University Daily Kansan, August 27, 1984
SPORTS
Page 16
The University Daily KANSAN
Contest for QB spot continues
By the Kansan Staff
The battle for the starting quarterback position on the Kansas football team heated up Saturday during a two hour scrimmage, marking the end of a week of two-a-day drills.
Mike Norseth, who has had a slight edge on Mike Orth during fall practice, completed 10 of 18 passes for 82 yards. Orth completed eight of 20 passes for 86 yards and one interception.
Third string quarterback Tom Quick was five of 11 passing for 79 yards and hooked up with freshman Wes Hendricks on a seven-yard touchdown pass for the only touchdown of the day.
After the scrimmage, KU coach Mike Gottfried said he was no longer sure he would redshirt the loser of the Norseth-Orth quarterback battle.
"WE'RE THINKING about waiting another year to make that decision," Gottfried said. "We've good fresh manager quarter-backs."
One other close race for a starting position is between place-kickers Dodge Schwartzburg and Jeff Johnson.
Johnson connected on all three of his field goal attempts, hitting from 27, 24 and 34 yards out. Schwartzburg made field goals of 31 and 41 yards but was wide left on a 41 yarder.
The leading rushers in the scrimage were tailback Harvey Fields, who had 41 yards on five carries and fullback Mark Henderson, who had 41 yards on six carries. Fullback Lynn Williams did not play in the scrimage of an Achilles' tondon brune.
Jeff Long led the receivers with five receptacles for 63 yards. Steve Nortlut had two catches for 52 yards, including a 47-yard reception, and Robert Mimbs had four receptacles for 28 yards.
The Jayhawks will practice at 3 p.m. today and continue preparing for the season opener on Sept. 8 against Wichita State.
Manning era set to begin on Mount Oread
By DAVID O'BRIEN Staff Reporter
He signed autographs before he was old enough to vote.
Kansas freshman basketball player Danny Manning, who is listed at 6-11 on the KU basketball roster, appears to be towering over a clearance marker of that height in the driveway of a Jayhawker Towers parking lot. Manning is ready to begin his first season on the
was old enough to
At 6 feet 11 inches and 195 pounds,
he looks like a basketball player. He is
this name is Danny Manning, and he is the most touched freshman at the University of Kansas since Wilt Chamberlain. He joined Jayhawk Boulevard back in 1965.
Manning is aware of the comparisons to Chamberlain and others and of the high expectations being placed upon him by Jayhawk supporters, and he knows how he must deal with them.
304 WILLIAM HIRANASAN
Jayhawk basketball team after a standout high school
which he was considered by many to be the best high school player in
the nation. Actually, Manning stood on the bumper of a car for this
photo.
"I just have to go out on the court and do my own thing," Manning said.
He did do his own thing last year at Lawrence High School, much to the dismay of Lions' opponents. Manning led Lawrence to the finals of the 6A state championship, averaging 22.7 points and 9.1 rebounds. After that he was named to the high school All-America teams, including the prestigious McDonald's High School All-America "Dream Team."
After playing in high school all-star games in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, Manning was invited to participate in the U.S. Olympic Trials. He was one of only two prep players invited, and though he did not make the Olympic team, the experience was rewarding for Manning.
This summer, Manning was invited to play on a U.S.select team composed primarily of college stars, such as Winston Bennett of Kentucky. The team won the gold medal at a world junior tournament in Taiwan, with Manning chipping in almost 10 points a game.
"EVERYBODY AT THE TRIALS was trying for those few spots on the team," he said, "so everybody worked really hard. It was good experience for me."
"I had a pretty good tournament," he said. "We had a lot of talent on our team and the coach divided playing time between everyone We each played about 20 minutes per game."
"I really don't like all the attention that I've received," he said. "Sometimes I'd just like to be treated like a regular freshman student "
But despite the trips and honors he has received, Manning said all the attention and publicity that goes with his trip wasn't as much as the star wasn't all it's cracked up to be.
Manning received much attention when his father, Ed Manning, was offered an assistant coaching position at KU under Larry Brown. The offer was interpreted by many as an obvious attempt to bring Danny to KU with his father, who, despite a long career in basketball, was criticized as being unqualified for the coaching position.
contending "I DIDN'T PAY ANY attention to all the talk," the younger Manning said. "I knew all along that he (his father) was a good coach, so it didn't bother me."
Ed Manning played professional basketball for nine years in both the National Basketball Association and the now defunct American Basketball Association. He also coached at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C.
"He can still play," said Danny. "We used to play one-on-one and I couldn't beat him until my junior ear in high school."
It was after Danny's junior year at Page High School in Greensboro that Ed Manning accepted the coaching position at KU and the family headed west.
"I didn't want to leave my friends back in Greensboro." Danny said, "but I've adjusted well and met a lot of people out here. I'm enjoying myself."
Manning had planned to attend the University of North Carolina before his father came to KU. Even after moving to Lawrence, he still had not ruled out UNC.
"It was between KU and North Carolina," he said. "I just wasn't sure."
Manning, made his final decision before the Lawrence High basketball
season began. It was not based on the size of the schools' gymnasiums or their basketball prospects for the coming year, as might be suspected. Rather, the decision came down to another very special recruiting advantage that even North Carolina coach Dean Smith couldn't top.
"I WANTED MY MOM to see my games," Manning said. "She used to take me to all of my high school games and I wanted her to be able to see me play in college."
Manning said that making the decision early in his senior year made things easier for everyone.
"I didn't want everyone wasting time and money recruiting me after I already made my decision," he said. "It also took a lot of pressure off of me during my senior year."
Since making the decision, Manning said he has had no regrets.
"I'm happy with my decision to
come to KU,” he said. “There’s a great tradition here. Coach Brown is a great coach and a really nice guy. He’s easy to get along with.”
Manning said that he has not set any personal goals for the coming season.
"I could set goals now, but then they might be unrealistic and I'd be disappointed if I couldn't reach them," he said.
Despite the loss of Carl Henry and Kelly Knight, who used up their eligibility and were drafted by NBA teams. Manning feels KU should be in the thick of the Big Eight conference race this season.
"If we pull together, we'll battle Oklahoma for the Big 8 title," he said. "Wayman (Wayman Tisdale,OU's All-America center) tough.It's going to be fun competing against him."
Most Jayhawk fans would agree
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