Game day

method behind the man

Kansas Vs. north daKota state saturday, sePtember 4, 2010

Colleagues past and present provide a look at his morals and coaching style

the pick of the team

Kale Pick takes on the pressure of playing quarterback

Volume 2 Issue 1

Presented by the unIVersIty daIly Kansan

sePtember 3, 2010

2 table of contents

ThE WAvE vol. 2, iSS. 1

SEPTEMBEr 3, 2010

FroM ThE EDiTor

With all of the upheaval within KU sports in the past year, its easy to lose sight of the fun in college sports. After reading Kathleen Giers profile of new coach Turner Gill, Im looking forward to a fresh start in Memorial Stadium. Gill seems an apt coach and certainly a departure from what fans as well as players have been accustomed to in the past. Its a season of fresh beginnings all around for the team with Kale Pick stepping out of the confused contention for ADAM voSSEN the quarterback posiavossen@kansan.com tion. Hes choosing to acknowledge the scrutiny coming his way instead of ignore it read more about his hopes for the team in Kory Carpenters interview with Pick. What it comes down to is crowding into Memorial Stadium, shaking your keys at the opposing team, and watching the Jayhawks play with the Campanile towering, well, toward the blue. See you at the stadium.

4
The Wave staff
Editor-in-chief Managing editor The Wave editor Sports editors Designer

new coach, new approach

Turner Gill brings fresh style of coaching to the Jayhawks, according to former staff and players

3 Qb is ready to play

Kale Pick takes the skepticism toward the team in stride and is eager for the team to prove its work ethic on the field

About The Wave

Photo editor Business manager Sales manager News adviser Sales and advertising adviser Ryan Waggoner Joe Garvey Amy OBrien Malcolm Gibson Jon Schlitt The Wave is a weekly sports magazine produced by The University Daily Kansan. Copies come out with The Kansan every home game week

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The University Daily Kansan 2000 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Drive Lawrence, Kansas 66044 (785) 864-4810

Alex Garrison Nick Gerik Adam Vossen Corey Thibodeaux, Tim Dwyer Dan Rezaiekhaligh

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feature 3

READY fOr PRESSURE Odds dont worry new Kansas QB Kale Pick
By Kory Carpenter
kcarpenter@kansan.com Theres a lot of scrutiny coming at Kale Pick this fall. Turner Gill and offensive coordinator Chuck Long are former standout collegiate quarterbacks, the memory of Todd Reesing is still fresh and Pick has been the official starter for barely more than two weeks. Rather than crumble under the pressure, Kale Pick is utilizing it. During breaks from conditioning, Pick sought advice from Reesing. Pick says that any quarterback would take the career Reesing had. Reesing has seen Pick in practices and scrimmages and his main advice to Pick was to have fun with the game. He just told me to go out and do what I do, Pick says. What Pick can do is bring another dimension to the quarterback position. Along with the strong arm, he has shown the ability to scramble out of the pocket when a play is blown up. In seven games last season, Pick rushed for 167 yards on only 14 attempts. Whether that was a freshman quarterback not trusting his arm yet and simply relying on instincts or a sign of what Jayhawk fans will see throughout the fall remains to be seen. When Pick and the rest of the offense take the field Saturday, hell be without three offensive anchors of the past three seasons. Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, both NFL draft picks, accounted for 162 catches and 13 touchdowns last season. Throw in Jake Sharps graduation and Toben Opurums switch to linebacker, and the offense is a mere shell of 2009. Despite this, Pick is optimistic about his receiving corps even though expectations are low. He says that they could have a great year as a unit. We have a lot of talent there and they have a great work ethic, he says. The wide receiver duo of Johnathan Wilson and Bradley McDougald are the only returning pass catchers with more than 30 catches, and they will have to step up this season for Pick to be successful. Pick does believe the Jayhawks have the talent to compete in the Big 12 North. We want to show coach Gill that we mean business, Pick says. This isnt just a rebuilding year, were going out to win ballgames. Most of the critics have the Jayhawks finishing between third and fifth in the Big 12 North. The team will be tested with tough early games against #16 Georgia Tech in week two and traveling to Hattiesburg, Miss., to play Southern Miss in week three. Instead of being intimidated by the quarterback careers of Gill and Long, Pick has used the two men as sources of inspiration in the short time they have been with the team. Theyve really stressed the importance of the work ethic theyve had to be successful, Pick says. Kickoff for Saturdays game is set for 6 p.m.

