Kansas

3 more takeaways from Kansas football’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory against UNLV

Published

6 months ago

December 27, 2023

3 more takeaways from Kansas football’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory against UNLV

PHOENIX — Kansas football wrapped up its season Tuesday with a 49-36 win over UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

The Jayhawks (9-4, 5-4 in Big 12 Conference) jumped out to a commanding lead in the first half, and headed into the halftime break with a 28-10 advantage. The Rebels (9-5, 6-2 in Mountain West Conference) battled back in the third quarter to bring the score to within one possession before KU was able to pull away. The victory represents Kansas football’s first bowl win in more than a decade, and will send the Jayhawks into the offseason with momentum.

Here are a few more takeaways from the matchup in Phoenix:

Jim Zebrowski guides Kansas’ offense to nearly 50 points

Ahead of the bowl game, Kansas quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski was elevated to co-offensive coordinator. When then-offensive coordinator/associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki departed for the offensive coordinator position on the Penn State coaching staff, Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold tasked Zebrowski with calling the plays. It was a return of sorts, at least for the bowl prep and game itself, to when Zebrowski was Leipold’s offensive coordinator while they were both at Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“Jim found his groove again,” Leipold said Sunday, ahead of the game. “You could see him reenergized in ways. I think the whole offensive staff has been reenergized in ways that — you have a chance to have a little more input. You have a chance for a little more say and looking at some things and what we’re doing.”

By game’s end, Kansas scored almost 50 points and amassed close to 600 yards of total offense. Redshirt senior quarterback Jason Bean became the game’s offensive MVP. There were turnovers that stymied what the Jayhawks were able to do, especially in the third quarter, but it was an impressive effort that showcased a level of aggressiveness that lasted all game long.

Kansas wins without two of its stars, Dominick Puni and Austin Booker

Kansas redshirt senior offensive lineman Dominick Puni was the team’s regular starter at left tackle throughout the regular season. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Austin Booker, a transfer from Minnesota, thrived during a breakout season that saw him lead the team in sacks and tackles for loss through the regular season. But according to Leipold, neither was with the team for the trip, although neither officially announced they were opting out.

“Nothing surprises me anymore,” Leipold said Sunday. “What you see — and after that, I think everything else, you’d have to talk with them. But those are two very fine players for us, appreciate everything they’ve contributed this season — Dominick for two — and they both have bright futures.”

Kansas’ rushing attack may not have resembled what it showed over the course of the season, but the Jayhawks were still able to enjoy success through the air. Kansas’ defense didn’t generate the pressure it had during the season, but still forced turnovers and contributed to the win. Both Puni and Booker should get selected in the 2024 NFL draft if they elect to pursue that route.

This was Kenny Logan Jr.’s last game of his Kansas career

There was a time when Kenny Logan Jr., a senior safety for Kansas, was going to have the 2022 season be his last with the Jayhawks. He was ready to move on. But Logan reversed course and chose to return in 2023, as Bean did, to continue to be a part of one more year of Leipold’s rebuild in Lawrence.

“He’s done so much for this program, and I don’t know if it fully ever hits you until it’s not there anymore,” Leipold said Sunday about Logan. “But I think he’s trying to embrace and make the most of it, and for that we’re always appreciative.”

Logan finished the bowl game with nine tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup en route to being named the game’s defensive MVP.

Grading Kansas football on its 49-36 victory against UNLV in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Kansas football vs. UNLV recap: Jayhawks battled Rebels in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

KU Athletics spent more than $10M on outside legal fees defending NCAA infractions case

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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Kansas

Police identify teen found shot to death in south Kansas City, Missouri, church parking lot

Published

3 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Police identify teen found shot to death in south Kansas City, Missouri, church parking lot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, police released the name of a teenager found shot to death June 24 in the parking lot of a church at Bannister and Raytown roads.

Tytus Bridgeford, 16, was found about 9:30 a.m.

Police asked for the public’s help to identify the victim and were able to get that information released Thursday.

No motive is known for the homicide and no arrests have been made.

This is the 72nd homicide of the year in KCMO.

There had been 97 homicides in KCMO at this time last yearl

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If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.

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Can you guess the most Instagrammable site in Topeka? One company identified 10 in Kansas.

Published

9 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Can you guess the most Instagrammable site in Topeka? One company identified 10 in Kansas.

