4B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2005
FOOTBALL
After heart trouble, Meier keeps ticking
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
rcolaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Freshman quarterback Kerry Meier returned to practice on Monday, but Kansas football coach Mark Mangino had him do conditioning drills before returning to regular practice.
"He is shedding off the rust a little bit," Mangino said. "He is trying to pick up where he left off." Meier was in the hunt for playing time until he learned he had a heart condition, which forced him out of practice for more than a week.
The team's medical staff detected that Meier had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome after he underwent medical testing for new players just before the season opener.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a disorder that affects the heart's electrical system.
Mangino and his staff have a decision to make in the coming weeks — whether to give Meier a redshirt or have him play as a true freshman. No decision has been made yet.
"We'll need to decide what we want to do with him and what he'll be prepared for," Mangino said. "It's a complicated situation to some degree, because we're going to have to make a decision somewhere down the road."
Football notes:
Cornish has more
Junior running back Jon Cornish has racked up 149 yards on 14 carries in the first two games of the season. Cornish said he could show fans even more of his ability.
"I have some moves that you guys haven't seen yet," he said. "Hopefully, I will get to showcase these weekend."
Cornish saw limited action running the football before this season because he was mainly used on special teams. Cornish said he knew he would play well as soon as he got the opportunity to play this season, but he credited his offensive line as well.
"I believe I am a little more shifty than I have been able to showcase," Cornish said. "The line has been opening such large holes that I have been able to just run straight ahead."
Gordon not concerned
"I haven't had my best game yet." Junior cornerback Charles Gordon, pre-season All-American, has yet to record an interception this season. But that doesn't have him worried.
Gordon did not record any of his NCAA-leading seven interceptions last season until the fifth game of last year, when he notched two against Nebraska.
"I haven't had my best game yet," Gordon said. "I am still
believe I am a little more shifty than I have been able to showcase."
Jon Cornish Junior running back
getting back into the swing of things. Every day I have improved." Gordon has been successful returning punts as well.
He averaged more than 11 yards per return and was close to returning one for a touchdown last weekend against Appalachian State.
No backup quarterback
Mangino said after yesterday's practice that he hadn't selected an official backup quarterback for the Louisiana Tech game.
Freshman quarterback Marcus Herford and junior quarterback Adam Barmann would be the likely choices to back up senior quarterback Brian Luke.
"Marcus and Adam both are capable, and we have no hesitation using either one," Mangino said.
Herford took more snaps at quarterback this week than he did in the past but took equal snaps with Barmann, Mangino said.
Edited by Becca Evanhoe
NFL
BY DOUG TUCKER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Johnson responds to charges
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, who turned himself in this week to face an assault charge, said yesterday he is not "a woman-beater."
"This is something I don't want to be named for...because that is not my M.O. That is not how I was raised," Johnson said.
Johnson, who scored two touchdowns against the New York Jets on Sunday and appears to be an emerging star, turned himself in on Monday to face an assault charge in connection with an altercation with his girlfriend in a Kansas City bar.
He issued a brief statement after practice yesterday but declined to take questions.
"But a lot of times you don't get the good out of the bad. You more go for the bad," he said.
A team spokesman said Johnson was upset that one media outlet broadcasted the woman's name as well as Johnson's address and social security number.
Police Department spokesman Darin Snapp said Johnson was cited for domestic assault after the incident.
The woman said she was bruised. Johnson posted bond and was released with a court date set for Sept. 20.
"Let's get the fact clear right now. This police report was not signed by this young lady." Johnson said. "I also praise her for coming back and saying there's a mistake in that report.
Reed Hoffmann/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson rushes for a touchdown against the New York Jets at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday. Johnson turned himself in to face an assault charge after an altercation with his girlfriend at a bar.
Snapp said Johnson became irate after his girlfriend confronted another woman.
The running back grabbed his girlfriend by the shoulders and shoved her to the floor, the police
report said.
On the Kansas City Star. reported on its Web site Tuesday that the woman denied that she was pushed or dragged to the door.
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