Showing posts with label Kansas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas. Show all posts
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Pelini Defends Jabs at Crowd
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Bo Pelini isn't one to backtrack.
On Tuesday, the fiery Nebraska coach said he was merely making an observation, not ripping the fans, when he said he was disappointed with the "dead" atmosphere at Memorial Stadium for last weekend's Kansas game.
Some fans reacted with anger on radio shows and websites, saying Pelini shouldn't insult the people who pay the bills and have sold out an NCAA-record 310 consecutive home games since 1962.
Others say Pelini spoke the truth and that the fans need to ramp up the volume to support the Huskers and make the stadium more intimidating to visiting teams.
Pelini first commented about the crowd on his weekly television show, taped shortly after Saturday night's 20-3 win over the Jayhawks. On Monday he said, "I felt like I was at a scrimmage."
Pelini didn't back off Tuesday. He said after his weekly news conference that the stadium was quieter than it's ever been in his three seasons at Nebraska and that just before the team came out of the locker room for kickoff "you could hear a pin drop."
Nebraska football is king in this state of 1.8 million, and the fans are proud and passionate. Over each stadium entrance is a sign that reads: "Through These Gates Pass the Greatest Fans in College Football."
Fans already were a bit sensitive after receiver Niles Paul, criticized for his poor outing in the loss to Texas a month ago, said he plays for his coaches and teammates, not the fans.
Pelini dismissed the fan fuss.
"There are going to be fans that are always a little disgruntled," he said, adding that he didn't believe his comments indicate a disconnect between the fans and the program. "It was just an observation."
Bo/Shawn....maybe try to do something on offense to give the fans something to cheer about
On Tuesday, the fiery Nebraska coach said he was merely making an observation, not ripping the fans, when he said he was disappointed with the "dead" atmosphere at Memorial Stadium for last weekend's Kansas game.
Some fans reacted with anger on radio shows and websites, saying Pelini shouldn't insult the people who pay the bills and have sold out an NCAA-record 310 consecutive home games since 1962.
Others say Pelini spoke the truth and that the fans need to ramp up the volume to support the Huskers and make the stadium more intimidating to visiting teams.
Pelini first commented about the crowd on his weekly television show, taped shortly after Saturday night's 20-3 win over the Jayhawks. On Monday he said, "I felt like I was at a scrimmage."
Pelini didn't back off Tuesday. He said after his weekly news conference that the stadium was quieter than it's ever been in his three seasons at Nebraska and that just before the team came out of the locker room for kickoff "you could hear a pin drop."
Nebraska football is king in this state of 1.8 million, and the fans are proud and passionate. Over each stadium entrance is a sign that reads: "Through These Gates Pass the Greatest Fans in College Football."
Fans already were a bit sensitive after receiver Niles Paul, criticized for his poor outing in the loss to Texas a month ago, said he plays for his coaches and teammates, not the fans.
Pelini dismissed the fan fuss.
"There are going to be fans that are always a little disgruntled," he said, adding that he didn't believe his comments indicate a disconnect between the fans and the program. "It was just an observation."
Bo/Shawn....maybe try to do something on offense to give the fans something to cheer about
Monday, November 15, 2010
What They're Saying - Kansas Game
Bishop: “Nebraska’s offense is not what it became noted for this season. It became last year’s offense.”
Chatelain: “A private man made a very public homecoming Saturday night.”
Stryker: “The pass defense has been good all year, and now the run defense may be coming around.”
McKeever: “If you look closely, you can see a foundation being laid that figures to bode well for the Jayhawks.”
Sipple: “If you're Nebraska, you take this win, wrap a tidy bow around it today, and move on quickly.”
Keegan: “This was not an entertaining sendoff.”
Husker Mike: “Since Martinez left the Missouri game, the Husker offense has seemed to stagnate.”
McKewon: “Shawn Watson's bunch rolled up 397 yards, but you almost wish he had dialed down his plan, too.”
Shatel: “Martinez returned to the starting lineup. His speed is still playing catch-up.”
Chatelain: “A private man made a very public homecoming Saturday night.”
Stryker: “The pass defense has been good all year, and now the run defense may be coming around.”
McKeever: “If you look closely, you can see a foundation being laid that figures to bode well for the Jayhawks.”
Sipple: “If you're Nebraska, you take this win, wrap a tidy bow around it today, and move on quickly.”
Keegan: “This was not an entertaining sendoff.”
