Wednesday, August 24, 2011
kansan.com
Volume 124 Issue 4
COMMENTARY
Webb has no excuses
It needed to happen then. And it better not happen this time around
Achange took place 12 possessions into the Kansas football season last year. A desperate coach in his first game made a switch early in the fourth quarter.
Kale Pick started in the Jayhawks first game at quarterback against North Dakota State last season. Pick played for more than three quarters and went 13-22, throwing for 138 vards and one interception.
AND THE AWARD GOES TO... NFL lockout drama reminded fans of the sport's value PAGE 9 ROWING TRAINS WITH HIGH BIG 12 GOALS PAGE 8
Webb went 6-11 and threw for 59 yards in the North Dakota State game. Webb showed enough to take the starting job for week two — the Georgia Tech game, in which he threw for three touchdowns and led Kansas to a 28-25 victory.
The Jayhawks were losing to the Bison 6-3 and as an everything-or-nothing move, Turner Gill put freshman Jordan Webb in. They came up with nothing more on the scoreboard, but they did leave with a new quarterback.
FOOTBALL
He needs to be all of that and more come the 2011 season. He can be that guy, too. His increased size can only help his arm strength and toughness. If he has changed, like they say he has in practice, than he can eliminate the small mistakes that helped make last season so painful to watch.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Senior wide receiver Daymond Patterson jokes around with his teammates Tuesday afternoon while going through drills during afternoon practice. Kansas will take on McNeese State as their first opponent of the 2011 season on Sept. 9 at Memorial Stadium.
In the weeks between Georgia Tech and Missouri, two quarterbacks played. Webb and junior Quinn Meacham started five and four games, respectively. Webb had a hurt shoulder, while Mecham did fine considering the circumstances.
The thing is, Jordan Webb is the guy for 2011. Turner Gill has made him that guy and they're both in it together here until December. There should be no quick fix, no late game confusion, and no eleventh-hour quarterback switch.
Edited by Rachel Schultz
Word out of practice is that Webb has responded. He gained visible strength over the spring and summer, he has become a vocal leader to the team, he knows the playbook, and he can control the tempo better.
Webb returned to his starting spot from his injury against Missouri in the season finale — a 35-7 loss.
Kansas had no consistency at quarterback last season. There was no captain on the line, no one to bark orders, and no one to instill confidence in his teammates.
KANSAS PICKED LAST
There are no longer any excuses as to why three quarterbacks controlled the team at one point last year. Gill knows his players and believes Jordan Webb is the guy to wear the captains hat and control the ship. He is Gill's man and should be the entire year.
It's now year two for Gill and year one and one-half as the starter for Webb — there are no longer any excuses for the miscommunications, the five-yard delay of game penalties, or the lack of cohesiveness on offense.
Too many times did the Kansas offense have to call a timeout because of a miscommunication. Too many times the fans were dismayed and the players panicked, while the play clock ticked to zero.
All of the changes in the position that is supposed to control it all, led to a lack of control anywhere.
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MIKE VERNON mvernon@kansan.com
It's a prediction that no team wants to see—0-9 and 1-11.
Stanford quarterback and Heisman candidate Andrew Luck stands tall with two of his team-mates on one of the five covers of this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. The magazine released its annual forecast of this year's college football season, and while Luck and the Cardinals are all
over the issue, there is one tiny mention of this year's Kansas football team — it isn't a flattering one either.
Inside the issue are predictions on how every team will finish in their respective conference. At the bottom of the Big 12's forecast, sits the name Kansas, but there's more to it than Sports Illustrated just picking the Jayhawks to finish last.
Next to Kansas' name, reads 0-9 and 1-11. When picking Kansas to finish last, the magazine
Not one of the players knew about the unflattering prediction one of the world's most read magazines had given them. Whether the players are in the dark about it, or not, the prediction exists, and it's the kind of material that often goes on every player's locker.
When senior linebacker Steven Johnson found out about the unkind words from the magazine, he stood speechless for a moment.
Johnson said. "I might have to go buy that article and just post it up, let everybody see it."
"That's why the game is played."
After learning about the unkind words from Sports Illustrated, Johnson said it gives him a lot of motivation.
Not only will Johnson be motivated, but he also believes his teammates will rally around hearing about the winless conference play projection.
FOOTBALL 8
VOLLEYBALL
Blocker builds reputation as 'relentless'on and off court
MATT GALLOWAY
mgalloway@kansan.com
twitter.com/themtgalloway
Sophomore middle blocker Caroline jarmoc was an impact player for the volleyball team her freshman year.
On the court, she was one of three Jayhawks to start all 31 matches and finished as the team's leading blocker. Off the court, she was an Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Her teammate and roommate Tayler Toilefle said Jarmoc has achieved early success thanks to one attribute above all others.
"I think it's the stubborn personality she has, in a good way," Tolefree said. "She's just relentless, in her personality too. She won't give up."
Jarmoc's performance on the court and her relentlessness off it have put her in the position of being a team leader as an underclassman. While it is an uncommon situation to be in, it is not an unfamiliar one for the Calgary, Alberta, Canada native.
"I think I've kind of adapted to it," larmoc said. "I remember in high school people would turn to me as a leader too, so I've had experience with that role. I obviously didn't expect to have it so
Jarmoc is the only foreign-born player on the volleyball roster this year. When she arrived two years ago, she was bombarded with questions about Canada from her teammates.
early on when I came in, but I'm fully ready to take responsibility with that and do it to the best of my ability."
She made a name for herself as part of Volleyball Prospects, a recruitment and scouting organization that rates and profiles Canadians in the sport for coaching staffs worldwide. It was at an event sponsored by Volleyball Prospects that an assistant on head coach Ray Bechard's staff first saw Jarmoc play. He said she was one of only two among the hundreds at the event who stood out.
"It was like I was from overseas or something." Jarmoc said.
"We saw a ton of potential when we recruited her," Bechard said. "One thing led to another and we got a visit out of her."
Jarmoc said she chose to join Bechard because she often found herself comparing every other school she visited to what she saw at Kansas. She redhirted for the 2009 season.
"I feel it helps you kind of get in
VOLLEYBALL 18
KANSAS KANSAS KANSAS KANSAS
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN
Sophomore middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc makes a two handed block in a match against Baylor last season.
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SPORTS
Berglund and Sands finished for now
Kansas football coach Turner Gill announced two personnel changes for the Jayhawks on Tuesday. Freshman quarterback
Berglund
Brock Berglund will not be practicing with the team for the remainder of the fall semester due to legal issues, but will remain enrolled
at Kansas and be a member of the team.
Berglund, a dual threat quarterback recruit, was expected to compete for the starting job, but missed all spring practices and some fall practices. He is currently dealing with a third-degree assault charge in Colorado. Berglund pleaded not guilty in July. The trial is set for Dec. 13-14.
"Due to legal issues, Brock will no longer be attending practices with the team this fall." Gill said in a press release. "He will remain enrolled as a KU student, and plans to resume all team activities in the spring semester."
Berglund did not suit up for the Family Fest scrimage on Saturday, Aug 20.
Sophomore running back Deshaun Sands has been removed from the team effective immediately for violating team rules.
Sands
Sands was arrested on Saturday on an outstanding warrant for missing a June court date.
Sands missed his original court date after being cited for disturbing the peace in April. Sands, the son of former Kansas running back and single game rushing record holder Tony Sands, rushed for 211 yards on 55 carries and one touchdown in 2010 after redshirting the 2009 season.
Ethan Pgdway