UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, September 13, 1996
8B
Jayhawk Football: ON THE CLIPBOARD
Both Ben Rutz and Matt Johner have shown prowess at the Jayhawk offensive helm. But in tomorrow's game against Texas Christian, coach Glen Mason will choose only one, Matt Johner, to fill the starting slot.
COACH'S CALL
Rutz, a 6-0, 190-pound senior from Oklahoma City, started his career in 1992 at Nebraska. But a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee forced him to redshirt his freshman season.
kutz then transferred to a junior college, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla. He led the team to the NJCAA championship game before leaving for Kansas.
He played in four games for the Cornhuskers in 1993 but attempted only two passes.
Now all Rutz can do, as he's done throughout his entire college football career, is wait.
To say Ben Rutz's career has not run smoothly would be an understatement.
But in his first year at Kansas, he played in only six games and attempted 19 passes.
He has played for three teams in five years and has had two surgeries for anterior cruciate ligaments — one on each knee. And he has never started a Division I game.
Rutz may not even get that chance.
He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee midway through spring drills. He was not fully recovered from off-season surgery and lost his starting quarterback job to Matt Johner.
With Johner turning in an excellent performance during the Jayhawks' 35-10 season-opening win against Ball State, Rutz finds himself on the bench for tomorrow's game against TCU.
Rutz said that although he was not 100 percent healed, he was healthy enough to start.
"I don't think there'll be a lot of negative controversy going on." Rutz said. "Matt and I are friends and have gone through this together. We're getting used to this."
Rutz was three for six for 51 yards and had one touchdown in Kansas' win over Ball State.
"I'm still getting myself physically able right now," he said.
"That's strictly up to the coaches," he said. "They'll make the decision, and we'll go from there."
Rutz agreed with that after the Ball State game.
Kansas coach Glen Mason has said all along that there is no quarterback controversy. Rather, there is quarterback competition.
As long as Johner keeps performing well, Rutz knows he'll have to sit.
Johner will start against Texas Christian at 8 p.m. tomorrow in Fort Worth, Texas.
His performance was good enough to warrant another start, Kansas coach Glen Mason said.
Playing time has been a long time coming for Johner.
He came to Kansas in 1933 and was redshirted. In 1994 and 1995, he was the No. 3 quarterback.
"I feel I did well," Johner said after the game. "I did everything the coaches told me to do."
Johner started Kansas' season-opener against Ball State and responded with a 14-of-20, 147-yard, one-touchdown and no-interception game in a 35-10 Jayhawk victory.
And he made the most of it.
Johner was in all 12 games last season but only as a special teams holder. His only previous quarterback action came in 1994, when he played in four games. He was five for nine for 46 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Matt Johnner knew he had the ability. All he needed was a chance.
When Ben Rutz, the preseason No. 1 quarterback, was slow to recover from off-season surgery, Johner finally had the chance he had been waiting three years for.
"I know the offense a lot more," Johner said before the season. "I know I don't have any real playing experience, but as far as being aware of the offense and being able to read defenses, I'm a lot better."
He dislocated his right kneecap the week before the spring game. But Johner said he was ready to go and said he felt fine after the Ball State game.
But Johner used his time on the bench wisely. He learned the Jayhawk offense and learned from those above him, such as former Kansas quarterback Mark Williams.
Johner said that with Rutz injured, he had prepared for this season differently than he normally does.
Johner, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds out of Costa Mesa, Calif., also is coming back from an injury.
"I kind of had it in the back of my mind that I'd be starting," he said. "I kind of practiced that way. That's kind of what you have to do."
Johner said he was ready for tomorrow's game.
"I've got to get ready and prepare for TCU," Johner said. "The coaches will have us well-prepared so we'll be read."
The magic formula: qualities of a good quarterback
LEADERSHIP
For a college quarterback to be successful, he has to have ability and confidence.
He also has to be a leader.
The biggest question surrounding the Jayhawks entering this season was who would lead them at quarterback.
in the spring, the answer seemed clear — it would be Ben Rutz. But an injury opened the door to Matt Johner. The talent level of either player never has been in question. But the ability to lead was.
"Oh yeah, we have a lot of confidence in both of them," senior wide receiver Andre Carter said. "They both can be good leaders. Matt has become more assertive in the huddle as practices have gone. They know they have to if they want to start."
Which is the better leader won't be clear for at least a few more games. But teammates believe that either player could be a good leader.
Senior running back June Henley
echoed Carter's sentiments.
Carter, who caught Johner's only touchdown pass, said Johner
"We have confidence in both guys," he said. "I think they're both about the same. Leadership, ability, all that stuff — they're about the same."
snowed a tremendous amount of
poise on Kansas' scoring drive.
EXPERIENCE
"He knew what he had to do, and he did it," he said. "He didn't seem apprehensive or anything like that. He didn't play like somebody who was in his first game."
"I think those pressure situations are where you see how good a quarterback can be," Johner said. "I think if they can respond well and perform under pressure, then they'll be a good leader."
But just how effective he will be might not be determined for a few games. Or at least until a close game.
Now that Johner appears to have entrenched himself as the starter, it will be up to him to lead the Jayhawks.
Johner was making his first career start for Kansas.
Both Johner and Rutz have the confidence of their teammates. If Johner has an effective performance tomorrow, Rutz could run out of time to display his leadership skills.
"I think the more a quarterback plays and the better he plays, the more a team has confidence in him," he said. "I think all I need is the chance to prove myself."
Ruiz said he believed playing time and leadership went hand-in-hand.
Whether Matt Johner or Ben Rutz starts at quarterback for Kansas this season, both players lack experience.
But the same was said about former Kansas quarterback Mark Williams last season, and all he did was throw for almost 2,000 yards and lead Kansas to an Aloha Bowl victory.
Entering this season, neither player had started a Division I game. Neither had thrown a touchdown pass or played for more than a quarter.
That fact hasn't been lost on Johner.
"Nobody really knew what he was capable of last year, and look what he did when he got the chance," Johner said. "I think it shows what Ben or myself can do if we get the opportunity."
If Jonner has an edge on Rutz, it is his knowledge of the Kansas offensive system.
Johner, a junior, is in his fourth season with the Jayhawks. He red-shirted his freshman year in 1993 and played sparingly in the two years after that.
In Kansas' 35-10 victory against Ball State, Johner showed that he has the potential to put up William-like numbers this season. But his big test will come this weekend against a Texas Christian University team that crushed Okla homa in Norman, Okla.
There, Rutz started nine games, going 116 of 217 for 1,613 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions in leading UNO to the NJCAA championship game.
After redshirting his freshman year at Nebraska in 1992 and playing in only four games in 1993, Rutz transferred to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at Miami, Okla.
Rutz entered last season in quarterback competition with Williams. When Williams was named the starter and continually put out strong efforts, Rutz sat on the bench.
of the store that I'm a lot more mature now," Rutz said. "I know the offense a lot more."
Although Rutz also has had a difficult time gaining game experience, he thinks his increasing knowledge of the offense should help.
He played in just six games and was eight for 19 passing.
Kansas coaches have raved about his ability when he is healthy, but his health has plagued his career.
Although both players lack much playing time, Rutz still is the more experienced of the two. However, that is changing quickly. Another strong performance tomorrow by Johner, and Rutz will find himself back on the bench.
Entering this season, the Jayhawks had a dilemma. Two quarterbacks gave Kansas an equal chance to win.
Kansas coach Glen Mason is fond of saying he picks what players to start based on who he feels gives the Jayhawks the best chance to win for that game.
DAN'S CALL
in spring drills, Ben Rutz was listed No. 1 on the depth chart, but a torn anterior cruciate ligament and his inability to come back at full strength in time for the season-opener forced third-string quarterback Matt Johner into the starting role.
And Johner responded in a big way. Although it was just one game and his first career start, Johner played like a veteran. He played the first half and Kansas' first possession of the second half. He was 14 of 20 for 147 yards, had one touchdown and led three of the five Jayhawk scoring driven.
But barring total ineffectiveness in the next couple of games, Mason
Now Johner gets another start.
How long Mason will stick with him during the game is anyone's guess.
By the time Rutz got into the game, it was a blowout. He did go three for six for 51 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough to surmount Johnner.
should stick with Johner. Not just because he performed well in the Ball State game or in practices. Not because he knows the offensive system, having worked it now for four years. And not necessarily because he's so much better than Rutz, because he isn't.
It's because as much as Mason talks about winning today, it's time to think about tomorrow as far as quarterbacks are concerned
The quarterback door has been a revolving one in the last few years. Making Johner the starter would allow him to develop and learn and win this year so that next year he could become an all-conference-caliber quarterback.
It also would allow for better continuity on the team. It is not a beneficial situation to have the quarterback looking over his shoulder every week, wondering if each mistake is enough to get him yanked.
Johner did everything he was supposed to against Ball State. He hit the open receivers, led the Jayhawks on three of their five scoring drives, and according to his teammates, showed the poise and leadership it takes to be a successful starting quarterback.
If he continues to play like he did against Ball State, Kansas should be just fine the rest of this year ... and next year.