KU vs. FIU Supplemental Football Notes
Aug. 28, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
These are mid-week notes to supplement the weekly press release that is sent out on Sunday.
Roster Changes…
There have been a couple of jersey number changes since the printing of the media guide. Here is a look at the new numbers:
WR Daymond Patterson is now #28 (not 83)
DT Justin Pessetto is now #55 (not 61)
DE Duane Zlatnik is now #98 (not 55)
A Kansas Win Would…
– Give KU a win in its season opener for the fifth straight season.
– Be KU’s 10th straight home field victory for the second-longest such streak in school history.
– Be KU’s 15th straight home win against non-conference opponents.
– Be KU’s 19th win in its last 21 home games.
– Be KU’s 16th win in its last 18 games overall.
A Kansas Loss Would…
– Stop a four-game season-opener win streak.
– Stop a nine-game home field winning streak.
– Be just its third loss in its last 18 games.
– Be less good than a win.
Things To Look For Against FIU…
Team
– Kansas has held its opponent to less than 200 yards rushing in 27 consecutive games.
– Kansas has scored at least 30 points in 16 of 25 non-conference games in the Mark Mangino era.
Individual
– WR Dexton Fields has three straight 100-yard receiving games, which is tied for the school record with four others, and needs one for sole possession of first at KU.
– Fields has caught at least two passes in 23 of the last 24 games.
– RB Jake Sharp (950) needs 50 rushing yards for 1,000 in his career.
– S Justin Thornton (92) needs eight tackles for 100 in his career.
– Thornton has recorded an interception in two straight games.
– LB Mike Rivera has recorded double-figure tackle totals in his last two games (14 vs. Missouri and 12 vs. Virginia Tech).
– LB Joe Mortensen has recorded a sack in three straight games.
– KR Marcus Herford (60) needs three kickoff returns to tie Randy Davis of Baylor, 1999-2002 (63) for sixth on the Big 12 career list.
– Herford (1,645) needs three kickoff return yards to pass Willie Andrews of Baylor, 2002-05 (1,647) for fourth on the Big 12 career list.
– Herford (2) needs one kickoff return touchdown to tie Ben Kelly of Colorado, 1997-99 (3) for first on the Big 12 career list.
NOTE: See page 6 of the weekly release for the KU career record watch list.
Starting Streaks…
While 11 current Jayhawks started all 13 games last year, here is a look at players with more than 13 consecutive and/or career starts entering 2008:
Consecutive Start List
LB Joe Mortensen (25), LB Mike Rivera (25), DE Russell Brorsen (21), S Darrell Stuckey (17), LB James Holt (14)
Career Start List
LB Joe Mortensen (25), LB Mike Rivera (25), WR Dexton Fields (24), DE Russell Brorsen (23), OC Ryan Cantrell (18), S Darrell Stuckey (17), LB James Holt (16)
Big Crowd Expected…
While Kansas has had 19 crowds of 50,000-plus at home games over the years, including two last season, all of those games have come against conference opponents. The most the Jayhawks have had in Memorial Stadium for a non-conference game was 48,112 vs. Toledo 2007. Here is a look at KU’s top non-conference home game attendance marks:
48,112 vs. Toledo 2007
48,100 vs. Michigan State, 1994
46,815 vs. Central Michigan, 2007
45,221 vs. Louisiana Monroe, 2007
44,500 vs. California, 1992
Bests vs. FIU…
Several Jayhawks put up some of their best numbers against FIU last season. Here is a look:
– QB Todd Reesing’s 47 rushing yards were the third most in his career.
– Reesing’s 368 passing yards were the most in his career.
– TE Bradley Dedeaux had his only career reception (11 yards).
– RB Jake Sharp had a career-best 46 receiving yards, while his three receptions were his third most in a game.
– S Tang Bachyie had a career-high four tackles.
– DT Caleb Blakesley had a career-high three tackles (tied).
– LB Dakota Lewis had a career-high three tackles (tied).
– LB Joe Mortensen had a career-high 13 tackles (tied).
– S Phillip Strozier had a career-high two tackles (tied).
More vs. FIU…
FIU was the opponent the last time KU produced:
– 600 yards of total offense (615).
– A blocked kick return for a touchdown (Dakota Lewis recovered a blocked punt in the endzone).
– A player with 400 yards of total offense (Todd Reesing, 415).
This Day In History…
Kansas is playing a football game on August 30 for just the second time in school history. The Jayhawks lost to Northwestern 28-20 on this date in 2003. Here are some other things that happened on August 30:
1997 – The Houston Comets defeated the New York Liberty in the first WNBA Championship.
1990 – Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey, Jr. become the first father and son to play on the same team as they suit up for the Seattle Mariners and both single in the first inning.
1988 – Tennis star Chris Everett weds skiier Andy Mills.
1968 – The Beatles release “Hey Jude.”
1905 – Ty Cobb makes his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers.
30 BC – Cleopatra commits suicide by allowing a poisonous snake to bite her.
Birthday celebrations on this date include: Cameron Diaz (1972), Warren Buffett (1930), Dr. Ruth Westerheimer (1928).
Did You Know?…
The last field goal made by a Kansas player other than Scott Webb was Johnny Beck in 2004. The last person to attempt a field goal other than Webb was Kyle Tucker, who attempted and missed a 51-yarder against Texas Tech in 2005.
