by Matt Tait

Sprinkled throughout the BOK Center crowd are a handful of Kansas fans, decked out in KU gear, waiting for their team's 5:50 p.m. tipoff against Boston U. later today.

About a half mile to the west, there's a crimson and blue storm brewing at the Tulsa Convention Center and in the next couple of hours the storm will find its way to the arena, where the top-seeded Jayhawks will look to begin their run to what many fans are hoping and expecting to be a Final Four, perhaps more.

The doors at the convention center opened just before 3 p.m. and within minutes, hundreds of Jayhawk fans filed in, picking up KU souvenirs, food, drinks and whatever else the pre-partying called for.

by Matt Tait

Some, like 16-year-olds Cole Hamilton, of Leawood, Kan., and Austin Regier, of Independence, Mo., came with their parents and were simply waiting for the game to begin. But even they were swept up by the scene at the pep rally, which featured performances by the KU spirit squad and the KU band.

“It’s nice to be around other KU fans,” Hamilton said.

Added Regier, “It just shows that we’re the best traveling fans in the nation.”

That was the hope when the KU alumni association set up the event, which filled one of the largest ballrooms at the convention center. Three, giant inflatable Jayhawks greeted fans at the doors, a mini hot-air balloon hung from the ceiling and Rock Chalk Jayhawk signs were everywhere.

by Matt Tait

One event organizer, Jodi Nachtigal, said they were expecting between 400-500 KU fans to stop by the event before the game. When the final numbers came in, more than 750 Jayhawk fans made an appearance.

“It’s a great location,” Nachtigal said. “We’re so close to the arena, it’s awesome.”

Many fans at the pep rally were there as a way to kill time before tipoff. But Nachtigal said a few in attendance didn’t have tickets to the game. For them, KU set up four big-screen TVs, which will show four different NCAA Tournament games the rest of the day.

Organizers first showed up at 1 p.m., and the whole set-up took a little more than an hour-and-a-half to complete.

by Matt Tait

The KU fans at the rally ranged from groups of friends ready to roar to families of all sizes. One thing they all had in common was the colors they wore and a undying love of all things Jayhawks.

One family, the Piles, who live in Tulsa, Okla., brought their children, Carson (8) and Adrian (6) and each was allowed to bring a friend. The parents, Todd and Carol, along with all four children were decked out, from head-to-toe, in KU gear.

“My husband’s originally from Kansas,” said Carol Piles, whose husband hails from Topeka. “So I married into it, but we’re Jayhawks all the way.”

by Matt Tait

4:57 p.m. Update

Some pretty good dunks wrapped up the open practice.

Josh Selby's was by far the biggest crowd-pleaser, though not everyone participated.

Elijah Johnson and Travis Releford both were close to hammering home their attempts. And Mario Little threw one down, but did not score high on the applause-o-meter.

That's the end of the Jayhawks' practice that's open to the public.

by Matt Tait

4:47 p.m Update

The big men are working on what seems to be the signature move of the Morris Twins, the baseline fadeaway.

As the reports have indicated, the Jayhawks really seem to be loose. They're having fun, focused and enjoying the entire experience.

by Matt Tait

Out of the fadeaway jumpers, the Jayhawks transitioned to dunks off of rebounds. That seemed to get the crowd a little more fired up - as it usually does.

The biggest rim-rattlers? Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey.

One more cat-call from the crowd, "There's Marcus Morris, national player of the year!"

4:42 p.m. Update

The groups are divided as you'd expect, though one interesting note is that Conner Teahan is with the big guys.

On the other end, the perimeter players are working mostly on jumpers, both from three-point range and 15 feet.

The practice doesn't appear to be anything serious, but it is a good way for the players to get comfortable on the floor and in the building. I don't think you can underestimate how important that is.

4:39 p.m. Update

After some free throws and open shooting, the Jayhawks break into groups... Bigs on one end and guards on the other.

The intensity goes up a little, but it's clear that everybody's still having fun.

The fans in the stands are shouting non-stop. Overheard just a few minutes ago:

"We love you, T-Rob."

"Tyrel, you're the man!!!"

"Marcus!!!!"

You get the point.

4:28 p.m. Update

The top-seeded Kansas University men's basketball team just took the floor at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.

Nearly 1,000 fans packed the east side of the arena and welcomed the Jayhawks to the floor.

Upon arriving, the players, managers, coaches, trainers and anyone else associated with the team huddled together at midcourt for a quick breakdown.

The wild crowd quieted as if in church while the team broke the huddle. They did so to the words, "Hard work."

by Matt Tait

Tulsa, Okla. — You couldn't avoid it if you tried. This town is set up perfectly for the Kansas University men's basketball team to feel right at home here and, therefore, to roll through the first two rounds of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

The games begin Friday, when top-seeded Kansas (32-2) takes on Boston U. (21-13) at 5:50 p.m., central time. If they win, KU would play again Sunday against the winner of the game between UNLV and Illinois. A gametime has not yet been determined.

While the wait for tipoff continues for another day, the crazy coincidences in the area surrounding the BOK Center, where the games will be played, are everywhere.

A quick, Wednesday night stroll around the four or five-block area surrounding our hotel revealed nearly a dozen KU-related omens that should have KU fans feeling good about their team opening the tourney in Tulsa.

Here's a look.

First up, there's an area of Tulsa known as the "Brady District." That might not mean that KU senior Brady Morningstar will be the most outstanding player of this site, but it sure points to him getting off to a good start. If the district sharing his name isn't enough, there's also a spot called the "Brady Tavern." They love the kid down here.

by Matt Tait

by Matt Tait

A little further down the road, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, the marquee out front announced an upcoming performance by Terrance Simien. We weren't able to track down the man himself to find out if there's any relation between he and KU great Wayne Simien, but the link to KU can't be denied.

by Matt Tait

As we walked around the corner, we were hit by a couple more reminders of Lawrence and KU. The first was an ad for a building group known as the "River City Development, LLC," and the next was a sign on a restaurant paying homage to KU football player Angus Quigley. Quigley, as you may know, is the only athlete on campus who's been wearing crimson and blue longer than Morningstar.

by Matt Tait

by Matt Tait

Right around the corner from the street map we came across this old building that actually featured the names of two former KU greats. Brandon Rush, a member of the 2008 national-championship team (which, cleary, itself, is a good sign) and Paul Endacott, who played for legendary coach Phog Allen and helped lead KU to Helms national championships in 1922 and 1923.

by Matt Tait

Back at the hotel, this image jumped right out at us. I mean, I know thousands of people play the piano, but how many teams in the NCAA Tournament have an accomplished pianist in their regular rotation? I don't know the number, but I know that senior forward Mario Little makes KU one of them.

by Matt Tait

For those KU fans looking for more good omens from the 2008 title run, there are plenty here in Tulsa. First off, there's this building, named for the former Memphis Tiger whose missed free throw allowed Mario's Miracle to become a reality.

by Matt Tait

Here's another from the title run, Detroit Avenue in Downtown Tulsa serves as a reminder of the site where KU beat Davidson to advance to its most recent Final Four.

by Matt Tait

Here's another flash down Memory Lane... KUSports.com alum, Ryan Greene, now the UNLV beat writer at the Las Vegas Sun, is also in Tulsa this week. Greene was there the last time the Jayhawks cut down the nets on that magical Monday in April and he's here because the Rebels play the Illini in Round 1. The winner gets the KU-BU winner on Sunday.

by Matt Tait

There's also a bar that gives a shout out to KU broadcasting legend Max Falkenstien.

by Matt Tait

Before we go, here's a couple more signs that reference current and former KU greats.

by Matt Tait

by Matt Tait

Finally, after digesting all of the pro-KU signs, we found one final omen that bodes especially well for KU's first-round game. There, at the back entrance of the Hyatt was the street sign indicating that the Hyatt is off of Boston Street. Initially, I took this to be a bad sign, but sports editor Tom Keegan quickly pointed out one fine detail on the sign that made it fit right in with this blog.

