BonnerSprings.com

Kansas Kaos starting quarterback Jason Sutherland had not played football for 14 years before joining the team in June. His athletic teeth were cut not on the gridiron, but in the ultra-competitive arena of Big 12 basketball.

Sutherland graduated from Missouri in 1997 with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant management. He played four years under coaching legend Norm Stewart. Sutherland, a guard, finished 18th in the conference in scoring his senior year averaging 12.6 points per game. That year he finished just a few points on the scoring list behind future NBA players such as Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz and Tyronn Lue.

The transition back to football has been kind to Sutherland, who won the Kaos' starting quarterback competition in the third week of the season.

"The first few games it came pretty fast because I hadn't played in 14 years," Sutherland said. "It takes a while to get used to stuff. When you don't practice every day like most college and pro teams, we only practice twice a week, it's tough.

"For me it's great because it gets me back into the team deal, the camaraderie and the competition, and I have a lot of passion for it because I haven't played in so long. I look forward to every practice, every game. All the guys enjoy it. It's minor league football though. You don't get paid for it. It's all guys that just want to be there."

Kaos coach Ed Williams said Sutherland commands respect in the huddle.

"There are a few words that describe him: fierce competitor," Williams said. "I can't say enough about him just being that. He demands a high level of play from everyone around him. He really challenges the guys to make plays. That is why he appealed to me. He has a tenacity to lead. He is a player that has to be on the field somewhere."

Sutherland played high school football. At Mizzou, head football coach Larry Smith asked him to join the team, but Stewart said he would bring in another guard if Sutherland accepted the offer.

Sutherland decided to give football another chance when his best friend, star running back and Kaos co-owner Allen Williams, asked him if he would go out for the team.

Sutherland shared snaps in the first couple games before taking over as the full-time starter. He said his experience in basketball prepared him to lead the team.

"Having played in big games before, even if not in football, put me in situations where the pressure is on and you still have to perform," Sutherland said. "I have that experience with MU-KU games and games in the NCAA tournament and Big 12 games. Playing in front of people with pressure on, I can bring experience as far as being in that atmosphere. Playing in front of 15,000 people in Allen Fieldhouse where everyone is booing you and throwing things at you prepares you to play anywhere.

"The big difference is in every football game I get more comfortable because I am getting experience. In basketball, I was always comfortable because I did it my whole life."

Experience or not, Ed Williams said Sutherland has brought a new dimension to the offense.

"In our offense, he opens up the run game and the pass game because he has the ability to run and pass," Williams said. "I have asked him to do more, like going through all of his reads before he pulls it down to run. He stretches defenses because they have to respect his running ability and throwing ability."

Williams also said Sutherland has the respect of every member of the Kaos team.

"He is a true team player," Williams said. "He will give you everything that he has got. He won't quit on you from the first to last minute in a game."

Sutherland savors the coach's confidence in his ability.

"It makes me feel good since it's your coach saying that," Sutherland said. "You want to please him first and then your teammates. I think we have a lot of potential. There are a lot of guys here that want to play and want to win. That is what you strive for as an athlete."

Sutherland still lives in Colombia and must make the two-hour commute to get to practice and games in Bonner Springs. He owns a mortgage and construction company.

Sutherland met Allen Williams playing in a celebrity basketball games for Kimble Anders. He said he would like to continue to play football indefinitely.

"I look at it like this: I was fortunate to have the opportunity where my best friend was an owner of the team," Sutherland said. "At my age, I won't have too many other opportunities to do things like this. I didn't want to look back and wonder why I didn't do this."