QB accepts role as backup, shows versatility

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jan 1, 2008

Attendance - 77,719

KU RB Brandon McAnderson vs. Va. Tech LB Vince Hall

McAnderson began his career as a hometown blocking back before leading the Jayhawks with 1,050 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns as a senior. The bruiser is versatile, throwing key blocks while also posing a threat as a receiver with 20 catches.

The Hokies feature two senior linebackers with exceptional range and quickness, Hall and Xavier Adibi. Hall's string of 44 consecutive starts was snapped when he missed four games with a broken wrist he suffered Oct. 6 at Clemson. He posted 11 tackles in the ACC championship game.

For McAnderson to attain his average, he must exceed Virginia Tech's average defensive yield of 86 rushing yards per game, which ranks fifth nationally.

With KU senior TE Derek Fine

What will you miss about the training table?

Whenever we eat crab legs. That's it. Oh, and the cornbread muffins.Junior cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris of Virginia Tech (pictured above) wears two bicep bands with the initials, 'BQ,' in honor of Brett Quarterman, a fan who died in a house fire earlier this year in Charlottesville, Va.

Harris suffered third degree burns Dec. 15, 2004, the day a home recruiting visit was scheduled from Tech coach Frank Beamer and assistant Jim Cavanaugh. Harris' mother, Maritza, was preparing a meal for the coaches and a grease fire broke out in the kitchen while she was at the store. Harris threw a quilt on the pan to stop the fire, but suffered burns on his face and arm.

Ten days following Beamer's visit, and five days after Harris committed to the Hokies, his mother fainted at home on Christmas Day and died at the hospital. She was 43. Harris has a tattoo on his left forearm with the image of his mother and the words, ''My angel. My reason. My mother."

Name the KU player who fumbled the opening kickoff in the 1981 Hall of Fame Bowl, setting up the game's only touchdown in a 10-0 loss to Mississippi State.

See answer below.The Orange Bowl stadium, just west of downtown Miami in Little Havana, was originally named Burdine Stadium. It was home to the Orange Bowl from 1937-95, as well as five Super Bowls, and decided 17 national championships in college football. The Miami Hurricanes played their final season this year in the Orange Bowl, which is closing after 71 years.

Darren Green