+
FEATURE
5
READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL
Senior lineman Brad Thorson (76) blocks junior defensive end Travis Stephens during a play. The Blue Team won 14-10.
The Jayhawks' first game is not for another four months, but the spring game helped get fans excited about the prospects for next year's team
Weston White/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
By Max Rothman mrothman@kansan.com
He may have been competing against his own teammates, but freshman Kale Pick displayed the talent and intangibles of a capable starting quarterback.
Pick completed 10 of 14 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns and led the Blue Team to a 14-10 victory against the White Team in the annual intrasquad spring game Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
"I can't be satisfied yet," Pick said. "I want to keep working hard and have a big summer while working with my receivers. Every day I want to get on the same page and get this offense going."
Coach Turner Gill said that the race has been whittled down to two: Pick and freshman Jordan Webb, who completed 5 of 9 passes for 42 yards and threw one touchdown and one interception.
Since Todd Reesing's departure, the battle for the starting quarterback spot has become one of Kansas greatest uncertainties.
While Saturday's game cannot project who will be the best choice to open the season, it hints at who may have the upper edge heading into the season's preparation.
"I think it breeds competition," Webb said. "Throughout the summer, throughout fall, until we get to that first game, I think the competition is really going to make the starter a lot better."
Gill said that Webb has the stronger arm, but Pick has more experience and perhaps more accuracy
with his throws.
"They both did a good job of keeping their composure in the huddle," Gill said. "We knew they weren't going to be perfect today, but I liked how they both did a good job of trying to make some plays. The one thing we need to work on is getting rid of the football sooner."
Sophomore receiver Chase Knighton gets flipped over on a tackle after catching a pass. Knighton gained nine yards on threeceptions.
With 3:29 left in the game and the White team leading 10-7, Pick heaved a pass to freshman wide receiver Christian Matthews by the right pylon, who then leaped, went around his defender's body and snagged the game-winning 37-yard touchdown pass
It was Pick's final stamp on a public bid for the starting job. With precise passing, scrambling creativity (as displayed in brief stints last season) and
budding leadership that Gill demands, he may have earned an early leg up on Webb.
Outlook for next season
Kansas football has undergone a considerable makeover since losing Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, Kerry Meier and Darrell Stuckey, amongst others. It also replaced Mark Mangino with new coach Turner Gill.
But the regular season schedule is without Big 12 Conference powers Oklahoma and Texas this year, leaving some room for error in the first year of the Gill era.
Projected regular season record: 7-5.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE APRIL 28,2010