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Show Cc DAILY Friday, September 2, 2005 HERALD Franchuk Continued from C1 TCU sez: Hey, atleast it Jason Franchuk and mail started to pick up. But his decision was awa to either BC or Indiana, which courted him early. Kiwanukasatout his first year to put on size. He barely weighed 200 pounds f he didn’t play for an outstanding highschoolteam,there's a chance BYU would neverhave to worry whenhe finished his high school days. Since then he’s gradually gotten better about BostonCollege defensive end and has becomethe cornerstone of a budding program thathas been to six consecutive bowl games. He would've ee beena late first-roundpick after season. Now he'sin chargeof a promising team, andtrying to pick we a =e degree. Kiwanukahas a degree in chology andis advancing toward one in lish. Mathias Kiwanuka. Not highlyrecruited out of Indianap- olis' Cathedral High, Kiwanuka became an Eaglein part because BCoriginally saw him while scouting a fewother players. JeremyTrueblood, once a high S America, is still a teammate at Chestnut Hill Butit’s the late bloomer Kiwanuka whois drawing moreattention these days. Some figured he'd be in the NFL bynow, buthe's still grateful for the opportunitytoplay at Boston College andappreciative that the school took interest after serendipitously spotting him. He also speaks defense very well. Last year he had 11 % sacks and 24 tackles forloss. BYU running back Curtis Brown “I was on a team that won twostate playedDivisionI football. I'm just glad BostonCollege found somethingin me.” BILL GREENE/Boston Globe BostonCollege defensive end Mathias Kiwanukafights off an offensive lineman during a scrimmagewith the football team at Newton, Mass., on Aug. 24. BCstarted what has becomeapretty big fan club, Essentially every college football publicationhas the6-foot-7, 262-pound Kiwanukaasoneof the bestin Division | at his position. He was evenpicked in the preseasonasthe Atlantic Coast Conference's best defensive player. An interesting selection, considering BC just jumpedship from the Big East and hasn't evenplayeda downin the ACC His reputation precedeshim,” BYU. ach Bronco Mendenhall said. “He's REO ae very fast andathletic, and what en- TAU Pyeloae dears him to meis he plays hard. So manytimes whenplayers have sack totals and are active players, they don’t play well when a play comesright at them. Andthey seem to takeplays off whenthe play goes away. “WhatI like about that young man is he plays the game the wayit’s supposedto be played in termsofhis effort andintensity. He's earned myrespect just from that aspect, not in terms ofhis ability, which is exceptional,but like the wayheplays the game.” Once upona time, Kiwanukadidn’t eventhink he'd play football. He fancied himself a basketball player. That was whenBCreally tookinterest, whenfootball coach Tom O'Brien went to watch Kiwanukaonthe courts. Of course, BC coaches are fond of saying they're thankful for Trueblood. Withouthim, the Eagles probably wouldn't have seen Kiwanuka. Who knowsif any other schools would've discovered him? Kiwanukasaid after BC started courting him,the phonecalls TCU 13 Air Force vs. Washington (1:30 p.m., ABC regional) The Falcons,56 last year, have Shaun Carney backafter a solid first season in which he was beat up sometimes but learned all the time.It wasn’t just on-field duties that had the sophomore weary. He had ba- sic training, a 24-7 ordeal that is about as complementary to football development as an LDS mission. After throwingfor 1,315 yards last year, the Falcons feel their guy has a better grasp of won't alwayssteerclear of him. “He's a greatplayer, but he’salso still aman,” Brownsaid. “Hegetstired on someplays and has to go out. That’s how everyoneis. We can’t be scared.” Media won't avoid Kiwanuka,either. Besides his talent and willingness to the offense — andhis sleeping patterns. If you don't catch the game, expect plenty ofhighlights.It’s also former Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham’sfirst game in chargeof a squad that went 1-10 last year. Originally an Air Force home game,it’s being return fora final year, he has a different type ofstory to tell. It has been said manytimes. Ki ika’s late grandfa- of the NFL'sSeattle Seahawks. Air Force says: Heck with praised Kiwanuka,but said the Cougars championships,” Kiwanukasaid.