Posted: 4/24/2015 1:11 AM
Neat Deal Post Rating (31 votes)
Thought I'd share a cool story about the new coaching staff...
Not sure if any of you were in the loop today, but Beaty decided to host an open practice to the students today from 4 to 6 PM. Students were able to hangout on the field, watch them run plays, and do a few fun competitions with the team.
One of the competitions he had us out there throwing the ball into targets, one side of students representing offense; the other, defense. The team got all hyped and into it with students. Really cool to be on the field with them and feel like you're really a part of it all.
I showed up a bit late but the other competition they held while I was there was field goal kicks. The kickers had a little competition of their own as well. Wyman looked much better than Weese out there. He nailed a couple of 42 yard field goals with the students yelling and screaming, under Beaty's instruction. Weese barely made one his 42 yard attempts and it wasn't pretty.
Other than that a couple of other things that stood out in terms of player performance were that redshirt freshman #4 Tyler Patrick looks like he is going to be seeing a lot of time on the field this year. He was able to get past the secondary more than a few times for some deep balls. Cummings still looks like our most composed QB. He ran most of the first team offensive snaps. Cozart stepped in at the end and had a pretty good set of plays, including a nice 10-15 yard scramble, and ending with about a 50 yard TD throw to Patrick.
Toward the end of the practice Beaty brought all the students together to talk about bringing the energy there next season. He talked a lot about how packed and loud the stadium was back when he was here. He even joked about the chant the students say at kickoff.. "Now what is that thing you guys say when we kick off..." and jokingly telling us not to say it out loud to him. Overall it seemed like he cares a lot about getting the students involved and feeling like a part of the program. He told us that we all have a part in getting recruits to come to Kansas, because when they see a packed house that's going to bring the Manziels of the football world here. He brought up how "that school down the road" used to be the worst team in college football and how one coach was able to change the program one fan at a time and that's what he wants to do here.
After that he broke it down with the team. He really emphasized character and representing Kansas. He told them it is a privilege, not a right to play for KU. After all of this he told the team that all the students there were going to be able to take one of their jerseys home with them. So we were able to walk up to our favorite players and talk to them and take their jersey literally right off of their backs.
Overall, just a really neat experience with a much, MUCH more energized coaching staff. All of the coaches seemed to be bouncing off the walls with energy. Beaty was really approachable and easy to like. He definitely gets it. If you're going to have a successful program you have to have a relationship with the students and fans who follow your team.
He also told us students that they would be doing similar events like this in the future. He said that there would be one this fall during fall camp with even more contests and giveaways.
Anyway, hope you all enjoyed hearing a cool story about this staff.
Hope to see all of you on Saturday!
