Kansas offensive lineman honored by Big 12 coaches

By David Mitchell Dec 4, 2003

Offensive linemen often go unnoticed by fans and media. They don’t show up in the statistics, and they rarely make the highlight reels.

Big 12 Conference coaches noticed Joe Vaughn.

Kansas University’s junior center from Northeastern Oklahoma was named Offensive Newcomer of the Year Wednesday in a vote by league coaches.

“It’s a great honor for me individually, but it is more of an honor for our whole offense,” Vaughn said. “I am proud that the coaches in the Big 12 recognized my efforts in a league that is so full of talented players.”

The Associated Press named Texas freshman quarterback Vincent Young its Offensive Newcomer. The Longhorn was named Offensive Freshman of the Year by the coaches.

It was the second year in a row that a Jayhawk won the coaches newcomer award. Quarterback Bill Whittemore earned the honor last season after transferring from Fort Scott Community College.

Whittemore had more time to throw this season behind an improved line, which was anchored by Vaughn. Kansas allowed 18 sacks, 15 fewer than last season. Vaughn, who was a second-team NJCAA All-American at NEO, allowed one sack in 372 pass attempts by KU.

The Jayhawks’ average of 418 yards per game was KU’s best in eight years of Big 12 play and was an improvement of 101.2 yards per game from last season. KU also increased its scoring average by 9.2 yards per game to 29.9 and set school records for total offense yards (5,016), passing touchdowns (23) and pass completions (235).

That record-setting offense led KU (6-6) to a date with North Carolina State (7-5) in the Tangerine Bowl Dec. 22 at Orlando, Fla.

6Sports video: Center Joe Vaughn is Newcomer of the Year

Travel tips for Orlando

More KUSports.com bowl coverage

2003 football season recap

Vaughn, a 6-foot-2, 290-pounder from Del City, Okla., started all 12 games. He and Whittemore were among six Jayhawks named third-team All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches. The others were senior offensive lineman Adrian Jones, sophomore linebacker Gabriel Toomey, senior punter Curtis Ansel and red-shirt freshman kick returner Charles Gordon. Sophomore receiver Mark Simmons, sophomore running back Clark Green, junior safety Tony Stubbs, freshman running back/defensive back John Randle and sophomore linebackers Nick Reid and Banks Floodman were honorable-mention picks.

The AP will announce its all-league team today.

Jayhawk chats: Simmons will field questions from fans during an online chat on kusports.com at 1:45 p.m. today. Coach Mark Mangino will do the same at 1 p.m. Friday.
Free bowl tickets: KU announced Wednesday that students traveling to the Tangerine Bowl can receive free tickets to the game, courtesy of the athletic department. Students wanting a free ticket — which normally costs $45 — must register at the athletic ticket office before 5 p.m. Dec. 15. Students wishing to sign up for the free ticket must have a valid KU student ID. Registered students will be given a voucher that can be redeemed at the KU will-call window at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando.

“I just felt like as far away as we are, if a student gives up the time and makes the effort to get there, this would be a good way to say thank you,” athletic director Lew Perkins said. “Hopefully, a lot of them can get to the game.”

Perkins said there was no limit to the number of students who could claim the free tickets.

“Any kid who signs up is going to get one,” he said. “I hope it’s 5,000, but I have no idea.”

Rivers finalist: North Carolina State’s Philip Rivers was named one of three finalists Wednesday for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. The other finalists are Oklahoma’s Jason White and Mississippi’s Eli Manning. Rivers was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year earlier in the week.