KU unveils new uniforms, captains

Kansas University football players Greg Cole and Harrison Hill aren’t exactly what one would call male models, but they served a purpose Friday night.

The two were featured sporting the Jayhawks’ new uniforms on Memorial Stadium’s MegaVision videoboard during halftime of the spring game Friday night.

“I liked doing that,” Cole said. “I know I probably won’t be able to make a career with modeling, so I’ll stick to football.”

Cole, a senior middle linebacker who goes by the nickname “Hollywood,” said the new uniforms symbolized a change in the Kansas football program.

“This is a brand new team,” he said. “We’ve got new coaches and we got new uniforms. We’re going to bring a whole new approach to the game.

“Plus, if you look good, you play good.”

KU’s new digs are very similar to the uniforms the NFL’s New York Giants sport. The helmet is navy blue with a red stripe down the center. On the side is an overlapping “KU.”

The home uniforms are navy blue with the numbers outlined in red. The away uniforms are white.

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Oh captain, my captain: Cole, Hill, senior offensive lineman Justin Sands and senior outside linebacker Leo Etienne were elected co-captains by their teammates for the 2002 season.

Hill, a sixth-year senior, was a captain last year, but missed most of the season after he broke his shoulder blade in the second game against UCLA. Hill said his shoulder had healed and he “doesn’t even think about it when” he’s on the field.

Cole and Etienne spent two years at Hutchinson Community College before transferring to KU last year.

Etienne said he had an idea that his teammates were going to make him a captain, but it wouldn’t have affected him if they had not.

“I’ve always given my all in practice and the guys know that,” he said. “Even if they didn’t vote me to be a captain, I would still voice my opinion.”

Etienne was second on the Jayhawks with 94 tackles last season, but missed all of spring practice because of shoulder surgery he had after last season.

KU coach Mark Mangino said both linebackers have “jumped out at him” during spring practice.

Sands, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound tackle, started his career at Kansas as a defensive lineman and intercepted a pass at Notre Dame as a freshman. He was moved to offense his sophomore year.

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Tough start: Junior wide receiver Derick Mills returned the opening kickoff 42 yards to the White team’s 40 yard line, but pulled up lame as he ran out of bounds.

The 5-7, 165-pound speedster injured his right hamstring on the play and didn’t return as a precaution.