THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2009
SPORTS
3B
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbett throws a pass during the first half against Ferguson on Sept. 19 in Columbia, Mo. Gabbett has thrown for 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season as a starter after backup on Chase Daniel last year.
Gabbert's past commitment not an issue in Nebraska game
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA, Mo. — If not for a change of heart, Blaine Gabbert may still be starting in Thursday's Nebraska-Missouri game, just for the other team.
Missouri's sophomore quarterback initially made a verbal commitment to play at Nebraska during his senior year at Parkway West High School in suburban St. Louis in 2007.
Instead, Gabbert went to his home state team. He spent last season upchase Daniel.
But weeks later, Gabbert changed his mind, citing uncertainty after the firing of athletic director Steve Pederson.
So far, his first season as a starter has been a success.
Gabbert has thrown for 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns as Missouri (4-0) has moved up to No.24.
The Cornhuskers (3-1) are doing fine, too, heading into the Thursday night Big 12-opening matchup in Columbia, Mo. Nebraska is ranked 21st.
And Nebraska quarterback
Zac Lee is ranked third in the conference in passing efficiency. Gabbert is ranked first in the Big 12 and fourth nationally.
Gabbert, who is 6-feet-5, was heavily recruited out of high school.
He was ranked as the No. 1 pro-style quarterback by recruiting Web site Rivals.com, and originally wanted to play under pass-happy Nebraska coach Bill Callahan.
But Callahan's future became cloudy following the firing of Pederson, who hired him. Callahan was eventually fired, too, after a 5-7 season.
Less than
Less than three weeks after backing out of Nebraska, Gabbert committed to Missouri. He said that long-ago decision isn't even on his mind.
"I've been impressed with his poise. He's a bright guy and he works real hard at it."
"I'm not even focused on that at all," Gabbert said. "I'm a Mizzou tiger."
"I haven't talked to him about it at all," Pinkel said. "I'm just glad he's here."
adopted Gabbert's philosophy on the situation.
Pinkel said the thing he's been most impressed with is the fact that Gabbert has yet to throw an interception.
GARY PINKEL Missouri coach
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel
"I've been impressed with his poise," Pinkel said. "He's a bright guy and he works real hard at it."
Gabbert will need that poise against a Nebraska defense that has allowed just 28 points so far.
"It's about getting back and getting focused," Pinkel said as Missouri returns from a bye week. "Every experience for a quarterback
helps them get better."
After decades of dominating Missouri, Nebraska now finds itself seeking revenge for recent stinging defeats, including last season's 52-17 loss in Lincoln, Neb.
MLB
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phillies-Rockies pitching could be deciding factor
PHILADELPHIA — All those big boppers and two hitterfriendly ballparks sure make the Phillies-Rockies series look like a slugfest.
Not so fast.
When Colorado swept Philadelphia in the 2007 NL division series, the teams combined for only 24 runs in three games. Now, each club boasts even stronger pitching.
The Phillies have two former Cy Young Award winners and last year's World Series and NLCS MVP on their staff. The Rockies were the only team in the majors
to have all five starters reach double-digit wins.
"I think it's pretty well noted that it's a hitter's ballpark," Lee said. "It still doesn't mean you can't throw right-handers in and you can't come in on lefties because you're scared they're going to hit a home run. Obviously, you get in certain situations where you might not want to come in on a guy. But for the most part, I'm going to pitch the way I pitch, regardless."
The defending World Series champions are sending reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22 ERA with Indians and Phillies) to the mound for Game 1 on Wednesday. Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47) gets the start for Colorado.
"I look at our starting pitching as very good," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I think it's as good as any team in the National League, and I think that our starting pitching will play up big in this series."
Bank Park, and they're facing plenty of hitters who can drive them out. Neither Lee nor Jimenez will be intimidated.
Pitching at Coors Field prepares Jimenez for just about anything, so he shouldn't have trouble blocking it out of his mind.
Both pitchers are quite aware the ball travels well at Citizens
"There are going to be times where you might go out there on fourth down and not convert," Branstetter said. "But that can't be our mentality. That's not Kansas. We play aggressive and we play smart. That's just how we are. I think that gives us a little edge sometimes."
And that usually means the jayhawks rely on their run game, led by the offensive line, to pick up the first down. It's a situation the guys up front welcome.
This season, as is the case with most teams, Kansas has tended to leave its offense on the field in short-yardage situations on fourth down.
"It's kind of a challenge," freshman offensive lineman Tanner Hawkinson said. "You get that extra motivation to dominate the guy across from you to get the extra yard or couple of yards to pick up the first down."
Added Thorson: "It's really a win or lose situation 100 percent of the time. There's no draw there."
Still, the question must be raised: What happens when the offense fails to convert a fourth down, essentially shifting the pressure onto the defense's shoulders?
Jayson Jenks
Members of the defense said the decision to go for it on fourth down is actually a positive sign
Coach Mark Mangino didn't sound fully optimistic yesterday that senior running back Jake Sharp would return for Saturday's game against Iowa State.
MANGINO NOT OPTIMISTIC ON SHARP RETURN
Mangino said Sharp hasn't recovered as quickly as originally thought from an undisclosed injury suffered in the week leading up to Kansas game against Duke on Sept. 12.
"I think we all thought he would get on the practice field today and we would cut him loose but, unfortunately, it has not developed that way," Mangino said. "I think by Thursday's practice, if he can go out and execute everything at full speed, we will play him."
Edited by Betsy Cutcliff
"However, if there is any sign that he is not 100 percent or that he cannot play to the best of his abilities, we will not play him."
After Kansas' first two games, Sharp was leading the Big 12 with 227 rushing yards. But he managed just five carries against Duke.
He never looked to be fully healthy and he didn't play against Southern Miss Sept. 26.
Mangino said that Sharp will be evaluated throughout the week. Sharp's status is still unknown.
you that coaches have faith that if they don't get it, you can stop them anyway. It can bring confidence to both sides of the ball."
"We will consider using him in a limited role but, to be honest, someone would have to convince me that it is in his best interest." Mangino said. "I want it to where he can play the whole game or be a starter and maybe have a series off or take breaks here or there, but I want him to be completely functional."
that reflects the coaching staff's confidence in the unit.
"Going for it on fourth down as an offense can help you a lot and give you confidence that you can do it," senior safety Darrell Stuckey said. "As a defense, it tells
BASEBALL
BASEBALL De La Rosa to miss series against Colorado Rockies
PHILADELPHIA — Sixteen-game winner Jorge De La Rosa will miss Colorado's first-round playoff series against Philadelphia because of an injured left groin
The left-hander left his last start Saturday night after hurting himself. He was scheduled to test his groin in a bullpen session Tuesday, but that was canceled.
"Our medical people had been working on him over the last couple days and his groin is about the same as it was when we had to remove him from the game Saturday night in Los Angeles," Rockies manager, Jim Tracy said.
De La Rosa led the majors with
16 wins after June 1. He lost his first six decisions, and finished 16-9 with a 4.38 ERA.
"I think that's definitely a viable possibility." Tracy said.
If the Rockies beat the defending World Series champion Phillies, De La Rosa could return for the NLCS.
Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12) will pitch Game 1 against the Phillies on Wednesday. Aaron Cook (11-6) is scheduled to start Game 2. Tracy gave Jason Hammel (10-8) the nod for Game 3 over All-Star Jason Marquis (15-13).
"Jason Hammel has stepped up and has pitched extremely well during the course of the second half of the season," Tracy said. "He has been a guy that in big games against ones and twos in other
club's rotations, has not only won games but has put us in a position to win some of these games that he was not involved in the decision."
Marquis will pitch out of the bullpen in the first three games. The right-hander was 4-7 with a 4.56 ERA in the second half after going 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA in the first half.
"I think the first two-thirds of the season were exceptional," Tracy said. "Right now he's not throwing the ball quite in the same manner. And to ignore a guy that has thrown the ball as well as Jason Hammel has thrown it since the All-Star break, I really feel is doing ourselves a disservice."
- Associated Press
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