kansas cross country coach Stanley Redwine said last month at media day that the graduation of last year’s top two Jayhawk runners would give his young team an opportunity to “step up.”
After his team’s season-opening meet, Redwine might be wishing for the return of his departed veterans. The current Jayhawks fared well, placing seven runners in the top 15, but the Kansas Alumni team one-upped the current team.
Paul Hefferon and Colby Wissel, who graduated last spring, finished first and third, respectively. The best showing by a current Jayhawk was freshman Don Wasinger’s fifth-place finish.
— — Edited by Mary Sorrick
A potential superstar in Daymond Patterson
The freshman receiver’s successful debut against FIU may spell the start of ...
Gameday: Sept. 6, 2008
Jayhawks will take on Louisiana Tech
Football Game Day: September 8, 2007
How do the Jayhawks compare to the Lions? Asher Fusco and Case ...
Shutout victory against Louisiana Tech spotlights junior ...
Although overlooked as an offensive star during the preseason, Angus Quigley currently ...
Patterson’s playmaking adds to aerial assault
Daymond Patterson has quickly emerged as a go-to receiver for the Jayhawks ...
Kansas football defense must rebuild
New recruits and returners may struggle to take graduates’ places
Perfect Shutout
Todd Reesing threw for a career record 412 yards in Kansas' 29-0 ...
Cornerback fights for playing time
Plagued by mistakes and injuries, Daymond Patterson competes for his spot on ...
Five receivers to keep an eye on
The Jayhawks wide receiving core is full of unproven talents with great ...
Thibodeaux: Football team still need to find ...
The Jayhawks lack consistency in their playing ability.
Mangino signs strong new recruiting class
Coach Mark Mangino has used his team’s 12-1 season and Orange Bowl ...
Cross country team hopes to top last ...
Coach Stanley Redwine expects Wasinger and Stowe to lead teams.
Patterson takes medical redshirt
A groin injury will keep Kansas reciever Daymond Patterson off the field ...
Young secondary to be tested at Tech
Underclassmen will need to step up against pass-happy Red Raiders.
Predictions for the Jayhawks against McNeese State
Mike Vernon previews what to expect from the Jayhawks both this season ...
Kansas to face another stiff defense
The Kansas football team lost its perfect season when it played Missouri ...
McNeese State at a glance
Sports writer Ethan Padway takes at look at what McNeese State has ...
Could Kansas meet this season’s Cinderella team ...
The East Carolina Pirates could be considered this year’s version of last ...
Gameday: August 30, 2008
Get ready for the game against Florida International.
Gameday: Nov. 15, 2008
Get ready for Saturday's game against the Longhorns.
Football report card: October 17, 2007
Sportswriter Asher Fusco evaluates the Jayhawks performance thus far this season
Morning Brew: Patterson to make debut
Kansas wins Orange Bowl, seals 12-1 season
Kansas continued to turn the college football world upside down Thursday night, ...
Dufek: How Kansas could keep the ball ...
Kansas football shouldn’t dwell on the past but should instead look to ...
Kansas wins 29-0
Check Kansan.com tomorrow for full coverage of Kansas' victory
Sharp carries Kansas to victory
Junior Jake Sharp rushed a career high 31 times for 118 yards ...
Football Notes: September 25, 2007
Football notes for the week
Jayhawks spear Buffaloes, 30-14
Jake Sharp leads charge as Kansas uses ground game to dispatch Colorado
2012 football schedule announced
With two new teams on the schedule and a new coach at ...
Football team loses two players
Senior defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst left the team because of personal reasons ...
Rankings for the KU-KSU football game
Jayhawks’ performance looks par so far
Although the KU football team holds a 3-1 record, its performance is ...
Wheeler: Shutout not forecast of Big 12 ...
Though KU had its first shutout since 2000 last weekend, Southeastern Louisiana ...
KU-OU Gameday
Get familiar with Kansas' offense, defense and special teams as the Jayhawks ...
Injury keeps wide receiver from playing in ...
Mangino would feel better with a full team but still seems confident ...
Baylor looks to compete this season
2008 nonconference schedule takes shape
The 2008 Jayhawk schedule will feature competition more inline with the success ...
Wide receivers coach leaves KU for UT
Darrell Wyatt was a key part of recruitment efforts
2011 Kansas football season looks promising
The Jayhawks endured a rough transition year with coach Turner Gill last ...
KU Gameday: November 20, 2007.
This is the gameday info.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
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
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID