Keegan: Meier’s time is now

Do yourself a favor. If you’re reading this in the newspaper, look to your right. If you’re on KUsports.com, look at the two stories stacked below this one.

You’ll be entertained, informed and even more hungry for that first tailgate party in the hours leading up to the Jayhawks’ football opener against Florida Atlantic, two weeks from Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

OK, stop reading this column, and first see what Chuck Woodling and Ryan Wood have to say about the quarterback situation at KU, then return.

Why are you still here? I told you to stop and come back later. Bye for now. :

Welcome back. See, I told you you’d be entertained and informed. Trouble is, the veteran and the kid are both wrong on this one.

The best path for the Jayhawks to make something special out of this season that could go either way in a somewhat balanced Big 12 North lies with a major gamble: Start neither junior Adam Barmann nor senior Brian Luke at quarterback. Hand the offense to true freshman Kerry Meier.

Do it solely with the best 2005 season in mind, not as a future play. The defense is too experienced, too loaded to worry about building for the future.

And do it now.

Waiting to juice a tired offense in midseason would make it that much tougher for Meier to make the transition to the college game because the schedule gets tougher.

Let him suffer growing pains against Florida Atlantic, Appalachian State and Louisiana Tech and hope none of his mistakes come at the expense of a lost game that could have been won with a veteran taking snaps.

It’s a risk worth taking. In the end, KU’s season will be defined by its Big 12 success. To have even a shot at hanging with favored Nebraska or Colorado in the North standings, the Jayhawks must come close to maximizing their potential. Meier is the most talented quarterback on the roster, has the highest ceiling.

Read between the lines of what Jayhawks coach Mark Mangino said about Meier on Thursday at media day, and it’s evident the coach is impressed.

“Each and every day, he learns more and more about our offense,” Mangino said. “You can see he’s an awfully talented guy. : Kerry’s making strides every day. It’s not a cinch that he’ll red-shirt.”

Doesn’t sound like a normal freshman. And didn’t look like one in leading the East to a 17-10 victory over the West in the Shrine Game. In the final 30 seconds, Meier threw an accurate bomb and showed quick feet running for the game-winning TD.

The way he won it says a lot about his clutch nature. Unless they’re out of their league talent-wise, winners find a way to win. Talent isn’t the issue for the freshman out of Pittsburg. Experience is. So give him what he lacks and watch the talent force its way out.

See for yourself this morning, when KU’s practice will be open to the public from 8:30 to 10:30. Focus on Meier. Then close eyes and ask yourself: If he were the starter, would you be more excited to watch the FAU game?

If the words “freshman quarterback” stop you, realize this: Chad Henne threw for 2,516 yards and 21 touchdowns as a true freshman for Michigan last season. The Big Ten’s not too shabby a conference.

Why wait?