LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -Gone are Mike Rivera, Joe Mortensen and James Holt, who for three years formed the linebacking corps and beating heart of the Kansas defense. Their final two seasons, they helped lead the Jayhawks to 20 wins and two bowl victories, a plateau the program had never achieved.
How well their replacements perform will go a long way toward determining whether the Jayhawks make a run at their first Big 12 North title or take a step backward in coach Mark Mangino’s eighth season.
“We have made a lot of progress since day one. There is no question about that,” said Mangino, whose No. 25 Jayhawks launch their season Saturday night with a home game against Northern Colorado. “I think those kids are starting to develop some confidence in knowing their assignments, getting their reads and getting where they are supposed to be.”
etition, the Bears of the Big Sky Conference were 1-10 last season and haven’t had much luck in openers against major college competition.
Last year, they lost 42-10 at Purdue. The year before, they were drilled 63-6 at Hawaii.
At Memorial Stadium, they may be facing an inexperienced set of linebackers. But their defense will face an offense led by Todd Reesing, a senior quarterback who has already broken just about every school passing record, and a big-play senior wide receiver in Kerry Meier.
“We’re trying to come out and start the season off with a bang,” said Meier. “Northern Colorado is making the transition to Division I and a lot of people think that this is going to be a walk in the park for us. But it’s going to be a good test for us to come out and see where we’re at.”
Drew Dudley, a junior, appears to have locked up one starting position at linebacker. Junior Justin Springer and senior Arist Wright have also spent most of practice with the starters. But true freshman Huldon Tharp should also see plenty of action against Northern Colorado along with other second-teamers, including redshirt freshman quarterback Kale Pick.
Pick may wind up playing about as much as Reesing if the game becomes the expected runaway.
and how our team does offense, defense and special teams. How we kick off the season is more important than my personal excitement.”
The Bears do return about a dozen starters on offense and defense. And they have high hopes for Andre Harris, a powerful, 220-pound running back who transferred from El Camino Community College and is expected to play right away.
“They are a team that just won one game a year ago, but they have plenty of people back,” said Mangino. And Harris, he said, “will have quite an impact.”
The Bears also have an experienced senior quarterback in Bryan Waggener, who needs just 460 yards passing to tie for 10th all-time on Northern Colorado’s career charts.
The players seem well drilled on the importance of not paying undue attention to Northern Colorado’s record last season.
“That was last year,” said running back Jake Sharp. “We don’t even look at that stuff. Bottom line is that we’re playing an opponent this week and it’s Northern Colorado. We’re going to play as hard as we can, like we would every other week.”
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