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4 gamE Day
at a glancE

gamE Day 5

Kansas faces an ideal opponent for a week when they will debut a starting quarterback, a freshman running back and an entirely new coaching staff. With the absence of Texas and Oklahoma from the Jayhawks schedule, a bowl game is a realistic expectation for new coach Turner Gills first season. And with the looming Big 12 realignment, the Jayhawks will not have that luxury for the foreseeable future.

kansas (5-7 in 2009)

oFFEnsE
There are big cleats to fill all over the offense with the departure of Jayhawk record-breakers Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier. Sophomore quarterback Kale Pick seized his position after a competition with teammate Jordan Webb, but it may be the uncerPick tainty of the offensive line that led to the decision Pick is viewed as Reesing-esque when it comes to making plays with his feet. Senior wide receiver Johnathan Wilson finally gets his chance to step out of Briscoe and Meiers shadows and will be the key to stretching the field against the defensive-minded Bisons.

north Dakota state (3-8 in 2009)

oFFEnsE
North Dakota State has returning letterwinners at all 11 positions on the field, including quarterback Jose Mohler. Mohler, a sophomore, started four games for the Bison last year. He faced stiff compeMohler tition for the starting job from redshirt freshman Brock Jensen, but was able to hold onto the inside track and win the starting job. Sound familiar?

at a glancE
The Bison should be easy picking for the Jayhawks Saturday. Kansas isnt favored to do any damage in the Big 12, but the sixth-place team in the Missouri Valley is a different story. Unless new running back D.J. McNorton can far exceed the success of his predecessor Pat Paschall who ran for well over 1,000 yards in his senior campaign the Bison will be nothing short of Jayhawk fodder by the time the final bell sounds.

DEFEnsE
Senior linebacker Drew Dudley has seen his teammates drop like flies at his position, and with Opurums learning curve limiting him to 1020 snaps this weekend, Dudley will be a staple on the field. Senior Justin Springer and junior Steven Johnson will Dudley carry their weight, but any unforeseen injuries would force defensive coordinator Carl Torbush to play Opurum much more than either are comfortable with right now.

DEFEnsE
The good news for North Dakota State is that they return eight of 11 starters on defense. The bad news is that they werent very good in 2009. The Bison alEvans lowed 361.5 yards per game and opposing offenses posted over 28 points per game. Preston Evans, junior middle linebacker, returns after leading the team with 96 tackles last season.

playEr to watch
Sophomore linebacker Toben Opurum Opurum, who was a running back during his freshman year, made the abrupt switch to the defensive side two weeks ago. Opurum has not spoken with the media since the transition, but the move was a necessary evil with the ravaged linebacker core needing all the Opurum help it can get. If Opurum cannot adjust to the position his first snaps at the spot since junior high the team will waste a year of one of its best pure athletes.

playEr to watch
Sophomore quarterback Jose Mohler Just like Kale Pick, Mohler emerged as the starter after the completion of last season. He started the last four games last season and showed the capability to run. Hes had time to improve his 59.7 percent passing in the offseason. Mohler Mohler is a bit of a dual threat with his ability to run and pass, so the Kansas defense will be tested early.

spEcial tEams
Seniors Alonso Rojas, punter, and Jacob Branstetter, kicker, give a sigh of relief to a coaching staff which has seen extreme turnover on offense and defense. Bransetter, who hails from Lawton, Okla., was the Jayhawks starter the last two seasons where he was 22 for 31 on field goal attempts, including a Branstetter 57-yarder against Oklahoma that stands as fourth-longest in school history. Rojas, a native of Miami, was an All-Big 12 honorable mention last season when he posted a 40.7 yard average on 58 punts.

coaching

spEcial tEams
The Bison connected on just seven of 14 field goals as a team last year. Then they lost their top kicker. Ryan Jastram, who hit just one of his four attempts, will take over the kicking duties for North Dakota State. The return team for the Jastram Bison is a bit unproven, with two freshman deep to return kicks.

coaching

quEstion marks
Can the elder statesman adjust to a new position, again?
Senior running back Angus Quigley, now in his sixth and final season with the team, won the starting position from Opurum last month, but he is anything but a sure thing with the rock. Quigley began his career at Kansas as a back, but former coach Mark Mangino converted him to the defensive side last season, where he made only three tackles all season. Quigley goes from afterthought to offensive centerpiece, and rust could be a factor for the team captain.

Forget everything you know about the Kansas football coaching staff everyone from last year is gone. Replacing embattled coach Mark Mangino is the more player-friendly Turner Gill, who took perennial loser Buffalo to Gill a bowl game in 2008. His coordinators, Chuck Long on offense and Carl Torbush on defense, both have head coaching experience and are well seasoned aides for Gill.