Husker Mike: “Since Martinez left the Missouri game, the Husker offense has seemed to stagnate.”
McKewon: “Shawn Watson's bunch rolled up 397 yards, but you almost wish he had dialed down his plan, too.”
Shatel: “Martinez returned to the starting lineup. His speed is still playing catch-up.”
Pressure helps Nebraska bag sacks
By Rich Kaipust
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU « Big Red TodayShare Related News
LINCOLN — Kansas quarterback Quinn Mecham maybe didn't know it at the time, but it was going to become a pattern.
It was fourth-and-6 on the Jayhawks' opening drive Saturday night and Nebraska had six of its 11 defenders coming after him.
There were too many of them moving too fast. Mecham panicked. A blitzing DeJon Gomes wrapped him up and took him down.
It would be the first of six sacks for the Huskers, and one of four by somebody other than Nebraska defensive linemen.
“Everybody came at one time or another,” NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “We were pretty creative with the pressure package this week.”
Nebraska made life miserable for Mecham in the 20-3 victory at Memorial Stadium, blitzing about as regularly as it had in any game this season. It resulted in the KU quarterback going just 3 for 13 in his third career start and passing for 15 yards.
It was most dangerous for Mecham in obvious passing downs, of which there were many. At different times, he had to watch for Gomes, Eric Hagg or Lavonte David coming from the linebacker and nickel/dime slots, not to mention safeties Austin Cassidy and Courtney Osborne.
Pelini moved them like chess pieces and smiled afterward about what it's like to have such athletes to send.
“It's fun,” he said. “We can really look at protections and think of all kinds of different ways to pressure people. We were real effective with that in the first half. Then in the second, you get your lead and you say, ‘We're getting a four-man rush, so let's play some coverage,' and that's kind of how the game went.”
Nebraska had seven sacks against Idaho in September, but six of its first seven games included two or fewer. It has 14 in its past three games, with six each against Missouri and Kansas.
The Huskers knew that they would be coming against KU, even if Mecham had to learn the hard way.
“We thought after going through the week of game plan that there was going to be some opportunities to bring some heat, and our guys did a nice job of executing,” NU assistant coach John Papuchis said. “I think every time we ran a pressure we executed it well. It certainly paid off, especially in the first half.”
All six sacks came on third- or fourth-down plays. On five of the six, the Jayhawks needed 6 yards or more for a first down.
In that regard, defensive tackle Jared Crick said, Nebraska set itself up for success.
“It's all credit to us stopping the run on first and second down and getting to those third-and-long situations that really benefit us getting those sacks,” Crick said. “I knew we could do it. We just finally executed and stopped them on first and second down, which gets them into that position.”
Crick bagged two sacks, giving the junior a team-high 6½. They just haven't come as easily for the front four as a year ago, when Ndamukong Suh had 12, Crick added 9½ and defensive linemen accounted for 33½ altogether.
If Pelini had a previous complaint with his front four, he said, it's that they were being too conservative in obvious passing situations. Especially his younger guys.
“So I challenged them,” he said. “I said, ‘Get your butts in the air and go. Go have some fun and wreck some shop in the backfield.' They did that (Saturday). It was good to see them do that. Turn it loose, and hopefully that will carry over.”
The return of cornerback Alfonzo Dennard helped and should benefit NU again this Saturday at Texas A&M. With Dennard and Prince Amukamara spearheading coverage, the risk involved with blitzing isn't as great for the Huskers as for some other teams.
It hardly seemed like a risk at all Saturday night.
“Coach Carl really felt we could get some pressure on these guys with how they were in their pass protections,” said Marvin Sanders, the NU secondary coach. “We thought if we could get in his face and get on him a little bit that we could force him into some throws, or at least rattle him. And I think our guys did.”
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU « Big Red TodayShare Related News
LINCOLN — Kansas quarterback Quinn Mecham maybe didn't know it at the time, but it was going to become a pattern.
It was fourth-and-6 on the Jayhawks' opening drive Saturday night and Nebraska had six of its 11 defenders coming after him.
There were too many of them moving too fast. Mecham panicked. A blitzing DeJon Gomes wrapped him up and took him down.
It would be the first of six sacks for the Huskers, and one of four by somebody other than Nebraska defensive linemen.
“Everybody came at one time or another,” NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “We were pretty creative with the pressure package this week.”
