Kale Pick glad he picked Kansas

A pass to Kale Pick falls just out of reach on a fourth-and-17 attempt in the second half of KU's 30-23 loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill.

Mention the name Kerry Meier to the average Kansas University football fan, and the image of No. 10 slipping behind the Missouri defense on a freelance pattern immediately surfaces, replete with snowflakes falling in Arrowhead Stadium and Todd Reesing lobbing him the game-winning touchdown pass.

Mention Kale Pick, and the image of No. 7 all alone near the end zone in DeKalb, Ill., comes to mind. That too was the game’s pivotal play as well as that of the first third of this KU football season, when quarterback Dayne Crist missed Pick for what would have been a 29-yard touchdown against Northern Illinois.

That Pick’s signature play bore no fruit is no fault of his and in a sense captures his college football career. Kansas has gone 11-29 in the four years Pick has played in games after spending his red-shirt season as a quarterback. Again, it’s not his fault. The former quarterback from Dodge City High has had a pretty decent career as a receiver.

He earned the starting job at quarterback as a third-year sophomore, but lost his job in the second half of the opener, never to regain it. The rap on him was that he couldn’t pull the trigger quickly enough, and he who hesitates at quarterback is lost. He became a reserve receiver later that season.

As a junior, Pick ranked second to D.J. Beshears in receptions (34) and receiving yards (437). Despite missing the TCU game with a knee injury, Pick leads KU with 148 receiving yards, edging Daymond Patterson (147), Andrew Turzilli (145) and Tony Pierson (135). Those four combined have not scored a touchdown. Tight ends Jimmay Mundine and Mike Ragone were on the receiving end of Crist’s two touchdown passes.

How did Pick get so wide-open against Northern Illinois anyway?

“We faked left, and the safety had his eyes on me, and I ran up at him pretty hard and just kind of acted like I was going to block him,” Pick said. “He bit on the run hard and went right past me.”

It didn’t work out. Pick will try to find the end zone against Kansas State, the school he always considered KU’s biggest rival, the school that tried to get him to decommit from Kansas after he already had decommitted from Arkansas.

“I was sold on KU, and I didn’t want any part of any other school, so I kind of cut him off early,” Pick said of former K-State coach Ron Prince.

Why Kansas?

“KU was doing well,” he said. “They just won the Orange Bowl. I really liked how things were going and where they were headed.”

Things quickly changed direction at both schools. Pick has played for Mark Mangino, Turner Gill and Charlie Weis. Bill Snyder is back at Kansas State. That’s not what Pick envisioned, but he doesn’t complain.

“I’m glad I chose here,” he said.

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79ictjhawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Is it just me, or does this story end a little too soon. After stating the negative things about the decline in the football program. Shouldn't there be a few words as to why he's glad he chose KU?

actorman 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Good point. But then it seems to be how most of TK's columns end.

I'm often not as critical of him as a lot of others are, but he does seem to have a way of abruptly ending his columns without much of a resolution to them.

ashwingrao 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Agreed... plus the title only relates to the last 5 paras... other paragraphs are blah, blah, blah... Also, it tells why he picked KU, but not why he "still" is glad that he picked KU... Go figure.

NebraskaJayhawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Is there something wrong with honesty and truth? It's just how the story unfolded for him. I'm sure it's a bit bittersweet for him.

KUHawkhead 7 months, 2 weeks ago

He received a much better educatin than he would've down the road. In the end.....that is what is important.

amatxjayhawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm really glad Kale Pick chose KU. He's been a real asset to our football program.

I wish Tom Keegan had chosen the Saint Francis Herald.

sae36 7 months, 2 weeks ago

njjayhawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

The largest drawback of the Ron Prince KSU recruitment pitch to Kale had to be Prince's statement that QBs at KSU were not exempt from being required to shovel a 1000 pounds of fresh manure per week, like all the other KSU students. Why didn't Keegan mention this?

actorman 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Perhaps because he's too busy shoveling his own manure?

AtlJaybird 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Every time I see this picture, with the NIU dorms in the background, I feel like I'm looking at a rec-league game. I know NIU has a decent program, but we lost to a team that had 18,000 fans in a setting that was more like an afternoon in the park than big-time football. Tomorrow's game in Snyder Stadium won't be quite so congenial. In that sense the K-State game will be our first true road test. I hope we're ready.

As for Kale Pick, you really can't say enough about the quality of this kids character and athleticism. He set 12 quarterback records at Dodge City High School, was all-state and all-conference, graduated High School early so he could participate in Spring Ball, patiently waited his turn at QB, got short-changed on his shot at QB, eagerly switched to receiver, worked his butt off, became our most complete and reliable receiver, and has been a model citizen and student in every possible way. I'm glad he picked KU also, as I can't imagine a better ambassador and role model for our University.

jhox 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Ther is a much better written, but similar article in the Star this morning Bout Bradley McDougald being glad he picked KU, and it actually goes into detail.

nuleafjhawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Fellow Jayhawks:

As I type this, it's about 27 1/2 hours before game time. We all know that the KSU trolls will show up on this site again today because........well, because that's what they do, I guess.

Here's my plea - we're all human beings, a lot of us are Kansans, let's not spend all of our precious time fighting and name calling. How about if we think of things that we can be thankful for, for our purple brothers and sisters?

I'll start with a few things - please be creative and feel free to help me out with this.

1) I'm very thankful to the KSU ranchers that sacrifice their family pets to put food on my table. I love pork chops.
2) I'm thankful for the makers of white overalls, so that KSU brides have something appropriate to wear at their weddings.
3) I'm thankful to Bill Snyder for being there to flip the switch when God said " Let there be light ".

Ok folks - make us all proud to be Jayhawks. RCJH

Bodonna 7 months, 2 weeks ago

4) Thankful Snyder will put in his second string quarterback before the end of the first half.

nuleafjhawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

5) Thankful that someone finally played along. Thank you, Bodonna !

okiedave 7 months, 2 weeks ago

nuleafjhawk -- LOL. I respect Snyder and what he has done with the program at KSU, which is why I will be finishing my 2011 taxes during the game -- that way I get all my depressing stuff done at one time -- but ever hopeful for a huge upset and a refund.

phogphan2000 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I know I'm not getting a refund, but I'll be doing the same thing tomorrow. Still looking forward to finally getting both things out of the way though.

kellerman411 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Hahaha!

gchawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Kale, we're glad you "picked" KU too. Time for you, and the rest of the team, to have the game of your lives and kick some Wildcat tail, you can do it!

ahpersecoachingexperience 7 months, 2 weeks ago

KP picked us over Arkansas.

EightST8 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Being a student I can safely say that there isn't a more cocky person on this entire team. KP has done nothing his entire KU career and as a fan and student it's extremely disappointing. Then throwing in the fact that he's the biggest jerk on the entire team when guys who will actually be pros on this team(Hawkinson, Zlatnik, McDougal, Opurum ect.) are much better people. I really can't wait for this practice warrior to graduate to be honest

AtlJaybird 7 months, 2 weeks ago

This is the first I've ever heard a comment about Pick like this. Not disputing your personal experience, but it is difficult to reconcile with what I've seen publicly. I can only go by the way he has competed and the way he has conducted himself in public. From that perspective he has been impressive.

EightST8 7 months, 2 weeks ago

And 510 career receiving yards with 2 tds is pretty pedestrian for a guy getting this type of press

ahpersecoachingexperience 7 months, 2 weeks ago

$100 says KP (eh-hem) "dated" your girl.

EightST8 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Negative sir. Just observations I have made being around him for 4 years

KGphoto 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Uh, no. Kale stood her up. This is a broken-hearted cheerleader. How else does she know every player on the team?

EightST8 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Sheesh, how butt hurt over this are you? I actually live with 3 players and go out with them on a regular basis....besides right now, they aren't allowed. And to answer your question Bourbon is one of the nicest and humble dudes on the team.

ahpersecoachingexperience 7 months, 2 weeks ago

The use of the word "cocky" makes me thing cheerleader...But knowing KP's career stats makes me think it's a dude...Wait...I've got it...EightST8 is a...

Yell Leader

KGphoto 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Do you really know every player on the team? Sounds like "being a student" gives you a lot more access than I had back in the day.

Give me your impressions of a few more, because this is interesting. How about Ben Heeney? He looks kinda cocky to me. Oh, how about Bourbon. Lots of talent, it just hasn't panned out so far. Jerk, or cool?

Oh I could do this for days. Could you just list them out for us cuz I'm dying to know. (Name and #), then (Jerk/Cocky or Nice Guy), then (NFL or No NFL).

Thanks!

kellerman411 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Isiah Barfield was a creep when he was here. Not to mention the single worst corner to ever play in the Big 12. Never seen a kid get beat so many times. The crazy part is that apparently he was incredibly fast. Like 4.3 fast.

jaykan7 7 months, 2 weeks ago

How else do you expect KP to act? His dad is a chiropractor in Dodge City and they live in a huge red brick home just off of the country club in Dodge. KP has probably received everything he ever wanted growing up. His dad played at Iowa St. so he got the physical attributes from there. Dodge is a clicky town and they live on the hill.

NebraskaJayhawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Stalker....

kellerman411 7 months, 2 weeks ago

It's a fact, unfortunately. I also went to school with him and even had 2 classes with him. He can defintely be a jerk but he isn't all the time. He just got a little caught up in being an athlete and all that. He'll straighten up when it all ends.

jhwk1427 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Do you know anyone on this team? They're all the same and of the ones you mentioned Kale is one of the nicer individuals.

Brak 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm totally shocked Keegs didn't go with the 'Kale glad he Picked KU' headline. How can you not love this kid, he came in and worked his butt off to be the successor to Reesing and when that didn't work out he worked his butt off to do whatever he could to help this team. I don't know him personally like Kay-St8 does above but what I do know is how he presented himself on the field of play and he played like a warrior.

burnmu 7 months, 2 weeks ago

He da man!

MartyrMangino 7 months, 2 weeks ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

jaykan7 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I like were you are going with this, but OU didn't really scare him too badly, nor Miami for that matter. I think it would be safe to say, we need to play sound football and not worry about trying to scare one player. I don't even know if Klein can be rattled, from what I have read I think the only thing he fears is God. So watch your mouth please, ha.

springtxhawk 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Really?

How this kind of language not get removed?

HeyMarty, it's Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!

C'mon bro!

We don't need that kind of language. Being a crude idiot doesn't help you tackle.

notjustbread 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Still trying to overcome his last name

MartyrMangino 7 months, 2 weeks ago

All I can say is if we come out with the mentality of jaykan7, springtxhawk, and notjustbread, we're liable to put a Turner Gill score up out there.

jaykan7 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Why because we called you out for your language? I think you can get your point across without using that particular phrase. RCJH

MartyrMangino 7 months, 2 weeks ago

You know who else didn't allow cussing?

dhinkansas 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Roy Williams didn't allow cussing dad gummit.

ralster 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Bill Self can cuss "appropriately", god love him...(I love the 'evolved' hand-covering-redfaced-vocalizations-to-hide-lipreaders)...Me personally, wouldnt have it any other way. Locker-room talk is just that. Man's game: Div1 bball, ftball, NFL, etc...(no girliemen here...they can go to liberty univ., yuk,yuk,yuk...lol)

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Kale Pick glad he picked Kansas

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