Chancellor ads to anxiety over Kansas football
By Stan Unruh
The 2017 Kansas football season held so much promise and is a huge disappointment. What should fans think of the new KU Chancellor’s statement about the program?
Kansas football fans are at odds over Monday’s statement from the University Chancellor on the state of the football program. Some are furious, others relieved. As a matter of fact, Dr. Doug Girod’s statement of support did take some heat off Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger and coach David Beaty. On the other hand, the statement could signal change is coming.
Hot seat or not, change in the works or not something needs to happen to improve the Kansas football program. Fans were optimistic following last season’s two-win season including the upset of Texas. The Jayhawk victory over the Longhorns seems like a lifetime ago. The 2017 team is going backwards.
I don’t think the University Chancellor needed to make a statement. He needed to take action. This is especially true when you consider what other universities around the country are doing relative to their football programs. If KU is serious about football, they could learn from schools who are making changes now to avoid the mess the Jayhawk football team is in.
Nobody will ever mistake Kansas football for Nebraska, Tennessee or Florida football. However, Jayhawk tradition is just as strong. Those schools have made dramatic changes in their athletic departments or removed football coaches in recent weeks. Nobody likes to see someone lose a job. However, action is necessary to make progress.
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Kansas fans love the basketball program. On the other hand, football rules the sports world. Girod’s comments suggest he understands this.
"We need to remain a strong member of the Big 12, and football is key to that."
Kansas football is critically important to the future of the university. I know some stability in the coaching staff makes a difference. I want to believe the athletic director and the head coach are doing things the right way. If they are, as Girod suggested, we need to see some progress and it may be too late to see any this season.