Woodling: Resilient senior Luke deserves right to start

And the nod goes to :

Brian Luke is no fluke.

Luke, who engineered Kansas University’s stunning 31-14 football triumph over Missouri in last season’s finale, has arrived.

Luke’s maturation took nearly four years, but the 6-foot-6, 225-pound fifth-year senior clearly is the best of coach Mark Mangino’s quarterback options.

For starters, Luke has the confidence of his teammates, arguably the most critical ingredient in team chemistry. Luke earned that pat-on-the-back the hard way, bouncing back time after time from a series of setbacks.

There was the time two seasons ago when Bill Whittemore wrecked his shoulder in the second quarter at Kansas State, and Luke was rushed into action. Moments later, Luke fumbled the ball away.

Brian Luke played in just three games last season, but one of those was Kansas University's thrilling 31-14 victory over Missouri in the finale.

There was the time last season when Adam Barmann wrecked his shoulder in the second quarter at Iowa State, and Luke was inserted. Minutes later, Luke fumbled, ISU lineman Brent Curvey scooped the ball up and ran for a touchdown. A few downs later, Luke held the ball too long and was sacked.

Mangino, clearly miffed, benched Luke in favor of juco transfer Jason Swanson in the second half, and Luke didn’t leave the bench the next week against Colorado, either. John Nielsen, a walk-on, had been promoted ahead of him.

That was the nadir of Luke’s career. He couldn’t sink any lower. And yet, handed another chance because of a mind-boggling string of QB injuries, Luke made the Phoenix look like a wet hen.

First, Luke threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns in a relief role against Texas – a game Kansas should have won – and then he passed for 239 yards in that victory over Missouri.

Surely one of the most difficult tasks in college football is coming in cold at quarterback, particularly for an inexperienced player. Luke finally proved he could do it against Texas, and then showed he had a total grasp on the position during his first start the following weekend.

And yet it’s clear Mangino likes Barmann better than he likes Luke. Is it because he inherited Luke when he took over for Terry Allen in 2002 and recruited Barmann himself?

Both Barmann, who stands 6-4 and weighs 210 pounds, and Luke look like quarterbacks. Barmann is more mobile than Luke, but still no threat to run. Luke definitely is the better passer and not just because Barmann had one of the lowest passing-efficiency ratings in the Big 12 Conference last season. Luke has a better feel for the passing game.

I like Barmann. He has charisma, and he has some skills. But the proof is in the performance, and Luke has guided KU to its only Big 12 road victory during Mangino’s tenure.

Kerry Meier??? Fuhgedaboudit. Just hope neither Luke nor Barmann suffers a serious injury and Meier, a true freshman, won’t have to be thrown to the wolves.

If I were Mangino, I’d dance with who brung me. I’d tell Luke he was the starting quarterback based what he did against the Tigers and that it was his job to lose.