Friday, October 19, 2007

Meier wears many hats, but one jersey, in practice

By Ryan Wood

KU's Kerry Meier out-runs Baylor's Dwain Crawford on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 during the Jayhawks football game at Memorial Stadium.

Photo by John Henry

KU's Kerry Meier out-runs Baylor's Dwain Crawford on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 during the Jayhawks football game at Memorial Stadium.

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Kerry Meier "do-it-all" athlete

A "utility man" usually refers to a baseball player that can fill in at any position. KU football team has its own do-it-all athlete in Kerry Meier.

Jayhawks to face Buffaloes, altitude in Boulder

The KU football team heads to Boulder to play Buffaloes at over 5000 feet above sea level.

Considering over 100 men work at a typical Kansas University football practice, it's really saying something that Kerry Meier still manages to stick out like a ripe tomato among them all.

Literally.

Though the sophomore often strays from his home position of quarterback to work with receivers and even as a punter, Meier keeps the red "don't touch me" jersey on, a color normally reserved for the quarterbacks.

It's one way the KU coaches try to keep their precious backup QB preserved. Otherwise, they're letting him loose this year.

To take advantage of Meier's size, athleticism and ability, the 15th-ranked Jayhawks are using the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Pittsburg native in rare fashion - as the backup quarterback to starter Todd Reesing, the backup punter to Kyle Tucker and the occasional wide receiver.

Such responsibilities - a mile wide and an inch deep - can overwhelm even the brightest of minds, Meier included.

"I have to bring a different mentality to the game," Meier said. "I have to switch thoughts and what I got to do and certain things. But I'm enjoying what I'm doing right now, and I hope to keep on doing it."

There's no reason to think he won't. Meier is the Jayhawks' ultimate utility player, and they're often the most underrated and more valuable members of any team.

Take his bloated line from KU's 58-10 victory over Baylor on Saturday: two receptions for 20 yards; three carries for 11 yards and a touchdown; 4-of-6 passing for 25 yards; and three punts for a 31.3-yard average.

Makes you tired just reading it.

"He's a well-conditioned athlete," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "He has a lot of tools. Kerry likes it. He's enjoying it. He did a little bit of everything Saturday. I think he enjoys it, and he helps us. He makes us better."

Meier never had played receiver before this year, but starting eight games as KU's starting quarterback in 2006 made him knowledgeable in the routes he's now asked to run.

"Each day I'm learning some new things about certain routes and how to get myself open," said Meier, who has five catches for 51 yards and no drops this season. "It's a daily process of learning."

Added Reesing: "He's a big guy and he's athletic, so if you throw it around his area, he's got a chance to get his hands on it. When he's running at you and you're a small (defensive back), you ain't going to get in there and try to pop him like a quarterback, because he doesn't look like a quarterback when he's out in the open field."

As for throwing and punting the ball? Those are two of Meier's old tricks. He's been a quarterback as long as he remembers, and he developed into a pretty good punter in high school after finding his knack for booting the ball while playing in the back yard with his three older brothers growing up.

"As a matter of fact, (assistant) coach (Clint) Bowen recruited me, and he knew that I punted a lot in high school," Meier said. "It was brought up during the recruiting process, and it kind of caught my eye - just having the chance to punt again."

Besides the occasional goofing around after a midweek practice, punting was put aside for a couple of years after Meier enrolled at KU. But when Reesing won the quarterback job in August, imaginations started to churn on what to do with Meier.

Suddenly, plays with both Meier and Reesing on the field started showing up. Then, punting plays with Meier and Reesing out there. Then a straight punt out of the end zone by Meier against Baylor with no apparent option for trickery.

The process continues in finding the right fit for Meier. Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner is in charge of getting Meier a suitable amount of work at all three positions in practice. All the while, Meier keeps the red jersey on because, ultimately, he remains most valuable as Reesing's backup at quarterback.

"Kerry's one of those guys, he just wants to play," Reesing said. "He's a competitor and he's a great athlete. He's going to do whatever he's got to do to help his team win.

"He never has a bad attitude. He's always positive, and he always works hard. He has the ability to make some plays for us. I think his role is going to expand as he continues to make plays.

Comments

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Kerry Meier:
two receptions for 20 yards; three carries for 11 yards and a touchdown; 4-of-6 passing for 25 yards; and three punts for a 31.3-yard average.

WOW!

