Jordan hopes to create more good memories

By Chuck Woodling     Nov 8, 2002

Journal-World File Photo
Kansas University's Matt Jordan (26) gets tripped up after a rush in this 1999 file photo. Back in 1999, Jordan was a red-shirt freshman running back wearing No. 26. Today, he's a fifth-year senior defensive back wearing No. 23.

Matt Jordan turned on the jets, flew toward Nebraska’s punter and thwacked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

It was the fall of 1999, and Jordan’s big two-point play helped put Nebraska on the ropes. However, the Cornhuskers eventually rallied for a 24-17 come-from-behind victory against long-time cousin Kansas on that frustrating night.

Jordan, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back, was a KU red-shirt freshman that season.

“That’s one of the favorite memories I have,” he said. “And I want to have another good memory before I hang it up.”

Not much time remains, and some would say not much hope because Jordan is now a fifth-year senior and the skidding Jayhawks have only two games remaining.

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Matt Jordan (23) has played in 43 games during his five years on the KU football team. Though he has made just four starts, he's a regular on special teams.

“Why not give it your all?” he said. “We just want to step on the field for another week.”

Jordan, who came to KU in the fall of 1998 after a productive career as a running back-defensive back at Junction City High, is one of those rose-colored-glasses people whose cup is always half-full.

Half-empty containers just don’t exist in Jordan’s lifestyle.

“You’ve got to focus on never giving up,” Jordan said. “There’s always something positive going on. Every week’s a new day. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Jordan has played in 43 Kansas football games, starting only four of them, all in the secondary. Yet he has played on so many punt and kickoff teams for so long they should probably dub him, “Mr. Special Teams.”

Five years Jordan has been here and not once have the Jayhawks had a winning season. Moreover, this year will probably be the worst.

“It’s been rough,” he said, “but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I have some great memories.”

Still, Jordan concedes there was a time early in his college career when he figured that if he wasn’t going to get to play very much he might as well check it in.

“I’m sure every athlete goes through that,” he said. “But being part of a team is special. And I feel this team is headed in the right direction.”

Jordan is such a positive person he even has fond memories of his last trip to Lincoln based on his experience with the NU faithful.

“Their fans are really pleasant,” Jordan said. “I remember standing in the tunnel and some of them were giving us tips on how we could beat Nebraska.”

The tips didn’t work. Nebraska won, 56-17.

Jordan wears jersey No. 23, digits made famous by a Jordan who plays another sport. But Matt doesn’t wear No. 23 because he wanted to be like Mike.

Jordan wanted to be like Muhammed Abdul-Rahim, a KU cornerback who was a senior when Jordan was a freshman. So he traded No. 26 for the number he has worn ever since.

“I really liked the way Muhammed worked,” Jordan said.

No one has ever complained about Jordan’s work ethic. He might, in fact, be the personification of coach Mark Mangino’s oft-used expression about going out there and sawing wood.

“Hopefully,” Jordan said, “I’ve rubbed off something positive.”

Jordan hopes to create more good memories

By Gary Bedore     Nov 8, 2002

Journal-World File Photo
Kansas University's Matt Jordan (26) gets tripped up after a rush in this 1999 file photo. Back in 1999, Jordan was a red-shirt freshman running back wearing No. 26. Today, he's a fifth-year senior defensive back wearing No. 23.

Matt Jordan turned on the jets, flew toward Nebraska’s punter and thwacked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

It was the fall of 1999, and Jordan’s big two-point play helped put Nebraska on the ropes. However, the Cornhuskers eventually rallied for a 24-17 come-from-behind victory against long-time cousin Kansas on that frustrating night.

advertisement

Jordan, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back, was a KU red-shirt freshman that season.

“That’s one of the favorite memories I have,” he said. “And I want to have another good memory before I hang it up.”

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Matt Jordan (23) has played in 43 games during his five years on the KU football team. Though he has made just four starts, he's a regular on special teams.