Nebraska made life miserable for Mecham in the 20-3 victory at Memorial Stadium, blitzing about as regularly as it had in any game this season. It resulted in the KU quarterback going just 3 for 13 in his third career start and passing for 15 yards.
It was most dangerous for Mecham in obvious passing downs, of which there were many. At different times, he had to watch for Gomes, Eric Hagg or Lavonte David coming from the linebacker and nickel/dime slots, not to mention safeties Austin Cassidy and Courtney Osborne.
Pelini moved them like chess pieces and smiled afterward about what it's like to have such athletes to send.
“It's fun,” he said. “We can really look at protections and think of all kinds of different ways to pressure people. We were real effective with that in the first half. Then in the second, you get your lead and you say, ‘We're getting a four-man rush, so let's play some coverage,' and that's kind of how the game went.”
Nebraska had seven sacks against Idaho in September, but six of its first seven games included two or fewer. It has 14 in its past three games, with six each against Missouri and Kansas.
The Huskers knew that they would be coming against KU, even if Mecham had to learn the hard way.
“We thought after going through the week of game plan that there was going to be some opportunities to bring some heat, and our guys did a nice job of executing,” NU assistant coach John Papuchis said. “I think every time we ran a pressure we executed it well. It certainly paid off, especially in the first half.”
All six sacks came on third- or fourth-down plays. On five of the six, the Jayhawks needed 6 yards or more for a first down.
In that regard, defensive tackle Jared Crick said, Nebraska set itself up for success.
“It's all credit to us stopping the run on first and second down and getting to those third-and-long situations that really benefit us getting those sacks,” Crick said. “I knew we could do it. We just finally executed and stopped them on first and second down, which gets them into that position.”
Crick bagged two sacks, giving the junior a team-high 6½. They just haven't come as easily for the front four as a year ago, when Ndamukong Suh had 12, Crick added 9½ and defensive linemen accounted for 33½ altogether.
If Pelini had a previous complaint with his front four, he said, it's that they were being too conservative in obvious passing situations. Especially his younger guys.
“So I challenged them,” he said. “I said, ‘Get your butts in the air and go. Go have some fun and wreck some shop in the backfield.' They did that (Saturday). It was good to see them do that. Turn it loose, and hopefully that will carry over.”
The return of cornerback Alfonzo Dennard helped and should benefit NU again this Saturday at Texas A&M. With Dennard and Prince Amukamara spearheading coverage, the risk involved with blitzing isn't as great for the Huskers as for some other teams.
It hardly seemed like a risk at all Saturday night.
“Coach Carl really felt we could get some pressure on these guys with how they were in their pass protections,” said Marvin Sanders, the NU secondary coach. “We thought if we could get in his face and get on him a little bit that we could force him into some throws, or at least rattle him. And I think our guys did.”
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Score Predictions - Kansas
Enter your Score Predictions for this week's game in the comments section.
Previous Winners
Week 1: Denise - Off by 1 Point! - (Guess 50-10, Actual 49-10)
Week 2: Luke - Off by 1 Point! - (Guess 38-16, Actual 38-17)
Week 3: Denise - Off by 11 Points - (Guess 45-21, Actual 56-21)
Week 4: Kristin - Off by 31 Points - (Guess 41-10, Actual 17-3)
Week 5: Kovar - Off by 5 Points - (Guess 52-12, Actual 48-13)
Week 6: Kovar - Off by 9 Points - (Guess 22-20, Actual 13-20)
Week 7: Kovar - Off by 14 Points - (Guess 52-28, Actual 51-41)
Week 8: Kovar - Off by 3 Points - (Guess 33-18, Actual 31-17)
Week 8: Hepp - Off by 16 Points - (Guess 28-17, Actual 31-30)
Previous Winners
Week 1: Denise - Off by 1 Point! - (Guess 50-10, Actual 49-10)
Week 2: Luke - Off by 1 Point! - (Guess 38-16, Actual 38-17)
Week 3: Denise - Off by 11 Points - (Guess 45-21, Actual 56-21)
Week 4: Kristin - Off by 31 Points - (Guess 41-10, Actual 17-3)
Week 5: Kovar - Off by 5 Points - (Guess 52-12, Actual 48-13)
Week 6: Kovar - Off by 9 Points - (Guess 22-20, Actual 13-20)
Week 7: Kovar - Off by 14 Points - (Guess 52-28, Actual 51-41)
Week 8: Kovar - Off by 3 Points - (Guess 33-18, Actual 31-17)
Week 8: Hepp - Off by 16 Points - (Guess 28-17, Actual 31-30)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Cassidy and Osborne awarded Blackshirts
After starting the two games at safety, Austin Cassidy and Courtney Osborne received Blackshirts on Tuesday.
