KU's Barmann sparkles as injury replacement
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BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
Adam Barmann makes it clear that he’s only house sitting for the Kansas football team. Just trying to keep the property looking nice until the owner returns.
But when Kerry Meier feels well enough to quarterback the Jayhawks again — possibly as early as Saturday night against Nebraska — he’ll be amazed at how sparkling Barmann has left the place.
With the redshirt freshman Meier nursing a shoulder injury that kept him out of last week’s game against South Florida, Barmann, in and out of KU’s lineup throughout his four seasons, rallied his team to a 13-7 win.
Having no significant playing time since a dismal starting performance against Kansas State in the fifth game last season, Barmann completed a shiny 25 of 35 passes for 273 yards with no interceptions.
He also drove Kansas 79 yards for a decisive touchdown in the third quarter immediately after South Florida had taken its only lead.
Pretty gutsy feat for someone who completed just 16 passes while playing in four games last year.
“I’m just being the second quarterback, but I continue to prepare myself each and every week like I would if I was starting,” Barmann said. “You know that my team may need me, and if they do I’m going to have to be ready to step in.”
Barmann might have to do the same thing against the Huskers. While Meier’s health is improving, unlike last week, coach Mark Mangino might not know who he’ll start at quarterback until today or even Saturday.
After Barmann’s most-recent performance, Mangino shouldn’t be as concerned about the quarterback situation.
Sure, he openly admits that Meier runs better and has a stronger arm. But Mangino also knows Barmann’s knowledge of the offense is invaluable.
And the guy can play a little, too.
“He’s played very well at times for us, and he’s had some rough spots,” Mangino said. “The thing that makes him kind of a special kid is he never got down. He continued to be positive with his teammates, showed up every week, knew the game plan. … It pays off to have that kind of personality.”
Barmann, a 6-foot-4, 218-pounder from Weston, Mo, has started games for the Jayhawks in each of his four seasons. His debut came in the ninth week of 2003, at Texas A&M, after senior Bill Whittemore was hurt the previous game. Barmann responded by throwing for a KU freshman-record 294 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-33 loss.
“I was kind of nervous, but to tell you the truth, I didn’t know what I was getting into,” Barmann said. “We went out to dinner that Thursday night before the game and (Whittemore) said ‘You’re going to be OK.’ It was probably the best performance of my career.”
As a sophomore, Barmann started the first eight games — had a 310-yard effort against Toledo, completed 30 passes against Northwestern (second-most in school history) and tossed a sophomore-record 12 TDs — before an injury ended his season.
He began last year as the starter, lost the job after the first game, reclaimed it for the contest against Kansas State, but struggled and ended up back on the sideline.
Having started twice previously against Nebraska, Barmann then watched Jason Swanson engineer KU’s first win against the Huskers in 37 years. But he was one of the first to offer Swanson congratulations. And now he’s just as supportive of Meier.
“Let me tell you about Kerry,” Barmann said in a tone that would make you think he was 10 years younger and an idolizing fan. “From the day he got here —his size, his stature — he’s incredible. When you talk to him you’d have no idea he’s a 19-year-old freshman. Beyond that, all the tools — big, strong kid, strong arm, can run the ball, he sees things well.
“I think he’s extremely polished already. He’s not just out there running plays, as you would expect a freshman to do. He understands plays, down and distance. It really is impressive.”
Meier showed some inexperience in his last game, throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble during Kansas’ 37-31 double-overtime loss at Toledo. But whenever he’s ready to return, Barmann will be fine giving him back the keys to the Jayhawks’ house.
Right now, it’s in just as good of shape as Meier left it.
“A lot of people like to complain about their circumstances in life. He never did,” Mangino said of Barmann. “He just always worked hard to get better (so that) when his opportunity came he’d be prepared. And he was.
“In terms of attitude and commitment to the program, he is a guy that personifies what we’re all about. A lesser kid would have packed it in.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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