Not much time remains, and some would say not much hope because Jordan is now a fifth-year senior and the skidding Jayhawks have only two games remaining.

“Why not give it your all?” he said. “We just want to step on the field for another week.”

Jordan, who came to KU in the fall of 1998 after a productive career as a running back-defensive back at Junction City High, is one of those rose-colored-glasses people whose cup is always half-full.

Half-empty containers just don’t exist in Jordan’s lifestyle.

“You’ve got to focus on never giving up,” Jordan said. “There’s always something positive going on. Every week’s a new day. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Jordan has played in 43 Kansas football games, starting only four of them, all in the secondary. Yet he has played on so many punt and kickoff teams for so long they should probably dub him, “Mr. Special Teams.”

Five years Jordan has been here and not once have the Jayhawks had a winning season. Moreover, this year will probably be the worst.

“It’s been rough,” he said, “but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I have some great memories.”

Still, Jordan concedes there was a time early in his college career when he figured that if he wasn’t going to get to play very much he might as well check it in.

“I’m sure every athlete goes through that,” he said. “But being part of a team is special. And I feel this team is headed in the right direction.”

Jordan is such a positive person he even has fond memories of his last trip to Lincoln based on his experience with the NU faithful.

“Their fans are really pleasant,” Jordan said. “I remember standing in the tunnel and some of them were giving us tips on how we could beat Nebraska.”

The tips didn’t work. Nebraska won, 56-17.

Jordan wears jersey No. 23, digits made famous by a Jordan who plays another sport. But Matt doesn’t wear No. 23 because he wanted to be like Mike.

Jordan wanted to be like Muhammed Abdul-Rahim, a KU cornerback who was a senior when Jordan was a freshman. So he traded No. 26 for the number he has worn ever since.

“I really liked the way Muhammed worked,” Jordan said.

No one has ever complained about Jordan’s work ethic. He might, in fact, be the personification of coach Mark Mangino’s oft-used expression about going out there and sawing wood.

“Hopefully,” Jordan said, “I’ve rubbed off something positive.”

Jordan hopes to create more good memories

By Gary Bedore     Nov 8, 2002

Journal-World File Photo
Kansas University's Matt Jordan (26) gets tripped up after a rush in this 1999 file photo. Back in 1999, Jordan was a red-shirt freshman running back wearing No. 26. Today, he's a fifth-year senior defensive back wearing No. 23.

Matt Jordan turned on the jets, flew toward Nebraska’s punter and thwacked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

It was the fall of 1999, and Jordan’s big two-point play helped put Nebraska on the ropes. However, the Cornhuskers eventually rallied for a 24-17 come-from-behind victory against long-time cousin Kansas on that frustrating night.

advertisement

Jordan, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back, was a KU red-shirt freshman that season.

“That’s one of the favorite memories I have,” he said. “And I want to have another good memory before I hang it up.”

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Matt Jordan (23) has played in 43 games during his five years on the KU football team. Though he has made just four starts, he's a regular on special teams.

Not much time remains, and some would say not much hope because Jordan is now a fifth-year senior and the skidding Jayhawks have only two games remaining.

“Why not give it your all?” he said. “We just want to step on the field for another week.”

Jordan, who came to KU in the fall of 1998 after a productive career as a running back-defensive back at Junction City High, is one of those rose-colored-glasses people whose cup is always half-full.

Half-empty containers just don’t exist in Jordan’s lifestyle.

“You’ve got to focus on never giving up,” Jordan said. “There’s always something positive going on. Every week’s a new day. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Jordan has played in 43 Kansas football games, starting only four of them, all in the secondary. Yet he has played on so many punt and kickoff teams for so long they should probably dub him, “Mr. Special Teams.”

Five years Jordan has been here and not once have the Jayhawks had a winning season. Moreover, this year will probably be the worst.

“It’s been rough,” he said, “but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I have some great memories.”

Still, Jordan concedes there was a time early in his college career when he figured that if he wasn’t going to get to play very much he might as well check it in.

