KU **** OFFICIAL 2010 Kansas Football Repository Thread **** - Page 13

ArrowheadHawk · 02:18 PM

Spring football Site

Let the Gill era begin.

Stewie · 08-09-2010, 02:36 PM

I posted this in another thread, but this is more appropriate. It builds on the recruiting articles above. And that sucks about Tharp. Ugh!

Gill’s recruiting efforts pick up steam at KU

By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH

The Kansas City Star

Iowa and Nebraska are consensus preseason top 15 teams entering this season. They are predicted to compete for conference championships and, at the very least, secure bowl berths.

Kansas is coming off a 5-7 season in which just about everything went wrong. It has a new coach, a new group of assistants and a new strength and conditioning staff. There is no proof that success is on the horizon.

So last weekend when KU coach Turner Gill nabbed oral commitments from wide receiver JaCorey Shepherd of Mesquite, Texas, formerly committed to the Hawkeyes, and Blue Valley West guard Dylan Admire, formerly committed to the Cornhuskers, it signified much more than a good recruiting day.

“That’s the single biggest day of the year,” said Jon Kirby, who covers KU football recruiting for Rivals.com. “These guys are committed to Iowa and Nebraska, who have a foundation set in their program. Yet these players decide to switch their commitment to Kansas, who hasn’t done a lot of those things yet.”

When Gill was hired, he made it clear that recruiting was going to be one of his top priorities. With Shepherd and Admire on board, Gill already has 15 commitments for the Class of 2011.

“It’s rare to see this because these kids are committing basically based on what they’ve been sold by the staff,” Kirby said. “KU’s yet to play a game. They’ve yet to take a snap on offense. They haven’t shown what they’re going to do defensively. Recruits like to see that before they commit somewhere.”

To give Gill all of the credit for an impressive start in recruiting would be a great disservice to the staff that he’s put together. Gill hired notable recruiters Darrell Wyatt and Reggie Mitchell to coach wide receivers and running backs, respectively, and the names Chuck Long, KU’s offensive coordinator, and Carl Torbush, defensive coordinator, mean a lot to high-school coaches all over the country.

Gill has set Wyatt, formerly the offensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi, loose on the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Wyatt was the lead recruiter for Shepherd, a three-star prospect rated the No. 64 receiver in the country by Rivals.com.

“We pretty much have every college in the country come through here, and (Wyatt) is one of the most impressive — if not the most impressive — recruiter that comes through,” said Rodney Webb, Shepherd’s coach at Mesquite Horn High, “just in terms of the way he conducts himself, the way he handles himself around coaches and kids. I would want to play for him.”

Gill’s effort to build a program at Buffalo has resonated.
“Fairly remarkable,” Webb said. “That was a program that nobody ever even heard of. I couldn’t have told you if Buffalo had a football team before he got there. Getting them to the level he got them, I was excited when Kansas hired him as their next head coach.”

Shepherd said that he preferred playing in the Big 12 to the Big Ten so that his family could see him play more often. Conference affiliation was even more of a factor for Admire, who said he was upset when Nebraska announced it would leave for the Big Ten in 2011.

“I’ve lived in KC since I was 6, lived in Missouri before that. I’ve always been a Big 12 person,” Admire said. “I want my friends and family to be able to come watch me.”
In the days after Admire committed to KU, he suddenly had an influx of new Facebook friends. They just happened to be fellow future Jayhawks like himself.

“They found me on Facebook,” Admire said, “and I sent them friend requests, too. I want to get acquainted with them as soon as possible. They’re all so excited. They all love the coaches, how genuine they are. They just love the program and where it’s going.”

ArrowheadHawk · 08-10-2010, 07:51 AM

Very nice article. Lets hope his coaching can match his recruiting.

**Saulbadguy** · 08-10-2010, 07:54 AM

http://www.kuathletics.com/sports/m-...080410aad.html

Good deal on tickets if you follow them on Facebook. Excludes "Not our rival" game.

