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KANSAN.COM
SPORTS
11
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Caroline Fiss/KANSAN
Former running backs coach Reggie Mitchell and coach David Beatty vell orders from the sideline
David Beaty looks to put last season's failures behind him in Sunday spring practice kick off
▶ SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
At the practice fields neighboring Memorial Stadium a horn blares. Simultaneously, rap music begins to echo through the speaker system. The two sounds mean just one thing: football is back.
Perhaps no team in the country needs the start of spring practice more than the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas is just four months removed from an 0-12 campaign that still looms in the back of the heads of many players.
But there is no evidence that those thoughts exist for the players. Just as the horn cuts off, a clear message by the players is audible. Before the team huddle breaks up to begin stretches, a chorus of "we will win" chants
rings through the practice fields.
Just three words: a message so simple and yet so defining.
For the next six months leading up to the 2016 season, Kansas players will hear the noise. They will hear about how demoralizing it can be for a football program to go winless through a season. Until the Jayhawks are able to finally obtain that elusive win, the noise will grow even louder.
Somehow, through it all, the Jayhawks must look to put everything behind them. Sunday was the first step in what should be a long journey ahead.
"It's really exciting to be back on the field and getting back to work," Kansas coach David Beaty said. "I thought our guys did a really good job to have them prepared and have them attack the first day."
The first 15 minutes of practice was made available to the media. Even with several new faces on the coaching staff, the practice looked crisp. This is credited to many of the players returning with experience. It was a whole different feel than last spring.
I want to be more involved this
involved this year... We are going to do a lot more stuff that I know and more familiar with and I think that fits our personnel."
David Beaty Kansas Coach
The practice began at noon with team stretches on one field for the first five minutes. On the other field, Beaty worked individually with sophomore quarterback Ryan Willis.
"Last year at this time I said a year from now we will be surprised we even got a play off," Beaty said. "I can't believe we even got a snap off at this time. The carryover today was awesome because as a coach we didn't have to worry about any of that."
Willis, who sustained a wrist injury this offseason in a pickup basketball game was limited in what he could do. As a result, he will be limited to what he can do this spring. Nonetheless, Beaty believes he can work with the returning quarterback who started eight games last season.
ter practice that working with Willis individually is a sign of things to come. After roaming in most practices last spring, Beaty has chosen to have a specific role this spring. He will be helping out more with quarterbacks.
"I want to be more involved this year," Beaty said. "We will be a bit different offensively this year. We are going to do a lot more stuff that I know and more familiar with and I think that fits our personnel."
Beaty also admitted af-
In addition, Beaty announced his new role will extend to him calling plays from the sideline. