MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
FOOTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
to come back and have an opportunity to at least start out as a running back. I told him I would give him that opportunity"
So far this spring, Quigley has noticed a change in atmosphere and coaching style. He said there's more encouragement floating around these days, and he describes practices as fun.
Throughout spring drills, when the topic of Mangino and his staff arises, Gill deflects the questions simply: Kansas football is moving forward.
Quigley shared a similar sentiment Friday — "We took off the rearview mirror" — but he couldn't let the topic float away. Not after everything he has experienced.
"It's just different." Quigley said. "You always want to play out of respect for a man, not fear." From the start, Quigley's career has been unconventional.
He missed his first two seasons with season-ending injuries. In 2007, he
carried the ball just 17 times as a reserve.
Then, in 2008, Quigley led the Jayhawks with 5.2 yards per carry. During the first four games, he was arguably Kansas' most consistent running back on a team that struggled to run the ball.
But Quigley never cracked the rotation that year and, before last season, former coach Mark Mangino moved him to linebacker. Mangino said he didn't see a spot for Quigley at running back.
"If there was a doghouse, I was most definitely in it," Quigley said. "I asked about a doghouse one time, and he said there was no doghouse. We won't even talk about that. There had to be a doghouse."
rusher last season was 6-foot 1 freshman Obopurum.
Quigley said that Mangino told him "there was really no place for a big running back" in Kansas' offense. The Jayhawks' leading
"As we all know," Quigley said, "that's not true because Toben is bigger than I am."
In turn, Quigley moved to linebacker but never settled in. He played sparingly and recorded just three tackles.
Yet now he's returned to running back, competing for carries against Opurum and a handful of less-experienced players in Gill's more run-oriented offense.
Quigley said Kansas has been working heavily this spring on the I-formation — two running backs with the quarterback under center, not in shotgun. Kansas rarely used this formation in the
"You always want to play out of respect for a man, not fear"
recent past.
ANGUS QUIGLEY Junior running back
"Downhill running," Quigley said. "That's what I like to do. In high school, I never really ran shotgun. We're back to under center. I'm loving it." Quigley, who is tall for
a running back at 6-foot-1, still has aspects he needs to improve upon.
Under Mangino, Quigley repeatedly heard the words "pad level," a reference to his upright running style instead of keeping his shoulder pads low to the ground. Under Gill, the phrase hasn't gone away.
"Initially, when the spring started, his pad level was a little high," running back coach Reggie Mitchell said. "Now he's starting to get that down and get a feel for being a running back."
At the end of practice Friday, Quigley stood outside Memorial Stadium and interacted with members of the media. He answered each question thoughtfully and once again held little back.
Last season, this scene appeared highly unlikely. But
GILL: SECONDARY POSSESSES DEPTH
At times, Kansas' secondary seemed to be playing a game of musical chairs last season. The Jayhawks struggled and, because of that, cornerbacks and safeties rotated in and out of the lineup.
But so far this spring, coach Turner Gill views Kansas' secondary as one of the strong points of the defense.
"If I had to say today, I'd say the secondary," Gill said. "I think that group there, there's quite a few guys we think have some skill, have some talent with both corners and safeties."
Kansas returns junior cornerback Chris Harris, a veteran player who started opposite Aqib Talib in the 2008 Orange Bowl. Freshman Lubbock Smith and junior Phillip Strozier also received playing time last season
Last week, Gill singled out the performance and physical play of junior safety Olaitan Oguntodu this spring.
Gill said he hadn't established a set depth chart within the secondary yet.
"As a group." Gill said, "I think there are a lot of quality players there."
SPRINGER DEVELOPS INTO LEADER
According to Gill, Junior linebacker Justin Springer has developed into one of the defense's biggest leaders so far this spring.
Springer recorded 25 tackles and played in all 12 games last season.
"Springer has been a guy that has jumped out," Gill said. "Not from a verbal standpoint, but a little bit of his body language and his productivity in practice."
ETC.
For the second time this spring, Gill praised the play of sophomore linebacker Steven Johnson. Johnson recorded nine tackles as a backup linebacker and special teams player last season.
On Friday, Gill was asked if his team had Big 12-caliber athletes.
"I think that we have potential to have a competitive team throughout the Big 12," Gill said. "But again, it'd be great to play a whole football season and then see it."
Quigley, comfortable at running back again, is noticing recently that times do change.
- Jayson Jenks
"Things are looking up around here," Quigley said.
Edited by Drev Anderson
SOFTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
the first four innings Baylor only managed one run on six hits and stranded nine base runners. In the bottom of the sixth Baylor finally broke the game wide open scoring seven runs on nine hits to run-rule Kansas 8-0. Baylor also outfitted Kansas 15 to two in the game.
The second game was a completely different story. Kansas took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but Baylor quickly tied it up in the bottom of the second. A throwing error by Baylor in the bottom of the fifth allowed for Jones to score a run, putting Kansas up 2-1. Kansas wouldn't need to score again as it squeaked by in its first conference victory of the season.
Jones said the team didn't want to dwell on the first loss in the series and wanted to make a statement to Baylor in the second game.
"I feel like Baylor wasn't expecting to bounce back like that," Jones said. "We came out and wanted to win more than them."
Kansas will play again Wednesday against Nebraska at Arrocha Ballpark.
— Edited by Kristen Liszewski
SERIES RESULTS
Game 1:
Baylor 8, Kansas 0
Game 2:
Kansas 2, Baylor 1
UP NEXT
Nebraska vs. Kansas
WHEN: 5 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Arrocha Ballpark,
Lawrence
MLB
Pedroia collects four hits in win against KC
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dustin Pedroia collected four hits, including a home run, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-6 on Sunday.
Adrian Beltre had three hits and three RBIs for Boston, but was part of a ninth-inning collision that resulted in Red Sox left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury being helped off the field.
Jose Guillen homered twice and drove in four runs for the Ravals.
Pedroia connected in the fourth against right hander Gil Meche, who came off the disabled list after
being hampered by a stiff shoulder at the end of spring training. It was the second baseman's 13th career game with at least four hits.
Guillen led off the second with a drive to center and hit a three-run shot off Ramon Ramirez in the eighth to get Kansas City within two. Ramirez failed to retire any of the three hitters he faced.
Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his second save in two opportunities.
Boston sent eight men to the plate during its four-run first. Victor Martinez singled in Ellsbury and scored on Beltré's base hit.
Clay Buchholz (1-0) worked five innings for the Red Sox, yielding three runs, and seven hits.
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