ArrowheadHawk · 08-10-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

http://www.kuathletics.com/sports/m-...080410aad.html

Good deal on tickets if you follow them on Facebook. Excludes "Not our rival" game.

Of course not. I got my season tickets and the face value on that Thursday night game is 100.00 per ticket.

ArrowheadHawk · 08-10-2010, 11:15 AM

Pulled this from another board and thought it was interesting. Gill is starting out on the right track.

Quote:

noticed scout has 2011 class rankings up now. FWIW

1. Texas
3. Oklahoma
10. OSU
15. TTU
17. NU
30. MU
32. A&M
40. KU
54. Baylor
68. KSU
79. CU
86. ISU

Last 5 years
2010 - 65
2009 - 50
2008 - 49
2007 - 78
2006 - 47

So while we're still in the bottom half of the big 12, as it currently stands this class is rated higher than any of the last 5. Doesn't mean much, but kind of interesting

**Lzen** · 08-10-2010, 12:24 PM

http://cjonline.com/sports/football/...er_finds_pitch

By Kevin Haskin
Created August 9, 2010 at 8:24pm
Updated August 9, 2010 at 11:42pm

LAWRENCE — The lifeblood of any college football program is recruiting.
Turner Gill made that abundantly clear when he was introduced as the new Kansas coach almost eight months ago.
It doesn't take a subscription to any service that lists official visits and unofficial commitments to remember Gill's signature line.
"Here," he said, "are our top priorities: recruit, beat Missouri, recruit, win the North, recruit, win the Big 12, and in most cases if you win the Big 12, then you're playing for a national championship. And then we're going to recruit."
Yet at Media Day on Monday, Gill said he still was obtaining information and feedback on attributes he could best sell to prospects regarding KU.
Little did he realize his recruiting coordinator already prepared what he feels is a sure-fire pitch.
"You're always looking, but the thing we're selling, and we'll continue to sell, is coach Gill," said Reggie Mitchell, who previously spent nine seasons (1988-96) at KU as an assistant under Glen Mason. "You look at college football as kind of a coach-driven sport. He's a guy you can sell because of the success he had as a player, and at Buffalo, and the way he treats the players. That's kind of our deal."
Pay attention to Mitchell. Prospects certainly do. Each of the past six seasons he was ranked by Rivals — yes, one of those services — as one of the nation's top football recruiters.
If Mitchell finds a power point to highlight, it's one that can potentially seal the deal.
With Gill, it helps that the head coach not only wants to be involved in every aspect of recruiting, but finds it enjoyable.
"It makes it real easy, because in this entire building, recruiting is the No. 1 priority," Mitchell said. "No one is too busy or too important not to get involved in recruiting.
"When you're getting that from the top, everything kind of falls in line. There hasn't been one day we haven't discussed recruiting. Some people give it lip service when they say recruiting is important, but he's walking the walk."
While recruiting is a religion for some fanatics, other concerns are more pressing for the Jayhawks.
Some are schematic, such as placing the quarterback behind center and running some power. Some are tactical, such as finding a starting QB to take those direct snaps. Some are developmental, such as building the depth necessary to overcome a season-ending ankle injury suffered by linebacker Huldon Tharp.
And finally, there are the behavioral and cultural changes Gill promotes with the positivity he injects.
But the core issue addressed partly by recruiting and partly by coaching is also striking. That would be talent. And the seven-game losing streak Kansas carries into the season is proof the Jayhawks need better results from both players and coaches.
Gill even acknowledged one shortcoming.
"Ideally what I would like to see is a little more speed in general," he said.
No doubt that's become a priority in those daily recruiting conferences.
Mitchell knows KU can attract standouts. He named some of Mason's players who lasted in the NFL, such as Gerald McBurrows, Rod Jones and Dana Stubblefield.
Then, he shared a tale about the best recruit he previously landed for the Jayhawks, defensive beast Gilbert Brown.
"I was recruiting Gilbert and his father was alive at that time," Mitchell said, "and we were over at the Adams Center having this catered breakfast.
"He's a guy who wanted to cut up all his food before he'd eat, and I'm looking at my wife and I said, 'Mr. Brown, we're going to have to leave to go to the airport.' By the time he finished, we had to go. He got it all cut up and didn't get a bite. And he was a big guy, just like Gilbert."
Mitchell still convinced Brown to attend KU. That was when there was no football complex adjacent to Memorial Stadium, a situation Mitchell is thankful was addressed.
"I tell you what, it'd be a little bit difficult otherwise, because now, kids are into what's modern and new," Mitchell said. "Fortunately, KU was able to build this facility. It's one of the better ones I've been around.
"But everyone has bricks and paint and all that. It comes down to Turner being the type of person he is when it comes to making recruiting easier."
Kevin Haskin can be reached at (785) 295-1159 or kevin.haskin@cjonline.com.