It's South Boston Street, as in, Boston U. is heading south.

by Matt Tait

So there you have it. All kinds of signs that point to KU feeling incredibly comfortable and having great success down here in Tulsa. You can't make this stuff up, folks.

Check back with KUSports.com throughout the next few days for more blogs, stories, photos and videos from Tulsa.

by Matt Tait

Last year, 11 scouts from the National Football League showed up to watch a dozen or so Kansas University football players put their best feet forward in hopes of earning a spot on a pro team.

This year, despite the fact that the KU senior class lacked names like Darrell Stuckey (4th-round selection of San Diego), Kerry Meier (5th-round selection of Atlanta) and Dezmon Briscoe (6th-round selection of Cincinnati), nine NFL scouts made their way to KU's campus to watch 10 Jayhawks run through a variety of combine-style drills.

Officials from Atlanta, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Green Bay, New England, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Carolina and New Orleans worked out 10 KU seniors in drills such as the vertical jump, the broad jump, the 40-yard dash and a variety of position drills.

The bulk of the workout took place in the weight room of the Anderson Family Football Complex. After finishing the measurements and testing inside, the players and scouts headed outdoors to the Memorial Stadium turf to run through the rest of the day's drills.

Several Jayhawks performed well enough to open a few eyes. Wide receiver Johnathan Wilson had a great day, jumping 35.5 inches in the vertical test, 10 feet, 2 inches in the broad jump test and running a 40-yard dash in the 4.5-second range.

“I feel pretty good about everything I did," Wilson said. "I feel like my training (after the season) really paid off.”

Senior cornerback/safety Chris Harris also looked sharp, running in the 4.4-range in the 40 and tearing up all of the position drills.

“I’m definitely the best shape I’ve ever been in. I’ve worked really hard. Since we lost to Missouri (the last game of the season), I’ve been training really hard and just getting ready for today. I’m pretty sure we opened some eyes today. I’m just trying to improve my stock. We had a pretty good show in front of the scouts so I’m pretty sure I’m going to hear my named called somewhere.”

Linebackers Justin Springer and Drew Dudley turned in the best performances in the bench press, as Springer hoisted 225 pounds an impressive 26 times and Dudley did 23.

Others who had their day in front of the scouts Wednesday included: defensive end Jake Laptad, who also ran routes at tight end in the late stages of the workout; running back Angus Quigley, who ran a consistent 4.6 in the 40; Calvin Rubles, whose speed in the 4.5-range surprised several people; linebacker Justin Springer; offensive lineman Brad Thorson, who sported a leprechaun-esque beard that he had grown back home in Wisconsin to help him make it through the harsh winter; punter Alonso Rojas, who did a couple of drills and kicked on the field; and defensive lineman Quintin Woods.

The following is a list of unofficial 40-yard dash times from Wednesday's pro day. Each player ran twice.

Drew Dudley: 4.57, 4.60
Chris Harris: 4.40, 4.35
Jake Laptad: 4.94, 4.90
Calvin Rubles: 4.69, 4.50
Justin Springer: 5.0, 4.90
Brad Thorson: 5.10, 5.10
Johnathan Wilson: 4.50, 4.59
Quintin Woods: 4.69, 4.70

by Matt Tait

by Matt Tait

Today marks the beginning of the 2011 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where the nation’s top college football players strut their stuff for the scouts and try to make a good enough impression to bolster their value in April’s draft.

Three Jayhawks — safety Darrell Stuckey and wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier — tried their luck at the showcase in 2010, but this year’s Combine will take place without any former KU players.

Still, there’s gotta be some sort of connection between one of the premiere college football events of the year and KU, doesn’t there?

Well, yes and no. Stick with me here.

Last week, a friend’s father-in-law forwarded me some research he had done on the 2010 Combine and how the invitations related to each athlete’s standing coming out of high school.

Pay close attention: Here’s where the pseudo-KU connection comes in.

Of the 327 players invited to last year’s combine, more than half were three-star, two-star or no-star players coming out of high school. In fact, nearly one-third were three-star guys — KU’s most recent recruiting class is made up of 21 such players — and the number of combine attendees who were not ranked by the oh-so-popular star system coming out of high school more than doubled the number of five-star studs on the list.

It should be noted that the number of four- and five-star guys named each year is always smaller, but, still, I think this list shows that being a big-time player out of high school does not guarantee a ticket to the NFL.

Here’s the breakdown:

5-star prospects — 24
4-star prospects — 80
3-star prospects — 102
2-star prospects — 69
0-star prospects — 52

So what does all this mean? Well, not much, actually. Four years — three, in some cases — is a long time, and expecting players to carry those rankings with them throughout their college football careers is a little ridiculous. Some improve. Others tank. And still more shock the heck out of people. Remember, Aqib Talib was a two-star guy out of high school and he went on to become a first-round pick.

I guess the point is this: Whether you needed it or not, this is just another way to hammer home the notion that these star rankings don’t really matter. I’m not saying they’re worthless. Far from it, in fact. I know the guys that put them together spend a lot of time and watch a lot of film to come up with some sort of way to rank thousands of high school players from all over the country. I’m glad they do. It sure makes writing about these players more interesting.

What’s more, it gives the fans something to talk about and be excited about. “Did you see we landed that four-star receiver from Texas,” they’ll say to their buddies. Or, “Any chance we’re gonna get that five-star back out of Florida?” The list goes on and the conversations are long.

Just remember, four-star, five-star or no-star, when these guys get to the point where they’re ready to become pros, all that really matters is how they do in Indy. The Combine is a beast unlike any other and a good showing there can turn a former no-star high school prospect into a can’t-miss first-round NFLer. It can also work the opposite way, too.

Signing Day’s gone and spring is upon us. Although spring football doesn’t start for a few more weeks (April 1, to be exact; no kidding), I’ve always considered the first whistle at the NFL Combine to be the first true sign of spring.

by Matt Tait

6:13 p.m. Update:

Still waiting on that video... should be up shortly. It's been a busy day for all of us so some of this follow-up stuff is going to have to shift to tomorrow. Oh well, more signing day fun for everyone then!!!

That includes our podcast with Rivals.com's Jon Kirby. You can't imagine how many radio interviews that guy's done today. He just called back and tried to squeeze us in tonight, but I thought it'd be better to have something fresh tomorrow, so check that out sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Also, if you haven't already seen it, be sure to check out the transcript of the Live Chat we did earlier today with Bishop Miege offensive lineman Phil Ford. Ford was fantastic and was a terrific spokesman for the entire class.

It really seems like a great group. They're talented, good-character guys with excellent leadership and academic qualities. It's going to be a blast to watch them develop.

Thanks to all of you for checking us out today. Having readers/commenters like you makes all the hard work worth doing. More tomorrow.

I have to run over to the KU women's basketball game now. See ya tomorrow.

4:09 p.m. Update:

Just got back from Coach Gill's press conference and he had a lot of good things to say about this class. He didn't really address all 27 guys individually but he did go position by position. Asked which position he thought he improved the most with this class, Gill said all of them.

"I think at every position we did that," Gill said. "And that's why it's so exciting to me, because now I truly believe that we have guys who can compete for a job at every position. I'm excited over every last one of them."

Here are a few more notes and nuggets from Gill's 30-minute meeting with the media:

• On just his second day on the job, new KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger made it to Gill's news conference, despite being delayed in Lubbock, Tex., with the men's basketball team.

• Gill notes that last year was somewhat odd in that only three true freshman played. This year, of the 27 guys that signed today, Gill anticipates that nearly half of them will play this fall in some capacity. The reason? Speed. They all have it and that immediately makes them viable candidates for playing time at every position.

• One big advantage that Gill gave it up to was the Kansas basketball program and Allen Fieldhouse. "One thing that's great for us, there's no doubt about it, is going to a basketball game (with these recruits)," Gill said. He also noted that people in all areas of the university from other sports to academic counselors to professors and students lent a hand in helping to land this class.

"This is a great class," Gill said. "And it's great because each one of the guys we signed has great speed and character and believes academics is important."

• Already committed to saying that half of the class will play, Gill was asked more directly about the quarterback position. "Would you feel comfortable playing a true freshman at quarterback," he was asked. The answer: Yes, sir. Absolutely." That's not to say Brock Berglund is going to be the starter, but he's clearly going to have a legitimate opportunity to earn the job.

• Quickly, here are some facts and figures about the Class of 2011.

• 26 of the 27 players signed were high school seniors
• The class spanned 11 different states, with Texas (9) and Kansas (7) having the most
• The class includes two sets of teammates, Ben Goodman and Collin Garrett, of West Brook High in Beaumont, Tex., and Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons, of Olathe North
• 14 members of the class played in and won state championship games last fall
• 23 of the 27 members played in high school playoff games in each of the past 2 seasons
• The class includes 13 on offense, 13 on defense and 1 special teams player
• The position with the most signees was offensive line (6), followed by linebacker (5).

More to come. Be sure to check out the ongoing live chat with Phil Ford and check back soon for our podcast with Jon Kirby of Rivals.com.

1:27 p.m. Update:

Preparing to start the journey over to campus for this afternoon's press conference. I'll get there a little early and give myself plenty of time to navigate the roads.

Check back later, though, for reaction from Coach Gill in this blog, as well as via video footage that we'll put together.

Reminder about the 3:45 p.m. Live Chat with Bishop Miege offensive lineman Phil Ford. If you haven't done so already, submit your questions now and be sure to log on then to see what Big Phil has to say.

After that, I'm hoping to line up Rivals.com's Jon Kirby for a podcast. He said Monday that he's in, we just have to check on the weather and his availability. But look for that at some point later today, as our non-stop coverage of Signing Day 2011 continues.

12:14 p.m. Update:

Just saw this on ESPN.com. Before you get too excited, it's merely a list of the biggest classes so far, which is why KU ranks 4th overall, with 27 signed. Still, it's nice to see the Jayhawks up there with some of college football's heavy hitters.

More to come....

11:40 a.m. Update:

Just got done with a little shoveling and came in to find this gem... Malcolm Walker, an outside linebacker at Navarro Junior College, which won the juco national championship last season, has decided to join the Jayhawks as a walk-on...

Jon Kirby, of Rivals.com, is reporting that Walker chose KU over other schools because that's the place he felt the most comfortable.

"I decided to go to Kansas because that's where I fit in," Walker told Kirby. "They said they might run some more 3-4 defense and that plays to my game. That's what I do best. The coaches told me they like how I get to the quarterback and how I can cover the inside receiver when he goes in motion."

At 6-2, 215, Walker sounds like a linebacker. But added bulk this offseason could inspire him to slide to defensive end, especially with all that talk of getting after the quarterback. Of course, if KU does play more 3-4, that leaves room for 4 LBs on the field at one time and, unlike last year when KU had very little depth behind it's front three, this year's group of linebackers is going to be very deep and very talented.

Kirby calls this the steal of the class, largely because he's coming as a walk-on. Huge get for KU and coach Gill, making a great day even better. Could this be the player that pushes KU into the Top 30?

More to come...

10:31 a.m. Update:

It's 10:30 and all the letters are in. KU's complete class has signed and faxed the letters to campus. Everyone who was expected to join the Jayhawks today did just that, making this one of the most successful — not to mention smooth —  Signing Days in quite some time.

KU missed out on DT Terry Redden, who chose Memphis instead, but that opened up an official spot for DE Javonte Daniel, who quickly took advantage of that opportunity and signed right away.

Others who joined the part in the last half hour include, Wichita RB Dreamius Smith, Texas OL Damon Martin, Oklahoma LB Jake Love, Olathe North DB Adonis Saunders and California OL Bryan Peters. Here are a couple of tidbits from those guys:

by Matt Tait

Damon Martin, 6-5, 265, made no secret about his goal for next season: "My goal is to start," Martin said, adding, "I was impressed with the athleticism (Coach Gill brought in)."

Dreamius Smith, of Wichita Heights, talked about nothing more than working hard when he gets to town: "My goals are to come in and work hard everyday and earn playing time," he said. "And the 2011 class is a great class to get... (I) know there will be a lot of competing going on."

More to come throughout the day so stay tuned in to KUSports.com.

Here's the final list of guys whose letters of intent have been faxed to KU.

• Luke Luhrsen
• Chris Robinson
• Jason Hensley
• Phil Ford
• Michael Reynolds
• Ben Goodman
• Collin Garrett
• Michael Cummings
• Travis Bodenstein
• Victor Simmons
• Ben Heeney
• JaCorey Shepherd
• Alex Matlock
• Alex Mueller
• Anthony Pierson
• Damon Martin
• Tunde Bakare
• Bryan Peters
• Adonis Saunders
• Jake Love
• Dreamius Smith
• Javonte Daniel
• Marquis Jackson

Add to this list, the following players, who already have signed and are on campus:

• Brock Berglund
• Dylan Admire
• Darrian Miller
• Julius Green

For more on the entire class, keep it right here all day and be sure to check out our recruiting capsules at KUSports.com.

10:09 a.m. Update:

It looks like the LaGrange, Ga., prospect Javonte Daniel will be a member of the Class of 2011 after all.

Jon Kirby, of Rivals.com, is reporting that Daniel has signed his letter of intent to join the Jayhawks. And just in the nick of time, too. It seems that Daniel's mom was wanting him to take a guaranteed offer from Marhsall instead of waiting for KU to sort things out. Daniel wanted to be a Jayhawk, but also wanted to please his mother. So, as he walked down the hall of his school on the way to sign with Marshall, the AD came running into the hall, yelling that the letter from KU had arrived.

Daniel quickly shifted gears, signed with Kansas and is expected to be here in August.

by Matt Tait

This, in a nutshell, is what signing day's all about and it's the reason people wake up before 6 a.m. to start following this stuff. Great work by Kirby, as always, and even better work by the KU coaching staff to snag Daniel before he got away.

More to come...

9:57 a.m. Update:

KU just released its first "official" signee list. It includes 17 names. Those that we have that aren't on there include: Anthony Pierson, Damon Martin, Tunde Bakare and Phil Ford.

Not to worry. Sometimes things on campus just move a little slower.

9:52 a.m. Update:

Here's the story about DE Javonte Daniel... He is in the high school Class of 2011 but may not wind up in this recruiting class. That's still up in the air.

I think a lot of it depends on who else KU signs and what the total number from the day is. If it's fewer than expected — even by just one or two — then Daniel may get his scholly and be ready to come to town in August. If it's the number we expect, or perhaps even one or two more, then Daniel may wind up grayshirting, which means he'd sit out this fall, work out and/or take classes at a juco and then come to KU in January as a part of the Class of 2012. Sort of like what KU did with Julius Green this year.

I know Daniel wants to be a Jayhawk and I know the coaches want him. All we're waiting on now is the numbers game to play out.

Stay tuned...

9:32 a.m. Update:

Let's update the list. Just about everybody in already and it's only 9:30 a.m. With the weather being a factor and KU coming off a 3-9 season, it's awesome to see that so many talented players were so excited to join the Jayhawks.

I can only imagine how happy Coach Gill and crew are right now. Luckily, I won't have to imagine that for long. Coach Gill has a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. today to talk about the class.

Here's the updated list:

• Luke Luhrsen
• Chris Robinson
• Jason Hensley
• Phil Ford
• Michael Reynolds
• Ben Goodman
• Collin Garrett
• Michael Cummings
• Travis Bodenstein
• Victor Simmons
• Ben Heeney
• JaCorey Shepherd
• Alex Matlock
• Alex Mueller
• Anthony Pierson
• Damon Martin
• Tunde Bakare

Add to this list, the following players, who already have signed and are on campus:

• Brock Berglund
• Dylan Admire
• Darrian Miller
• Julius Green

9:23 a.m. Update:

Quick story about Highland linebacker Tunde Bakare, who has now sent his letter of intent to the KU coaching staff.

by Matt Tait

Originally from Virginia, Bakare was recruited heavily by Maryland out of high school. He almost ended up there but wound up going the juco route instead. From the moment he arrived at Highland, Bakare always figured he'd go back south to play Div. I ball. Then he got hooked up with the Kansas coaches and he never looked back.

When talking to Bakare the other day, he told me it was "meant to be" for him to wind up at Kansas and that he was real excited about the opportunity to join the Jayhawks. I'll have more on Bakare, who's name is Nigerian and means "Child of God," in the next couple of days.

And believe me, you'll be hearing plenty from this guy in 2011. He should be a candidate to start at LB and, with a motor like his, should be involved in tons of plays.

More to come...

8:57 a.m. Update:

Jon Kirby, of Rivals.com, is reporting that DT Terry Redden will pass on Kansas to sign with Memphis.

Not a huge surprise here, but it was looking like KU was making a serious move to add Redden's services.

Would've been nice to land a DT like Redden, but this news should not in any way dampen the mood today. KU is already well into hauling in one of its best classes in a long time.

More to come.

8:51 a.m. Update:

by Matt Tait

Don't forget the kicker... Just received word that Alex Mueller, a place kicker from Grapevine, Tex., has faxed his letter into the KU football offices.

Mueller told me earlier this week that he hoped to step in right away and contribute to the team in some manner. With former kicker Jacob Branstetter graduating, Mueller figures to at least get the opportunity to compete with Ron Doherty for kicking duties.

Like several of his future teammates, Mueller also has been impressed with how close the Class of 2011 already has become.

"The amount of talent that is coming in, and how all the guys are wanting to become a family (is incredible)," he said. "A few guys have messaged me on Facebook already, and I got to talk to a few on the recruiting trip. It will be a great group of guys."

More to come.

8:33 a.m. Update:

Add Hutch LB Ben Heeney's name to the list. Heeney just faxed his letter in, making it 15 from the Class of 2011 already official. Talk about a bunch of kids who were eager to sign. This is outstanding news for KU.

I talked with Heeney earlier this week and he said he wasn't sure when he would sign because of the weather. Looks like it didn't hurt him too bad. Heeney gets his letter in by 8:30 a.m. and officially joins former teammate Josh Smith (a walk-on RB in 2010) and the Jayhawks.

Here's what Heeney had to say about his hopes for 2011 and the rest of the class he's coming in with.

"My goal for next year is to get some playing time," he said. "The thing that impresses me the most is how I've gotten along with all the other guys in my recruiting class."

Not only are the players KU is signing a talented group, they're also already teammates. Just a great sign for the future of KU football.

8:27 a.m. Update:

This from Coach Gill via Twitter just a few minutes ago:

"This phone is ringin off the hook! Get ready Jayhawk nation"

8:17 a.m. Update:

by Matt Tait

No more questions about whether Wichita defensive end, Michael Reynolds, is coming to Kansas. He's signed and is ready to make an impact.

"Since I have a chance to play early, I want to start and become a role player on the squad," Reynolds told me last weekend. "I also expect for us to go bowling this year."

Big goals go hand-in-hand with a big-time class. And it looks more and more each day like KU has just landed a big-time class.

More to come as the letters keep rolling in.

8:08 a.m. Update:

Here's this from QB Michael Cummings, of Killeen, Tex., a dual-threat prospect who injured his knee midway through his senior season and currently is rehabbing.

Asked what his goals for his first year at Kansas were, Cummings said: "First, get healthy and be a good teammate and learn the offense as well as be a reliable man for my coaches and team."

As for the one area of his game that he'd like to improve the most: "I would say decision making."

8:02 a.m. Update:

Here's the latest update of letters that have arrived at KU:

• Luke Luhrsen
• Chris Robinson
• Jason Hensley
• Phil Ford
• Michael Reynolds
• Ben Goodman
• Collin Garrett
• Michael Cummings
• Travis Bodenstein
• Victor Simmons

Add to this list, the following players, who already have signed and are on campus:

• Brock Berglund
• Dylan Admire
• Darrian Miller
• Julius Green

7:45 a.m. Update:

Here's more from a couple of Jayhawks who made it official between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. today...

Linebacker Jason Hensley, of Alma, Ark., had this to say about what he's expecting next season:

"My goal is to work as hard as I can, and hopefully to play," said Hensley, 6-2, 222.

As for his strengths and what he'd like to improve the most between now and then: "I would have to say I go 100 percent each play and I need to work on my footwork."

by Matt Tait

Ben Goodman, a 6-3, 225 pound DE from West Brook High in Beaumont, Tex., outlined some rather lofty goals for his first season at KU:

"Play as a true freshman and be a freshman all-american and big 12 defensive freshman of the year."

He continued: "We are getting good players in and they all seem like winners but the two boys from Beaumont, Tex., (Goodman and LB Collin Garrett) we're born winners, it's in our heart and the programs we've been in have been winning since the 7th grade and I don't expect to lose a KU either."

It's not hard to see that the duo from West Brook High in Beaumont, Tex., is extremely confident. Here's what Collin Garrett had to say about his goals for 2011:

"My goals are to get on the field and be the Big 12 defensive player of the year."

Wow. Gotta like that if you're a Kansas fan.

7:42 a.m. Update:

More from Facebook...

"Officially just became a member of the kansas jayhawks," - Ben Goodman, 7:27 a.m.

And this from juco linebacker Tunde Bakare at 7:38 a.m.: "Getting ready 2 sign these papers, big chapter in my life. all can say is thank you God Tune in to ESPN at 9 and watch ya boy's name go across that screen aint gunna cry lol."

7:37 a.m. Update:

Here's the updated list of 2011 recruits who have officially signed their letters of intent:

• Luke Luhrsen
• Chris Robinson
• Jason Hensley
• Phil Ford
• Michael Reynolds
• Ben Goodman

For more on the entire class, keep it right here all day and be sure to check out our recruiting capsules at KUSports.com.

7:30 a.m. Update

Next, our attention turns to nearby Olathe North High, where defensive backs Victor Simmons and Adonis Saunders were expected to sign at 7:30 a.m.

One problem: There’s no school today and that means there’s no signing at the school. Simmons and Saunders both said Tuesday, though, that even if the weather causes a problem (I’d say 8-10 inches of snow and frigid temperatures qualifies) they’d still find a way to get their letters of intent signed early and sent off to KU. Talk about dedication.

by Matt Tait

Here’s what Saunders and Simmons, teammates who also made up a wide receiver-quarterback duo at O-North, had to say about their goals for their rookie seasons at KU.

“My goal for KU is to come in and make an impact on the team and help build them back up,” said Saunders, a 5-11, 185-pound D-Back. “(Coach Gill) has brought in guys from wining teams who have that leadership that teams need (to be successful).”

Added Simmons, a 6-1, 185-pound safety: “Work hard and be successful on and off the field.”

As for the Class of 2011’s camaraderie, Simmons said that was already taking shape: “Everyone is easy to get along with. Every recruit i met, we became friends almost instantly.”

by Matt Tait

7:21 a.m. Update:

This is from Luke Luhrsen's Facebook page... "I believe this means that now I am a Jayhawk. Officially."

That letter must be signed and sent. One down. 25 to go.

7:01 a.m. Update

You really can’t take a break for a second here on signing day. Not long after tracking Love’s progress down in Oklahoma, we turn our attention to Wheaton, Ill., where offensive lineman, Luke Luhrsen, 6-5, 265, is expected to sign at 7:01 a.m.

I also caught up with Luhrsen this weekend, who’s goals for his first year with the Jayhawks focused a lot on individual improvement.

“I would really like to get stronger and learn better technique so that I can be all I can be when the time comes for me to take the field,” said Luhrsen, who hails from the same hometown as KU offensive coordinator, Chuck Long. “I expect to get a lot bigger and hopefully a lot stronger, physically and mentally.”

One of six offensive linemen in KU’s Class of 2011, Luhrsen was not at all intimidated by the large number of players at his position.

“As an offensive lineman, I was thrilled to see that there were five other skilled lineman who I know I will be able to rely on in the future,” he said.

7:00 a.m. Update

Next up, our attention turns to Tonkawa, Okla., where linebacker Jake Love plans to sign his national letter of intent at Tonkawa High at 7 a.m... weather-permitting, of course.

I caught up with Love last weekend, and he was not shy about sharing his hopes for his first year in Lawrence.

“(I’d like to) find a way on the field, whether its special teams or outside linebacker,” said Love, a 6-foot, 195-pound outside linebacker. “I just want to help the team in any way possible.”

Also included among Love’s goals for next year are: “Beat OU and OSU, help the team get to a bowl game and improve every day.”

Original Post, 6 a.m.

Good morning, and welcome to KUSports.com’s coverage of Signing Day 2011.

There are a few reasons that Signing Day figures to be a little different around here this year. For starters, signing day itself has become a much bigger deal in the past several years, with ESPN increasing its coverage, newspapers and web sites throughout the country have stepped up their game to follow suit.

What's more, KU coach Turner Gill and his staff appear to be living up to their billing as big-time recruiters, which has brought an extra dose of excitement to this year's big day.

Seeing how this is my first official signing day as a college football beat writer, I have to admit I’m pretty jacked up about the whole experience. I plan to be here throughout the day, bringing you the latest on the KU signings from what appears to be a pretty stacked class. Rivals.com has KU’s Class of 2011 ranked as the 33rd best class in the country and, as our sports editor, Tom Keegan, likes to say, for a school like KU with an unproven and inconsistent football program, that’s actually more like 23rd. His reasoning goes like this: Because it’s Kansas, a football school that, historically speaking, has yet to fully turn the corner, analysts don’t give the Jayhawks the benefit of the doubt like they do with other, more proven football schools.

Anyway, back to our plans for the day. In addition to live updates throughout the morning on this blog, you can also follow me on Twitter (@mctait) for the latest tidbits of information regarding KU’s latest class.

We’re also planning to have a live chat with offensive lineman, Phil Ford, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound standout from nearby Bishop Miege High. The chat with Ford is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m., but you can submit your questions now.

As of midnight, the KU coaching staff still had a few irons in the fire out there and at least one more scholarship to hand out, so there’s a decent chance that we might get a surprise or two as the day moves along. Keep it right here for all of that information and much, much more.

Remember, three players from the Class of 2011 — QB Brock Berglund, RB Darrian Miller and OL Dylan Admire — already have signed and are enrolled in classes at KU while preparing for spring ball.

KU’s first signing of the day is expected to take place on the East Coast, where Lake Mary, Fla., cornerback, Chris Robinson, is slated to sign just after 7 a.m. local time — 6 a.m. central time — which gives him the jump on so many of KU’s 2011 recruits who call the Midwest home.

Robinson told Jon Kirby, of Rivals.com, that his father, who is in the military and has just been deployed, will listen to the ceremony via telephone, as will his brother, Michael, who attends college in North Carolina. Several other family members will be at Lake Mary High to watch the three-star cornerback join the Jayhawks. Included among them are his mother, his maternal grandmother and his grandfather, who is ill with cancer.

by Matt Tait

We’ll leave it there for now, but check back often throughout the morning as I’ll have updates on most of the day’s signings as they happen.

Later today, we’ll wrap up our Signing Day sprint with coverage from KU coach Turner Gill’s 3 p.m. news conference in which he unveils the full class and talks about his latest crop of Jayhawks.

While you’re waiting for the next signing update, or sometime later today, be sure to check out the collection of video highlights from KU’s latest class that our own Jesse Newell threw together.

More to come...

Signing Day 2011 is now just six days away, and if you look at the Big 12’s team rankings page on Rivals.com’s web site for the Class of 2011, you’ll notice a couple of things right off the bat.

Being KU fans, you’ll probably see that Kansas’ current recruiting class is ranked sixth in the conference, which actually puts the Jayhawks fifth since Nebraska, which is in fourth, won’t be in the conference next year.

You’ll also probably notice that the rankings are broken down in a couple of different ways. First, you see the total number of commitments. For KU, at least as of this morning, that number was 26. In the next three columns, you’ll see five-star commitments (none for Kansas), four-star commitments (two for Kansas) and three-star commitments (21 for Kansas). The final column you’ll see winds up being the average of all of that school’s recruits. In this case, the average for KU is 2.96, which means that, on the whole, KU’s Class of 2011 is a three-star class.

Here’s the catch. We all know that four-star guys don’t always play like four-star guys and two-star guys occasionally turn into studs. The other thing that makes ranking classes so difficult is the fact that these sites and rankings rarely take into account the needs of each particular team.

Here’s an example. His name is Kyle Crofoot and, according to Rivals.com, he’s a no-star guy. That’s not to say he’s no good. It’s just that based on who’s recruiting him and the position he plays, there’s not enough info or film to give him any stars.

But the special teams star from Orlando is on KU’s radar and, if he decides to come to Kansas, he could play a bigger role on next year’s team than any recruit they’ve already landed.

Here’s why. Crofoot, all 6-4, 240 pounds of him, is one of the best long-snappers in the country. He’s so good that Auburn is inviting him to walk on and, after a visit to Kansas this weekend, he’s scheduled to check out Florida next week. For those who may have forgotten, Auburn won the national title this past season and Florida, well, they’ve won two titles in the past few years.

The beautiful thing about Crofoot’s trip to Kansas is the fact that there’s an actual scholarship offer attached to it. Because of the crazy success KU coach Turner Gill and Co. have had in the past couple of weeks with landing some late and talented commitments, there’s not a lot of scholarships left for the Jayhawks to hand out. Offering one to Crofoot shows how important the position is. Jayhawk fans who watched with horror last year as KU had three punts blocked, also know all too well.