Strike a pose and snap a photo at Topeka’s most Instagrammable location.

An organization recently named the Topeka Zoo the eighth most Instagrammable place in Kansas.

Top 10 most Instagrammable places in Kansas

Bonus Finder, a media company based in Denmark, checked the social media hashtags of more than 2,700 landmarks across the United States.

These were found to be the most popular Kansas sites, according to the hashtags.

No. 1: Flint Hills has the most popular Kansas hashtag with 75,888 posts.
No. 2: Kansas Speedway has 22,275 posts under its hashtag.
No. 3: Allen Fieldhouse has 13,353 hash tagged posts.
No. 4: The Sedgwick County Zoo hashtag has 13,327 posts.
No. 5: Grinter Sunflower Farms has 10,795 hashtagged posts.
No. 6: INTRUST Bank Arena has 7,323 posts.
No. 7: Monuments Rocks Natural Landmark has 7,111 posts hashtagged.
No. 8: Topeka Zoo had 5,865 hashtagged posts.
No. 9: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve has 5,116 hashtagged posts.
No. 10: The Wichita Gardens have 3,371 posts hashtagged.

Topeka Zoo employees and other reaction to the ranking

The Topeka Zoo has nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram. The zoo also has a TikTok account with more than 35,000 followers and 1.3 million likes. On Facebook, the zoo has more than 55,000 followers and more than 44,000 likes.

“That’s very exciting,” guest engagement supervisor Brea Schmidt said. “I’m very happy to hear that. We definitely work hard every day to make sure we are sharing what we think guests want to see. So, to hear we were found eighth most Instagrammable is pretty exciting.”

Jen Goetz, creative and strategy director for the zoo, said the magic is in finding balance between what people want to see and following the zoo’s mission of conservation and education.

When asked what other Topeka sites they would have liked to see on the list, Schmidt and Goetz gave a shout-out to their neighbor, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.

“I’m not surprised our incredible, growing Topeka Zoo made the list! From special displays like Zoo Lights to the furry faces that greet you, the Topeka Zoo is a must-visit attraction here,” president of Visit Topeka Sean Dixon said in a written statement. “The zoo is located in our beautiful Gage Park, which is where you’ll find more photogenic fun like the carousel and mini train.”

Here are some more Instagrammable sites in Topeka

Dixon said while the list didn’t include them, there are plenty of Instagrammable places across the city.

“And there are several other Instagrammable spots across Topeka that would have made our list,” Dixon said. “Don’t miss the rainbow-painted Equality House, the stunning Kansas Capitol, NOTO and its many murals, the Governor’s Mansion trails, and more.

“There is no shortage of photo ops when you know where to look.”

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Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com ‘Holiday Touchdown’

Published

17 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com ‘Holiday Touchdown’

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing together what the holidays are all about: football and Hallmark movies.

The NFL team has partnered with Hallmark to create an original holiday film centered around its back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

The movie, called “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” will begin production next month, filming entirely in Kansas City, Missouri. Fans will watch scenes at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the first time a movie has been shot in the venue.

“This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom’s energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release.

To honor the project between the two Kansas City-based organizations, the city lit up its downtown skyline purple and red on Wednesday night, the news release shared.

Who will be in ‘Holiday Touchdown’?

While no Chiefs players have been announced to be in the movie, the team revealed its three leads.

The film will star “Shifting Gears” actor Tyler Hynes, “Two Scoops Of Italy” actor Hunter King, and “Better Call Saul” actor Ed Begley Jr. in the sports holiday romantic comedy.

What is ‘Holiday Touchdown’ about?

“Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” will follow Chiefs super fan Alana Higman (King), who’s determined to win the team’s Fan of the Year contest, and fan engagement director Derrick (Hynes). The two begin to feel romantic tension as Derrick evaluates whether Alana’s family deserves to the win the contest.

But when Alana’s grandfather (Begley Jr.) loses his vintage Chiefs winter hat, she begins to question her future with Derrick unless “a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.”

50% of Hallmark viewers watch sports during the holidays

While the collaboration may seem odd, the Chiefs and Hallmark are assured that the movie makes the perfect holiday crossover.

More than half of Hallmark Channel viewers also watched sports during the channel’s Countdown to Christmas aired last year in 2023, according to the news release.

“With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organizations,” Hallmark Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott said in a statement. “By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community’s spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans.”

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