ArrowheadHawk · 08-10-2010, 01:40 PM

from Kansas Jayhawks on Vimeo.

ArrowheadHawk · 08-10-2010, 02:40 PM

2011

September 3 McNeese State
September 10 Northern Illinois
September 17 @ Georgia Tech
September 24 UTEP

2012

September 1 South Dakota State
September 8 Rice
September 22 at Northern Illinois

2013

@ Rice

Quote:

Kansas Football Announces 2012 Non-Conference Schedule

Aug. 10, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football has announced its three non-conference games for the 2012 season, which includes home games against South Dakota State and Rice and a road game at Northern Illinois.

While the Big 12 Conference portion of the 2012 season has not been announced, the Jayhawks will open the year hosting South Dakota State on Sept. 1.

KU will then host Rice in the first of a two-game series on Sept. 8. The Jayhawks will play at Rice in 2013. On Sept. 22 KU will travel to Northern Illinois in a return game from when the Huskies visit Lawrence in 2011.

Kansas has played all three opponents in the past. The Jayhawks defeated South Dakota State 86-6 in 1947. The 80-point victory margin is second in history behind an 83-0 win against Washington (Mo.) in 1923.

Kansas defeated Rice 33-7 in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl. That game was KU’s second ever bowl appearance and its first bowl victory.

KU lost 37-34 to Northern Illinois in the first game of the Mike Gottfried era in 1983. Three games after that contest, the Jayhawks defeated No. 10 USC.

The last time Kansas played just three regular-season non-conference games was 2005.

The 2010 season begins when KU hosts North Dakota State in a game televised on Fox College Sports on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at www.kuathletics.com.

http://www.kuathletics.com/sports/m-...081010aac.html

ArrowheadHawk · 08-10-2010, 03:03 PM

I'm hearing McNeese state is gonna be dropped for 2011.

BWillie · 08-10-2010, 03:22 PM

Who's the guy that KU snagged from Iowa? I haven't got a chance to read much about it.

ArrowheadHawk · 08-11-2010, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Who's the guy that KU snagged from Iowa? I haven't got a chance to read much about it.

Quote:

Shepherd (5-11, 170 pounds) also has offers from SMU and Wyoming.
Shepherd was the District 11-5A offensive newcomer of the year in 2009. He had 46 catches for 669 yards and six touchdowns last season.

Quote:

Shepard is the #10 receiving prospect in the state of Texas and listed early in the Texas top 100, both very good indicators of his ability.

Rivals Profile

**Lzen** · 08-11-2010, 11:23 AM

James Holt working his way up on the Chargers depth chart.

http://www.nctimes.com/sports/footba...a7ea88b18.html

**Lzen** · 08-11-2010, 11:24 AM

Falcons Coach Mike Smith after a Falcons scrimmage:
1.“I thought that Kerry Meier had a couple of very nice catches. He also blocked extremely well. That’s something that our receivers have to do. I think that’s whey we’ve had the success we have had in running the football because we’ve had our downfield blocking. He really stood out.
Source

**Lzen** · 08-16-2010, 10:13 AM

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2010/a...will-they-fit/

Note: This story is part of the 2010-11 KU football preview section that appeared in Saturday's Journal-World.

