SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2007 PAGE 1074
TRICKY BUSINESS
Kicking around new ideas
Former starting quarterback Kerry Meier displays his many skills, including punting, passing and receiving. Although Meier lost the starting position this season to sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing, he has found his way to the field in other ways, playing almost any position coach Mark Manqino requests.
KANSAN FILE PHOTOS
Jayhawks continue to find multiple uses for former starting quarterback; Meier lines up as punter
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
Two Saturdays ago, Mark Mangino made a curious decision.
Faced with what seemed like an obvious early-game punting situation — fourth-and-nine at his team's 33-yard line — Mangino didn't send his punter out. Instead he placed two quarterbacks on the field. Sophomore Todd Reeing lined up along the sideline, looking like a miniature wide receiver. Sophomore Kerry Meier stood a few yards behind the center and awaited the snap.
Mangino's unconventional maneuver grabbed the attention of plenty of confused reporters stationed in the Bill Snyder Family Stadium press box. Most importantly, it also raised suspicion on the opposite sideline. Kansas State coach Ron Prince immediately called a timeout.
Ever since it made a tricky debut against Kansas State, the odd formation has become commonplace for Kansas. That's because Meier has added the title of punter to his already extensive résumé. In the last two games, Meier has booted the ball four times and averaged 32.2 yards per punt.
"It ites us an opportunity either to punt or still have offensive personnel to execute an offensive play," Mangino said of the quarterback-as-punter scheme.
Though Kansas has not attempted a fake out of the formation this season, the mere presence of the 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback lined up deep behind the center is enough to set off opposing coaches' mental alarm bells. Meier can run (60 rushing yards in 2007), catch (51 receiving yards), throw (15-of-19, 130 passing yards) and punt (named all-league as a punter at Pittsburg High School).
The concept of Meier punting was not
added to Kansas' repertoire on a whim. Senior punter Kyle Tucker has battled inconsistency all season, the low point coming last weekend against Baylor when he averaged just 33.5 yards per punt and stood on the sideline while Meier booted three of the team's seven punts.
"It's not that we're going to bench Kyle. We're just trying to alleviate some of the pressure because he has been pressured." Mangino said. "In baseball they call it a slump, I guess. He needs to snap out of it because we need him — he's been a good player for us over the years."
No matter the motivation, Meier is content to play any role the coaching staff sees fit. After Reeing took over as the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, Meier was a superb athlete without a home on the football field. Now that he has found temporary residence at a number of positions, Kansas could be all the better for it.
"Kerry's such a good athlete, and he's 100 percent healthy now," offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. "We want to try to utilize him, so we're just trying to find ways for him to help our offense."
— Edited by Elizabeth Cattell
COMMENTARY
I's 2:13 p.m. on a Monday afternoon, and 1,810 people are logged on to the message boards of Phog.net, an affiliate of the Scout.com recruiting Web site. Surf over to Phog.net's main competition, JayhawkSlant.com, a Rivals.com affiliate, and you'll see more than 500 users signed on. On Phog.net's Hoops Talk message board, the topics hit on everything from debates about Cole Aldrich's potential to threads featuring links to Kansas news on other Web sites.
But the foundation of these Web sites and the message-board culture they propagate is recruiting.
Want to know what Marcus and Markieff Morris thought of their visit to Late Night in the Phog on Friday? That's easy. Sign on to Phog.net or JayhawkSlant.com and get up-to-the-minute information on their status. By the way, they didn't commit to Kansas over the weekend, but they left Lawrence impressed
That's not good enough for you? Well, go check the Phog.net message boards and read eyewitness fan reports on the twins' weekend visit to Lawrence.
Or, "So, my brother's friend's sister's cousin saw them on Mass. Street with the coaches on Saturday morning. I tell you what, Self had those boys on the ground laughing. Man, that guy can recruit."
You'll read tidbits like, "Hey, I think one of 'em just cracked a smile during the skits. Dude, we are so in."
Ryan Boatwright, a 14-year-old freshman from the Chicago area, verbally committed to play basketball at USC — last summer. Never mind that Boatwright hadn't even chosen a high school yet. By the time he suits up for a college basketball game in 2011, we could be talking about who the best Republican candidates are to take on the incumbent President Obama in 2012
Think that sounds a little creepy? Check this out.
But the real problem is the damage
Take the case of Wille Warren, Rivals.com lists Warren, a Ft. Worth, Texas, native, as the 12th-ranked high school senior in the country. Warren is a sensational prep talent, but his recruitment has had more twists and turns than an episode of "Days of Our Lives." And every day, recruiting analysts and message-board culture feed the monster; asking questions like, "What's Wille doing now? When will he decide吧? What's his favorite color?"
done to teenage boys. By the time the hype machine chews these kids up and spits them out, every one of them thinks he's the next LeBron James.
Maybe it's not fair to pick on Warren. After all, he's only a high school kid, and he's trying to make the most important decision of his
But it's hard to miss the humor that comes along with recruitments that tend to resemble a season of "The Bachelor," with schools getting eliminated one by one.
The scary part is that recruiting Web sites are not the only players in the game. Mainstream media outlets such as ESPN and Sports Illustrated use up ink and Web site space for recruiting every week, and Yahoo bought Rivals.com last summer for a rumored $100 million.
Bill Self. will you accept this rose?
