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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

On-field success boosts recruiting

High schoolers taking closer looks at undefeated Jayhawks

By Ryan Wood

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Reesing 9th in Heisman watch list

Midway through the season, Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing is favored in race to the Heisman.

Audio clips

2007 KU Football Press Conference Oct. 23

Even after giving an oral commitment to play football at the University of Arkansas, Kale Pick remained captivated with what was brewing in Lawrence.

The standout quarterback at Dodge City High kept his ties to the Razorbacks but made trips to Kansas University on two separate occasions to watch the Jayhawks' new offense at work.

He loved it.

"I thought it was perfect for me," Pick said.

Part of the appeal is what KU's spread attack allows its quarterback to do - in short, make plays. But Pick had heard about what the Jayhawks were moving to even before he committed to Arkansas.

Once he saw it in action - and saw Kansas start 7-0 and charge up the national rankings - he became sold. He soon after changed his mind and gave an oral commitment to KU this week.

"It's nice that the offense they were telling me about works and looks good in games," Pick said. "I can't wait to be a part of it."

KU has nine known pledges for the 2008 class, but Pick is one of the first to commit since the Jayhawks crashed the national spotlight and the Top-25 rankings.

"It helped," Pick said.

And it will continue to. Success attracts successful players, and while the KU coaches aren't going after bigger and badder prospects based on the team's ongoing run, they are noticing a difference in the ones they've pursued all along.

"The kids that we're recruiting now, a lot of them now want this to be a visit," KU coach Mark Mangino said Tuesday. "They decide they want to set a visit with us."

For Pick, it went a step further a step faster.

A 6-foot-2, 200-pound dual-threat QB, Pick liked the coaches at Arkansas but became worried about the speculation that the Razorbacks (4-3) might clean house after this season.

So he's now staying closer to home and considering graduating from high school in December so he can move to Lawrence before spring practices start.

Pick is the second commitment from the state of Kansas to choose KU, joining McPherson tight end Tanner Hawkinson. KU is targeting other local players like Wichita North defensive tackle Darius Parish, who is committed to Nebraska but considering re-opening his recruitment.

"I'm very interested in (KU)," Parish told Rivals.com. "I have been following them, and I know they are undefeated. They have been looking good."

Similar testimonies figure to surface between now and signing day in February, especially if the Jayhawks finish strong to complement the unblemished start.

The future, in many ways, takes a back seat to the present when assessing the positives of KU's national splash.

But benefiting both, like the Jayhawks' 2007 season could do, is like double-dipping in the success.

The Jayhawks plan to capitalize. Pick, of course, is early proof that they already are.

"(Recruits) are really taking an interest in putting us in their top five where maybe we were in the top 10 or 12 (before)," Mangino said. "We're still recruiting the same kids we were in the summer. It's just a matter of the interest level in some of them is rising."

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Comments

kuwells (anonymous) says...

Is it just me, or is PICK a really bad name for a QB???

October 24, 2007 at 8:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

kuwells........You read my mind! Maybe we nickname him "#1 Draft".......#1 Draft Pick.

October 24, 2007 at 8:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

McGuzzo23 (anonymous) says...

I hope the KU coaches are still keeping in Contact with the Five Star Arthur Brown from Wichita. I know he eliminated KU a while back but I would think he might re-consider. I know KU isn't completely proven yet, but a chance to come in and play right off the bat and play for a top 25 team might help persuade him to reconsider. We'll see what happens but I have a feeling we will reel in some big recruits.

October 24, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

DCJayhawk0208 (anonymous) says...

McGuzzo,

I think we ought to be calling almost every skill player Nebraska has received commitments from. Apparently, they have an all-star I-back who just reopened his recruiting.

October 24, 2007 at 8:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

DCJayhawk,

I agree with you. Everyone has to know that Nebraska is about to absolutely clean house in their program. We should grab whoever we can get from them, starting with Parish (another Kansan).

I wrote yesterday that I hope KU is keeping up with Brown, not just so we can get Brown (though that would be huge), but also so that we can send a message to Kansas kids that top in-state prospects are a priority at KU.

There's a couple linemen from small towns around Topeka that people are saying are D1 material. Wouldn't hurt to check those guys out. We need Kansas' best to go along with the out of staters to put together a long term winner.

October 24, 2007 at 9 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

Two things

1.) Reesing or Talib for Heisman? - Answer: Either, the Heisman race is wide open and both are playing great. Name two hotter prospects at their respective positions in the country. Not that dude from Hawaii either, I thought they just played sand soccer in Hawaii.

2.) Who cares what his name is? Answer: Really, Kale Pick seems to be a great prospect. Also, he is from Kansas. What could be better? Having said that, let us give thanks to those idiots in Texas who let go of Todd Reesing. I am sold on Reesing you bet, who isn't? He's tough, fast(just ask Colorado) and he is going to smash A&M, Nebraska and any other team that gets in his way.

Go Hawks !

October 24, 2007 at 9:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GrayHawker (anonymous) says...

That "star" RB Nebraska had just switched to Notre Dame. But all of the out-of-staters are looking around now. NU's class could go in the toilet very fast. The kids from Missouri - QB and LB are likely to switch to MU now.

Brown is headed to ou/usc/uf. His little brother is the bigger loss as he is supposedly going to follow big brother to the same school.

"Draft" Pick has the kind of tools to work in this offense. Just wish he had played against Texas competition.

October 24, 2007 at 9:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

"Just wish he had played against Texas competition."

What the heck is that supposed to mean?? In HS, if you're good, you're good. College coaches can tell who really has the tools to succeed at the next level from ones who are playing against 'inferior' competition. Besides, Pick will have a year or two to refine his skills here at KU before he sees the field.

I'm sick and tired of this love affair with the big bad Texas HS system. Sure, they have more D1 recruits than Kansas does, but the state is also five times as big!! Just because a player doesn't come from a Texas HS doesn't mean he's garbage. There are plenty of fine players from the state of Kansas and plenty of HS competition, Pick will work out fine even though he won't have gone up against the almighty Texas teams in HS.

Sorry, but that comment really pi$$ed me off.

October 24, 2007 at 11:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

I know what you mean, bmc, but you're naive if you think it doesn't make a difference who you play against in HS. A big-class player from KS is realistically only going to play against a couple (or none) good defenses each year, when a big-class player from TX is going to play faster, more talented players all year. Theoretically, decision-making skills are going to be better right off the bat. I think the Reesing/Meier comparison is a fair one. I don't know for sure if there is anything to it, but it does follow logically. Generally, I'd say it's a case by case deal, but I feel there's something to it in the long run.

October 24, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

Kansas does put out some good recruits and we need to get them. The state doesn't have enough talent to supply an entire GOOD team however. We need to keep that Texas line open, even when we start to keep more and more local players.

October 24, 2007 at 11:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Of course I'm not so naive to think that there is an extremely high level of ball played in Texas, and I'll admit I probably was a little irrational in my earlier post, but I take fierce pride in where I come from; probably to a fault. Having been a product of the KS HS system, I am extremely biased toward Kansas kids and have a chip on my shoulder every time people rave about Texas HS ball. Right or wrong, sometimes comments like the one above have a way of lighting a fire under me. Needless to say, I am a HUGE fan of our offensive backfield this year!!

Oh yeah, and in the future I'll try to keep a lid on my ranting for the sake of everyone else out there =)

October 24, 2007 at 12:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Bmich, don't aplogize for your rant. You are right on. The comment, "I just wished he had played against Texas competition" is nuts. The kid can flat out throw the ball and does it accurately and with great touch. Either you have that talent or you don't and where you play high school ball makes no difference.

Hey, the kids at Dodge can catch the ball too.

At any rate, agree with going after the kids that have already verbally committed to NU and to other schools.

I think our coaching staff is A+, turning 2-star and 3-star recruits into 4 and 5-star recruits. Think what they could do with kids that are 4 and 5 star recruits to begin with.
That said, many high school kids are physicially underdeveloped. Thus, 2-star and 3-star recruits can become 5-star recruits with the proper coaching and conditioning.

October 24, 2007 at 12:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jimmy_Dean (Alan Halvorsen) says...

Thats an interesting point you bring up troutsee. There is somekind of X-factor when it comes to Kansas recruits, either Rivals.com/Scout.com just suck at their job in evaluating the talent like the kind that KU brings in. Or KU's staff is just amazing at developing limited talent, in which case like you said troutsee, what will it be like when we do start to get the four and five star athletes?

