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Kansas Jayhawks (2000: 4-7) The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I-A teams, be sure to order the 2001 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.
Coach and programIn his first season at Kansas, Terry Allen got to the final quarter of the final game with a chance at a winning record and bowl game. The Jayhawks led Texas. Hang on and Kansas finishes 6-5 and sneaks into a bowl game. And a bowl game in Allen's first season could have been huge. The bad feelings left from the Glen Mason departure would have been forgotten. The program would have gotten some momentum and Allen could have renegotiated his contract.Of course, it didn't happen and Allen's program has never had any momentum, which is why he finds himself on the hot seat. Allen has to get it done this year, win at least six games, or there probably will not be a sixth year. That was the sense after last season's crushing 4-7 record. In sharp contrast to Allen's first year, last season ended in the first quarter of the first game. The Jayhawks visited SMU in a game they had to win. What happens? Special teams break down with four bad punt snaps and the Mustangs go up 24-0 by the end of the first quarter. "There's no reason for Kansas to lose to SMU,'' Allen said. "If we win that game, we're 5-5 going into our last game, and if we're playing for something I think the outcome [a 38-17 loss to Iowa State] is different.'' And maybe several assistant coaches keep their jobs. Allen knew he had to make a statement and more than half the staff was turned over. The most significant change was the hiring of Tom Hayes as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Hayes came to Kansas in February from the Washington Redskins, where he spent the previous five seasons as the secondary coach. During spring practice, Hayes as much as any player was the focus. Players talked about how impressed they were just walking into his office. "Everything is so neat and stacked so nicely,'' nose tackle Nate Dwyer said. "He opens the refrigerator and all the water bottles are lined up perfectly, right in a row.'' Hayes and the other new assistants signed two-year contracts, so they're guaranteed if this is Allen's final year.
OffenseIt's doesn't bode well for Allen that he's entering the most important season of his coaching career without a proven quarterback.Spring practice did not produce a winner between sophomore Zach Dyer (6-3, 200) and redshirt freshman Mario Kinsey (6-1, 195), with redshirt freshman Kevin Long (6-5, 210) lurking in the background. Dyer was last year's No. 2 and had a few nice moments. In six games, he completed 6-of-12 passes for 60 yards. His best game came against Nebraska when he directed a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive in which he passed for 40 yards and rushed for seven. Sophomore Reggie Duncan (5-9, 215) is the top returning rusher, gaining 207 yards and two touchdowns in nine games as a reserve. He got nearly half those yards (96) against Nebraska. His season long run of 38 yards set up the Jayhawks' winning touchdown against Colorado. Kansas returns eight wide receivers who have earned 14 letters among them. The most productive over the years is Harrison Hill (5-11, 190), who will serve as a co-captain this season. Hill probably will become the program's career leader in receptions. He has caught 106 passes and needs 28 to hold the mark. Last season, he ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 47 receptions and had a career best day against Oklahoma with eight catches for 144 yards. Hill was selected honorable mention All-Big 12. Four of Kansas' nine junior college signees were offensive linemen -- Brock Teddleton (6-6, 330) from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, Jawad Pearson (6-5, 300) from Chaffey (Calif.) Community College, Danny Lewis (6-5, 290) from Phoenix (Ariz.) Community College and John Harvey (6-6, 305) from Mesa (Ariz.) Junior College. The newcomers were immediately plugged into the depth chart.
Defense and special teamsNearly everybody's back, and that's good news for new defensive coordinator Tom Hayes and defensive line coach Travis Jones.The group is led by senior nose tackle Dwyer (6-3, 300), a co-captain who was selected second team All-Big 12 last season. Dwyer led Kansas with 14 tackles for loss, the second most ever by a Kansas down lineman. Fifth-year senior Marcus Rogers (6-1, 235) has been with Allen since the beginning and looks to come up big in his final year. Rogers, a middle linebacker, is the top returning tackler. He had 91 last season. The Jayhawks' pass defense was stronger than the rush defense, and the starting cornerbacks are back. Senior Andrew Davison (5-11, 185) owns a team-best streak of 27 starts. He has been one of the Jayhawks' more consistent defensive players over the last three seasons. The highlight of his season was a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown against Texas. Joe Garcia, who handled all the place kicking chores for the last four seasons, is gone, and there is no player on the team who has kicked in a game. As he did four years ago, Allen signed a high school kicker to come in and take over. This time it's Johnny Beck (6-1, 200), a local product from Kansas City who was considered one of the top kickers in the Midwest.
Bottom lineA few changes should help the Jayhawks. The coaching staff turnover has brought fresh faces and new ideas. And these guys are coaching for their jobs. They know Allen is on thin ice.Also, opening with Division I-AA Southwest Missouri State is smarter than last season, when the Jayhawks wrecked their season at SMU. Kansas should have some good feeling from the opener. They're going to need them because the make-or-break game comes the next week when UCLA visits. Kansas can't count on finding four Big 12 victories. |
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