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KU quarterback Todd Reesing scrambles away from pressure in the first half of Saturday's game against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.
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Kansas University quarterback Todd Reesing, who was benched in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 42-21 loss to Texas Tech, will start this weekend in the Jayhawks’ road game against Kansas State, KU coach Mark Mangino said Monday.
“Of course (he will),” the coach said during the Big 12 coaches teleconference.
The announcement ended what had been two days of speculation that began when Mangino benched the senior quarterback midway through the fourth quarter against the Red Raiders and didn’t indicate after the game whether Reesing would be under center this week against the Wildcats.
In the team’s past three games, all Kansas losses, Reesing has endured the roughest stretch of his four-year Kansas career, turning the ball over seven times — five of which have resulted in opponent touchdowns. In that period, his production has steadily decreased. He threw for 401 yards against Colorado, 224 against Oklahoma and just 181 against Texas Tech.
Following the Tech loss, Reesing admitted that he’d been playing through a groin injury sustained during the team’s Oct. 17 loss to the Buffaloes, though he refused to blame the injury for his recent performance. Mangino confirmed the groin injury Sunday, but said Reesing had been cleared to play by the team’s medical staff and had told coaches he was fine.
“I don’t see any problems with him about anything,” Mangino said Monday. “I think the least of his worries ought to be coming out of the game. He is going to focus on getting himself better and getting back into sync.”
Mangino, who acknowledged that Kerry Meier is the team’s third-string quarterback and that Kale Pick is the backup, reiterated Monday that the decision to remove Reesing last Saturday wasn’t any more difficult due to the quarterback’s storied Kansas career.
He also said Reesing wasn’t to blame for the all of the offensive issues.
“I think it was the appropriate thing to do,” he said of removing Reesing. “Number one, he wasn’t getting great protection from the offensive line, and I didn’t want him taking any more shots. Number two, things just weren’t in sync for our whole offense. Not just him, but the whole offense. ... We’re not running the ball well, we’re not protecting well, and we’re dropping balls all over the place. We’ve had drops that are uncharacteristic for us, and they’ve been at crucial times, and they’ve hurt us. And that has nothing to do with Todd.”
Meeting with Snyder ‘just another game’ for Mangino: Saturday’s game against the Wildcats will mark the first time in four years that Mangino will coach against former mentor and current Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, but given the number of former colleagues the Kansas coach regularly runs into during the Big 12 season, the novelty of the situation appears to be wearing off.
“I’ve been in this league a long time, so I’ve got friends coaching everywhere,” Mangino said. “Every time you turn around there’s a team we’re playing I got a friend coaching or something to do with. I’ve been in the conference since ’91, when it was the old Big Eight Conference, so every week there’s going to be some kind of sidebar story for me.”
Snyder still not sure what to make of ’09 Wildcats: Although his team is perched, for the moment, atop of the Big 12 North standings, Snyder admitted Monday that he’s still not sure what to make of his team — or its chances of a berth in December’s Big 12 championship game.
“I’m not sure where we are in any reality,” said Snyder, whose team is 4-0 at home this season. “We’re very, very fortunate to have a better record than some others, but it gets tougher as we go, so (a conference championship-game berth) is not in our line of thinking right now. But stranger things have happened.”
Snyder, who returned to the sideline this season after Kansas State suffered through a difficult three-year stretch under then-coach Ron Prince, also spoke of the importance of winning games against teams from the Big 12’s North Division, which includes Saturday’s matchup with the Jayhawks.
“If you win all of those, you’re probably pretty much assured that you’ve got a chance that you’ll play in the championship game,” Snyder said. “We’ve won the ones in the North, but we’ve got the two losses in the South, and the way it’s divided up right now, I’m not sure who all has got how many losses and what the projection might be.”
Spring game highlights April 28, 2012
Charlie Weis Jr. helps lead the KU running backs in drills April 19, 2012
D.J. Beshears makes tough catch on deep pass from Dayne Crist April 19, 2012
Highlights from Charlie Weis press conference April 10, 2012
KU football's first spring practice under Charlie Weis March 28, 2012
Comments
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DSommersby (anonymous) says…
OK fellas...Let's everyone pull together and take control of this season today. Work hard and have great practices every day this week and let's bring it Saturday. It will be a street fight but if we can band together we can make it happen.
Let's go HAWKS!
beenahawk (anonymous) says…
What a difference a day makes! Mangino said "Everyone to be evaluated and has to earn the right to start this coming Saturday." So Reesing gets the nod is 24 hours? Or is that to confuse the Litterbox?
DSommersby (anonymous) says…
Forget the funk...we had some tough games and we can't get those back. We are moving on and focusing on getting better. Get your heads on straight as we can take back control of our season and still accomplish our goals. Everyone pull together now and focus on doing what it takes to get back in the Win column. We can control what is happening still going forward. We have playmakers and a team that has had some tough battle scars. Time to pull it all together and start bringing the fight to the opponent. I know you can do it Jayhawks!