In regards to Kansas athletes compared to Texas's. I do agree that the kids from Tehas are better prepared for the D-1 level coming out of high school. Kerry Meier and Todd Reesing made this debate popular. However, when I break down the video of Kale Pick he seems to have a lot of similarities with Reeso. He likes to scramble in the pocket to find time, rather than just take off and run over everyone, ala Meier. Pick is a pass first, run second.

October 24, 2007 at 1:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

Now people are finally starting to get what I've been telling you for years. The stars tell you nothing more than whether a guy is an early bloomer or a late bloomer.

People ragged on me a few months ago because I was excited as hell about picking up Justin Springer. He is a two-star prospect that can only be described as a faster and more talented Nick Reid. He was second team all-state in Texas with something like 163 tackles his senior year. But he was inexplicably rated as a two-star so everyone ignored me or ragged on me and continued their "fire Mark Mangino" bs.

anyone here wish the great larry coker was here to enjoy our 7-0 record with us? i sure as hell dont!

Instability (perceived or real) in the coaching staff will result in recruiting being more difficult for the coaches. Mangino showed over the last few years that he could put together a great offense with the right quarterback at the helm, and put together a great defense with old enough players in place. It was only a matter of time before he got both of them put together in the same year. Yet, everyone in the off-season wanted to throw him under the bus for having the gaul to have a young year and only get bowl eligable. People forget that that young year would have resulted in a bowl game in any other year of the Big Twelve conference's history. KU was a young team that was a victim of circumstance last year.

Shame on you KU "fans", you are an integral part of what has been holding back this program for the last several years. Give your coach the support he needs and deserves!

p.s. I'm not the least bit sorry for my rant, I can name more than a few people on this board that I wanted to give a swift kick in the @** this off-season.

October 24, 2007 at 2:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

There are two sides to the argument "I wish he had played Texas ball." The first is that if he had played against that type of competition, we would know more about his D1 readiness. Right now we know that he has the physical skills, but whether he has all of the elements to provide the complete package remains to be seen because the speed of the Kansas game is slower than places like Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, California and others.

I remember when I was in high school and Olathe North won several state titles in a row. One year they played a top team from Arkansas (lost by three touchdowns) and a top team from Missouri (shut out, lost by four touchdowns). That team went on to win the Kansas 6A title. Neither of the teams they lost to won their state title. When they played those other teams they looked slow and confused. Some of their players were able to adapt, but most didn't handle the level of speed thrown at them (I was at those games). When they started playing Kansas teams again they looked poised and dominant. This isn't a knock on Kansas football. It's just a reality that there aren't as many D1 players to evaluate against.

The other side of the argument is the thought process that Kansas kids are inferior. That argument I disagree with. A D1 talent is a D1 talent. The lack of other D1 competition may make the transition more difficult, but if a guy has the physical skills and the mental acumen, he can play D1 ball. It's just that many schools from outside the midwest don't even recruit Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas because it takes too long to figure out if a kid is a legitimate D1 prospect or just feasting on D2 and D3 talent.

October 24, 2007 at 2:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jimmy_Dean (Alan Halvorsen) says...

word

October 24, 2007 at 2:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

Kudos to Mangino..but let us not forget its players that have to execute the plays on the field..Is the really any question anymore how good Todd Reesing is? If you have one, check yourself in cause your not well anymore. We should have played him last year

October 24, 2007 at 2:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

We did play him last year; took off his redshirt so he could go out and help beat Colorado at home, and he saw good time against Iowa State.

October 24, 2007 at 3:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

The only concern I have about Reesing is his tendency to start slowly and miss some wide open receivers early in the game. That may cause some problems against better teams. If he can start playing as well in the first quarter as he does in the second half, we should be in great shape.

October 24, 2007 at 3:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

That is certainly one thing we will have to do against a&m: get off to a fast start. We need to get them down early and force them into more passing type situations. It's hard to fault Reesing for how utterly juiced up he gets, but the only reason I can think of that he overthrows open guys is that he is so full of adrenaline he gets over-excited to see a guy so open. He seems to have a handle on everything else, though, which leads me to believe he will correct this. One thing's for sure, being over-excited is most definitely better than the opposite

October 24, 2007 at 3:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

I'm with you JBurtin. Good job. Our team believes. Our coaches believe. Now we have to get ALL the fans on board.

