6B
SPORTS TUESDAY. MARCH 9. 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
GILL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
himself as a man and as a person"
himself as a man and as a person.
With less than a month between hiring his staff on Jan. 5 and national signing day for recruits on Feb. 3, Gill had little time to sell Kansas football.
But with the recruiting process for the 2011 and 2012 classes well underway, Gill and his staff will soon reveal their ability to persuade players in the competitive world of recruiting.
"Some people talk about it, but he lives it," Mitchell said. "He walks it. Some kids, depending on their upbringing, are going to fall in line right away. And then some kids you have to win over. But I think that he gives us an edge when we go into a prospect's home."
--no preconceived ideas about the newly hired coach.
When Crystal Miller officially
Tortoise Gills
"I didn't really have any questions off the top of my head because he was so new to us." Miller said.
in February, she knew little about the man whose office she was sitting in. She only knew that Gill wanted her son. Darrian, a high school junior from Blue Springs
"I want somebody I can look up to. He leads by example. Everything he says,he does."
respect for Gill and his principles on football and life.
But Miller, a single parent, realized she and Gill shared similar values, such as putting school first and expecting self-accountability. She and her son soon developed an almost glowing
"It's contagious," Miller said. "I see why parents really do love him from the first visit."
"I want somebody that I can look up to," said Dexter McDonald, who signed with Gill's first recruiting class at Kansas. "He leads by exam-
Yet parents don't make commit-
DEXTER MCDONALD 2010 recruit
and Go Daddy commercials.
ments to play football. In fact, Mitchell said many parents won't push their kids into making a decision.
"I think that he gives us an edge when we go into a prospect's home."
ple. Everything he says, he does. That's the type of guy that I want to be when I'm older"
Similar to McDonald, Darrian Miller was heavily recruited by Mitchell. But
Because of this, Miller had
In that case, Gill, or any coach, must not only engage with
parents still obsessed with Earth, Wind and Fire but also with 17- and 18-year-olds who have grown up in the age of Grand Theft Auto
he, too, needed the head coach to seal the deal.
Mo., who verbally committed to Kansas less than a month later, to play football.
REGGIE MITCHELL Football recruiting coordinator
He explained the blueprint of what he was trying to do with the program, and I was eating it all up," Miller said. "It was everything that I wanted."
Miller's mom, Crystal, was also impressed with Gill, but hesitates to explain why exactly.
She stumbles for a moment, begins explaining and then starts laughing through the phone.
Problem is, she can't find the right words.
"And I'm rarely at a loss for words," Miller said. "He is that convincing. He is."
— Edited by Sarah Bluvas
SOCCER
Events infringe on housing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
GENEVA — A U.N. human rights investigator said Monday that numerous people have complained to her of being forced from their homes or priced out of the housing market as a result of large events such as the World Cup.
Raquel Rolnik, an independent investigator appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council, criticized soccer's world governing body, FIFA, for failing to ensure that
cities wanting to stage the world's biggest sporting event explicitly commit to protecting housing rights.
Unlike the International Olympic Committee, FIFA hasn't responded to repeated demands to make housing rights a key part of the bidding process for hosting the event, she told reporters in Geneva.
"FIFA never answered any of our letters, any of our requests to have meetings," she said.
FIFA didn't immediately
respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
In a report to the Geneva-based rights council, Rolkn cited claims that more than 20,000 residents were being moved from a make-shift shift town near Cape Town to impoverished areas at the edge of the city ahead of the June-July World Cup in South Africa.
"The city is not covering up its social realities." aud Pieter Cronje, Cape Town's spokesman.
Cape Town officials denied the claims.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Sophomore infielder Zac Eglie scoops up a ground ball Friday at Hoglund Ballpark. Coaches will have their eyes on younger players today.
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
and getting my arm on time."
Even during his struggles against Arkansas, the six-foot-five Poppe boasted a powerful arm, one that has impressed coach Price since the offseason workouts.
"The ball just sounds different coming out of his hand." Price said.
Physical tools in tow, Poppe said he's excited to get the chance to start, and that this afternoon's contest is the perfect venue to do just that.
"It feels good that they're giving me another shot," Poppe said. "They just want to see that I can do better: locate better, and attack hitters."
Players to Watch - Kansas
— Edited by Kristen Liszewski
SP - freshman Tanner Poppe
Though he's made three appearances for the Jayhawks, this afternoon's contest marks Poppe's first start in crimson and blue. The native of Girard has been lauded for his live arm, but needs to work on his control to be successful, especially as Kansas moves into conference play.
SS - junior Brandon Macias
The junior college transfer has been stout in the middle of Kansas' infield, displaying good range and a quick glove. But Macias has started slow at the plate, currently hitting at a .152 clip. Over the weekend against Iowa though, Macias turned in a number of good at-bats, notching two smash hits and lining into a few tough-luck outs.
Poppe
Macias
FOOTBALL
Kansas offers place to Omaha linebacker
In continuing with a trend of offering recruits scholarships early on in the recruiting process, Rivals.com reported Monday that Kansas has extended an
offer to Cole Fisher, a linebacker from Omaha's Millard North High School.
According to Rivals, former coach Mark Mangino and his staff previously recruited Fisher. Rivals reported that Fisher's only other offer is from Iowa.
"It is still pretty early, but I would say Iowa is ahead just because I have gone over there and met everyone," Fisher told Rivals.
Fisher also told Rivals that he plans to visit Kansas during the Jayhawk's spring game on April 24.
- Javson Jenks
GARDASIL. [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6,11,16,and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant]