LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The energy and passion David Beaty managed to sustain throughout a moribund first season at Kansas was perhaps the most impressive thing to come out of the Jayhawks winless campaign.All that fire could begin paying off in more tangible ways this season.The Jayhawks begin year No. 2 of their coachs vast rebuilding job Saturday night against Rhode Island, a lower-division bottom-dweller. It may be the only game Kansas is favored to win all season, and a crucial early-season barometer for the state of Beatys downtrodden program.You know, winning cures a lot, he said this week. I think getting off to a fast start here would be a big, big deal for us. If I didnt talk about it or say that, then I would be remiss.The Jayhawks started Beatys tenure with a thud, losing to South Dakota State in his first game on the sideline. Things never got a whole lot better in a series of lopsided losses to everyone from Memphis to Oklahoma to down-the-road rival Kansas State.Of course, that wasnt entirely Beatys fault.The revolving door of failed head coaches, from Turner Gill to Charlie Weis, left the locker room bereft of talent. Season-ending injuries to the top three quarterbacks left a freshman taking snaps. And an aging eyesore of a stadium has made the game-day atmosphere in Lawrence a snoozefest.To be sure, Beaty has faced an uphill challenge ever since arriving from Texas A&M.Hey, listen, everybodys working hard. Everybodys doing what were doing, Beaty said. Now its going to be who is the smartest football team, who can execute accurately in all three phases, and for us, were guarding against that. Were guarding against the fact that you think you worked hard, so you just deserve to win. You know, everybodys working hard.That no doubt includes the Rams, who won just once last year.Ive told our defensive coaches and our players that weve got to have a stalwart defense, Rams coach Dave Fleming said. We need to be able to go out, compete and get off the field. We need to create as many opportunities as we can giving our offense a short field.Thats because Rhode Island struggled to move the ball last season, getting shutout by Syracuse in its opener and held to single touchdowns by Albany and Stony Brook.As the Jayhawks and Rams prepare to meet, here are five things to watch:KANSAS QB: Beaty refused to identify a starter ahead of Saturdays game. Montell Cozart, Ryan Willis and Carter Stanley are all in the mix. Ive just got to go into the game with the mindset of when Im in there, controlling what I can, said Cozart, who is returning from a season-ending knee injury.RHODE ISLAND QB: Wesley McKoy beat out senior Paul Mroz and redshirt freshman Jordan Vazzano for the starting job. McKoy completed 56 percent of his passes in limited action as a freshman.PLEASED TO MEET YOU: The Jayhawks and Rams have never met. In fact, Kansas has not played a team from the Colonial Athletic Association since losing 33-7 to Villanova on Nov. 1, 1940.FRESH FACES: Both teams will have newcomers in the mix, but keep an eye on Kansas wide receiver LaQuvionte Gonzalez. The once high-profile recruit transferred from Texas A&M and will be playing for the first time since Dec. 29, 2014, a span of 614 days.AS FOR THE RAMS: Keep an eye on running back Harold Cooper, who has gained at least 100 all-purpose yards in eight straight games last season. Their running back is very talented, Beaty said. Hes also very talented in the return game and he will be a challenge to contain.---Online: AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Cheap Air Max 2018 Shoes . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Cheap Air Max Shoes .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. http://www.airmaxshoescheaponline.com/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Wholesale Air Max Shoes . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Max 95 Sale China . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The last time No. 17 Florida State visited Syracuse, Dalvin Cook was third on the Seminoles depth chart and looking for an opportunity to prove himself.Two years later, Cook is on the precipice of becoming the Seminoles career rushing leader.The junior, who has 3,941 career yards, needs 19 yards on Saturday to break Warrick Dunns 20-year old mark. He is also 59 yards away from becoming just the sixth player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to reach 4,000 yards and would be the first to do it in three years.Former North Carolina State standout Ted Brown is the ACCs career rushing leader with 4,602 yards from 1975-78. He is also the quickest to reach 4,000 yards as he did it in his 38th game. Saturday will be Cooks 36th.Cook said he talked to Dunn before the Oct. 29 game against Clemson, but added there wasnt any discussion about the record. Cook reiterated earlier this week how much he has admired Dunn for what he has done on and off the field.When you have a guy like Warrick at the top of the list and see what he did with the program and as a human being, you have to humble yourself, Cook said. This is kind of like the first game of the season where I have to keep my emotions in check.Last Friday against Boston College , Cook appeared as if he was going to break Dunns record at home as he had 108 yards through three quarters. But with FSU (7-3, 4-3 ACC, No. 17 CFP) up 35-0 coach Jimbo Fisher rested his starters in the fourth.The Carrier Dome tough carries special significance for Cook.It was there in 2014 he had his first 100-yard game (122 yards on 23 carries) in a 38-20 win. That was the first of five 100-yard games for Cook that season as he became the first freshman in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards (1,008).It was kind of like a situation I got thrown into due to injuries. They had confidence in me and I took advantage of the opportunities, ran from there and kept building my momentum, Cook said. I had to grow up quick and make the plays.Last season he broke Dunns school single-season mark and finished with 1,691 yards. Cook didnt have a 100-yard rushing game this season until Sept. 24, when he had a careeer-best 267 yards at South Florida and has had six 100-yard games in his past seven.dddddddddddd.With Florida State out of contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff, Cook has quietly put together what could be his best season. He is second among Power 5 running backs in rushing yards (1,242) and yards from scrimmage (1,642) while scoring 14 touchdowns.Hes probably one of or the fastest back that we have in the conference, Syracuse coach Dino Babers said. I thought he was really good, but I didnt know how fast he was until I saw the Clemson game, and I saw him run away from the Clemson secondary. We couldnt run away from their secondary people.Cooks biggest improvement has been catching the ball. He has two 100-yard receiving games this season, including in an Oct. 1 loss to North Carolina when he became the first FSU running back to have 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game.I mean, hes always caught the ball well. But understanding how to run routes where leverages are and how to set holds. Now hes got certain things down and he keeps adding to his repertoire, Fisher said.Cooks college career is likely down to its final three games, including a bowl game. Syracuse (4-6, 1-5) is Florida States last ACC game this season followed by the Nov. 26 game at home vs. Florida.Cook said he wouldnt discuss his future until after the season. However, he has been keeping a close eye on Ezekiel Elliotts rookie season in Dallas and how that could improve his draft stock.The position (in the NFL) was on the downfall for a couple years but guys like Zeke, Melvin Gordon (Chargers) and Todd Gurley (Rams) are doing a good job of showing how you have to have a running back to be successful, Cook said.Zeke is really showing how the position is valued. He can go 80 yards with it running or catching out of the backfield and he can block well. Those are the types of guys you want to have.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Joe Reedy at www.twitter.com/joereedy Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '