There could be 50,000 people in the stands when Kansas University’s football team takes on Wyoming on Saturday or there could be 500.
Either way, the Jayhawks say they’re ready to play.
“It’s kind of like how we went out in the second half (against Iowa State), playing for ourselves,” KU freshman kicker Johnny Beck said. “Not playing just because of our record, but going out there and playing because we want to be here to play football. That’s what the main thing is.
“This game, there’s going to be 20,000 people at this game, it’s going to be a meaningless game, but how do you want to go out?”
Kickoff for both teams’ season finale is 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Though the Jayhawks designated last week as Senior Day, this weekend will mark the final game for their seniors.
“I’m kind of excited,” KU senior cornerback Andrew Davison said. “I’m ready to get it over with because I’ve got another challenge ahead of me. Just like I came here with the challenge to play college football, I’ve got the challenge at the next level ahead of me. I’m kind of excited and I’m excited for the younger guys next year.
“I won’t be shedding any tears. I just want to get the game under way, play as hard as I can play and look forward to the next challenge ahead of me.”
Davison, among other players, emphasized the fact there’s no pressure on the Jayhawks this weekend.
The team isn’t playing to save their coach’s job, isn’t trying to qualify for a bowl game and doesn’t want to win because it’s Senior Day. Heck, the game won’t even be televised live.
This weekend KU can go out and just play football for a change.
“I think guys are still going to come out and play hard because there’s no pressure,” Davison said. “A lot of times during a lot of big games guys were out there thinking too much. I think this week, guys are just going to chill out, play their game and everybody’s going to play hard.
“I don’t think anybody wants to go on the field and be embarrassed.”
Maybe the one person who has the most to gain with a win this weekend interim head coach Tom Hayes is the one leading the let’s-just-have-fun charge.
“I don’t want them to feel pressure. I don’t want them to be afraid to fail,” Hayes said Wednesday during his weekly press conference. “But you know what? I’ve coached that way my whole life. I don’t think players operate very well under those circumstances, so let them relax and play. That’s what our job is. They need to be responsible, though offensively, defensively and in the kicking game for their assignments and their jobs every play.
“But you’ve got to have fun. This game is fun. That’s why they call it a game. It’s supposed to be fun and we want to have fun playing the game Saturday and finish up on a high note.”
l
Making the grade: After being named first-team Academic All-Big 12 on Tuesday, KU senior co-captain Brandon Wier moved a step closer to becoming a Rhodes Scholar on Wednesday.
Wier, who has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while working toward his major in business administration, is one of the eight state finalists for the scholarship. Up next will be interviewing with a panel of 8-10 people Dec. 4-5 with the goal of reaching nationals.
“I’ve always felt my interviews were going to be my strong point so I wanted to get there,” Wier said. “You sit in a panel and they surround you and throw questions at you like you’ve never heard. It’s an intense thing. It’s good.
“I think athletics has put me in more pressure situations than that. Being on the goal line, punting out of our own end zone against Nebraska it was actually our home stadium, but that bowl gets filled for them. There’s a lot more pressure situations than sitting in an interview.”
l
Kinsey confident: KU red-shirt freshman Mario Kinsey, who suffered a “little sprain” on his right hand and was wearing a bandage following practice Wednesday, said he’d been told by KU’s coaches he’d start this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Kinsey said. “I want our seniors to go out on a winning note. I don’t feel we’ve played up to our team’s expectations or our coaches’ expectations. So for the last game, we’re going to go out and have a good one.”
l
Injury update: Senior middle linebacker Marcus Rogers (left ankle sprain), and senior defensive tackles Nate Dwyer (pulled hip flexor) and Ervin Holloman (groin) all are questionable for this weekend.
“They’re doing the best they can,” Hayes said. “This time of year, though, every team in America has got guys that are nicked up. It’s November. Everybody’s playing with injured players. It’s how much pain can you stand.
“Certainly you don’t want to risk further injury, but there’s a lot of guys that are limping around across America this time of year.”
l
Happy Thanksgiving: Asked what he was thankful for on Wednesday, Hayes gave a heartfelt answer.
“I’m thankful that this is the 31st year I’ve been in this business,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of every year because it’s my passion. It’s what I love to do.”
