THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FOOTBALL
PAGE 12A
Frosh QB's heart treated
Syndrome uncovered in health test
BY RYAN COLIAIANNI
rcolaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Kansas football coach Mark Mangino announced yesterday that freshman quarterback Kerry Meier had been cleared to practice without restrictions beginning on Monday.
The team's medical staff determined Meier has Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a disorder that affects the electrical system of the heart. Mangino said.
Meier went to the hospital Friday for a non-surgical procedure.
"I would be lying if I told you it wasn't an awfully tense day here on Friday," Mangino said. "We are playing our first game the next day and we are all concerned about Kerr."
Meier returned to the hospital Tuesday for another test, but another procedure wasn't necessary. Mangino said.
"Monday he will be back with football, which he loves to do," Mangino said.
The Meiers were grateful for the positive outcome, they said in a statement released after Mangino's announcement.
"As we have learned, both the physical and the mental heart of an athlete is God's most precious gift." the Meiers said.
The syndrome was detected during health tests all first-year
"I would be lying if I told you it wasn't an awfully tense day here on Friday."
Mark Mangino Kansas football coach
players undergo when they enter the football program.
Mangino said Meier hadn't shown any signs of the disease before the tests.
"The doctors were very confident and he was worked on by en excellent staff. He was in very good care, a very good team of doctors," Mangino said.
In the spring of 2004, Mangino implemented a policy requiring all incoming players to receive an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram.
"We are also very appreciative of the efforts by the University of Kansas, Coach Mangino, the athletic training staff, coaches and doctors to insure that our student athletes are screened and tested to discover conditions that may otherwise go undetected," the Meier family said.
Mangino said he required these tests because of the health incidents — some fatal athletes have faced around the country.
SEE HEART ON PAGE 9A
FOOTBALL
Jared Soares/KANSAN
Junior safety Jerome Kemp, left, and senior linebacker Brandon Perkins, right, celebrate a defensive stop against FAU during the second half. The Javahawks are preparing for a home stand this Saturday.
For Kemp, the wait is over
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTWRIST
It's taken three seasons, two positions and more than 30 games, but Jerome Kemp is finally where he wants to be.
The junior safety from Wichita came to Kansas in 2002 as a
running back and took a red-shirt season. For the past two seasons, Kemp has served mainly as a backup safety and has started only one game.
led the team with eight solo tackles, including a couple of bone-crushing hits that came at the line of scrimmage.
Kemp, however, was given the starting nod for the season opener against Florida Atlantic last week and took advantage of this opportunity. He
Both Kansas coach Mark Mangino and Kemp's teammates took notice of Kemp's strong first-game performance.
"It's been a long road to get to where I'm at now," Kemp said. "The path that I have taken has obviously paid off. Starting the very first game and the spot that I'm in is exactly where I want to be."
"Overall, I really liked his effort and intensity." Mangino said. "I like how he played with some fire in him."
MEN'S BASKETBALL
SEE KEMP ON PAGE 10A
Micah Downs, left, drives against Tasmin Mitchell in the first half of the McDonald's All-American game March 30 at Notre Dame.
Scott McClurg/LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
Freshman adjusts to new teammates
Downs shows fellow players quiet nature
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWITTER
Almost everything about Micah Downs is quiet — from the way his eyes hang low when he's introduced to someone for the first time, to the way he talks, just above a whisper.
Downs could easily go unnoticed in a large crowd or in the classroom, but on the hardwood, he is hard to miss.
Put him behind a three-point arc and tell him to shoot a basketball and it's apparent Downs will be one of the jayhawks' best shooters this season. Invite him
"When I'm not working out, I am just kind of lazy," he said. "I like to lay around and watch TV and take a lot of naps."
Downs was sleeping the other night when he heard sounds coming from the living room. Tired as he was, Downs rolled out of bed, a little creeped out by the suspicious clatter coming from his living room at 2 a.m.
to hit the town-on Friday night and he'll probably say he would prefer to stay home and watch "Friday Night Lights."
Next thing he knew, he heard a roar of laughter, a door slam and two sets of footsteps running down the hall. Typical. It was just fellow freshman basketball players Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright playing another one of their practical iokes with Downs as victim.
Downs is the easiest one to pick on, Chalmers and Wright said.
"If you do something to Micah, he just gets mad," Chalmers said. "But if I mess with Julian, I know he is going to try to get me back."
Downs really didn't say much about it the next day. Wright said.
"Probably, just because he is so quiet," Wright said. "Really the only time Micah says anything is when we've messed with him."
His teammates might not be so quick to mess with him on the court. Not only does Downs have an impressive jump shot, but Kansas coaches are impressed with his ability to create his own shot and get his teammates involved with his passing ability.
A McDonald's All-American, Downs averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds during his senior season at Juanita High School in Kirkland, Wash.
INTRAMURALS
SEE ADJUSTS ON PAGE 10A
Team Redell tops Delta Chi One
BY HEATHER RUFFEL
hrrelf@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
A slow offensive start by Delta Chi One was too much for the team to overcome as they fell to Team Redell by a score of 13-7 on Tuesday at Shenk Sports Complex.
Both teams played hard, but in the end, Team Redell had the offense required to come out with the victory. The first half was a defensive battle as both teams were held scoreless. Team Redell's quarterback, Sean Anderson, Overland Park senior, had many long passes to move the ball down the field but could not convert the drives into points. At the end of the first
half, Team Redell drove down the field but was stopped short of scoring when the defense knocked a pass down in the end zone. Team Redell came out strong in the second half. The team had an impressive drive down the field that involved multiple lateral passes. That drive led to a touchdown pass from Anderson to Bronson Eldridge, Kansas City, Kan., junior.
Team Redell was not done scoring. Anderson marched the team down the field and threw a touchdown pass to Joel Dreiling, Overland Park senior. The team converted the extra point when Anderson found Casey Wright, Overland Park senior in the end zone.
Delta Chi One was not about to give up. The team fired back with its own
Delta Chi One thought it had a chance to beat Team Redell in the closing minutes when Charlie Black, Overland Park senior, intercepted a pass from Team Ridell. But before they could even the score, time expired and Team Redell celebrated the victory. After the game, Wright and Team Redell said they were ready to take on the Kansas football team.
scoring drive that included a touchdown pass by quarterback Lance Mall. Clay Center sophomore, to Mike Jevons, Manhattan senior. Mall ran in the extra point to pull within a touchdown.
"Team Redell, Memorial Stadium, be there," Wright said.
— Edited by Erick R. Schmidt
Rvlan Howe/KANSAN
J. D. Bowser, Leawood senior, reaches for a flag from Joel Dreiling, Overland Park senior, during an intramural flag football game Tuesday at Shenk Sports Complex. Dreiling scored a touchdown to help team Nick Redell defeat team Delta Chi One 13-7.
---