Reesing gets his share of attention at Media Day

We learned a lot about Todd Reesing on Tuesday morning at the Big 12 Media Day in Dallas.

His favorite University of Texas quarterback growing up? Major Applewhite. What sport would he play at Kansas besides football? Tennis - if only they had a men's team. Is Kansas in the hunt to win the Big 12 North this year? Of course.

Finally, a college-aged girl sitting in front of all the cameras had a question that not even Reesing could answer.

"Do you have a favorite American Idol?" the girl asked.

Reesing stopped to think.

"Not really," Reesing finally said. "What about you?"

"Carrie Underwood!" the girl happily replied.

Yeah, everybody had a question for Todd. Even though Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Texas' Colt McCoy may be the faces of the Big 12, it's tough to argue that Reesing is underappreciated.

As a matter of fact, that was the theme of the day. Over and over reporters asked Todd if he felt slighted with all the attention Bradford and McCoy were getting.

"They deserve all the attention they have because they produce week in and week out," Reesing said. "I love watching those guys play because they make plays out there, and with Colt he makes a lot of plays with his legs by running the ball."

As the day moved along, the questions kept coming in. Somebody asked Reesing what advice he would give to younger players trying to get noticed out of high school.

"Believe in yourself," Reesing said. "Self-confidence is the only thing you need if you want to accomplish things. I know there are a lot of kids out there that think they don't have the ability, or they are not big enough or strong enough, but hopefully if they see a guy like me can make it, then anything is possible."

That confidence, displayed in the fist pumps and celebrations after touchdowns, has become part of Reesing's on the field persona at Kansas. It's no coincidence that Reesing was one of the more entertaining players in front of the cameras and microphones on Tuesday.

When a reporter asked Reesing about a photo circulating around the Internet of the quarterback wearing an American flag t-shirt, Reesing wondered aloud why everybody didn't have that type of shirt.

"His whole personality is kind of contagious," wide receiver Kerry Meier said. " I think it is good to carry yourself like that if you are the quarterback."

"Todd brings a comfortable setting to the huddle, and when guys are comfortable, I don't care what you are doing, they are going to excel and do the best they can do."

Finally, as Reesing's time was almost up, somebody asked about how the program had changed in the four years he had been at Kansas. It was an interesting question. This will be Reesing's last media day. In a week, camp will start and Reesing will have one more season to add to his college legacy. Then it will all be over.

Like with the American Idol question, Reesing stopped to think, but this time his answer was serious.

"It's a night and day difference," Reesing said. "When I came here coach already had things going in the right direction. All the guys had the mentality to work hard and get ready for the season, but it wasn't there yet."

"We can leave as the most decorated class KU has ever had. To be apart of that and to leave our place in the history books is exciting."