October 19, 2007 at 7:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Meier is the Bill Pecota of our football team :)

October 19, 2007 at 8:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

And he has good speed too.

October 19, 2007 at 8:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayharchitect (anonymous) says...

I won't be impressed until he scores on a dropkick!

October 19, 2007 at 8:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Well, I'm off to Colorado!! To all those in Denver, I'll hopefully see you at the game. To all those in KC area: eat those Buffalo Burgers!!

Keeping my fingers crossed I stay awake past WaKeeney...

rock chalk!!!!

October 19, 2007 at 9:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

The guy is a heck of an athlete. It's really too bad he didn't make it at QB the way he wanted. He may still get some chances to redeem himself this year, hopefully not because of injury to Todd.

October 19, 2007 at 9:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Gotta love the way Mangino gets his best athletes on the field, even if he has to get creative or change positions to do it.

On another note: My Nebraska buddies have pretty much conceded that KU will knock the snot out of NU when they come to Lawrence. My how times have changed!

October 19, 2007 at 9:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

KU, my guess is many 'Husker fans are looking to next year at this point and figuring out who will be a good replacement for Callahan. Apparently, he made some derisive remarks about Dr. Tom - - which only adds nails to the coffin.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_y...

October 19, 2007 at 9:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

Good link tx. That will be the final nail saying that. That Osborne is like god in Nebraska. Maybe Callahan doesn't want to finish the year, talking that way.

October 19, 2007 at 9:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

In the next few weeks KU will likely face two teams (Nebraska and A&M) who have lame duck coaches. It's important for us to bury these teams early before the coaches sense a chance to enhance their resumes for their next job (i.e. a win over a ranked team).

It's a given that Callahan is going to be bought out now that Pedersen has been excused.

Franchione may be fired because of newslettergate.

It all adds up to teams that may quit on their coaches if faced with a two touchdown hole.

But that is something to think about later because right now the focus is on knocking off the Buffs in their place, something that honestly, we don't do very often. Big game tomorrow. We have the attention of the rest of the nation, especially with USF's loss last night. We need to keep getting it done.

October 19, 2007 at 9:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bdsnook (anonymous) says...

txrockchalk, that's funny that you compare Kerry to Bill Pecota. I was just comparing him to Jose Oquendo (he played for the Cardinals in the 80s and played every single defensive position)!

bmcmich1, if you get tired stop off in Russell and have a chicken fried steak at Meridy's. Or hit their buffet.

October 19, 2007 at 9:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

AzHawk97 (anonymous) says...

tx - nice Pecota reference.

October 19, 2007 at 10:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

I can vouch for fabio and Jimmy_Dean being in route ... I sit here at my desk looking forlornly West ...

We really need to deliver the knock-out blows to Franchione and Callahan ...

BEAK 'EM!

October 19, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

KU football players: 1. enjoy the walk around of folsom 2. get a big nite of sleep. 3. eat a good breakfast tomorrow 4. respect the buffs 5. Get psyched up -- play the best you can and be ready to hit hard -- this cu team is for real! 6. after all is finished on the field, shake their hands.

October 19, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wmenez (anonymous) says...

Great advice, 100. I live in Denver and around here you can tell CU is just aching to knock off an undefeated team, and believe they can handle the 'Hawks. Their coach has done a pretty amazing job considering how Barnett gutted that program; he'll have them plenty dangerous on Saturday, so our boys need to play hard, look sharp and kick some Buffalo boo-tay! Go 'Hawks!!!

October 19, 2007 at 2:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

afilmer (anonymous) says...

side note - i was at the game bill pecota pitched. needless to say we were well behind.

i love the attitude and the flexability of meier, but i will have a major bone to pick with mangino if something happens to him on a post pattern and we are left without a legitimate backup to our boy todd.

October 19, 2007 at 3:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

he doesn't have good speed, he has decent speed. good speed for a qb, ok speed at best for a wr

October 19, 2007 at 3:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

he has a 4.6 40yd dash not quite "good speed"

October 19, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

If you are still in Lawrence, and a fan of KU football, a few extra bucks in your pocket, and have no kids to support, then jump in your CAR and go to Boulder!!!! Support the team!!! The game doesn't kick off for nearly 20 hrs! Go Jayhawks!!!

October 19, 2007 at 7:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Kirk (anonymous) says...

Man, as his quotes confirm, Reesing is a good leader.

October 19, 2007 at 10:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )