THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007
SPORTS
7B
FOOTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
even if I threw a bad pass he would make a play for me."
Even greater than their chemistry on the field is their bond away from football.
"They are truly each others greatest fans," Free State coach Bob Lisher said. "They never stop encouraging each other. You'd never meet two nicer kids."
Long before they began the process of visiting schools and mulling their choices, the twins knew that wherever they went, they would go together. From little league through high school, on the gridiron or the basketball court, the brothers always stuck together. They knew from day one that college would be no different.
When programs like Arizona State and Nebraska came calling, the brothers set a simple ground rule: "both of us or neither of us."
Eventually they narrowed their search to Kansas, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.
The campus proximity to family and friends was what ultimately sealed the deal and fueled the brothers' decision to become lavwhawks.
"Kansas convinced me that not everyone gets the chance to play
In addition to providing the comforts of home, Kansas will supply the Murphys with plenty of opportunities to shine on the football field. The Kansas coaching staff offered to keep both of the twins on the offensive side of the ball, but position changes may be in order.
Brian will need to visit the weight room and cafeteria to add a few pounds to his 165-pound frame, but he may be one of Kansas' quicker players from day one. He rushed for 1,095 yards and 17 touchdowns in his senior season.
in their hometown" Brian said. "I took that to heart."
Brian may see time on special teams until he adds enough weight to be an effective blocker at running back. Ryan will most likely play wide receiver, although he also has experience as a defensive back.
No matter where they line up,
each of the brothers possesses
Charles Gordon-like athletic ability
that has the potential to light up the
Memorial Stadium scoreboard.
Ryan can cover 40 yards in 4.4 seconds and is rated as the No. 3 football prospect in the state by recruiting Web site Rivals.com. He passed for 1.863 yards and rushed
for 1,084 on the way to 32 total touchdowns.
Lisher described Brian and Ryan as two of the most gifted players to grace the field at Free State.
Fans should not expect to see the two on the field together any time soon. Ryan will probably take a medical redshirt in 2007 because of a recent shoulder injury, while Brian may be forced to redshirt due to depth at the running back position.
Battling injuries and struggling for playing time are just two of the many hurdles the brothers will inevitably face during their college careers. Ryan and Brian can both rest assured that if they trip, they will have someone to help them to their feet.
Both Angus Quigley and Jake Sharp are expected to see significant time in the backfield next season.
Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com.
Edited by James Pinick
COMMENTARY
National rankings not important
Ah, college football signing day. The one day of the year you'll hear more about stars than an average Kansas Cosmosphere employee. As recruiting experts sift through hours of film to rank players, the fact of the matter is that recruiting is an inexact science. While USC's five-star recruits are more likely to have a greater impact than the lajawhacks two-star and three-star prospects, Mark Mangino, since arriving in 2002, has been able to find a few diamonds in the rough every year All rankings are from Rivals.com.
2002
Class rank: 58th-ranked national recruiting class
Highest ranked recruit: Cory Kipp, defensive end, four stars.
Under the radar: Two-star wide receiver Charles Gordon, current Minnesota Vikings defensive back; only other scholarship offers from San Diego State and Colorado State.
Jon Cornish, two star running back. 2006 First team all Big 12. Nick Reid, recruited as a three-star quarterback and eventual Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year at linebacker.
2003
Class rank: 39th-ranked national recruiting class.
Highest ranked recruit: Gabe Toomey, four-star linebacker.
BY KAYVON SARRAF
KANSAN COLUMNIST
KSARRAF@KANAN.COM
Monroe Weekley, four-star defensive end.
Under the radar: Joe Vaughn,
two-star offensive lineman and
first-tier all. Big 12.
2004
Class rank 41th-ranked national recruiting class and shaping up to be Mangino's best vet.
Highest ranked recruits: Seven three-star recruits were in this class. Gary Green, running back; Rodney Harris, defensive back; Todd Hasselhoff, offensive lineback; Marcus Herford, quarterback; James McClinton, defensive tackle; Mike Rivera, linebacker; and Jason Swanson, quarterback.