Kansas University football coach Turner Gill must feel like he’s staring down at one of those 5,000-piece puzzles.

With serious depth at just about every offensive position, Gill has plenty of weapons at his disposal. The key will be finding a way to fit them all together.
After three years of high-flying, scoreboard-popping offensive football, KU enters a new era. Gone are Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, three of the most potent offensive players the university ever has seen. Thrust into the position of trying to replace them is a new coach who will run a new system with a handful of talented, but unproven, players.
Though he’s had just a handful of practices to work with his new crew, Gill has made it clear that things will change in 2010. In place of the seemingly endless aerial attack employed by the former regime, Gill and his staff will strive for balance. In doing so they’ll put greater emphasis on the ground game, but not so much that they’ll abandon the pass.
“We’re going to have our offense adjust to whatever talent we have,” Gill said. “We’ll run multiple sets on offense, and we’ll have a little bit of everything in our repertoire.”
That’s a good thing for the Jayhawks, who have a little bit of everything on their roster.
At quarterback, the Jayhawks entered preseason camp with two players battling for the right to replace Reesing. Third-year sophomore Kale Pick and red-shirt freshman Jordan Webb bring different skill-sets to the field, but they share a desire to compete and win.
Having spent 2009 as the direct back-up to Reesing, Pick began the spring with a slight edge if for no other reason than experience alone. Pick is a dual-threat type of quarterback who spent most of last season rushing the ball but nearly all of his high school career as a gunslinger. Though he has been asked to learn a new system, Pick seemed up for the challenge throughout the spring.
“Coaches say I have confidence, and I’d like to think I do,” he said. “They like players who step on the field with confidence, and if you’re not confident in what you do, I don’t think you’ll be very successful.”
Webb’s confidence increased as the spring went on, and by the end of spring drills it had reached a level that matched his arm strength, intelligence and attitude. Webb said throughout the spring that he loved the new offense, and his emergence as a co-leader in the race for the starting spot proved that he had a handle on what was expected.
“I think we can do anything we want on offense,” Webb said. “We definitely want to establish a run game because that’ll be important. But I think we can play to whatever the defense wants to give us.”
On the ground, the Jayhawks have several options. Sixth-year senior Angus Quigley, who returns to his natural position after an experiment at linebacker flopped, was the one running back who gained the most praise from Gill and the staff this spring. But he’s far from alone in competing for carries.
Last year’s leading rusher, Toben Opurum, will be in the mix, as will junior Rell Lewis, red-shirt freshman Deshaun Sands and true freshmen Brandon Bourbon and James Sims.
“We say it every year, but this year I really feel like we chance to have great depth with our running backs,” Opurum said. “We all bring a different style to how we run.”
KU’s biggest challenge may come at receiver, where senior Johnathan Wilson and sophomore Bradley McDougald return as the most experienced wideouts. Both hauled in more than 30 receptions a season ago, and both will be leaned on heavily as the team seeks to replace Briscoe and Meier.
Wilson has paid his dues and should get the first crack at being this team’s go-to receiver. He should have plenty of help down the field, though, no matter how well he fares.
Junior Daymond Patterson returns to wideout from the secondary and he, along with sophomore D.J. Beshears, provide the Jayhawks with two lightning-quick weapons in the slot. Up top, Wilson will be joined by red-shirt freshmen Chris Omigie, Erick McGriff and Christian Matthews.
“To be honest with you, the thing that we have, the thing that we love about the system, is that it’s versatile,” wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt said.
One new wrinkle that has seldom been seen at KU during the past several seasons is the expected increase in importance of the tight end. Junior Tim Biere emerged late in 2009 as a viable option in the passing game, and he appears to have picked up right where he left off. His confidence along with the set-up of the new system appear to have Biere poised for a breakout season.
“This new offense is great for tight ends,” Biere said. “Last year I was more in a blocking role. Toward the end of the season, we did a little bit more with catching passes, but this year it’s night-and-day. We’re out there almost every play.”
Up front, the Jayhawks return four regular starters on the offensive line but have little proven depth behind them. Preseason All-Big 12 selection Tanner Hawkinson will anchor the line at left tackle, and he’ll be joined by seniors Sal Capra and Brad Thorson, junior Jeremiah Hatch and sophomore Trevor Marrongelli. Thorson enters camp on the mend from a broken foot, and the line also will be without junior Jeff Spikes, who injured his Achille’s tendon in July and will miss the 2010 season.
Despite the injuries and lack of depth, the KU coaches feel good about having stability up front and about the task of trying to piece everything together.
“The offensive line has a little more stability there, with the experience,” offensive coordinator Chuck Long said. “And having the offensive line back with experience does help. It’s a good start. Especially with young quarterbacks. One of the best things about our entire offense is we have a lot of young guys who are going to be around awhile.”

