Kansas football: David Beaty has one advantage on Frank Solich
By Stan Unruh
Kansas football coach David Beaty must match wits Saturday with a veteran coach. A closer look at both indicates the Jayhawks may have one advantage.
This is head coach David Beaty’s third season leading the Kansas football team. It is his third season as a head coach since he led the Irving MacArthur Texas High School football program from 2002-2005, according to his bio on the KU Athletic web site. All things considered, Beaty personally accomplished a lot in past 12 years.
On the other hand, Beaty’s coaching opponent Saturday is 27-years older and far more experienced as a head coach. Ohio Bobcat head football coach Frank Solich celebrated his 73rd birthday earlier this month. The same year Beaty left high school coaching, Solich took over the football program at the Ohio. He has only coached at four schools including two Nebraska high schools and two universities.
As a matter of fact, eighteen seasons ago, Solich earned the Big 12 Coach of the Year Award at Nebraska. Some Big Red fans might wish he still coached the Huskers. Fans in Athens seem to appreciate what he is doing for their football program. The Bobcats have played in eight bowl games since he took over.
Since Ohio beat Kansas last season, one of Solich’s coaches Jesse Williams decided to leave Athens for Lawrence. He now coaches the Jayhawks defensive line. One of Williams Bobcat players earned conference defensive player of the year in 2016. Does having Williams give Beaty and the Jayhawks an advantage? Beaty didn’t think so. Solich refused to say much about it.
"I will be surprised if Jesse [Williams] knows our offensive signals. That would be the case with all coaches on the other side of the ball."
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After five years working for Solich, Williams may have a key that could help the Jayhawks Saturday. Obviously, he knew enough to leave Solich and work for Beaty. That says something and the Jayhawks need every advantage possible.