Look inside for a comparison of the 2005 soccer records of Big 12 North schools. Also look for an outlook of each school's chances during this year's season. 8A The Falcons were dismantled by a Saints team playing at home for the first time since Hurricane Katrina 8A
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 10A
>>'HORN BORN, 'HAWK BRED
Stand-in quarterback performs adequately
BY TRAVIS ROBINETT
KANSAN COLUMNIST
TROBINETT@KANSAN.COM
I didn't expect Adam Barmann to win Saturday's game for Kansas. And I was right. Barmann did not win that game.
The defense did, by only allowing seven points. But more importantly for Barmann, Kansas football and the fans, he didn't lose it either.
Barmann stepped in as Kansas' starting quarterback, then stepped up his game, silencing the initial goons from the crowd at Memorial Stadium.
He completed 25 of 35 pass attempts for 273 yards. Of his 11 third-down pass attempts, Barmann completed eight for first downs, keeping the defense off the field and rested. His clutch ability to convert on third down also helped Kansas one-up South Florida in the field-position battle.
He never did anything amazing, nothing like the kind of plays that will be expected from freshman Kerry Meier in the future. But Barmann had help. He had a defense that shut down the other team, a running back with a nose for the end zone, wide receivers who were suddenly sure-handed and a coaching staff that knew his limits. Offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro did not ask Barmann to make big plays. Quartaro called a conservative game, which is exactly what he should have done against Toledo. Maybe he read the Kansan last Tuesday.
Still though, Barmann was a far cry from what he was expected to be after his Kansas debut three years ago against Texas A&M. Based on Barmann's four touchdowns in that game, fans thought they had found a four-year starter. After he subsequently struggled as a starting quarterback, that idea was put to an end. But now he has a new role: The serviceable backup. He looked calm, collected and focused, just like a senior should.
However, Barmann still could have lost the game. His best attribute was that he knew his own restrictions as a quarterback. He rarely forced his passes. Instead, he usually opted to throw the ball away to keep possession. That's smart, especially with a defense that refused to let South Florida score.
On Saturday, Barmann looked like he had made a complete turn-around from a year ago, when Jayhawk fans saw him make big mistakes against Florida Atlantic and Kansas State. After those two lame performances, I never wanted to see Barmann on the field again. Now I'm not so worried if Barmann is under center for Kansas.
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAH
No one should take his performance too seriously, however, especially coach Mark Mangino. All Barmann did was step in and perform like a backup should. He won't take Kansas to great places. He already had his chance to do that. Once Kerry Meier is healthy again, Meier should be Kansas' starter
Kansan sportswriter Travis Robinett is an Austin, Texas senior in journalism.
Billboards draw fans into stadium
》 ADMINISTRATION
Edited by Nicole Kelley
The KU Athletics Department has purchased five billboards in the Kansas City area and two outside Lawrence on I-70. The billboards, which ask "Where will you be on gameday?", promote KU football. Here are the locations:
The Athletics Department has purchased several billboards in the Kansas City area.
> 18th Street Expressway, north of 1-35,
west side of the road, facing south.
▸ Southwest Trafficway, north of Broadway, east side of the road, facing south.
1> 70, north of 110th Street, south side of the road, facing east.
1-35, north of Hadley, north side of the road, facing north.
1-35, north of Lamar Ave. west side of the road, facing south.
> Two boards on I-70 just East of Lawrence, one facing each direction.
Source: FU athletics
High-traffic locations along highways prove successful spaces for Kansas football and women's basketball advertisements
BY C.J. MOORE
The KU Athletics Department has a $500,000 advertising budget this year, with $10,000 going toward billboards advertising football and women's basketball.
The hope is to put more fans in the seats of Memorial Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse on game days. Since the department started strategically buying billboards around the state in 2004 to promote the football team and women's basketball team, ticket sales have risen each year in both sports.
The billboards this year ask, "Where will you be on gameday?" And Kansas fans have answered by showing up in record numbers this season with the football team setting a season-ticket sales record.
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said, "There's no question that the major goal is selling tickets."
The strategy works, said Bob Basow, a professor of journalism
who specializes in strategic communications. Basow said it would make no sense for the football team not to use billboard advertising because Kansas did not regularly sell out Memorial Stadium like the basketball team did Allen Fieldhouse.