“I’m sure every athlete goes through that,” he said. “But being part of a team is special. And I feel this team is headed in the right direction.”

Jordan is such a positive person he even has fond memories of his last trip to Lincoln based on his experience with the NU faithful.

“Their fans are really pleasant,” Jordan said. “I remember standing in the tunnel and some of them were giving us tips on how we could beat Nebraska.”

The tips didn’t work. Nebraska won, 56-17.

Jordan wears jersey No. 23, digits made famous by a Jordan who plays another sport. But Matt doesn’t wear No. 23 because he wanted to be like Mike.

Jordan wanted to be like Muhammed Abdul-Rahim, a KU cornerback who was a senior when Jordan was a freshman. So he traded No. 26 for the number he has worn ever since.

“I really liked the way Muhammed worked,” Jordan said.

No one has ever complained about Jordan’s work ethic. He might, in fact, be the personification of coach Mark Mangino’s oft-used expression about going out there and sawing wood.

“Hopefully,” Jordan said, “I’ve rubbed off something positive.”

Jordan hopes to create more good memories

By Gary Bedore     Nov 8, 2002

Journal-World File Photo
Kansas University's Matt Jordan (26) gets tripped up after a rush in this 1999 file photo. Back in 1999, Jordan was a red-shirt freshman running back wearing No. 26. Today, he's a fifth-year senior defensive back wearing No. 23.

Matt Jordan turned on the jets, flew toward Nebraska’s punter and thwacked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

It was the fall of 1999, and Jordan’s big two-point play helped put Nebraska on the ropes. However, the Cornhuskers eventually rallied for a 24-17 come-from-behind victory against long-time cousin Kansas on that frustrating night.

advertisement

Jordan, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back, was a KU red-shirt freshman that season.

“That’s one of the favorite memories I have,” he said. “And I want to have another good memory before I hang it up.”

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Matt Jordan (23) has played in 43 games during his five years on the KU football team. Though he has made just four starts, he's a regular on special teams.

Not much time remains, and some would say not much hope because Jordan is now a fifth-year senior and the skidding Jayhawks have only two games remaining.

“Why not give it your all?” he said. “We just want to step on the field for another week.”

Jordan, who came to KU in the fall of 1998 after a productive career as a running back-defensive back at Junction City High, is one of those rose-colored-glasses people whose cup is always half-full.

Half-empty containers just don’t exist in Jordan’s lifestyle.

“You’ve got to focus on never giving up,” Jordan said. “There’s always something positive going on. Every week’s a new day. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Jordan has played in 43 Kansas football games, starting only four of them, all in the secondary. Yet he has played on so many punt and kickoff teams for so long they should probably dub him, “Mr. Special Teams.”

Five years Jordan has been here and not once have the Jayhawks had a winning season. Moreover, this year will probably be the worst.

“It’s been rough,” he said, “but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I have some great memories.”

Still, Jordan concedes there was a time early in his college career when he figured that if he wasn’t going to get to play very much he might as well check it in.

“I’m sure every athlete goes through that,” he said. “But being part of a team is special. And I feel this team is headed in the right direction.”

Jordan is such a positive person he even has fond memories of his last trip to Lincoln based on his experience with the NU faithful.

“Their fans are really pleasant,” Jordan said. “I remember standing in the tunnel and some of them were giving us tips on how we could beat Nebraska.”

The tips didn’t work. Nebraska won, 56-17.

Jordan wears jersey No. 23, digits made famous by a Jordan who plays another sport. But Matt doesn’t wear No. 23 because he wanted to be like Mike.

Jordan wanted to be like Muhammed Abdul-Rahim, a KU cornerback who was a senior when Jordan was a freshman. So he traded No. 26 for the number he has worn ever since.

“I really liked the way Muhammed worked,” Jordan said.

No one has ever complained about Jordan’s work ethic. He might, in fact, be the personification of coach Mark Mangino’s oft-used expression about going out there and sawing wood.

“Hopefully,” Jordan said, “I’ve rubbed off something positive.”

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