ArrowheadHawk · 08-16-2010, 10:19 AM

Only two weekends left without KU football.

03-26-2010, 01:55 PM
ArrowheadHawk Rock Chalk! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Casino cash: $7744961	** OFFICIAL 2010 Kansas Football Repository Thread ** Spring football Site Let the Gill era begin. Last edited by ArrowheadHawk; 08-24-2010 at 02:18 PM..
Posts: 15,676

08-09-2010, 02:36 PM	#181
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $-1620099	I posted this in another thread, but this is more appropriate. It builds on the recruiting articles above. And that sucks about Tharp. Ugh! Gill’s recruiting efforts pick up steam at KU By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH The Kansas City Star Iowa and Nebraska are consensus preseason top 15 teams entering this season. They are predicted to compete for conference championships and, at the very least, secure bowl berths. Kansas is coming off a 5-7 season in which just about everything went wrong. It has a new coach, a new group of assistants and a new strength and conditioning staff. There is no proof that success is on the horizon. So last weekend when KU coach Turner Gill nabbed oral commitments from wide receiver JaCorey Shepherd of Mesquite, Texas, formerly committed to the Hawkeyes, and Blue Valley West guard Dylan Admire, formerly committed to the Cornhuskers, it signified much more than a good recruiting day. “That’s the single biggest day of the year,” said Jon Kirby, who covers KU football recruiting for Rivals.com. “These guys are committed to Iowa and Nebraska, who have a foundation set in their program. Yet these players decide to switch their commitment to Kansas, who hasn’t done a lot of those things yet.” When Gill was hired, he made it clear that recruiting was going to be one of his top priorities. With Shepherd and Admire on board, Gill already has 15 commitments for the Class of 2011. “It’s rare to see this because these kids are committing basically based on what they’ve been sold by the staff,” Kirby said. “KU’s yet to play a game. They’ve yet to take a snap on offense. They haven’t shown what they’re going to do defensively. Recruits like to see that before they commit somewhere.” To give Gill all of the credit for an impressive start in recruiting would be a great disservice to the staff that he’s put together. Gill hired notable recruiters Darrell Wyatt and Reggie Mitchell to coach wide receivers and running backs, respectively, and the names Chuck Long, KU’s offensive coordinator, and Carl Torbush, defensive coordinator, mean a lot to high-school coaches all over the country. Gill has set Wyatt, formerly the offensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi, loose on the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Wyatt was the lead recruiter for Shepherd, a three-star prospect rated the No. 64 receiver in the country by Rivals.com. “We pretty much have every college in the country come through here, and (Wyatt) is one of the most impressive — if not the most impressive — recruiter that comes through,” said Rodney Webb, Shepherd’s coach at Mesquite Horn High, “just in terms of the way he conducts himself, the way he handles himself around coaches and kids. I would want to play for him.” Gill’s effort to build a program at Buffalo has resonated. “Fairly remarkable,” Webb said. “That was a program that nobody ever even heard of. I couldn’t have told you if Buffalo had a football team before he got there. Getting them to the level he got them, I was excited when Kansas hired him as their next head coach.” Shepherd said that he preferred playing in the Big 12 to the Big Ten so that his family could see him play more often. Conference affiliation was even more of a factor for Admire, who said he was upset when Nebraska announced it would leave for the Big Ten in 2011. “I’ve lived in KC since I was 6, lived in Missouri before that. I’ve always been a Big 12 person,” Admire said. “I want my friends and family to be able to come watch me.” In the days after Admire committed to KU, he suddenly had an influx of new Facebook friends. They just happened to be fellow future Jayhawks like himself. “They found me on Facebook,” Admire said, “and I sent them friend requests, too. I want to get acquainted with them as soon as possible. They’re all so excited. They all love the coaches, how genuine they are. They just love the program and where it’s going.”
Posts: 13,836

08-10-2010, 07:51 AM	#182
ArrowheadHawk Rock Chalk! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Casino cash: $7744961	Very nice article. Lets hope his coaching can match his recruiting.
Posts: 15,676

08-10-2010, 07:54 AM	#183
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $736966	http://www.kuathletics.com/sports/m-...080410aad.html Good deal on tickets if you follow them on Facebook. Excludes "Not our rival" game.
Posts: 47,020

08-10-2010, 12:24 PM	#186
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-529308	Column: Top KU recruiter finds pitch http://cjonline.com/sports/football/...er_finds_pitch By Kevin Haskin Created August 9, 2010 at 8:24pm Updated August 9, 2010 at 11:42pm LAWRENCE — The lifeblood of any college football program is recruiting. Turner Gill made that abundantly clear when he was introduced as the new Kansas coach almost eight months ago. It doesn't take a subscription to any service that lists official visits and unofficial commitments to remember Gill's signature line. "Here," he said, "are our top priorities: recruit, beat Missouri, recruit, win the North, recruit, win the Big 12, and in most cases if you win the Big 12, then you're playing for a national championship. And then we're going to recruit." Yet at Media Day on Monday, Gill said he still was obtaining information and feedback on attributes he could best sell to prospects regarding KU. Little did he realize his recruiting coordinator already prepared what he feels is a sure-fire pitch. "You're always looking, but the thing we're selling, and we'll continue to sell, is coach Gill," said Reggie Mitchell, who previously spent nine seasons (1988-96) at KU as an assistant under Glen Mason. "You look at college football as kind of a coach-driven sport. He's a guy you can sell because of the success he had as a player, and at Buffalo, and the way he treats the players. That's kind of our deal." Pay attention to Mitchell. Prospects certainly do. Each of the past six seasons he was ranked by Rivals — yes, one of those services — as one of the nation's top football recruiters. If Mitchell finds a power point to highlight, it's one that can potentially seal the deal. With Gill, it helps that the head coach not only wants to be involved in every aspect of recruiting, but finds it enjoyable. "It makes it real easy, because in this entire building, recruiting is the No. 1 priority," Mitchell said. "No one is too busy or too important not to get involved in recruiting. "When you're getting that from the top, everything kind of falls in line. There hasn't been one day we haven't discussed recruiting. Some people give it lip service when they say recruiting is important, but he's walking the walk." While recruiting is a religion for some fanatics, other concerns are more pressing for the Jayhawks. Some are schematic, such as placing the quarterback behind center and running some power. Some are tactical, such as finding a starting QB to take those direct snaps. Some are developmental, such as building the depth necessary to overcome a season-ending ankle injury suffered by linebacker Huldon Tharp. And finally, there are the behavioral and cultural changes Gill promotes with the positivity he injects. But the core issue addressed partly by recruiting and partly by coaching is also striking. That would be talent. And the seven-game losing streak Kansas carries into the season is proof the Jayhawks need better results from both players and coaches. Gill even acknowledged one shortcoming. "Ideally what I would like to see is a little more speed in general," he said. No doubt that's become a priority in those daily recruiting conferences. Mitchell knows KU can attract standouts. He named some of Mason's players who lasted in the NFL, such as Gerald McBurrows, Rod Jones and Dana Stubblefield. Then, he shared a tale about the best recruit he previously landed for the Jayhawks, defensive beast Gilbert Brown. "I was recruiting Gilbert and his father was alive at that time," Mitchell said, "and we were over at the Adams Center having this catered breakfast. "He's a guy who wanted to cut up all his food before he'd eat, and I'm looking at my wife and I said, 'Mr. Brown, we're going to have to leave to go to the airport.' By the time he finished, we had to go. He got it all cut up and didn't get a bite. And he was a big guy, just like Gilbert." Mitchell still convinced Brown to attend KU. That was when there was no football complex adjacent to Memorial Stadium, a situation Mitchell is thankful was addressed. "I tell you what, it'd be a little bit difficult otherwise, because now, kids are into what's modern and new," Mitchell said. "Fortunately, KU was able to build this facility. It's one of the better ones I've been around. "But everyone has bricks and paint and all that. It comes down to Turner being the type of person he is when it comes to making recruiting easier." Kevin Haskin can be reached at (785) 295-1159 or kevin.haskin@cjonline.com. __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 42,458