"It'd be real hard to go without," Basow said. "And you're going for share of mind, not just share of market. You want people thinking about KU football whether or not they're going to be season-ticket holders."
"We look at traffic patterns and we try — within our budget — to get the most favorable locations that we can get," Marchiony said.
Billboard advertising promotes a product and its goal is to be viewed by as many people as possible. Basow said.
KU athletics purchased seven different billboards this season that are in heavy-traffic areas.
The athletics department rented the billboard space from companies that own them. For the five
billboards in the Kansas City area, the department used a Kansas City, Mo., marketing agency: Muller and Co.
In 2005, Kansas used the billboards to promote football in the fall and replaced the football billboards with women's basketball billboards in November.
For the department to pay for the $10,000 spent on billboards, it must sell only 45 season football tickets to the general public, making it well worth it for Kansas.
"The amazing thing about running a sports team is you've got to promote those guys whether they win or lose," Basow said. "You still need the money and the fan support. So you've got to have great-looking billboards talking about supporting those jayhaws."
Kansan staff write: C.J. Moore can be contacted at cjmoore@ kansan.com.
Edited by Nicole Kelley
FOOTBALL
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
Barmann a valuable asset on field and off
Mark Mangino never made a dramatic announcement that Barmann would start at quarterback against South Florida. He didn't have to.
After Adam Barmann practiced with the first-team offense for fourstraight days last week, he probably picked up on the hint.
Barmann made the most of his time in the spotlight, although he realized that it might be limited, especially if Kerry Meier is healthy enough to return this weekend against Nebraska.
Replacing the injured Kerry Meier, Barmann had perhaps the best game of his career, going 25-of-35 passing for a career-best 273 yards.
"When Kerry's healthy, he's our guy." Barmann said. "I just came in and tried to do the best job that I could while he was absent."
It's that attitude that continues to draw Kansas' coach to his backup quarterback. Barmann started two games his freshman year after starter Bill Whittemore was injured. He went 25-of-37 passing for 294 yards and threw four touchdowns in his first career start against Texas A&M.
After that, though, it was down-hill for Barmann. He was 3-5 in his sophomore season, before it was ended by a shoulder injury near the end of the season. Barmann also started two games last season, but was eventually taken off of the
'Hawks on TV
Kansas' game against Texas A&M will kick off at 11 a.m. Oct. 7 and will be televised on Fox Sports Net. The Homecoming game will be Kansas fourth-straight game on TV. The Jayhawks will play the Nejaska Cornhuskers on FSN Saturday and defeated South Florida last weekend on that channel as well. Kansas took on Toledo on FSPN two weeks ago.
It certainly would have been easy for Barmann to whine and mope about a lack of playing time. Instead, he did just the opposite. Mangino said Barmann helped both Luke and Swanson last season while both were shuffled in and out of the starting lineup.
quarterback carousel in favor of Brian Luke and Jason Swanson.
"There's something about that kid I like." Mangino said. "There's just something about him that just doesn't give up. He's got this great outlook on life."
Barmann's positive outlook helped him again in the offseason, when he was passed over for the starting job this season.
Mangino said throughout fall practice Barmann had made significant improvements. He said Barmann had a better grasp of the routes and was more patient in the offense. He also spent time preparing himself, just in case he was needed to play. After Barmann struggled during most of his playing time last season, Mangino said that he probably wasn't ready to be the full-time starter in 2005. Barmann struggled with his accuracy last season, misfiring on numerous passes in the four games he played. His struggles left fans frustrated early in the season.
"He lost some confidence," Mangino said. "Now, he's had a lot of time to work and prepare. He's more mature."
His growth and preparation were evident on Saturday. Barmann's passes were crisp, he made smart decisions with the football and except for a second-quarter fumble. Mangino said his play was nearly perfect.
Barmann's time as starter could end quickly, especially if Meier is healthy. If so, Barmann said he was willing to return to the bench.
"I'm just a piece of the puzzle," he said. "I just tried to do what was asked of me."
Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schnelder can be contacted at rschneler.arakansan.com.
Edited by Aly Berkum
Senior quarterback, Adam Barmann, throws a pass during Saturday's game against South Florida State. Barmann passed for 273 yards and connected with seven different receivers.
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
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