Under the radar: Aqib Talbari, two-star first team all big 12 defense back, whose other offers came from Baylor, Arizona, Wyoming and Tulsa.
Charlton Keith: two stars, first team all-bay 12 defense end. Anthony Collins: two stars, recruited as a defensive end with offers from Houston and Iowa State. Collins will be playing often s tackle on Sundays in a few
years.
Theo Bunne: two stars and a starting defensive back on the Jayhawks' outstanding 2005 defense.
Dexton Fields: two stars and the team's leading receiver as a sophomore.
2005
Class Rank: 48th-ranked national recruiting class and perhaps Mangino deepest class.
Highest ranked recruit: Rodney Allen, four-star defensive end; Brandon Duncan, four-star linebacker.
Under the radar: Russell Brorsen two-star defensive end with no other major offers.
Highest ranked recruit: Anthony Webb, four-star defensive back.
Under the radar: Most of the true freshmen class received a redshirt, so their impact is not known.
As you wade through all the stars, you'll see several names jump out at you when Mangino announces the incoming class today. But you never know who'll be the next Gordon, Talib or Collins out of the bunch.
2006
Class rank: 38th-ranked national recruiting class
Sarraf is a Lawrence senior in journalism.
Edited by James Pinick
MLB Royals avoid arbitration with reliever Wellemever
MLB
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals signed right-handed pitcher Todd Wellemeyer to a one-year contract Tuesday and avoided salary arbitration.
Kansas City also signed right-handed pitcher Jason Standridge on Tuesday to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training camp.
Wellemeyer, 28, joined the Royals in the middle of last season after the Florida Marlins placed him on waivers. He went 1-2 with a team-leading 3.63 ERA in 28 relief appearances for Kansas City, allowing just 48 hits in 57.0 innings.
His 57 innings from June 9 to the end of the season led all Royals relievers.
Standbridge has played for Tampa Bay, Texas and Cincinnati in his career and split the 2006 season between the Reds and Triple-A Louisville
have been signed.
Associated Press
Wellemeyer's one year,
5635 000 contract means that all arbitration-eligible Royals players
Blues to cut ticket prices next year
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyle Ericson/ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Blues ownership, which alienated fans by raising ticket prices shortly after purchasing the franchise that finished last overall in the NHL, announced Tuesday it will cut rates for next season.
The majority of the seats in the Scotttrade Center will be reduced an average of 8 percent with remaining levels unchanged this season.
"It has become very clear to us that this new pricing structure is the right thing to do," chairman David Checketts said. "We have learned a lot from our first seven months in
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Andrew Roycraft makes a first period save in front of defensmen Bates Battaglia and St. Louis Blues' Lee Tempnak, night, during their hockey game on Tuesday. tickets to 'Blues' games will be less expensive next year.
NHL
Premium season ticket packages include meet-and-greet opportunities with Blues players, coaches and president John Davidson, including chalk talks, team practices and skating parties.
"It has been a goal of ours to reconnect with our fans," Peter McLoughlin, CEO of St. Louis Blues Enterprises, said, "One of the loudest concerns we heard from over 1,300
Tick prices at the club level will include food and beverages. Season tickets for the plaza center or glass seating will include a Blues jersey identical to that worn by the team for next season.
Last month, the team gave away food for a game against the Los Angeles Kings, prompting a near sellout crowd of 17,868. On a day off, the Blues also fanned out to area rinks for an autograph session.
Season ticket prices for 44 games, including three preseason and 41 regular-season games, will range from $120 per game in the front row behind the glass to $7 per game in selected areas in the mezzanine level high end sections.
The team was last in the league in attendance at just over 11,000 in mid-December when Andy Murray replaced Mike Kitchen as coach.
St. Louis."
respondents was about season ticket prices"
campusdoor.com
1. 观察球的表面。
CAMPUSDOOR
GREAT FUTURES START HERE