“It was a talented’group butalso one that worked veryhard. We all kind of bought into our coach’s planthat if we worked hard we'd all be rewarded. I think 11 players from my(senior) team wasn't a conference game. Franchuk sez: Oklahoma 45, played at Qwest Field, the home ther, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was elected the $1.8 million payout, shoulda Uganda’sfirst prime ministerin 1961 and assassinated in 1972 by Idi Amin. It's a story he's told countless times Air Force 16 already, andwill tell moreas the season goes on. That the autobiography is being spoken from Boston College, and not some othercollege or the NFL, is a pleasure to Kiwanuka. “I'm having great time, I can't imagine being anywhereelse,”he said. keptit in the Springs. Franchuk sez: Washington 17, ColoradoState at Colorado(1:30 p.m., TBS) Fair ornot, this game always seems to get viewed as a measuring stick for the Mountain West Conference.It’s a middle “There's a lot this team and I want to of the pack Big 12 team (CU has do this year.” donewell in the league's six- team Northerndivision butisn’t at the caliber of the talent-heavy South) against a Rams squad that is annually assumed to be WORLD: we t oneofthe best in the MWC. Twostats not in CSU's favor: Sonny Lubick’s team is 5-11 against the Buffs in seasonopeners and CU has wonfive in a rowin Boulderagainstthe rival. ColoradoState says: Money, vwPORTS store AUTHORITY schmoney, why won't the Buffs play usin Fort Collins? Franchuksez:CU 28, CSU 24 WyomingatFlorida (4 p.m., ESPN GamePlan) Forgetthat former Utah coach Urban Meyer will lead the Gatorsforthefirst time. This series continues a hotly Our LowestPrices omeea MoreItemsIn Stock Than Ever Before! SATURDAY ONLY DOGHAUATEE Doorbuster quantities limited to stock on hand. No rainchecks. 499” Your Choice 16Choice > 80"! big 9” Orig.* $1175 9” J69$205 Orig.* $725-$780 DYNASTAR Legend 4800 M ‘04-'05 Impact contested 54-year-old rivalry OK,so these teams haven't met sincethatfirst time in 1951 The Pokes wouldsettle for a similarloss, 13-0. Fat chance, though. Wyo. coach Joe Glenn has seen Meyer's teamsthe past twoyears, but Florida’s athleticism is light years beyond any- thing seen in the MWC. Wyoming says: Hopefully we stay healthy, there's still a lot to play for Franchuk sez: Florida 55, Wyoming 13 UCLA at San Diego State (8:15 p.m., ESPN2) The Tom Craft farewell tour starts this week with a home or Women’s Snowboard © All-Mountain,Directional 4 . Titanium Parkas Previous year's style) SDSU,however, is 10-3-1 in season-openerssince 1991. Watchfor standout receiver Jeff Webb, who averaged 12.2 yardsperreceptionlast year. For those whostill care, a former BYU quarterback won't be available for UCLA. Ben Olsonlearned Tuesday that an injury to his left throwing hand is indeed a small fracture, more seriousthanfirst thought. It'll keep him outof hisfirst game back after returning from an Women’s VRO7 Skis these guys. Franchuk sez: UCLA 27, SDSU 21 Orig.* 159.99 BURTON Men's '03-'04 * Novice-to-Intermediate, Directional Freeride Board * Progressive Sidecut 00 Orig * $195-$200 NORDI BYUvs. Boston College (1:30 p.m., ABC Regional) BYUlooksto defeat a private Catholic schoolin the seasonopenerfor the second season in a row. Looking for other stats? Well, it's tough totell what to expect with so much change in Provo. But the Cougars know to watch for BC defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, who can destroy a gameplan quick. But his dominance won't be enough andthe Eagles will suffer a similar fate as Notre Dame a year ago. BYU says: A new era has gun. Franchuk sez: BYU 27, BC 21 Monday UNLV at New Mexico (11 a.m., ESPN2) Do these teams get time-anda-half for playing on Labor Day? Probably not. But at least the home Lobos get a win in an unusually early MWCleague game. New Mexico says:Atleast the schedule’s lighterthis year. Franchuk sez: New Mexico 24, UNLV 10 |