P.J. Smith and Rickey Thenarse had been the safeties dressed in black, but both were back in red at the most recent practice.
As it stands, there are 12 Huskers wearing Blackshirts: Allen, Crick, Steinkuhler, Meredith, David, Compton, Hagg, Gomes, Dennard, Amukamara, Cassidy, Osborne.
Asked specifically about the progress of the sophomore Osborne, defensive coordinator Carl Pelini was heavy on praise after Tuesday's practice.
"Courtney is very physical," Pelini said. "He's a student. He studies and he understands his role and the position he plays. He doesn't make mistakes at practice. He's where he's supposed to be and it's important to him."
P.J. Smith and Rickey Thenarse had been the safeties dressed in black, but both were back in red at the most recent practice.
As it stands, there are 12 Huskers wearing Blackshirts: Allen, Crick, Steinkuhler, Meredith, David, Compton, Hagg, Gomes, Dennard, Amukamara, Cassidy, Osborne.
Asked specifically about the progress of the sophomore Osborne, defensive coordinator Carl Pelini was heavy on praise after Tuesday's practice.
"Courtney is very physical," Pelini said. "He's a student. He studies and he understands his role and the position he plays. He doesn't make mistakes at practice. He's where he's supposed to be and it's important to him."
Monday, November 8, 2010
Getting to Know the Jayhawks
LAST TIME OUT
Pick the adjective to describe the comeback Kansas mounted against Colorado, when the Jayhawks scored 35 points in the final 11:05 to win 52-45 on Saturday. It stopped an 11-game Big 12 losing skid for KU in what has turned out to be a difficult first season as head coach for former Nebraska quarterback and assistant coach Turner Gill.
The greatest comeback in Kansas football history included three of the four touchdown runs Saturday by James Sims. It was Sims' 28-yard scamper with 52 seconds left that capped the scoring. The freshman finished with 123 yards on 20 carries.
Colorado helped out the Jayhawks down the stretch. Tyler Patmon returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown to pull Kansas within 45-38, then intercepted a Cody Hawkins pass to set up Sims' game-tying 6-yard run with 4:30 remaining.
Colorado tried to come back, reaching the KU 7-yard line with eight seconds left. But Hawkins threw two incompletions and the clock expired.
Kansas improved to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the Big 12.
QB CAROUSEL
Kansas started the season with Kale Pick at quarterback, switched to Jordan Webb and will come to Lincoln with Quinn Mecham at the controls.
Mecham was making just his second career start against Colorado, when he completed 23 of 28 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Mecham was 12 for 12 for 165 yards in the second half.
Mecham, from Provo, Utah, is a transfer from Snow Junior College who enrolled in January and went through spring practice with the Jayhawks.
RUN DOWN
An inability to stop the run has caused Kansas trouble all season, although it limited Colorado to 142 yards on Saturday.
Prior to the CU game, the Jayhawks had gone through a four-game stretch where every opponent managed at least 225 yards — Iowa State 232, Texas A&M 227, Kansas State 286 and Baylor 244. Those four teams combined for 13 rushing touchdowns.
Earlier in the season, KU also got stung for 291 rushing yards by Georgia Tech and 202 by Southern Mississippi.
Kansas currently ranks 11th in the Big 12 in rushing defense, giving up 202.8 yards per game and 5.1 per carry. That's not good news with Nebraska heading into Saturday's game leading the Big 12 in rushing offense at 288.1 yards per game and 6.4 per carry.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Kansas fans who lived with decades of frustration were given some hope when former coach Mark Mangino started to change the Jayhawks' fortunes a few years back. It was never better than when KU finished 12-1 in 2007 and won the Orange Bowl.
Since starting out 5-0 last season, however, Kansas has lost 13 of 16 games. The seven straight to finish the 2009 season, along with unhappiness over Mangino's treatment of players, led to KU hiring Gill away from the University of Buffalo.
Nebraska has won two straight against the Jayhawks, but KU had one of its best stretches against the Huskers before Bo Pelini replaced Bill Callahan. Kansas beat NU 76-39 in 2007 and 40-15 in 2005, both in Lawrence, and its losses in 2006 and 2004 in Lincoln were by seven (in overtime) and six, respectively.