There could be 50,000 people in the stands when Kansas University’s football team takes on Wyoming on Saturday or there could be 500.
Either way, the Jayhawks say they’re ready to play.
“It’s kind of like how we went out in the second half (against Iowa State), playing for ourselves,” KU freshman kicker Johnny Beck said. “Not playing just because of our record, but going out there and playing because we want to be here to play football. That’s what the main thing is.
“This game, there’s going to be 20,000 people at this game, it’s going to be a meaningless game, but how do you want to go out?”
Kickoff for both teams’ season finale is 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Though the Jayhawks designated last week as Senior Day, this weekend will mark the final game for their seniors.
“I’m kind of excited,” KU senior cornerback Andrew Davison said. “I’m ready to get it over with because I’ve got another challenge ahead of me. Just like I came here with the challenge to play college football, I’ve got the challenge at the next level ahead of me. I’m kind of excited and I’m excited for the younger guys next year.
“I won’t be shedding any tears. I just want to get the game under way, play as hard as I can play and look forward to the next challenge ahead of me.”
Davison, among other players, emphasized the fact there’s no pressure on the Jayhawks this weekend.
The team isn’t playing to save their coach’s job, isn’t trying to qualify for a bowl game and doesn’t want to win because it’s Senior Day. Heck, the game won’t even be televised live.
This weekend KU can go out and just play football for a change.
“I think guys are still going to come out and play hard because there’s no pressure,” Davison said. “A lot of times during a lot of big games guys were out there thinking too much. I think this week, guys are just going to chill out, play their game and everybody’s going to play hard.
“I don’t think anybody wants to go on the field and be embarrassed.”
Maybe the one person who has the most to gain with a win this weekend interim head coach Tom Hayes is the one leading the let’s-just-have-fun charge.
“I don’t want them to feel pressure. I don’t want them to be afraid to fail,” Hayes said Wednesday during his weekly press conference. “But you know what? I’ve coached that way my whole life. I don’t think players operate very well under those circumstances, so let them relax and play. That’s what our job is. They need to be responsible, though offensively, defensively and in the kicking game for their assignments and their jobs every play.
“But you’ve got to have fun. This game is fun. That’s why they call it a game. It’s supposed to be fun and we want to have fun playing the game Saturday and finish up on a high note.”
l
Making the grade: After being named first-team Academic All-Big 12 on Tuesday, KU senior co-captain Brandon Wier moved a step closer to becoming a Rhodes Scholar on Wednesday.
Wier, who has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while working toward his major in business administration, is one of the eight state finalists for the scholarship. Up next will be interviewing with a panel of 8-10 people Dec. 4-5 with the goal of reaching nationals.
“I’ve always felt my interviews were going to be my strong point so I wanted to get there,” Wier said. “You sit in a panel and they surround you and throw questions at you like you’ve never heard. It’s an intense thing. It’s good.
“I think athletics has put me in more pressure situations than that. Being on the goal line, punting out of our own end zone against Nebraska it was actually our home stadium, but that bowl gets filled for them. There’s a lot more pressure situations than sitting in an interview.”
l
Kinsey confident: KU red-shirt freshman Mario Kinsey, who suffered a “little sprain” on his right hand and was wearing a bandage following practice Wednesday, said he’d been told by KU’s coaches he’d start this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Kinsey said. “I want our seniors to go out on a winning note. I don’t feel we’ve played up to our team’s expectations or our coaches’ expectations. So for the last game, we’re going to go out and have a good one.”
l
Injury update: Senior middle linebacker Marcus Rogers (left ankle sprain), and senior defensive tackles Nate Dwyer (pulled hip flexor) and Ervin Holloman (groin) all are questionable for this weekend.
“They’re doing the best they can,” Hayes said. “This time of year, though, every team in America has got guys that are nicked up. It’s November. Everybody’s playing with injured players. It’s how much pain can you stand.
“Certainly you don’t want to risk further injury, but there’s a lot of guys that are limping around across America this time of year.”
l
Happy Thanksgiving: Asked what he was thankful for on Wednesday, Hayes gave a heartfelt answer.
“I’m thankful that this is the 31st year I’ve been in this business,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of every year because it’s my passion. It’s what I love to do.”
