Reesing leaves the field and the limelight

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Tucked away on a circular rack in the Kansas Union hang No. 5 jerseys. They share the space with rarely sold blue and white T-shirts, green shirts that say “Think Kansas, Think Green,” and a blue bathrobe dotted with Jayhawks.

Photo by Weston White

Senior quarterback Todd Reesing screams after his first touchdown of his final season. Reesing had more touchdowns and completed more passes than any Kansas quarterback.

On top of the rack sits a white sign with black letters. Clearance items.

The No. 5 jersey, of course, was popularized and sold because of Todd Reesing, the man who wore it each Saturday. Less than six months ago, the jerseys sold for $60. Now they’re half off.

So it goes at the end of seasons — and the end of careers — when players have no choice but to accept declining value.

Reesing is no different. Suddenly, he’s out of focus. His jersey is now on sale.

For the last three years, Reesing, a senior from Austin, Texas, served as the poster boy for Kansas football.

Read what other Kansas football greats have to say about Reesing.

He appeared on ESPN’s “College Gameday” show in 2007. He appeared on the cover of USA Today’s football section before this season. He was as easily recognized — and perhaps even as popular — as any basketball player on campus.

Now he fills his days lifting weights, stretching, doing anything to help him prepare for a chance at professional football. He has no 6 a.m. meetings to attend anymore, no formal press conferences he must sit through.

Sometimes, Reesing doesn’t know how to occupy his time.

“I’ve loved all the years I played at Kansas,” Reesing said. “But the focus has turned toward the younger guys, and there is a whole new change with the coaching staff. And with everyone talking about them, it’s kind of nice.”

It’s also kind of different.

During his time as the fist-pumping, overtly confident leader of Kansas’ surging football program, everyone wanted a part of Reesing.

National media outlets wanted to write stories about him. Fans wanted to take pictures with him. Children wanted to play like him.

Flash Animation

Todd Reesing timeline

Roll your mouse over the field to see Todd Reesing's achievements. (By Melissa Johnson and David Cawthon)

And local media outlets wanted to find a new angle. When he struggled last season, that was headline-grabbing information, too.

“As much fun as it is playing college football and being in the spotlight, at times it can be taxing,” Reesing said. “There are definitely days you wish you didn’t have to answer any questions or days you wish you didn’t have to go practice.

“It’s nice to be able to take it easy.”

Less than a month after the season ended, Reesing, a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, attended an awards dinner given by the National Football Foundation in New York. The event was emceed by ESPN’s Chris Fowler.

At the end of the dinner, the award finalists — including Colt McCoy and the eventual winner, Tim Tebow — were ushered into a back room and made available to the media.

“This is going to be awesome,” Reesing told Mike Strauss, Kansas associate media relations director, before entering the room. “With all these other guys here, nobody will want to talk to me. That’s great.”

Only one media member — from the Associated Press — spoke with Reesing.

In the following weeks, Reesing will continue preparing in case a professional league — NFL, CFL, UFL — makes an offer. He said that he wanted to continue playing football in any league available and that after that he would go to graduate school.

But after four years, Reesing, an economics and finance major, is more than happy to be sleeping in, with plenty of free time during the day. The attention is now on others.

“For the most part, it wasn’t too bad here in Lawrence,” Reesing said. “Most people just wanted to talk real quick or shake your hand. I never really got mobbed or anything.

“But it will be nice to not have to deal with it as much. It’s definitely nice to be able to stay out of the spotlight for a little bit and let someone else take over.”

— Edited by Katie Blankenau

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