HUSKER TIES
Gill isn't the only member of the Kansas staff who previously spent time at Nebraska.
Buddy Wyatt, the Jayhawks' defensive line coach, was a Husker assistant in 2007. Aaron Stamn, who coaches tight ends and special teams for KU, was a Nebraska graduate assistant in 2004 and '05 who followed Gill to Buffalo. Former NU quarterback Joe Dailey is the on-campus recruiting coordinator for Kansas.
Jayhawks offensive coordinator Chuck Long and co-offensive coordinator Darrell Wyatt were at Oklahoma in 2004 when current Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini was the Sooners' co-defensive coordinator and NU assistant Mike Ekeler was an OU grad assistant.
Pick the adjective to describe the comeback Kansas mounted against Colorado, when the Jayhawks scored 35 points in the final 11:05 to win 52-45 on Saturday. It stopped an 11-game Big 12 losing skid for KU in what has turned out to be a difficult first season as head coach for former Nebraska quarterback and assistant coach Turner Gill.
The greatest comeback in Kansas football history included three of the four touchdown runs Saturday by James Sims. It was Sims' 28-yard scamper with 52 seconds left that capped the scoring. The freshman finished with 123 yards on 20 carries.
Colorado helped out the Jayhawks down the stretch. Tyler Patmon returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown to pull Kansas within 45-38, then intercepted a Cody Hawkins pass to set up Sims' game-tying 6-yard run with 4:30 remaining.
Colorado tried to come back, reaching the KU 7-yard line with eight seconds left. But Hawkins threw two incompletions and the clock expired.
Kansas improved to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the Big 12.
QB CAROUSEL
Kansas started the season with Kale Pick at quarterback, switched to Jordan Webb and will come to Lincoln with Quinn Mecham at the controls.
Mecham was making just his second career start against Colorado, when he completed 23 of 28 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Mecham was 12 for 12 for 165 yards in the second half.
Mecham, from Provo, Utah, is a transfer from Snow Junior College who enrolled in January and went through spring practice with the Jayhawks.
RUN DOWN
An inability to stop the run has caused Kansas trouble all season, although it limited Colorado to 142 yards on Saturday.
Prior to the CU game, the Jayhawks had gone through a four-game stretch where every opponent managed at least 225 yards — Iowa State 232, Texas A&M 227, Kansas State 286 and Baylor 244. Those four teams combined for 13 rushing touchdowns.
Earlier in the season, KU also got stung for 291 rushing yards by Georgia Tech and 202 by Southern Mississippi.
Kansas currently ranks 11th in the Big 12 in rushing defense, giving up 202.8 yards per game and 5.1 per carry. That's not good news with Nebraska heading into Saturday's game leading the Big 12 in rushing offense at 288.1 yards per game and 6.4 per carry.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Kansas fans who lived with decades of frustration were given some hope when former coach Mark Mangino started to change the Jayhawks' fortunes a few years back. It was never better than when KU finished 12-1 in 2007 and won the Orange Bowl.
Since starting out 5-0 last season, however, Kansas has lost 13 of 16 games. The seven straight to finish the 2009 season, along with unhappiness over Mangino's treatment of players, led to KU hiring Gill away from the University of Buffalo.
Nebraska has won two straight against the Jayhawks, but KU had one of its best stretches against the Huskers before Bo Pelini replaced Bill Callahan. Kansas beat NU 76-39 in 2007 and 40-15 in 2005, both in Lawrence, and its losses in 2006 and 2004 in Lincoln were by seven (in overtime) and six, respectively.
HUSKER TIES
Gill isn't the only member of the Kansas staff who previously spent time at Nebraska.
Buddy Wyatt, the Jayhawks' defensive line coach, was a Husker assistant in 2007. Aaron Stamn, who coaches tight ends and special teams for KU, was a Nebraska graduate assistant in 2004 and '05 who followed Gill to Buffalo. Former NU quarterback Joe Dailey is the on-campus recruiting coordinator for Kansas.
Jayhawks offensive coordinator Chuck Long and co-offensive coordinator Darrell Wyatt were at Oklahoma in 2004 when current Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini was the Sooners' co-defensive coordinator and NU assistant Mike Ekeler was an OU grad assistant.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
NU/KU Game Set for 6PM on PPV
The University of Nebraska and FOX Sports Midwest have announced that Nebraska's Nov. 13 game against Kansas in Lincoln will be available on a pay-per-view basis. Kickoff time for the contest has been set for 6 p.m. CT.
