It’s amusing to watch the annual media frenzies about newcomers on an athletic roster. Touted and statistics-laden as they may be, they haven’t yet done anything of note and have a lot of dues to pay before they do. Yet writers and throats tend to go nuts trying to depict them as messiahs, while people who have set the stage so the new blood can ooze may get brushed aside.
Some guys you watch in a few practices and know they will fit in quite positively. Footballer John Hadl was easy to predict as a winner, same with gridder Gale Sayers and basketball icon Jo Jo White. Clyde Lovellette and Wilt Chamberlain weren’t exactly sleepers.
One of the rookie darlings this fall at Kansas is Jocques Crawford, a speedy, powerful 6-foot-1, 230-pound running back from the junior college ranks. He brings a nifty resume. It is understandable why the players and coaches are optimistic about what he might do. But as of now he ain’t done it.
Many expect Crawford to give KU the might and muscle in crucial situations that Brandon McAnderson provided the 12-1 Orange Bowl champions. This steady, heady Lawrence kid should be on some professional roster. Crawford may pick up where McAnderson left off; marvelous! But he has much to learn about blocking and receiving as well as running. His ego could suffer a few bruises first.
Meanwhile, there’s a 5-10, 185-pound Jayhawk junior out of Salina who isn’t exactly an anonymous Willie-off-the-pickle boat, because he has done it. Jake Sharp, with his speed, toughness and agility, rushed for more than 800 yards and seven touchdowns last fall as a counterpoint to McAnderson. He caught 21 passes for two TDs. He should be even more effective in ’08 as offensive coordinator Ed Warinner finds new ways to exploit his speed and experience.
Nothing against Crawford. He may prove to be the second coming of Jim Brown, Marion Motley, John Riggins or Larry Csonka; right now he needs to show he’ll be as contributive as McAnderson.
Pardon me for being excited about what Sharp can add to the KU offense now that he’s more in the forefront with the likes of Todd Reesing, Kerry Meier and their compadres. The kid was fabulous in high school, last year seemed en route to becoming that same kind of determinant at Kansas, and with a break or two, he could easily be the No. 1 back, with Angus Quigley and, hopefully, Crawford as major factors for another banner KU season.
With exceptions, I tend to be dubious about projections of immediate stardom for most jocks in any sport. Brandon Rush was supposed to be a be-all, end-all for KU basketball, but it took three seasons for him to do what he basically was hired for. Darrell Arthur was due to be something like a LeBron James but never came close. Meanwhile, the Russell Robinsons, Sasha Kauns and Darnell Jacksons provided a platform for success until “the stars” delivered. Veterans are also vital.
Football coach Mark Mangino is a master of consistency in making people earn their spurs before he’s sold. He knows what Sharp can do; he quickly admits guys like Crawford have a lot of work to do, miles to travel.
So let’s honor the veterans first, then root for the newcomers realizing that some of them might not be nearly the phenoms that hypesters say they are.
