Kansas' Derek Fine (85) leaves the football field with teammates before the start of the KU-Northwestern State football game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas alumni Steve Dillon, Lawrence, cooks out for friends and family along Mississippi Street before the KU-Northwestern State football game. Jayhawk fans converged on Memorial Stadium on Saturday for the start of the fall KU football season.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas alumni Brad Hill, from Prairie Village, launches a pass to his friend lost in a sea of cars and cookouts before the KU-Northwestern football game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Five-year-old Ross Brungardt, Lawrence, chucks a football down the sidewalk to a receiver on Illinois Street as he and his family tailgated prior to the start of the Jayhawks' game against the Northwestern State Demons.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas University graduate student Brian Wolf, Lenexa, lofts a Ping Pong ball during a game of beer pong with his teammate and 2005 KU graduate Pete Jabbour, Kansas City, Mo., Saturday afternoon across the street from Memorial Stadium. The streets surrounding the stadium were alive with pregame tailgating parties and revelry in anticipation for the start of the 2006 football season.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas' Jon Cornish drags Northwestern defenders Russ Washington (3) and Jason O'Brien on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas fans get hyped for the first game of the fall football season against Northwestern on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas' Marcus Henry collects KU's first touchdown of the fall season against Northwestern State's C.L. Grogan on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas linebacker Brandon Duncan (16) and receiver Dexton Fields lunge in to block a punt by Northwestern State kicker Marshall Burton that was recovered for a Jayhawk touchdown during the first half of Saturday night's game at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kick returner Brian Murph leaves Northwestern State kicker Marshall Burton in the dust as he eyes the goalline on a kickoff return for a touchdown during the first half of Saturday night's game at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas running back Jon Cornish stiff arms Northwestern State safety Russ Washington as he tears down the field during the second half of Saturday night's game at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas' Raymond Brown (38) butts heads with defensive teammate Paul Como (98) against Northwestern on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas' Paul Como stops Northwestern State's Richuel Massey in his tracks. Massey had six carries for three yards, and the Demons rushed for just 62 yards against the Jayhawks.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas' Derek Fine hands fans his wristband after beating Northwestern on Saturday.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas safety Jerome Kemp celebrates early in the game against Northwestern on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas' Brandon Duncan (16) and Dexton Fields (88) converge on the punt of Northwestern State's Marchall Burton. Jeff Foster fell on the ball for a touchdown.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas defensive end Paul Como drags down Northwestern State tailback Richuel Massey for a loss during the first half of Saturday night's game at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas quarterback Kerry Meier attempts to pass around the oncoming rush of Northwestern State defensive tackle Tory Collins during the first half of Saturday night's game at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas University's Jon Cornish, left, outpaces Northwestern State's Jordan Patton for a 69-yard touchdown run in the Jayhawks' 49-18 victory. Cornish rushed for a career-best 140 yards in KU's season-opening victory Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

KU coach Mark Mangino congratulates Jake Sharp, left, and Kerry Meier as they exit the field against Northwestern State.

Published on September 2, 2006

KU's Kerry Meier sets off on a 31-yard touchdown run against Northwestern State. Meier threw for 110 yards and two TDs and rushed for 31 yards and two more scores Saturday.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas fans wave the wheat during the KU-Northwestern game. About 45,000 people attended the game on Saturday.

Published on September 2, 2006

A handful of Jayhawk fans go wild as they see themselves on the video board during KU's season opener.

Published on September 2, 2006

Kansas University's Brian Murph (6) signals to the fans after returning a punt 70 yards for a touchdown in the Jayhawks' 49-18 victory over Northwestern State. Murph also caught a 15-yard TD pass in KU's season-opening victory Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

The Kansas offense makes room for quarterback Kerry Meier as he looks to pass during the first half of Saturday night's game at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006

Two-year-old Jayhawk fan Eliana Marker, Indianapolis, gets some help from Lawrence resident and friend Jen Alderdice as she high fives the cheerleaders during Saturday night's game at Memorial Stadium.

Published on September 2, 2006