Big 12 Special Order Sports, FOX Sports Net's pay-per-view division will produce the pay-per-view telecast and the games will be available on participating cable systems in Nebraska as well as nationally on participating satellite and telco systems.
The game is being televised on a pay-per-view basis because it was not among four Big 12 Conference games selected for over-the-air or cable television coverage on Nov. 13. Suggested retail price for the telecast, which will be available in HD is $39.95 and full ordering details will be available in the next few days.
Big 12 Special Order Sports, FOX Sports Net's pay-per-view division will produce the pay-per-view telecast and the games will be available on participating cable systems in Nebraska as well as nationally on participating satellite and telco systems.
The game is being televised on a pay-per-view basis because it was not among four Big 12 Conference games selected for over-the-air or cable television coverage on Nov. 13. Suggested retail price for the telecast, which will be available in HD is $39.95 and full ordering details will be available in the next few days.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Gill Bans Phones/Girlfriends
Turner Gill has banned players from not only using cellphones on game days, but the day before kickoff . When the team plays on a Saturday, players turn in their phones to KU coaches on Friday morning. They get them back after the game.
Also in the players’ manual is a rule that states that KU’s players cannot be with girls past 10 p.m. on any night. That means either having a girl over or being at her house.
Though Gill told the players that the rule was difficult to enforce, he explained the penalty would be more severe if a KU player was involved with an incident and it was discovered that the player had broken the policy.
Player reaction to Gill’s policies haven’t exactly been overwhelmingly positive. Veteran KU receiver Daymond Patterson said, “I think everybody was just like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make it without my cell phone. I think everybody was just kind of in shock, because we hadn’t had anything like that here in the past years.”
Mark Mangino, who led an astonishing revival of the Jayhawk football program, until he was unceremoniously fired by now-ousted athletic director Lew Perkins, did not have such restrictions on players the previous eight seasons in Lawrence.
Last season Mangino actually addressed the girlfriend issue to McCollough:
“We don’t talk to players about who their girlfriend should be, what they should look like, all that. I’m telling you, our coaches aren’t sitting up here until 10:30, 11 o’ clock at night worried about our players’ girlfriends.”
Jayhawk player Lubbock Smith also noted at the time, “I don’t listen to my girlfriend when it comes to football. I listen to my coaches.”
The funny thing about Gill’s phone ban is that he has no such embargo on computers, so players can while away their time on laptops - communicating every bit as readily as they do on cellphone. Including in the locker room.
While there’s nothing wrong with Gill installing a curfew for player social activities and instituting what is largely a symbolic ban on cellphones to promote team unity, the moves might not go over too well with recruits.
And so far KU’s results on the field give no indication that policing the data plans of players is of much use.
Also in the players’ manual is a rule that states that KU’s players cannot be with girls past 10 p.m. on any night. That means either having a girl over or being at her house.
Though Gill told the players that the rule was difficult to enforce, he explained the penalty would be more severe if a KU player was involved with an incident and it was discovered that the player had broken the policy.
Player reaction to Gill’s policies haven’t exactly been overwhelmingly positive. Veteran KU receiver Daymond Patterson said, “I think everybody was just like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make it without my cell phone. I think everybody was just kind of in shock, because we hadn’t had anything like that here in the past years.”
Mark Mangino, who led an astonishing revival of the Jayhawk football program, until he was unceremoniously fired by now-ousted athletic director Lew Perkins, did not have such restrictions on players the previous eight seasons in Lawrence.
Last season Mangino actually addressed the girlfriend issue to McCollough:
“We don’t talk to players about who their girlfriend should be, what they should look like, all that. I’m telling you, our coaches aren’t sitting up here until 10:30, 11 o’ clock at night worried about our players’ girlfriends.”
Jayhawk player Lubbock Smith also noted at the time, “I don’t listen to my girlfriend when it comes to football. I listen to my coaches.”
The funny thing about Gill’s phone ban is that he has no such embargo on computers, so players can while away their time on laptops - communicating every bit as readily as they do on cellphone. Including in the locker room.
While there’s nothing wrong with Gill installing a curfew for player social activities and instituting what is largely a symbolic ban on cellphones to promote team unity, the moves might not go over too well with recruits.
And so far KU’s results on the field give no indication that policing the data plans of players is of much use.
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