There could be 50,000 people in the stands when Kansas University’s football team takes on Wyoming on Saturday or there could be 500.
Either way, the Jayhawks say they’re ready to play.
“It’s kind of like how we went out in the second half (against Iowa State), playing for ourselves,” KU freshman kicker Johnny Beck said. “Not playing just because of our record, but going out there and playing because we want to be here to play football. That’s what the main thing is.
“This game, there’s going to be 20,000 people at this game, it’s going to be a meaningless game, but how do you want to go out?”
Kickoff for both teams’ season finale is 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Though the Jayhawks designated last week as Senior Day, this weekend will mark the final game for their seniors.
“I’m kind of excited,” KU senior cornerback Andrew Davison said. “I’m ready to get it over with because I’ve got another challenge ahead of me. Just like I came here with the challenge to play college football, I’ve got the challenge at the next level ahead of me. I’m kind of excited and I’m excited for the younger guys next year.
“I won’t be shedding any tears. I just want to get the game under way, play as hard as I can play and look forward to the next challenge ahead of me.”
Davison, among other players, emphasized the fact there’s no pressure on the Jayhawks this weekend.
The team isn’t playing to save their coach’s job, isn’t trying to qualify for a bowl game and doesn’t want to win because it’s Senior Day. Heck, the game won’t even be televised live.
This weekend KU can go out and just play football for a change.
“I think guys are still going to come out and play hard because there’s no pressure,” Davison said. “A lot of times during a lot of big games guys were out there thinking too much. I think this week, guys are just going to chill out, play their game and everybody’s going to play hard.
“I don’t think anybody wants to go on the field and be embarrassed.”
Maybe the one person who has the most to gain with a win this weekend interim head coach Tom Hayes is the one leading the let’s-just-have-fun charge.
“I don’t want them to feel pressure. I don’t want them to be afraid to fail,” Hayes said Wednesday during his weekly press conference. “But you know what? I’ve coached that way my whole life. I don’t think players operate very well under those circumstances, so let them relax and play. That’s what our job is. They need to be responsible, though offensively, defensively and in the kicking game for their assignments and their jobs every play.
“But you’ve got to have fun. This game is fun. That’s why they call it a game. It’s supposed to be fun and we want to have fun playing the game Saturday and finish up on a high note.”
l
Making the grade: After being named first-team Academic All-Big 12 on Tuesday, KU senior co-captain Brandon Wier moved a step closer to becoming a Rhodes Scholar on Wednesday.
Wier, who has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while working toward his major in business administration, is one of the eight state finalists for the scholarship. Up next will be interviewing with a panel of 8-10 people Dec. 4-5 with the goal of reaching nationals.
“I’ve always felt my interviews were going to be my strong point so I wanted to get there,” Wier said. “You sit in a panel and they surround you and throw questions at you like you’ve never heard. It’s an intense thing. It’s good.
“I think athletics has put me in more pressure situations than that. Being on the goal line, punting out of our own end zone against Nebraska it was actually our home stadium, but that bowl gets filled for them. There’s a lot more pressure situations than sitting in an interview.”
l
Kinsey confident: KU red-shirt freshman Mario Kinsey, who suffered a “little sprain” on his right hand and was wearing a bandage following practice Wednesday, said he’d been told by KU’s coaches he’d start this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Kinsey said. “I want our seniors to go out on a winning note. I don’t feel we’ve played up to our team’s expectations or our coaches’ expectations. So for the last game, we’re going to go out and have a good one.”
l
Injury update: Senior middle linebacker Marcus Rogers (left ankle sprain), and senior defensive tackles Nate Dwyer (pulled hip flexor) and Ervin Holloman (groin) all are questionable for this weekend.
“They’re doing the best they can,” Hayes said. “This time of year, though, every team in America has got guys that are nicked up. It’s November. Everybody’s playing with injured players. It’s how much pain can you stand.
“Certainly you don’t want to risk further injury, but there’s a lot of guys that are limping around across America this time of year.”
l
Happy Thanksgiving: Asked what he was thankful for on Wednesday, Hayes gave a heartfelt answer.
“I’m thankful that this is the 31st year I’ve been in this business,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of every year because it’s my passion. It’s what I love to do.”