08-10-2010, 01:40 PM	#187
ArrowheadHawk Rock Chalk! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Casino cash: $7744961	from Kansas Jayhawks on Vimeo.
Posts: 15,676

08-10-2010, 03:03 PM	#189
ArrowheadHawk Rock Chalk! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Casino cash: $7744961	I'm hearing McNeese state is gonna be dropped for 2011.
Posts: 15,676

08-10-2010, 03:22 PM	#190
BWillie Are you ready to Rumble? Join Date: Apr 2006 Casino cash: $-1268759	Who's the guy that KU snagged from Iowa? I haven't got a chance to read much about it.
Posts: 52,517

08-11-2010, 11:23 AM	#192
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-529308	James Holt working his way up on the Chargers depth chart. http://www.nctimes.com/sports/footba...a7ea88b18.html __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 42,458

08-11-2010, 11:24 AM	#193
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-529308	Falcons Coach Mike Smith after a Falcons scrimmage: 1.“I thought that Kerry Meier had a couple of very nice catches. He also blocked extremely well. That’s something that our receivers have to do. I think that’s whey we’ve had the success we have had in running the football because we’ve had our downfield blocking. He really stood out. Source __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 42,458

08-16-2010, 10:13 AM	#194
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-529308	http://www2.kusports.com/news/2010/a...will-they-fit/ Note: This story is part of the 2010-11 KU football preview section that appeared in Saturday's Journal-World. Kansas University football coach Turner Gill must feel like he’s staring down at one of those 5,000-piece puzzles. With serious depth at just about every offensive position, Gill has plenty of weapons at his disposal. The key will be finding a way to fit them all together. After three years of high-flying, scoreboard-popping offensive football, KU enters a new era. Gone are Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, three of the most potent offensive players the university ever has seen. Thrust into the position of trying to replace them is a new coach who will run a new system with a handful of talented, but unproven, players. Though he’s had just a handful of practices to work with his new crew, Gill has made it clear that things will change in 2010. In place of the seemingly endless aerial attack employed by the former regime, Gill and his staff will strive for balance. In doing so they’ll put greater emphasis on the ground game, but not so much that they’ll abandon the pass. “We’re going to have our offense adjust to whatever talent we have,” Gill said. “We’ll run multiple sets on offense, and we’ll have a little bit of everything in our repertoire.” That’s a good thing for the Jayhawks, who have a little bit of everything on their roster. At quarterback, the Jayhawks entered preseason camp with two players battling for the right to replace Reesing. Third-year sophomore Kale Pick and red-shirt freshman Jordan Webb bring different skill-sets to the field, but they share a desire to compete and win. Having spent 2009 as the direct back-up to Reesing, Pick began the spring with a slight edge if for no other reason than experience alone. Pick is a dual-threat type of quarterback who spent most of last season rushing the ball but nearly all of his high school career as a gunslinger. Though he has been asked to learn a new system, Pick seemed up for the challenge throughout the spring. “Coaches say I have confidence, and I’d like to think I do,” he said. “They like players who step on the field with confidence, and if you’re not confident in what you do, I don’t think you’ll be very successful.” Webb’s confidence increased as the spring went on, and by the end of spring drills it had reached a level that matched his arm strength, intelligence and attitude. Webb