Kansas JayhawksコミュのOrange Bowl！！！

Orange Bowl Preview


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- With his flowing blond locks and youthful good looks, Kerry Meier might seem more like a Florida beachcomber than a Kansas quarterback.

In a few dark, reflective moments last August, he may even have thought about dropping out of school and finding some faraway beach to explore.

Instead, he stayed in college and stuck with football. Although he threw only 29 passes in this greatest season in Kansas history, the unselfish example he set for admiring teammates may have made him as valuable as anyone else the Jayhawks (11-1) will suit up in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night against Virginia Tech (11-2).

"That was probably one of the most amazing things about this season," offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. "It's probably why we're here."

A native of Pittsburg, Kan., and the youngest of four football-playing brothers who made reputations for themselves all over the state, Meier threw 13 touchdown passes as a part-time starter in 2006 and came into this season with everyone, including himself, figuring the job belonged to him.

But it quickly became apparent in August drills that Todd Reesing, his undersized understudy from Texas, possessed a spark and skills that hadn't been seen at Kansas since David Jaynes was breaking passing records in the mid-1970s.

It was a tough day when coaches delivered the bad news.

"At the time, it kind of hit me. Wow," Meier said. "But I woke up. I used that as a little motivation to find a new way to the field."

That didn't take long.

"I realized that standing next to me during the game was one of the most talented athletes on our entire squad," said head coach Mark Mangino. "I said, `This kid is way too talented to be standing here next to me. Let's find a way to get him on the field."

Since then, Meier has turned into one of college football's most unique weapons, a guy who does just about everything but prepare weekly scouting reports.

As a wide receiver, the 6-3, 220-pounder has caught 24 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

As a backup quarterback, he's proven even more accurate than he was as a starter, hitting 25 of 29 for 275 yards and three TDs. He's also rushed 15 times for 78 yards and another score, becoming one of the few college players this season to score a touchdown as a passer, receiver and rusher.

He's even punted a few times.

"He's as good an athlete as we have on the offensive side of the ball in terms of athleticism, speed, strength, coordination, hands, understanding the game," said Warinner. "There's not much he can't do."

He'll be someone the Hokies will have to keep an eye on at all times. Whenever he gets his hands on the ball, he's always a threat to run or pass.

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Orange Bowl Preview (continued)

Reesing got all the glory and rewrote all the records and is, without question, the Jayhawks' most valuable player. But coaches point to Meier as a big reason for the cohesive team-first attitude that became imbedded in the entire squad as the Jayhawks ran off a school-record 11 straight wins.

"That selfless attitude permeated throughout our team," said Warinner. "He worked hard. Never pouted. Never did anything but just come to work. When everybody on the team sees somebody like that put the team first ... it's one of the biggest factors in helping us get here."

As things turned out, being a quarterback was a big help in Meier's conversion to receiver.

"I think it's been very beneficial," he said. "I have a feel for where I want guys to be and where I should be. Todd and I see eye-to-eye. He knows where he wants the receiver to be in this position or that position and I have the same feeling. Plus, my oldest brother was a tight end and he's given me a lot of tips on catching the ball."

When he learned he would not be the starting quarterback, any thoughts of transferring to another school were quickly dismissed.

"There's a lot more to life than just football," he said. "I really enjoy the city of Lawrence. That's where my education is. Going to school at KU is great. I've developed great relationships with the players and coaches.

"Sometimes the cards aren't dealt the way you want them to be dealt. But it's how you adjust and adapt that's important."

KU WIN!!! Rock! Chalk! Jayhawk!!!

KU 24 - 21 Virginia Tech

MIAMI (AP) -- The high-scoring Kansas Jayhawks brought their usual assortment of tricks to the Orange Bowl. They split their tackles wide alongside the receivers. They threw wrong-handed shovel passes. They pulled off a fake punt.

The biggest surprise: They won with defense.

While their offense was stymied most of the night, the Jayhawks came up with three interceptions and beat Virginia Tech 24-21 to cap one of the finest seasons in school history.

The takeaways led to 17 Kansas points, including Aqib Talib's 60-yard return for the game's first score. He was chosen the game's most valuable player.