There could be 50,000 people in the stands when Kansas University’s football team takes on Wyoming on Saturday or there could be 500.
Either way, the Jayhawks say they’re ready to play.
“It’s kind of like how we went out in the second half (against Iowa State), playing for ourselves,” KU freshman kicker Johnny Beck said. “Not playing just because of our record, but going out there and playing because we want to be here to play football. That’s what the main thing is.
“This game, there’s going to be 20,000 people at this game, it’s going to be a meaningless game, but how do you want to go out?”
Kickoff for both teams’ season finale is 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Though the Jayhawks designated last week as Senior Day, this weekend will mark the final game for their seniors.
“I’m kind of excited,” KU senior cornerback Andrew Davison said. “I’m ready to get it over with because I’ve got another challenge ahead of me. Just like I came here with the challenge to play college football, I’ve got the challenge at the next level ahead of me. I’m kind of excited and I’m excited for the younger guys next year.
“I won’t be shedding any tears. I just want to get the game under way, play as hard as I can play and look forward to the next challenge ahead of me.”
Davison, among other players, emphasized the fact there’s no pressure on the Jayhawks this weekend.
The team isn’t playing to save their coach’s job, isn’t trying to qualify for a bowl game and doesn’t want to win because it’s Senior Day. Heck, the game won’t even be televised live.
This weekend KU can go out and just play football for a change.
“I think guys are still going to come out and play hard because there’s no pressure,” Davison said. “A lot of times during a lot of big games guys were out there thinking too much. I think this week, guys are just going to chill out, play their game and everybody’s going to play hard.
“I don’t think anybody wants to go on the field and be embarrassed.”
Maybe the one person who has the most to gain with a win this weekend interim head coach Tom Hayes is the one leading the let’s-just-have-fun charge.
“I don’t want them to feel pressure. I don’t want them to be afraid to fail,” Hayes said Wednesday during his weekly press conference. “But you know what? I’ve coached that way my whole life. I don’t think players operate very well under those circumstances, so let them relax and play. That’s what our job is. They need to be responsible, though offensively, defensively and in the kicking game for their assignments and their jobs every play.
“But you’ve got to have fun. This game is fun. That’s why they call it a game. It’s supposed to be fun and we want to have fun playing the game Saturday and finish up on a high note.”
l
Making the grade: After being named first-team Academic All-Big 12 on Tuesday, KU senior co-captain Brandon Wier moved a step closer to becoming a Rhodes Scholar on Wednesday.
Wier, who has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while working toward his major in business administration, is one of the eight state finalists for the scholarship. Up next will be interviewing with a panel of 8-10 people Dec. 4-5 with the goal of reaching nationals.
“I’ve always felt my interviews were going to be my strong point so I wanted to get there,” Wier said. “You sit in a panel and they surround you and throw questions at you like you’ve never heard. It’s an intense thing. It’s good.
“I think athletics has put me in more pressure situations than that. Being on the goal line, punting out of our own end zone against Nebraska it was actually our home stadium, but that bowl gets filled for them. There’s a lot more pressure situations than sitting in an interview.”
l
Kinsey confident: KU red-shirt freshman Mario Kinsey, who suffered a “little sprain” on his right hand and was wearing a bandage following practice Wednesday, said he’d been told by KU’s coaches he’d start this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Kinsey said. “I want our seniors to go out on a winning note. I don’t feel we’ve played up to our team’s expectations or our coaches’ expectations. So for the last game, we’re going to go out and have a good one.”
l
Injury update: Senior middle linebacker Marcus Rogers (left ankle sprain), and senior defensive tackles Nate Dwyer (pulled hip flexor) and Ervin Holloman (groin) all are questionable for this weekend.
“They’re doing the best they can,” Hayes said. “This time of year, though, every team in America has got guys that are nicked up. It’s November. Everybody’s playing with injured players. It’s how much pain can you stand.
“Certainly you don’t want to risk further injury, but there’s a lot of guys that are limping around across America this time of year.”
l
Happy Thanksgiving: Asked what he was thankful for on Wednesday, Hayes gave a heartfelt answer.
“I’m thankful that this is the 31st year I’ve been in this business,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of every year because it’s my passion. It’s what I love to do.”
