Kerry Meier Makes Name For Himself At Kansas
Nov. 4, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan.—Kansas wide receiver Kerry Meier has emerged as a leader, a record holder and a soon to be KU football legend. However, this was all part of Meier’s plan since the start of his football career at KU five years ago.
“I wanted to establish my own name, not as a little Meier but as Kerry Meier,” Meier said. “That is what I tried doing and that is what I want to continue to do is to build my legacy at KU. With these last few games of my senior year winding down I am trying to do everything I can to accomplish this.”
Meier comes from a household with three older brothers; all who have football talent and all of have played football in the state of Kansas. His two brothers Shad Mand Dylan both played at K-State, while Adam played for Pittsburg State in Meier’s hometown of Pittsburg, Kan.
KU and K-State have always been known as two universities that are always looking to beat each other in everything, no matter the sport or the competition, and bragging rights are always at stake.
With two brothers having already made their mark at Kansas State, Meier felt comfortable heading to the rival Jayhawks for his college career.
“My brothers knew it was my own decision and I am my own man, and whatever decision I made they were going to be 100 percent behind it, ” Meier said. ” I am glad with the decision I made coming to KU.”
The Meier name has a lot of football legacy behind, but Kerry has managed to make his own history at KU by following his own path.
There were many reasons Meier chose to play football at KU and not at K-State, and in fact, his top two choices were between KU and Texas A&M.
“It surprised me at the time, but now knowing Meier it doesn’t surprise me because he marches to his own tune,” Head Coach, Mark Mangino, said. “I think he wanted to separate himself from his brothers and try a new experience. He told me even though his brothers played at K-State and had good careers there, he had always had a liking for Lawrence and KU. We didn’t know that at the time because Meier is not a really big talker, and we were just recruiting our tails off for a good football player. We thought it would be an uphill battle because of the family history, but it turned out he wanted to do something different.”
His decision turned out to be a good one and Meier holds many spots in KU record book. Meier has competed in two victorious bowl games, is tied for the record for career high number of receptions with 189 and has the second-most 100-yard games with nine.
He only needs 10 receiving yards to become the fourth Jayhawk in school history to reach 2,000 and he only needs one touchdown reception to tie for second place on the KU reception touchdowns list with 16. Hopefully, Meier will put his name on these records at the Sunflower Showdown.
A win against K-State for the Jayhawks is important, especially when it is rivalry week, and Meier has a lot of energy and emotion invested into this game.
“This is a game that I circle on my calendar at the beginning of the season for family bragging rights within the Meier household,” Meier said. “It adds a little more to the game because of the in-state rivalry. Especially traveling to Manhattan, for my senior season to come out with a victory would be nothing but great.”
Meier has always been described as a hard worker who never gives up and being a senior captain he has been encouraging his teammates to go the extra mile each day at practice and in the weight room to get the extra edge on K-State.
“I am trying to push guys even more this week to take 10 more minutes out of their day to watch extra film, do an extra set in the weight room or catch an extra ball, ” Meier said. “Just put that extra hard work in this week and hopefully it will translate into a win.”
Meier’s family will be watching him play Saturday when the Jayhawks travel to Manhattan to compete in the Sunflower Showdown.
However, the Meier family has a license plate that says a family united instead of a family divided, which perfectly describes the Meier family.
The Meier name will always be known for football in the state of Kansas, but Kerry Meier will always be the one and only Meier legacy at KU.