Phoggin_Loud (anonymous) says…
Did I miss the comment where HCMM said Reesing will start?
leikness (anonymous) says…
Lots of distractions this year...not good for getting things turned around. Gotta say i'm pretty worried about this deal is going downhill fast.
Phoggin_Loud (anonymous) says…
"I don't see any problems with him about anything," Mangino said. "I think the least of his worries ought to be coming out of the game. He is going to focus on getting himself better and getting back into sync."
If this is the quote, HCMM seems to be saying that TR needs to focus on getting better, not starting. It doesn't say "Todd is our starting QB".
Is there another quote??
jnewell (Jesse Newell) says…
Phoggin — Mangino was asked directly if Reesing would be the starter. Mangino said, "Of course."
That's not very quotable and also takes some explanation of what he means afterwards. Mangino's quote about Reesing being named the starter was paraphrased instead.
Phoggin_Loud (anonymous) says…
Thanks, Jesse
sdoyel (anonymous) says…
Come on people. Did you honestly think Reesing wouldn't start?
Topcitykid10 (anonymous) says…
This is good that Coach make this today and not have this issue drag on all week. We cant turn our backs on Todd, this guy has done SO much for KU, Coach owes him that. Hoping the trip back home will be a happy one Rock Chalk !!!!
Rivethead (anonymous) says…
Groin injury my ask.
minipman (anonymous) says…
mangino dont be foolish! Start kerry at qb!!.. throw patterson back at reciever to to take kerry's spot.. if ya wanna win...dont start todd!!
irish2255 (anonymous) says…
Reesing should absolutely start this game. If the hawks lose however, this season is officially over and Pick should start the remaining games to get ready for next year.
rockchalk1990 (anonymous) says…
Are people seriously calling for someone else to start at QB? Someone who either hasn't played QB in three years or someone else who has about 10 meaningful snaps in his entire playing career? Get a grip!!! Reesing has had 2 1/2 bad games but he's had like 30 good ones! The offensive line has been awful these last few weeks, and starting Meier or Pick isn't going to fix that.
bennettcl (anonymous) says…
Guys we've lost 3 games of which only one were we picked to win in. Also two of them were on the road. We would have likely lost to Tech and OU no matter who was at QB. Todd is our guy. He'll break the funk. He's 3-0 against the wildcats and I'm sure he wants to make that 4-0. In Todd we trust to bring the season home with at least two more victories and a trip to a nice bowl game and possibly a big 12 north title.
100 (anonymous) says…
We're all rooting for you Todd.
You're one of the greatest we've ever had -- don't worry about the last couple weeks. Just go out there & most importantly, have fun & take charge.
Note to Mangino: Please put "the spread" back into our offense. We have really looked a lot like the boring OU offensive sets from the '50's -- just lined up & ready to predictably run. And if we're not running, our 5'9" quarterback is taking the snap so close to center that he has to take 3 seconds of running backwards before he can even see his open players. And by then he's trapped in a pocket & not able to see anything over 6'5" 300 pounders so he'll throw an interception/ &/ or he'll get sacked. It goes completely against his style -- he must be set free again -- let him run around!
Remember two years ago? That was the spread. Let Todd take that snap deep in the backfield like we did in 2007, get the opposing Defenses nervous, let Todd have his vision back & put the magic back in the Kansas offense.
Also, let's remember -- the key to a successful spread is putting extra receivers on the edges. No matter what the defense does, they will be outnumbered, & "spread", so then, the 5 yard runs become easy when Todd isn't picking apart the D with his quick simple passes (no more button hooks on the sidelines that's an auto pick six for an opposing D!). Only slants & cut routes for this team. It's auto everytime with the spread.
Rock Chalk, Coach Mangino -- thanks again for turning our program from 2-9 disappointing seasons to bowl victories.
jwliddell (anonymous) says…
=))
leikness (anonymous) says…
irish - season over?? I like our chances vs NE at home and Mizzou at Arrowhead better than this weekend.
jwliddell (anonymous) says…
the season is far from over
lighthawk (anonymous) says…
100 well said, hope someone listens.
MM "I don't see any problems with him about anything."
really. turnovers, fumbles, interceptions, poor execution and defenses knowing our plays before we call them, poor W/L record compared to last couple years.
I don't see it in him either, then where are the problems coach or are we on track to your plan?
txrockchalk (anonymous) says…
FYI - the Nebraska game next weekend is a 2:30pm ABC game.
http://www.big12sports.com/SportSelec...
jayjock (anonymous) says…
While I like the idea of Meier under center, TR has won a lot of games and with better play calling, please, Todd can win some more. We can't spare #10 from the recieving corps and should add #1 to the wide outs so that at least one DB has to backpeddle and not smother the under routes. #35 in the backfield can run AND block!.
Beat K-State!
100 (anonymous) says…
Thanks Jwiddel, I agree.
Also I want to do one more post regarding Kansas football today. A few weeks ago, a fellow Jayhawk fan "questioned" something I was doing. I must admit I researched his username & decided without a doubt, he was a KU fan. And so much of what he was saying was right -- I was being obnoxious....
However, that was never the point of any of my posts -- I simply know from past experiences KU staff & players take a moment to look at posts. So for the first five games, I posted what I did, & we went 5-0.
Halfway through the 6th week of preparation, the afformentioned fan called me on being obnoxious. Sure enough, I listened to him because honestly I have enough going on with my job(s) to think the KU staff or players can't understand simplicity.
So I stopped. Sure enough we lost to Colorado...
Sure enough we didn't even show up against Oklahoma...
As sure as my Grandchildren giggle & I recall my Grandma as a kid having a furry upperlip, we simply forgot to "finish" against Texas Tech...
So now we're 5-3...
It's time to go back to the way KU football used to do things...
100 (anonymous) says…
Just beat KSU.
gojbirds (anonymous) says…
I think TR has spent too much time at the bars and has lost a little focus. I would expect that a benching will get the fire going and Reesing will be back in the saddle with full support from the players, coaches and fans.
hawkfan4life (anonymous) says…
Yeah 100!!! If it aint broke, don't fix it! The first five games, even though some of them were ugly we came out victorious. Go back to what was working even if it's ugly! Glad you're back to the old form brother! Somehow, someway, just beat KSU.
tanaumaga (anonymous) says…
Reesing is a great bartender...especially after big losses like o.u....check him out on saturdays after games slinging drinks at a bar near you.
100 (anonymous) says…
Coach Mangino,
If any of what Tanamauga is saying is true, it needs to stop.
That's not the way to win football games.
I presume he's joking or a poser, but now more than ever we've gotta get back to the basics.
Practice, play, win.
Take a look at some gme film too -- KSU will hit harder than any team we've played this year.
We must carry a swagger.
1. Have fun & spread them out.
2. Stay away from the bar -- it's losers gold when you're an athlete.
3. Hit hard & Attack!!!!
HawkfromHays (anonymous) says…
This is a good move. We need to let him play out of his funk. But I wouldn't argue against showing him the hook again if he makes another brutal turnover that gives KSU a TD.
I hate to say it, but if we do anything other than 8-4 this year the season is a disappointment. If we lose this weekend it is an utter failure. It would be nice to see them finally be able to close the deal in a close conference game.
FlaHawk (anonymous) says…
Reesing is not the same person as 2007 and most of 2008. He is still the best chance towin. HCMM need to figure out how to change Reesing to make him more productive. I am afraid that the word is out on Reesing and it will be very difficult to get out of the rut he has been in last 3 games.
Start Reesing and if he remains off, pull him! He deserve the chance and KU needs to give him the chance.
Do you realize that KSU QB Gregory was at USF for three years and rarely played maybe 30-40 snaps. His Dad ws Offensive Coordinator at least one year at USF!
OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…
The continued reference to Todd being part of the bar scene is troubling if it is true.
I mean in my day, several Kansas starters from the football team were in the Wheel every night and although they won a Big Eight title and almost won an Orange Bowl in '69, having lost because of a nitpicking penalty call that Kansas had 12 men on the field on defense.......for four plays, I always wondered what would have happened if they had played it straight and avoided the bar scene. KU could possibly have gone undefeated.
Todd, you've got a chance to save this season. KSU, Missouri and Nebraska are beatable [just don't get hurt down in Austin}. That's an 8-4 record and a decent bowl.
dagger108 (anonymous) says…
Beat the kitties
thut (anonymous) says…
Give Toben the football!!!! Every series on 1st and 2nd down. Throw on third down. Then give Toben the football again.
lighthawk (anonymous) says…
thut, why surprise the other team with running plays, they have worked all week on our passing game.
except the too often shuttle pass
lighthawk (anonymous) says…
This saturday let's remember " Hope is not a strategy"
hit somebody. knock 'em on their arse and if they get up hit 'em again.
nicholasu (anonymous) says…
Reesing should start, he is the one who has gotten us this far, he needs to right the ship and finish the season. What it comes down to is winning 3 of the next 4 games, all Big 12 North opponents. UT on the road is probably not likely going to be a win, but if we get our O rolling again, who knows what can happen. But it starts with a WIN against KSU on Saturday!!
tanaumaga (anonymous) says…
100,
I may be a poser, but I'm definately not joking....you can find him at your local tavern , acting not like a div. 1 standout, but like any other average student who chooses to get sh*t canned on saturday.