said throughout the spring that he loved the new offense, and his emergence as a co-leader in the race for the starting spot proved that he had a handle on what was expected. “I think we can do anything we want on offense,” Webb said. “We definitely want to establish a run game because that’ll be important. But I think we can play to whatever the defense wants to give us.” On the ground, the Jayhawks have several options. Sixth-year senior Angus Quigley, who returns to his natural position after an experiment at linebacker flopped, was the one running back who gained the most praise from Gill and the staff this spring. But he’s far from alone in competing for carries. Last year’s leading rusher, Toben Opurum, will be in the mix, as will junior Rell Lewis, red-shirt freshman Deshaun Sands and true freshmen Brandon Bourbon and James Sims. “We say it every year, but this year I really feel like we chance to have great depth with our running backs,” Opurum said. “We all bring a different style to how we run.” KU’s biggest challenge may come at receiver, where senior Johnathan Wilson and sophomore Bradley McDougald return as the most experienced wideouts. Both hauled in more than 30 receptions a season ago, and both will be leaned on heavily as the team seeks to replace Briscoe and Meier. Wilson has paid his dues and should get the first crack at being this team’s go-to receiver. He should have plenty of help down the field, though, no matter how well he fares. Junior Daymond Patterson returns to wideout from the secondary and he, along with sophomore D.J. Beshears, provide the Jayhawks with two lightning-quick weapons in the slot. Up top, Wilson will be joined by red-shirt freshmen Chris Omigie, Erick McGriff and Christian Matthews. “To be honest with you, the thing that we have, the thing that we love about the system, is that it’s versatile,” wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt said. One new wrinkle that has seldom been seen at KU during the past several seasons is the expected increase in importance of the tight end. Junior Tim Biere emerged late in 2009 as a viable option in the passing game, and he appears to have picked up right where he left off. His confidence along with the set-up of the new system appear to have Biere poised for a breakout season. “This new offense is great for tight ends,” Biere said. “Last year I was more in a blocking role. Toward the end of the season, we did a little bit more with catching passes, but this year it’s night-and-day. We’re out there almost every play.” Up front, the Jayhawks return four regular starters on the offensive line but have little proven depth behind them. Preseason All-Big 12 selection Tanner Hawkinson will anchor the line at left tackle, and he’ll be joined by seniors Sal Capra and Brad Thorson, junior Jeremiah Hatch and sophomore Trevor Marrongelli. Thorson enters camp on the mend from a broken foot, and the line also will be without junior Jeff Spikes, who injured his Achille’s tendon in July and will miss the 2010 season. Despite the injuries and lack of depth, the KU coaches feel good about having stability up front and about the task of trying to piece everything together. “The offensive line has a little more stability there, with the experience,” offensive coordinator Chuck Long said. “And having the offensive line back with experience does help. It’s a good start. Especially with young quarterbacks. One of the best things about our entire offense is we have a lot of young guys who are going to be around awhile.” __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
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08-16-2010, 10:19 AM	#195
ArrowheadHawk Rock Chalk! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Casino cash: $7744961	Only two weekends left without KU football.
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