North Dakota State is led by Craig Bohl, who played at Nebraska with Turner Gill, graduating a year before Gill left the program. Bohl has posted a 52-25 record with the Bison, including a 3-3 mark against FBS teams. In Bohl his only game against a Big 12 school last year, Bohl and the Bison fell to Iowa State.

quEstion marks
Can North Dakota State ruin Turner Gills debut?
The Bison wont win. But they may rain on Gills parade if they can keep it close for a half or more. If North Dakota State is within double digits as halftime rolls around, Jayhawk fans will have plenty of reasons to be nervous about the upcoming season. If Kansas is rolling at the intermission, things may just be looking up for the recently downtrodden program.

momEntum

momEntum

On the bright side, everyone starts the season undefeated. It is hard to translate how the Jayhawks did on the practice field to momentum, but they seem to be responding well to Gills playerfriendly style. If ever a team which lost each of its final seven games the previous season could mark momentum as a positive on their game preview, it is this squad. Matt Galloway

The Bison have won nine of their last 10 season openers, but fell last season to the Cyclones in game one. They dont come in on anything resembling a hot streak after finishing last season at 3-8. North Dakota State is picked to finish sixth in the Missouri valley Football Conference this year. Junior tight end Tim Biere Tim Dwyer

Jayhawks starting linEup

Offense
Pos. QB RB WR WR WR TE T G C G T K Name Number Kale Pick 7 Angus Quigley 22 Jonathan Wilson 81 Bradley McDougald 24 Daymond Patterson 15 Tim Biere 86 Tanner Hawkinson 72 Duane Zlatnik 67 Sal Capra 59 Trevor Marrongelli 69 Brad Thorson 76 Jacob Branstetter 14 Year So. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. So. So. Sr. So. Sr Sr.

Big Jay will cheer if

Year Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr.
...the Jayhawks win and big. With a home date against No. 16 Georgia Tech looming on Sept. 11, the Jayhawks cannot afford a hiccup against a FCS school. An offensive fireworks display would instill confidence in a hesitant fan base still reeling from last years extreme end-season drop off.

bison starting linEup

Offense
Pos. QB FB RB WR WR TE T G C G T K Name Jose Mohler Lee vandal D.J. McNorton Titus Mack Warren Holloway Landon Smith Michael Arndt Joe Lund Austin Richard Ty Beckius Paul Cornick Ryan Jastram Number Year 3 So. 46 Sr. 8 Jr. 6 Sr. 81 Jr. 84 Sr. 52 Sr. 73 So. 63 Jr. 68 So. 78 Jr. 33 Jr.

Defense
Pos. DE DT DT DE OLB MLB OLB CB SS FS CB P Name Number Quintin Woods 93 Richard Johnson 97 Patrick Dorsey 92 Jake Laptad 91 Drew Dudley 49 Justin Springer 45 Steven Johnson 52 Isiah Barfield 19 Olaitan Oguntodu 44 Lubbock Smith 1 Chris Harris 16 Alonso Rojas 18

Defense
Pos. DE DT DT DE OLB MLB OLB CB SS FS CB P Name Coulter Boyer Matthew Gratzek Leevon Perry Scott Stoczynski Matt Anderson Preston Evans Brandon Jemison Freddie Banks Cyrus Lemon Daniel Eaves Brendin Pierre John Prelvitz Number Year 92 Jr. 70 Sr. 69 Fr. 98 Jr. 48 Sr. 44 Jr. 56 So. 13 Sr. 36 Sr. 7 Jr. 2 So. 19 Sr.

by thE numbErs
Points that North Dakota States Ben Woodside scored against the Kansas basketball team in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

37

by thE numbErs
Number out of eight new Kansas coaches since 1971 to win their debut games.

Baby Jay will weep if

...they struggle, there will be no shortage of excuses new quarterback, new coach, thin at linebacker. But if the team loses against the Missouri valley Football Conference pushover, it will be a disastrous start against perhaps the teams worst opponent.

Points that North Dakota States football team averaged last season

29

Margin of victory for Kansas in the last six season openers (40.1-10.0).

30.1

Kansas 37, North Dakota State 17

Prediction:

North Dakota States record in its last 10 season openers. The loss came last season to Iowa State.

