Floodman flying high
KU linebacker eager for first shot at Mizzou
Banks Floodman watched the majority of Kansas University’s football games from the sideline last season.
During the Jayhawks’ 36-12 loss Oct. 26 at Columbia, Mo., he couldn’t even do that.
“I stayed home and listened to it in my room on the radio,” said Floodman, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2002 opener at Iowa State. “It was tough. I just can’t stand to listen to my teammates and not being able to help them. It was tough enough to watch the games on the sidelines.
“It was something I don’t think any player wants to experience, and I don’t ever want to experience it again. But I get to play this weekend.”
Floodman, a former Wichita Collegiate standout, will make his first start against Missouri Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks (3-1) and the 23rd-ranked Tigers (4-0) enter the Border War with winning records for the first time since 1997.
“This is the most excited I’ve seen the team since I’ve been here,” said Floodman, a third-year sophomore. “Everyone’s running around excited at practice. It’s the biggest game we’ve played since we’ve been here. Now we’re excited to see what we can do. If you can’t get up for this, you can’t get up for any game.”
Floodman suffered an undisclosed injury two weeks ago and sat out the second half at Wyoming. The co-captain came back last week and had seven tackles and broke up a pass in KU’s 41-6 victory against Jacksonville State.
“He has a lot of fire and determination,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “He’s highly respected by his peers and the coaching staff because he’s totally committed to helping this program be successful.”
Sophomore linebacker Banks Floodman will make his first start against Missouri Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Floodman is one of three sophomore starters at linebacker. Junior-college transfer Gabe Toomey, Nick Reid and Floodman are KU’s top three tacklers.
“I see constant improvement from Gabe Toomey as he learns our system,” Mangino said. “He is more and more confident. Banks Floodman is starting to feel better after coming off injury and turned in a strong performance last week.”
Reid is coming on strong, too, after being “banged up,” Mangino said, in the opener against Northwestern.
Two of KU’s backup linebackers — Kevin Kane and Brandon Perkins — also are sophomores. Kane has eight tackles, and Perkins leads the team with three sacks.
“I felt that last week they played their best game as a unit,” Mangino said. “We need to have those guys step up every weekend, and those guys have that kind of mentality now.”
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