So what's next? A list of the Top 100 kindergarten basketball players in the nation? Laugh if you want, but you better believe it. It's not that far off.
Edited by Tara Smith
BASKETBALL
The early signing period begins in November, and only two players have verbally committed, junior college forward Mario Little and Bishop Miege High School guard Travis Releford. That's a problem. Kansas badly needs recruits because it could have as many as seven scholarships available a season from now. The Jayhawks lose five seniors and could lose junior guard Brandon Rush and sophomore forward Darrell Arthur to the NBA Draft. Both players are projected as first- round picks.
Recruiting class yet to take shape
"It's always important," said Dave Telep, writer for recruiting service Scout.com, about signing recruits. "But when you have the number of openings Kansas does, it's imperative."
Rivals ranking: Three stars Taylor, a point guard, is not as highly ranked as these other recruits, but he plays high school basketball at St. Anthony in New Jersey, meaning he has learned from coach Bob Hurley. Hurley has a reputation for producing some of toughest and most intelligent players in the country. According to Rivals, Kansas and Virginia Tech are his top choices. He's already visited Tech. Prediction: VIRGINIA TECH
Willie Warren
mdent@kansan.com
Videos at Late Night in the Phog on Friday night highlighted NBA players from Kansas and the tradition that dates back to when real peach baskets sat atop basketball goals. If they made the night seem like a sales pitch to recruits Markieff and Marcus Morris, there's a reason: Kansas could really use both of them
It's not like Kansas coach Bill Self isn't try-ing. He's not allowed to comment on recruiting because of NCAA rules, but several of the players he has offered scholarships to have committed to different schools.
These players have Kansas high on their lists of potential schools. Based on comments from Shay Wildeboro, senior editor for Kansas.rivals.com, and information from Rivals.com, The Kansan has judged each player and predicted where he will go.
J'Mison Morgan
Kansas will badly need help in the paint with the loss of Sasha Kaun and Darnell Jackson and the possible loss of Darrell Arthur after this season. Morgan, who attends the same high school as Arthur did, would be a perfect
Rivals' ranking: Five stars
This Fort Worth, Texas, point guard is ranked No. 12 overall in the class of 2008 and would fill in nicely for the loss of Russell Robinson. But don't get your hopes up fans. He visited Oklahoma last weekend to see the Oklahoma-Missouri football game. Warren is scheduled to visit Kansas on Friday.
Prediction: OKLAHMA
who will commit to KU?
Tyshawn Taylor Rivals ranking: Three star
RIVAS ranking: Four stars The twin power forwarded for Late Night in the Phog and told Jayhawkslant.com the experience was great. They might still be thinking about Villanova because they're from Philadelphia, but the guys will probably end up Jayhawks. Prediction: KANSAS
DeAndre Liggins may have hurt the most. Liggins, Rivals.com's 21st-stank player in the class of 2008, picked Kentucky instead of Kansas during the summer. Shay Wildeboor, senior editor for Kansas.rivals.com, said Liggins was 99 percent committed to Kansas before switching to Kentucky after an unofficial visit. Other top-75 recruits who spurned Self's offer include Romero Osby, Terrance Henry and Brandon Jennines.
Markieff and Marcus Morris
Rivals ranking: Four stars
fit. Unlike Arthur, he'll make his decision early.
**Prediction:** KANSAS
"They spent so much time with Monroe and rolled the dice," Wildeboor said. "I'm surprised he wouldn't come for a visit."
Two other recruits, No. 1 Greg Monroe and No. 22 Tyler Zeller, didn't include Kansas on their final lists when experts thought they were strongly considering the lawhaws.
"Has Kansas lost on key targets?" Wildeboor said. "No question. But they definitely have some talented players in the mix."
included four players ranked in the top 100: Russell Robinson, C.J. Giles, Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun. His second class was even better. He signed McDonald's All-Americans Micah Downs, Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright, then later added Brardon Rush.
KU fans aren't used to this. When Self rolled the dice recruiting in previous years, he rarely came up with snake-eyes. His first class
The past two years have included McDonald's All-Americans Sherron Collins, Darrell Arthur and Cole Aldrich. This year's recruiting class can't compare — yet.
Two could come as a package deal. The Morris twins, who visited for Late Night, are scheduled to visit Villanova this week, but Wildeboor said there was a good chance they would commit to Kansas. Willie Warren and J'Mison Morgan, who are both ranked in Rivals' Top 25, are also strongly considering the Jayhaws.
"Knowing the guys they were recruiting, it was going to take a while for them to go through the process," Telep said. "They're right there with
Morgan and the twins, and those three kids along with Releford would be terrific."
Besides, it's never too late to snag a great recruiting class. In 2004. Downs committed in the spring but was relatively unknown. Chalmers came next. Self's recruiting class was nothing special at the time.
Then, Wright committed in the fall without visiting and Downs' ranking soared after a great summer. All of a sudden, Self had a very good class with Downs, Chalmers and Wright. Rush made it a great class. He joined the team after the start of school — the ultimate late signing.
"It was a situation where KU might've missed early on, but swooped in late and got some guys," Wildeboro said. "This year has the potential to be the same."
Self and the fans will know Kansas' fate soon. The Morris twins are expected to decide in the next two weeks. Morgan will make his choice on his birthday, Nov. 2. Warren is scheduled to visit this weekend.
Edited by Jeff Briscoe