9-1

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

6 FOOTBALL

Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN FILE PHOTO

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september 3, 2010

the university daily kansan

FOOTBALL

WINNING VALUES
Turner Gill infuses his coaching style with concern for players and staff
By Kathleen Gier
kgier@kansan.com A coach can fulfill his job duties with a playbook and a whistle, but Turner Gill puts his own spin on the job. He wants people to describe him in three ways: positive, genuine and a man of integrity. I try to follow what I say I am going to do, Gill said. No one is perfect, but those are the true values for me: being there for my family, but also service to others. ball facilities. He wont keep you long hours away from your family, Dailey says. He understands how important family is and for you to be seen as a father and husband. Nebraska assistant coach Ron Brown coached with Gill for 12 years and they still keep in contact. Gill started his family before Brown, but Gills younger daughter and Browns oldest daughter were born around the same time. Brown says he looked to the Gills when figuring out how to raise his own daughters. The families became friends as Gill and Brown would coach and attend Bible study together. Their wives also became friends. Brown describes Gill as intense and serious, but also as a hearty laugher. Though they have been apart since Gill left Nebraska, their devotion to God, love for the game of positive and optimistic which goes into what he does on and off the field, Brown says. With the help of Brown and other influences in his life, Gill decided to be a coach to help make a positive difference in the lives of young athletes. With his experiences Gill recognizes that he has an ability to connect with the young men on his team and give them guidance. That is my purpose here on Earth and I believe that and I know that, Gill says. I understand that and I know how I am wired. Dailey saw this not only as a player for Gill, but as an assistant coach later in his career with Gill. His Christian values and his authenticity as a person separate him from not just other coaches, but from other people, Dailey says. Dailey can attest to the success of the Turner Gill style of development. He came pect of the lives of the student athletes and staff. Anything I do, anything I say, I have to go back to that statement, Gill says. If it is not answering that vision I know it is not the correct thing to do so that keeps everything in perspective. After 12 years of coaching with Gill, Brown knows what Kansas fans and players should expect from Gill. The coaches will love their players, he says. He will treat his players with great value, Brown says. From playing under Gill to coaching alongside him, the thing that has stuck out the most to Dailey is the way Gill approaches the student athletes. Rather than lead with an iron fist, Gill is more concerned with the emotional aspect. He is more concerned about the players

Family Man

Gills oldest daughter, junior Jordan Gill, came to Kansas when her father was still coaching at the University of Buffalo. The prospect of bringing his family together attracted Gill to the coaching job at Kansas. Gill attributes his focus on family back to his

He is very aware that when the guys feel encouraged and empowered they play better than when they fear not doing well. Joe Dailey
own parents and says he is thrilled to have his family back together in one location. After being away from his daughter before coming to work at Kansas, he now values the opportunity to spend time with her. I think that is special and it is a dream come true for me, Gill says. His family values are even apparent to people whom he works with. Joe Dailey played for Gill at Nebraska and Gill hired him as an assistant coach at Buffalo. Gill leads by example and his beliefs were Daileys biggest influence. One thing that stood out to Dailey was that Gill not only focuses on his own family, but the families of each staff member working with him. When Gill plans the weekly schedule, he designates two nights a week when practice will be done in time for his staff to get home in time for dinner. Families were always a part of the work atmosphere with Gill; his family was a fixture at the footfootball and mutual respect for each other has kept them close. If you dont like Turner, there may be something wrong with you, Brown says. from a rough situation and says his parents handed him over to Gill to play for him at Nebraska. It is not just something written in storybooks, it is actually real, Dailey says. Dailey left Nebraska shortly after Gill, but the two stayed in touch. When Gill became head coach at Buffalo, he offered Dailey his first job as an assistant coach. I have the utmost respect for him and love him a great deal because I see him as a father-figure, pivotal role to my life and how I developed as a man, Dailey says. Now that Gill has come to Kansas, he brought Dailey with him as the on-campus recruiting director for the team. psyche and their emotions and he is very aware that when the guys feel encouraged and empowered they play better than when they fear not doing well. At the beginning of the season, Gill had each player fill out a survey. The survey asked about the players relationships with their mothers and fathers, what made them mad, angry, and sad, and what motivates them. You need to understand a person first to be a teacher, Gill said. So we take the time to get to know them and not just teaching them the game of football and things of that nature, but there are some other things that I think you need to do so that a person can be more productive on a regular basis. Gill knows how important the role of a coach is for young men between the ages of 18 and 22 years old. We as coaches can have a great impact not only from a football standpoint, Gill says. That is why I love coaching.

Man of Service

I am very passionate about developing young men obviously their skills on the football field, but also their skills as far as being prepared to be the best husbands they can be, the best fathers they can be and the best people they can be in our society, Gill says. Gill believes that in this he has found his niche where he can be most helpful to his young players. Finding this passion took years and many talks with his family and a small group of mentors. One of these mentors was Brown. Brown says that it became obvious early in Gills career that he had great potential as a coach. God had given him faith which made him

Football Coach

Gill takes the teams vision statement for this year seriously: To provide a positive and motivating environment that encourages excellence, growth and balance in every as-

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