This is not a knock on last year’s long snapper, Justin Carnes. Like so many of his teammates, Carnes, just a red-shirt freshman in 2010, was young, inexperienced and not quite accustomed to what it took to succeed at the college level. Like most do, Carnes undoubtedly will get better and will be a solid option for the Jayhawks if he’s needed.

If Crofoot, whose three older brothers played in the SEC, decides to take KU up on its offer to pay for his schooling, he’ll have a great chance to step right in and hold down the long-snapping duties for the next four years. Many outlets have him ranked in the top three in the nation among long snappers, and, special teams or not, when you get a guy ranked in the top three in the country to come to your school, you play him.

This thing is far from a done deal. Crofoot first has to visit, meet the coaches and players and then decide if coming to the rebuilding project at Kansas is worth passing on proven SEC powers and perennial national-title contenders.

Who knows? For him, it might be. One thing we do know, though, is even if Crofoot picks Kansas, his addition won’t make near the impact on KU’s recruiting rankings as it will to the product on the field.

Here’s a couple more stories on Crofoot, for those wanting to read more:

This feature is from Chris Hays at the Orlando Sentinel.

And this update comes from Jon Kirby of Rivals.com.

by Matt Tait

After spending three days in Normal, Illinois, I’ve come to the conclusion that Sheahon Zenger is not going to need much time at all to adjust to his new surroundings in Lawrence.

For one, Zenger’s a Kansan by birth and figures to feel right at home at KU. In addition, Zenger’s coming from a place that reminds me an awful lot of Lawrence, right down to some of the some of the craziest and quirkiest coincidences.

Look no farther than an Uptown Normal apparel store known as “Campustown Supply” for proof. Shortly after meeting with Illinois State University men’s basketball coach Tim Jankovich (a former Jayhawk) and ISU’s interim AD, Larry Lyons, I strolled the streets around ISU’s campus to soak up the feel of where Zenger is coming from.

Called into Campustown Supply by the hypnotic effect of the vibrant red clothing lining the store’s window, I walked in and was astonished by what I saw. There, in the front of the store, on the very first rack I saw was a red shirt that red, “Buck Fradley.” Apparently that whole “Muck Fizzou” thing isn’t the only clever creation of its kind.

Bradley, as far as I can tell, is ISU’s chief rival and the one game a year that the fans here get geared up for in every sport, every season. But my random encounter with an awesome T-Shirt was not the only thing that reminded me of Lawrence, and KU, while I was in Normal.

Like Kansas, Illinois State also has a historic-looking fieldhouse on campus. This one, named Horton Field House, was home to the ISU basketball programs for years and reminds me a lot of K-State’s Ahearn Field House or the old Hoch Auditorium. It’s similar to Allen Fieldhouse, too, although far smaller and no longer functioning as a basketball facility.

by Matt Tait

Too bad, too. Horton was home to some of ISU’s most memorable games, including several played by ISU alum Doug Collins, a former NBA player and coach who is honored here with his jersey hanging in the rafters and a statue outside of the north entrance to Redbird Arena.

The people here go crazy for Collins, and one ISU athletic department staffer told me that dozens of ISU alums claim to have been (1) best friends and/or (2) roommates with Collins during their college days.

I met the real thing in the form of ISU alum, Don Franke, a local developer who is one of the school’s biggest backers and biggest fans. Great guy. Great family.

by Matt Tait

I had no idea what to expect when I came up here Monday. Everyone I told about my trip said I should expect next to nothing. Maybe they were here too long ago to remember or maybe they’re guilty of what so many others around here are — taking this town for granted. The Normal I encountered was a charming

Because I have next to no shot of getting all of my great experiences into my Sunday story (look for that one on the front page of Sunday’s Journal-World), I’ll wrap up this blog with a few quick-hitters that stood out during my stay in a town that I’ll always remember fondly.

Enjoy! And in case you missed my blog entries from Day 1 or Day 2, feel free to check those out, too. Thanks to all the fine folks at ISU, and in Normal, who made my stay so enjoyable.

Best story I heard: This one was easy and it came from Franke, who was answering my question about whether Sheahon Zenger was “tough enough” to tackle the job at Kansas.

“At a basketball game two years ago, I looked a couple aisles over and saw Sheahon squatted down talking to the president of ISU, Al Bowman,” Franke said. “Sheahon’s easy to pick out in a crowd, he’s got that blue suit on, that red tie, white shirt, dark hair. I noticed the usher had come down and said something to him and then walked back up to the top. About two minutes later the usher came down and said something to him again. I didn’t know what was going on.

Halftime came a couple minutes later and I walked over to Sheahon and said, ‘You better get a stronger drink than that Sierra Mist you have,’ and he looked at me and said, ‘I’m so frickin’ mad right now I can’t see straight.’ I said, ‘What’s the matter?’ That usher came down there and told him he had to find a seat. So Sheahon said OK. When the usher came down again, he said, ‘Sir, I’m sorry but you’re gonna have to find a seat.’ At that point, Sheahon showed him his badge. A couple minutes later he came down and said, ‘I’m gonna remove you from here,’ or whatever words were said, and then halftime came.

Well, that guy was gone at halftime and they brought a new usher in for the second half. I’d never seen that side of Sheahon. He used to be a football coach, you know. So he can be tough.”

Best place I ate: With all due respect to the legendary, Pub II, a college bar and grill just off the ISU campus, the nod here goes to Destihl, a local brew house with excellent food, outstanding beer and exceptional service. Read more about it in my Day 2 blog.

Best surprise: It has to be the fact that I couldn’t find a single person — and I talked to dozens — who would say so much as a luke-warm thing about Zenger. The people here love him and they always will. I’m sure it was tough for him to leave this place, but I think someday very soon Kansas fans will be glad that he did.

If it’s not that, it’s Redbird Arena. What a cool place. Don’t get me wrong, it can’t hold a candle to Allen Fieldhouse, but for what it is and for the size of school it serves, it’s a pretty neat venue.

by Matt Tait

Best thing I did: My visit with Jankovich was pretty cool. We talked a lot about KU hoops and mutual friends and I thought it was really cool to see how much he still cares about Kansas. To be fair, though, I enjoyed every single person I interviewed and/or interacted with. Everybody was beyond friendly.

Worst thing I did: Monday night, after pulling into town after a foggy and wet drive, I cruised around a little to get my bearings for the next day. As I was driving around, I found myself facing the wrong way on College Avenue.

It didn’t take me long to figure it out — thanks to the guy who flashed his brights to alert me — and, luckily, it was late enough that there wasn’t much traffic. Seriously, though, why are there so many one-way roads in Normal?

by Matt Tait

2:33 p.m. Update:

One of the things that has amazed me most about doing this story is all of the connections that exist between Illinois State and Kansas. I'm sure it's like this a lot of places and with a lot of different universities, but, even knowing that, this one seems extreme.

Here's a quick look:

• Former KU athletic director Bob Frederick was the AD at ISU before heading to Kansas in 1987.

• Former KU chancellor Gene Budig was the Illinois State president from 1973-77 and, three years later, wound up at Kansas.

• Former KU assistant men's basketball coach Kevin Stallings (who coached under Roy Williams and is now at Vanderbilt) left Kansas to become the head coach at ISU. Several years later, former KU assistant men's basketball coach Tim Jankovich (who coached under Bill Self) left KU for ISU and Jankovich currently is in his fourth season in charge of the Redbirds.

• KU women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson and first-year ISU women's basketball coach Stephanie Glance go back a couple of decades. Glance, by the way, coached under NC-State legend Kay Yow for 15 years and, last season, worked for Pat Summitt at Tennessee.

• ISU football coach Brock Spack coached with former KU assistant coach Pat Henderson at Purdue, under Joe Tiller.

• And then, of course, there's Zenger, who was born and raised in Kansas — including Lawrence — and now will be going back home.

One man who has seen most of that list come through Normal, Ill., is Larry Lyons, who currently holds the title of interim athletic director. Lyons originally came to Illinois State several years ago when Dr. Frederick inquired about hiring him to be the athletic department's business manager. During the hiring process, Frederick left for Kansas and the new guy wound up actually hiring Lyons. But Frederick got the ball rolling and Lyons said he's still indebted to Frederick for being where he is.

Throughout the years, Lyons has worked for four athletic directors, a couple more interim ADs and has seen ISU experience ups and downs and downs and ups. Since Zenger arrived six years ago, however, Lyons said the university has been on a steady path forward.

Lyons, who has worked closely with Zenger throughout the past six years — especially on the renovation of the baseball facility in 2009 that turned Duffy Bass Field from something you'd see at Holcom in Lawrence to one that would stand up well in most major conferences — said he's been impressed by so many things that Zenger has done. But few have been as impressive to him as the man's ability to motivate.

Twice a year the athletic department conducts what's known as the Walk of Champions, where the athletic department educates incoming student-athletes about what ISU stands for, believes in and is all about. Zenger, as he loves to do, stands in front of the entire student-athlete population and delivers his message, his philosophy, which he shared so eloquently during his introductory press conference at Kansas. Being "assignment correct, fundamentally sound and mentally tough on the field of play, in the classroom and in our personal lives each and every day," is the foundation of the philosophy the message and it's one that's not just shared with the student-athletes.

"We have one every year, too," Lyons said. "We watch a video and listen to him talk and hear the message. If he's really on, it's 'throw open the locker room doors, here we go' to start the season."

In the short time I've been here and through the hours of information I've learned about Zenger, that seems to be the one thing that has stood out the most. Not only is what he preaches real and from the heart, it's also something he's willing to back up with action.

As Lyons says, "So much of what he does is (because of) where he's from."

With that in mind, doing it at Kansas shouldn't be too much of a stretch.

by Matt Tait

12:49 p.m. Update:

Please note, I did not take the above photo. Got it from Carlos T. Miranda of The Pantagraph newspaper's web site, www.pantagraph.com.

Had two more interviews at ISU this morning and both were awesome.

The first was with Jankovich, who got home late last night after losing to Drake by eight on the road. The Redbirds are just 8-11 this year, including 0-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference, but they're also the 23rd youngest team in the nation so Jank's taking it all in stride.

Visiting with him was great. For starters, he, like everyone else, had nothing but amazing things to say about Sheahon Zenger. Zenger hired Jankovich and he did so because he was the right fit for Illinois State.

* Sidenote: I'm sure most of you know but in case you forgot, Jank's the second former KU assistant to take over at ISU. Kevin Stallings (now at Vandy) left KU several years ago to lead the Redbirds. *

The two have worked together wonderfully for the past four years and Jankovich said he can't imagine having a better boss than Zenger.

He also talked fondly about his time at Kansas, which he said he thinks about constantly. Being a K-State alum, Jankovich understands the draw to the Sunflower State and he thinks Zenger will do a fantastic job.

When I asked him what made him think Zenger could handle stepping up to the BCS level, Jankovich laughed and said, "A lot of people think that's a big question mark with Sheahon, but that just makes me laugh because I actually think it's one of his strengths."

He pointed to Zenger's time at other BCS schools, as a coach and assistant administrator, as one of the reasons he thinks he's ready for the job at Kansas.

When I'm finished with this Zenger story, I'll knock out an update on Jankovich. He had so many great things to say about KU, Lawrence, Coach Self and the whole KU family. He really loved his time there and has done his best to bring elements of Kansas to ISU.

I'm heading back to Redbird Arena this afternoon to watch practice. Should be fun.

More to come before then, though, so check back soon.

Original Post, 6 a.m.:

by Matt Tait

Tuesday was an incredibly productive day for me in Normal, Illinois. If nothing else, I learned that this place is not normal at all. It’s extraordinary.

One minute it’s a sleepy college town with an intimate and inviting campus. The next it’s a bustling business center with corporate headquarters to two of the world’s largest insurance agencies — State Farm and Country Financial — at its core. That rare blend — as Illinois State associate AD Aaron Leetch put it, “It’s not a college town, it’s a town with a college in it” — makes Normal an interesting place to investigate.

After spending most of my day on campus, from Redbird Arena and the offices that sit just off the gym’s concourse, to Horton Field House and the office of the president, it’s safe to say I got my Redbird fix. Everywhere I turned, I saw the vibrant Redbird logo, raring its head in one direction or another, popping off of whatever surface it was on with great pride.

With hours of taped interviews, a variety of videos and plenty of still photographs, I decided to take a break from my 12-hour extravaganza with a nice meal before I dove into sorting through everything.

Leetch, one of two outstanding tour guides who gave me first-class treatment on Tuesday, recommended that I check out Destihl Restaurant and Brew Works, a local joint that reminded me of a perfect blend between Free State Brewery and Teller’s. What a great call.

Not only was my meal sensational (spinach and goat cheese salad with salmon and mashed potatoes) but the service was exceptional, as well. As I arrived, an older lady, in a handicapped space, was attempting to scrape the ice off her windows. Because my car was equipped with an ice scraper and my jacket packed with gloves, I decided to do the noble thing, the Midwest thing, and scrape the ice for her. It only took a couple of minutes and, naturally, the lady was very appreciative. As I chipped the ice away from the rear window, an employee from the restaurant approached me with two gift cards. Ryan was his name, and he said, “Sir, we saw you being a gentleman and we wanted to give you these. Enjoy.”

Unreal. Although I would’ve done the same thing any time and any place, I couldn’t help but see the connection between my gesture and the one extended to me by the fine folks at Destihl as some sort of coincidental connection between ISU athletic director Sheahon Zenger and the whole reason I was in town in the first place. Apparently people are just that nice here and the vibe tends to rub off on everyone around. I’m sure Zenger’s not responsible for all of it, but, after what I learned on Tuesday, I’m thinking he’s had something to do with it.

The stellar service continued as I went into the restaurant. The hostess, Katie, an ISU student, was as sweet as could be, even going as far as to look up how often Zenger had eaten at Destihl. Turns out he was a fan, though he wasn’t there Tuesday night. At my table, Christina, the waitress, was equally as pleasant, affording me plenty of time and space to make my choices and enjoy my meal while also offering up a few nuggets of info about Normal, too.

Needless to say, whenever I’m in town again, I’ll be returning to Destihl. I’d recommend it to any of you, as well.

So, what does any of this have to do with Zenger and the Kansas Jayhawks? Good question. Not much, really. But it was the perfect capper for my perfect day and, in some small way, I think visiting Destihl, further helped me capture the spirit of Normal.

While I rode around town and checked out all of the hot spots, I kept thinking to myself, “I see why Sheahon loved it here. And I see why he’s coming to Lawrence.”

By all accounts, this is not a man who operates like the big business boss that many in his same position across the country choose to do. Sheahon Zenger is a man. Like you or me. With a family, good friends, favorite restaurants and a smile for everyone.

As today moves on and I meet up with some more folks from my Zenger File — a visit with ISU men’s basketball coach, Tim Jankovich, is on tap, along with a trip to see Hank the barber and a quick bite with Art, the owner of Times Past Inn, a breakfast hot spot not far from ISU — I imagine I’ll hear more great stories about KU’s next athletic director and I’ll be sure to bring them to you.

So check back with this blog throughout the day and lemme know if there’s anything you’d like me to check into while I’m up here. I can’t promise I’ll find the answer, but I’ll try.

by Matt Tait

5:43 p.m. Update:

Just finished up with interviews for the day. Some six hours of tape and about 10 actual interviews and not a single negative word about Zenger. In fact, none of the people I talked to today had even heard anyone utter a negative thought about the ISU athletic director, who will take over at Kansas on Feb. 1.

Here are some interesting things I learned about Zenger today:

• Despite not being a big guy, the guy's a big eater. According to ISU football coach Brock Spack, Zenger's favorite meal is anything that starts with the letter "f" ends with the letter "d" and has two "o's" in the middle. Associate AD Aaron Leetch backed Spack's claim, saying simply, "He's never met a meal he didn't like."

Because of this, Zenger doesn't necessarily have a favorite restaurant. He likes them all. I was told to see a man named Art for breakfast in the morning at a popular diner in town. I'm told Art will have some great Zenger stories.

• Leetch also told a tale of Zenger spearheading a seating chart overhaul at the basketball arena, in which donors were repositioned according to the amount of money they donated. Instead of doing this overnight, Zenger gave each donor a clear indication of where they stood and then gave them three years to get up to speed before being moved. Leetch said this method was received very well by the ISU community, many of whom did up their donations and some who chose not to worry about it but were not outraged when they were moved. Reminded me a little of the reorganization of Allen Fieldhouse that Lew Perkins and Co., did a few years back. Good to see Zenger has experience in that area.

• Speaking of experience, Zenger appears to be a master fund-raiser. Though the money is not nearly what he'll be dealing with in Lawrence, it's still impressive on a relative scale. During Zenger's first year in Normal, donor gifts totaled approximately $650,000 for the year. Six years later, in 2010, that number nearly doubled as donations totaled more than $1.2 million. That's just annual gifts. That doesn't include money donated for upgrades at numerous facilities, including the baseball field, which received a major overhaul and is now among the nicest in the Missouri Valley Conference. Said ISU donor and Zenger friend, Don Franke, "It's just really hard to say "no" to Sheahon."

• ISU president Dr. Al Bowman told me that, when he hired Zenger in 2004, Zenger was one of three finalists and was not ISU's first choice. Sound familiar? The reason Zenger wound up with the job: "He hit a home run in his interview and I was impressed with him right away," Bowman said.

There's plenty more where that came from, as I talked to several other colleagues and a few student-athletes. Tomorrow, I'm scheduled to meet with ISU men's basketball coach and former KU assistant, Tim Jankovich.... After breakfast with Art, of course.

Check back tomorrow for more.

For now, here are a few more photos from today. Enjoy!

by Matt Tait

by Matt Tait

by Matt Tait

12:47 p.m. Update:

by Matt Tait

Just ate lunch at a place called "Pub II" apparently, it's the place to go in Normal for grub, beers and all things sports.

Pretty much what you'd expect from a college-town bar and grill. Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks and ISU banners and jerseys dominate the decor and meals for $5 or less dominate the menu. Good stuff.

Heading off to do some more interviews now....

12:04 p.m. Update:

So far today, I've done four interviews and met dozens of different people employed by Illinois State. Not one of them has had anything less than sensational words to say about Sheahon Zenger.

My first stop took me to the athletic department to meet Mike Williams, the SID for football, who acted as my tour guide today. Poor guy.

He's been great, driving me here and there and taking me to all of my interviews. Mike was born and raised in Normal and seems, no surprise, to be a pretty normal guy. I'm not sure if this is just the way people are here or if this is an indication of the culture that Zenger helped create but Mike has gone out of his way to make my stay pleasant.

So, too, have all the people I've met, which, so far, includes ISU football coach Brock Spack, who was hired by Zenger, ISU president Al Bowman, ISU vice president of student affairs, Steve Adams, and women's basketball coach Stephanie Glance, who started last April and also was hired by Zenger.

All four had incredible things to say about Zenger and what he's done in this town. They talk about his integrity, his geuineness and his generosity. They talk about his passion for ISU athletics, for the student-athletes themselves and how important it was for him to be accepted by this quaint little community.

This afternoon I'll meet a couple of donors and ISU's associate AD for external affairs and I'll also get a chance to hit the town and tour a few of Zenger's hot spots.

I'll have much more then, so check back soon. So far, though, I can tell you that all of that positivity and good will that surrounded Zenger's hiring was not a facade. The people here love him and they're certain that Jayhawk fans will, too.

Check back in a bit...

Original Post, 6 a.m.

by Matt Tait

Good morning and welcome to Normal, Illinois.

For the next three days, I’ll be based here, learning the ins and outs of the city that is home to Illinois State University, from where Kansas University recently plucked its newest athletic director, Sheahon Zenger.

by Matt Tait

Zenger won’t officially join the Jayhawks until Feb. 1 but we’re not going to wait that long. For the next few days, I’ll talk to the people Zenger worked with, the people who worked for him and the people around town who knew him best. All in an attempt to find out just who the new guy in charge of Kansas Athletics really is.

by Matt Tait

Thanks to Redbirds sports information director, Todd Kober, I’ve got an awesome lineup of interviews for the next couple of days. I’ll talk with ISU coaches, I’ll talk with alums and donors and I’ll talk with senior administrators who worked side-by-side with Zenger for the past six years.

It’s my hope that things won’t stop there. I plan to check out restaurants, barber shops, insurance offices and grocery stores. So far, we’ve heard nothing but great things about Dr. Zenger and I’m looking forward to hearing more.

by Matt Tait

Check back often in the next few days as I plan to update this blog throughout each day, while stockpiling the really good stuff for a complete print and online package upon my return to Lawrence.

I’m heading up to campus in about an hour. For now, here are a few facts I dug up about the city that, upon driving into it, reminded me a lot of a smaller-scale Topeka. We’ll start there, and, as we peel back the layers, I’m sure I’ll discover a lot more. Enjoy!

-- FACTS ABOUT NORMAL, ILLINOIS (courtesy of www.normal.org) --

• Population: 52,750

• Number of parks: 17

• Number of golf courses: 1

• Number of libraries: 1 (books in library, 187,660)

by Matt Tait

• Normal was home to the first Steak ‘n Shake Restaurant in the world. It was located at Main and Virginia streets, south of Illinois State University.

• ISU educated, among others, actors John Malkovich, Gary Cole ("The Brady Bunch movie"), Sean Hayes (”Will and Grace”) and actresses Laurie Metcalf (”Roseanne”), Judith Ivey (”The Five Mrs. Buchanans”, “Designing Women”).

• Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc., is one of the most technologically advanced automotive manufacturing facilities in the world and has a production capacity of 240,000 vehicles annually. It is designed to accommodate several different models intermixed on one assembly line.

• Stand on the top floor of ISU's Watterson Towers and you are at the highest point in Illinois between Chicago and St. Louis.

• Although not widely known, ISU was founded 10 years before the University of Illinois and is the oldest public university in Illinois.

• Illinois State used to field teams nicknamed the Cardinals, but a Pantagraph newspaper sports editor changed the nickname to Redbirds so collegiate teams would not be confused in headlines with the St. Louis Cardinals.

by Matt Tait

• The farmland around Bloomington-Normal ranks among the top three areas in all the world for corn and soybean production. Ironically, the Twin Cities have seven streets named after fruits (Cherry, Apple, Bayberry, etc.) but none after vegetables.