Actually I thought we would have a great year last year too. Instabilibty at the QB position and 3 new linebackers were too much to overcome. Yet, we were a whisker away from being 10-2.

We have the best coaching staff in the b-12. period!

October 24, 2007 at 3:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

Coaching STAFF..I am glad someone finally used that word. Its a whole staff and a new off. coord. Winning feels good. Go Hawks

October 24, 2007 at 3:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawk_bred20 (anonymous) says...

I'm really excited about the exposure we are getting now that we have had national TV games on for three weeks. I was checking out Jayhawk slant and there was a blurb about Florida's leading rusher having his eye on KU now. I couldn't access the article because I'm a poor college kid. Anyone know anything about this kid and want to share? Or other recruiting news besides Pick?

October 24, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chris1955 (anonymous) says...

I grew up in KC, played HS football there, and have now lived in Houston for 15 years.

HS football IS a reglion in Texas, more than just a made up TV show. It's not uncommon for the big game matchups to have attendence upwards of 10,000 people. Some stadiums have mini-jumbotron replay capability. Many people attend who have no ties what so ever to the HS, they just like to watch HS football in Houston.

I commend KU's recruiting in Texas and hope that they continue to fish down here. I've seen a bunch of talented kids play their HS football here, such as Vince Young, David Boston, Drew Tate, and others. There's a current kid named Sam McGuffie (RB) you should keep your eye on. He originally committed to Michigan, but may change his mind. There a great video of him on Youtube literally hurdling over a tackler as he reached about 3-4 foot on a vertical jump.

There's no reason that KU can't compete like OU in Texas for players, especially after the new complex is completed.

Go Jayhawks! Beat A&M!

October 24, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

I think there is a lot to be said for the maturation process in college. Athletes skills at this level can change dramatically with proper coaching. Mangino and his staff should be commended for their recruiting and developing skills. The process has been slow but the progress is undeniable. They have done a great job of finding diamonds in the ruff.

October 24, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

BTW, this was a post after last years game against CU at a time when most people on this site were calling for Mangino's head. As for those who have finally seen the light and have jumped on the Mangino bandwagon I say, welcome aboard.

You folks at KU are about to find out how unbelievably blessed you are to have Todd Reesing! What you saw on Saturday would have been considered an "ok" game for Reesing here in Texas. You have only seen the beginning. I graduated from UT and I look forward to seeing Reesing carve "KU" on Mack Browns butt! You laugh, I promise it will happen! Play Reesing for the rest of the year and KU will get a bowl game. Start Reesing for his remaining three years and KU will be a top contender in the Big 12 and possibly we Texans will have to admire your "roses". Good luck and this family of Longhorns is rooting for Reesing and the Jayhawks!

October 24, 2007 at 5:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...

KU football get props on NFL network???? wow that is just great!

Good days are coming ahead!

October 24, 2007 at 6:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

You guys want this type of success, on the field AND in recruiting, continue for the next few years, or even decades? Now is our time to turn the tables...Go to College Station this weekend ku fans!!!! And respect the aggies! They are a heckuva team, with a great coaching staff and a fantastic fan base -- Go Jayhawks!

October 24, 2007 at 7:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawkdan42 (anonymous) says...

bmcmich-I'm from Hutch(3 state titles in a row!) I have lived in the Dallas area for 25 years and Kansas H S football doesn't come close to Texas . Southlake is a machine with 10 to 15 D1 prospects every year!

October 24, 2007 at 8:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

I'd say the big difference with Texas schools is that the coaches are actually allowed to recruit high school kids. Families that have potential D-1 kids will actually move close to certain high schools just to have their kids play there. The result is that you have several high school programs in the state where nearly all of the players are D-1 level. Even for the other high schools that don't put as much effort into their football program the kids are growing up in a place where high school football is king and they grow up playing it more than any other sport.

That being said, there are some towns here in Kansas that are just as crazy about football as a Texas town. Kids from towns like Silver Lake and Salina grow up in a very Texaseque atmosphere and despite the competition that they play against some of the kids that come out of these programs have worked every bit as hard to become D-1 guys as the Texas recruits. The result is a handful of guys like Sharp, Blakesley, and Tanner Hawkinson that can compete very well at the D-1 level.

There's no question that there are not enough of these high school kids to run a D-1 program, but when combined with two very high level Juco programs in the state you can have a pretty respectable team built right here on our home turf. Add a few solid kids from states like Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, California, Ohio and Florida and you can have a top ten team like the one we have today.

I actually missed a trivia question the other day on Facebook. I thought we had more kids from Texas than from Kansas. In fact, we have more homegrown kids on this team than we have from any other state, and they are doing quite well for us.

I've been saying it for years, if it can be done at K-State in the middle of nowhere, it can certainly be done here 20 miles away from a major city. K-State's teams in the mid-nineties forced the administration here at KU to realize that there is a way to build a program here in the state, and there is no reason to accept mediocrity any more. Then, they brought in exactly the right guy to get the job done, the recruiting coordinator that was an integral part of making their turnaround possible, Mark Mangino.

K-State pissed off the big dog in the state of Kansas and woke up a monster, now they have to play against it.

October 24, 2007 at 9:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Maybe my comments above were misconstrued a bit; I am certainly not going to try and start a Kansas vs. Texas HS battle, because that's one I know I can't win. I'm sure every one of you 'hawks transplanted in Texas have had the opportunity to witness some absolutely incredible HS football. I myself spent some time in Florida and saw some of the Miami/Ft.Lauderdale area games and I can assure you it is religion there as well. I guess I'm just being a hard-headed Kansan when it comes to the HS football topic, I'm going to fight tooth and nail for respect that I believe Kansas deserves and too often does not receive. Is Kansas HS football on the same level as Texas, California, or Florida? Of course not. But for the size of our state we have a pretty darn loyal following and culture, and in my mind it's worthy of much more respect than it receives. Kansas may be more known for basketball on a national level due to the much-deserved success of the KU teams, but at the HS level football is the real deal across the state as JBurtin poined out.

I am just going to be an unapologetic homer on this topic. Stubborn, but not irrational--I still want the program to bring kids in out of Texas because I believe it has a fantastic HS program, but there is a part of me that beams brighter when I see Kansas kids perform beautifully in Jayhawk blue.

October 24, 2007 at 10:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

summers (anonymous) says...

On the subject of Recruits. There is a running back in Oregon who just passed the 7,000 yard mark and still has two games to play, and then he'll have playoff games. The team he plays for is so dominating at their level that he typically doesn't play past mid 3rd quarter. Only 32 High School players have ever rushed for over 7,000. He is about 5'10" and 185lbs., fast, great at reading his blockers, can stop on a dime and change directions so fast he makes defenders fall over themselves. Fast feet, quick moves and smart (3.7 gpa). Add humble and motivated to the list.

He puts in the extra effort during the off-season and is rumored to put in individual workouts after team practice. Did I mention that the team he plays for is so dominating that he hasn't played in the 4th quarter in all but a handfull of games in the last two years. He is putting up these numbers is about 2 1/2 quarters.

He plays in 4A which is about the same as Kansas 4A, but he is a man among boys when he's on the field. There aren't too many videos of him out there, unfortunately, but last year he had interest from Stanford, Oregon and Notre Dame. He is the kind of kid that will turn out to be a real winner in college. Like Reesing, I think he will be overlooked because of his size, but he has a rock for a body and great determination. His only problem is that he is in Oregon in a mid-sized school.

A lot of people will be sorry they passed on him! I hope someone from the KU coaching staff follows this forum and checks out Cory McCaffrey from Sisters, Oregon. He could be a great addition to our team of "over-achievers"!

October 25, 2007 at 3 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

summers, Corey sounds like an incredible prospect - - certainly deserving of our coaching staff checking him out.

seattle, I remember that post from last year! Thanks for the reminder.

October 25, 2007 at 8:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

Who care where they come from if they can play. Do not forget KU greats John Riggins, Nolan Cromwell and Bobby Douglass were all from Kansas. Also, I am on the Jayhawks bandwagon. Mangino finally put his pride aside, played the right QB ..hired a new Off. Coord. and a great LB coach in Steve Tovar a former Ohio St. All-American

October 25, 2007 at 9:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GrayHawker (anonymous) says...

The advantage a HS QB has coming from Texas versus Kansas is the number of games a season can last, spring practice, summer camps and tournaments, consistent level of high competition week in and week out.

Not saying that Pick can't be a very good QB. Just saying that he would be farther along coming into KU if he was a Texas product.

There is a reason by the vast majority of successful HS QBs in college programs, i.e., starters are from Texas, Florida and the SE in general. They just play a whole lot more football by the time they graduate.

The good news is that Pick won't have to be a starter as a true or redshirt freshman hopefully.

October 25, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

GrayHawker, quick question for you - - did you used to have a KU recruiting website some eight or nine years ago? I seem to recall one which had a name similar to yours in the URL. It was quite detailed and informative, and best of all, free :)

October 25, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

Grayhawker nailed it.

In Texas, there are 11 regular season games, and five more to win state in the big classes. Sixteen total are possible.

In Kansas there are 9 regular season games, four more to win state. Thirteen total are possible.

In Florida, there are 10 regular season games, five more in the playoffs. Fifteen total.

In California, I think you can play up to 16.

That means that a kid that plays varsity as a junior and senior in CA or TX plays at least 22 games, maybe 32 games. A kid from KS plays only 26 games max, and may only play 18. That's a huge difference football development wise.

Unfortunately, the powers that be (KSHSAA) are not very progressive thinking and refuse to relax the rules to allow more games to be played. There are also travel restrictions that prevent teams from travelling further than 500 miles out of state to play an opponent, or have an opponent from more than 500 miles out of state travel here to play. This means that Kansas kids won't get the opportunity to compete against talented kids from Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio, California, Arizona and some parts of Texas because of state rules. It's unfortunate that KSHSAA stunts the growth and development of these student athletes by refusing to allow them to travel unfettered, expand spring and summer workouts to allow coaches to work with their players in the offseason on game skills, and lengthen the schedule to at least ten regular season games. I think these changes would allow KS athletes to develop at the same rate as out of state athletes and would level the playing field when these kids got ready to play at the collegiate level.

As you can probably tell, this is a longstanding issue that I have had with the KSHSAA where the rules restrictions seem counter intuitive to actual development.

October 25, 2007 at 10:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

Riggins, even when complimenting Mangino you manage to sound like a Jerk!

Sure the new offensive coordinator is a good addition, Quartaro was too conservative late in games. But that doesn't explain the excellent 2003 offense that Quartaro put together. Mangino had no reason to doubt his man because the problem was obviously the simple fact that he didn't have the right QB available to him in '04 and '05. You can't eat steak on a macaroni and cheese budget, and you can't recruit studs with no tradition. They just needed time to build confidence in the recruits. Once they had these recruits (Reesing and Meier) and still weren't moving the ball well enough late in games, they found a good replacement for Quartaro.

As for the new linebacker and defensive backs coaches. When has the linebacking corps been a concern here? Then only times they have struggled have been when they were young, that's the same cross that every other team in America has to bare and was never caused by bad coaching. Je'ney Jackson is obviously an awesome addition to the staff as a cornerbacks coach, but we've had good defensive backs here before he showed up as well, so this year's success can't be explained by him alone.

Mangino's job is not to coach every aspect of the game, it's to put the right coaches in place to build the kind of program you want to have. Mangino has done extremely well with this from day one, he just needed time to build that you weren't willing to wait.

So instead of giving underhanded compliments, why don't you "swallow your pride" and have the guts to admit that you were wrong.

Unfortunately, this is something you will never do. You will always be convinced that even if KU does have success, Mangino obviously had nothing to do with it.

Enjoy your crow sandwich.

October 25, 2007 at 6:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

I don't enjoy anything JB except KU wins. If you want to have dinner with Mangino..great for you. Do not foget other things that fell in place..like he finally realized it was time to play Reesing full time. In his first year as a starter he is on the finalist list for the O'Brien. Like I have said before ..KUDOS to Mangino..he made the necessary changes. However, my loyalty is to the Jayhawks..and only the Jayhawks whoever their coach is. You can love Mangino all you want..good for you

October 31, 2007 at 12:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )