In three years on Kansas University’s football team, quarterback Brian Luke never has had very good timing.
When Luke saw his first action — replacing injured Bill Whittemore — as a red-shirt freshman in 2002, he completed only 14 of 47 passes, threw three interceptions and looked lost.
Then, as a sophomore, it took just one afternoon to begin the redemption process.
With Whittemore already injured, freshman Adam Barmann went down in the first half Nov. 15 at Oklahoma State. Even though the Jayhawks lost 44-21 that day, Luke impressed by completing 22 of 38 passes for 193 yards and two scores.
“It was just a reassurance that, ‘Hey, you can do this,'” Luke said. “Sure, it was toward the end of the season, but it was motivation for the offseason to work harder, get better, and do all the right things.”
During the summer, Luke did enough of those right things for coach Mark Mangino to promote him to No. 2 on the depth chart, leapfrogging junior-college transfer Jason Swanson.
Luke’s breakout game against the Cowboys was a long time coming. Expectations were high after Luke was one of the top signees in former coach Terry Allen’s final recruiting class.
After breaking five school records at Las Lomas High in Walnut Creek, Calif., Luke’s long-awaited signs of life are much welcomed, even if they are a little late.
“I think Brian’s a testament to the overall development of kids in our program through the offseason,” offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro said. “When we first got here, his mobility and his overall speed were really not what you’d like at this level. He’s really changed his body in a very positive way. He could always throw the ball.”
Improved mobility and footwork are the obvious reasons why Luke has reached the latest stage in his development.
“In our eyes, (the Oklahoma State game) showed the things he could do, and, hopefully, there’s some confidence there that will carry in,” Quartaro said. “Right now, he’s probably the master of the offense in terms of quarterback knowledge because he’s been in it the longest. He’s a bright kid, and he’s using that to his advantage.”
Luke’s knowledge of the playbook and improved athletic ability, coupled with the fact that injuries have forced Mangino to use five different starting quarterbacks in his first two seasons, make it likely Luke will see playing time this fall.
Perhaps the biggest difference is his attitude. Luke thinks now is the time to show what he wanted to show a long time ago.
“I’ve always wanted to prove to people that I can play, especially at this level in the Big 12,” Luke said. “Now, I’ve just got to make the best of it.”
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