Kansas football: Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger makes things happen
By Stan Unruh
There is some good news for the Kansas football program this week. It shows that despite some criticism, Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger makes things happen for the university.
It is easy to criticize. Kansas football fans disagree on many topics including the work of Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger. On the other hand, nobody can criticize Dr. Zenger for what is happening to athletic facilities for Jayhawk athletes and fans. Many take for granted what he’s done.
When the university announced a few months ago they were going to build an indoor football practice facility, I thought I misread the article. I had no idea the Kansas football program didn’t have an indoor football facility. I certainly took for granted they had one. We all know much smaller division one and even division two schools with indoor football facilities.
The football program announced this week that construction on a new $26 million indoor practice facility is underway. Coach David Beaty and the team will use it later this year. The Jayhawks are the only school in the Big 12 without an indoor practice facility. As a matter of fact, I’m surprised Zenger convinced Charlie Weis to coach a team without a place to practice indoors.
While some criticize Zenger for the Weis hire among other things, you can’t overlook what he is doing beyond the scoreboard. Amazing and impressive work indeed. In announcing the start of construction of the indoor facility, the university included a list of $90 million of construction for KU athletics. The list is impressive on its own. Even more remarkable considering it occurred over the past four years.
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The current list of construction projects includes University of Kansas athletic programs far beyond football and basketball. It is an impressive testament to the work Zenger has done and is doing. It also says volumes about alumnus David Booth and Jayhawks far and wide who are giving to support these projects and support Zenger.