"Everybody talks about Virginia Tech's defense," said safety Justin Thornton, who also had an interception. "We came out to show we can play defense at Kansas, too."

Kansas (12-1), perhaps the biggest surprise in college football this season, won in its first Bowl Championship Series game to set a team record for victories. A year ago the Jayhawks went 6-6.

"People kept telling us we couldn't win against this team, that we couldn't win the big game, that we had no chance," quarterback Todd Reesing said. "We took that to heart. We like being underdogs."

The Hokies (11-3) lost their fourth consecutive BCS game. It was a bittersweet finish for the Hokies, who revived campus spirits this season following the April 16 massacre that left 33 students and professors dead.

"I think we still accomplished something this season," tackle Duane Brown said. "We couldn't finish off on a high note."

The Jayhawks played in their first major bowl since the 1969 Orange Bowl, and they made a big splash at the start, racing to a 17-0 lead after 23 minutes.

Virginia Tech closed the deficit to 17-14 before Sean Glennon was intercepted by Thornton, whose 30-yard return gave Kansas the ball at the 2 with 11 minutes left. Reesing scored on the next play.

Chris Harris also had an interception to set up a field goal, and the Jayhawks totaled five sacks while allowing only two scoring drives.

Virginia Tech drove 78 yards to score with 3 minutes left on Glennon's 20-yard pass to Justin Harper. The Jayhawks' Raimond Pendleton fielded the ensuing onside kick, and they ran out the clock.

"It feels really great," Kansas tackle Anthony Collins said. "Now I feel like USC and Florida and them feel every day. They don't get any better than this. I know it ain't the national championship, but it doesn't get any better. We won the Orange Bowl."

Virginia Tech's biggest gain came on special teams. Harper scored on an 84-yard punt return after taking a lateral on a reverse from Eddie Royal, who fielded the kick.

Otherwise, Kansas' special teams played well. Joe Mortensen blocked a 25-yard field-goal attempt to preserve a 17-14 Kansas lead. A fake punt kept one drive going, and Kyle Tucker's booming punts kept the Hokies pinned deep.

"We were supposed to be outclassed on special teams, and I think we held our own," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said.

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The game was among the chilliest Orange Bowls ever, with a temperature of 57 degrees at kickoff and winds gusting at up to 25 mph.

The Jayhawks were the nation's highest-scoring offense this season at 44 points per game, and they took a wide-open approach beginning on the first series. Once they lined up with both tackles flanked wide alongside the receivers, and on another play Reesing threw a left-handed shovel pass for a 9-yard gain.

Kansas split a tackle wide again when Reesing completed a pass to convert a fourth-and-1 situation, which led to a touchdown for a 17-0 lead. Reesing hit Marcus Henry with a 13-yard pass for the score, capping a 59-yard drive.

Reesing finished 20-for-37 for 227 yards.

"I'm ecstatic," Reesing said. "This is the best feeling I've ever had. We fought hard all year, and we fought hard today."

With only one scoring drive of more than 17 yards, the Jayhawks left most of the big plays to their defense. The biggest was by Talib, who stepped in front of the intended receiver to intercept freshman Tyrod Taylor and ran along the Virginia Tech sideline untouched for a touchdown.

"Coach had us in a call where I was able to jump any route," Talib said. "The quarterback was late with the throw, and he threw me the ball."

It was the first interception return for a touchdown in the Orange Bowl since 1968.

Virginia Tech came into the game with the more heralded defense, but the Jayhawks had four sacks in the first quarter. They threw Taylor for losses of 11 and 8 yards on his first two plays as part of the Hokies quarterback rotation.

On Virginia Tech's next possession, Josh Morgan dropped a potential touchdown pass, and Jud Dunlevy missed a 47-yard field goal attempt.

Virginia Tech mounted a 68-yard drive late in the first half, and Branden Ore scored on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 17-7. Ore was suspended for the first quarter for being late to a practice but still finished with 116 yards rushing.

Against the ball-hawking Jayhawks, that wasn't enough.

"Give Kansas credit," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. "They made the plays, and we did not make enough. Usually when you turn the ball over three times against a good team, you are going to have a hard time winning."