Notebook: Luke feels confident knowing he's the man / LJWorld.com

Sports

October 15, 2005

Brian Luke is the guy. If you have any sort of hunch it's someone else, it's time to stop trusting it.

After weeks of speculation, substitution and general confusion surrounding the quarterback position, KU coach Mark Mangino made sure this week that the answer was definite.

It's Luke. Discussion done.

"It's nice to know, of course," Luke said. "But it's not going to change my approach."

Such confidence from his coach might settle Luke's nerves, but those who know the senior claim nerves don't play much of a factor in his life. The letdowns he has had, rather, stem from thinking too much.

"He's an intelligent guy," Mangino said. "We told him to trust what he sees and to quit analyzing everything."

Luke will be asked to stretch the field, something he does better than any other KU quarterback. Speaking to reporters Thursday, he seemed more relaxed and more poised than he has been all season.

"I go into every game as confident as possible," Luke said. "I'm more concerned with the offense's confidence than I am my own."

¢ Number one: As expected, freshman Aqib Talib is atop the depth chart at cornerback this week after starting and playing almost every snap at corner against Kansas State. Talib moved to strong safety this spring because of depth issues but moved back to cornerback after Jerome Kemp emerged as a hard hitter at the strong safety position.

"I came in as a corner, so I just have to get back into the swing of things," Talib said. "It's not going to be difficult. I just have to get my foot movement down and then I'll be all right."

¢ Big boot: If nothing else, KU has an emergency option at punter. At the end of Wednesday's practice, after most players already had departed Memorial Stadium, freshman quarterback Kerry Meier stayed behind and unleashed a couple of booming punts for fun.

Meier, who's ticketed for a red-shirt season, appeared to boot kicks close to 50 yards. It's not too shocking - he was an All-State punter at Pittsburg High his senior year.

At quarterback this week, Meier worked on the scout-team offense, acting as Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar against the KU defense.

"I hope Rhett Bomar doesn't play that well," Mangino quipped.

¢ Ringwood still MIA: KU fullback Bruce Ringwood remains suspended indefinitely following his August arrest after a scuffle at a country music concert. Ringwood was found guilty of assault this week and sentenced to community service. Despite having his day in court, Mangino still said the sophomore's status with the program had not changed. He has not been practicing with the team.

¢ This, that: Senior wide receiver Mark Simmons is tied with Brandon Rideau for second on KU's career reception list with 131; he needs just three receptions to move past Willie Vaughn as KU's all-time leader. : The KU defense has allowed one rushing touchdown in its last six games, a quarterback scramble by Texas Tech's Cody Hodges. : Kansas is third in the country in tackles for a loss, averaging 10.8 per game; Nebraska and Rutgers both average more than 11.