Friday, October 10, 2008
It seems light years ago by now. There was a time when Kerry Meier was the next big thing for the Jayhawks at quarterback. After all, he did set the freshman record for touchdown passes just two years ago. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds and blazing speed, Meier fit the mold of a Big 12 gunslinger.
Then, in the midst of a lackluster performance from veteran quarterback Adam Barrmann at home against Colorado in 2006, coach Mark Mangino had to make an executive decision. With Meier injured, Mangino had no choice but to send a little kid from Texas named Todd Reesing onto the field to replace Barrmann. And guess what? It worked.
The kid, then a little-known redshirt freshman, would probably have not played if not for Meier’s injury. With a 9-0 deficit, Reesing rallied the team to a 20-15 victory against the Buffaloes. He made brilliant passes, escaped defenders and ran all over a struggling Colorado team. The next week, Meier would return to duty as the starting quarterback and we would see very little of the mysterious comeback kid.
When Mangino chose Reesing, it looked as if Meier would never see the playing field again. For Mangino, there would no longer be a debate on whether Meier could win back the starting job. It’s the kind of move that sends some players packing their bags and transferring to another school.
Outside the program, it seemed as if Mangino was taking crazy pills by choosing Reesing.
The rest is history. Reesing has gone on to rewrite passing records at Kansas, while Meier has done what he can for the team. Receiving, punting, passing, you name it, Meier has done it all. Reesing established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation last season, while Meier landed himself on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a wide receiver.
This season, however, Meier has arrived as Reesing’s No. 1 target at wide receiver. At the moment, Meier’s 44 receptions and 514 yards put him on pace to break both single season records at Kansas.
Mangino has said before that he knew Meier was a talented guy, but he has also said he couldn’t predict his success. As it stands, Meier still spends half of his practice time as Reesing’s backup.
With his size and speed combined with the surest hands on the team, you have to think NFL scouts are watching him. Not a bad gig for a guy that lost his job as a starting quarterback.
— — Edited by Arthur Hur
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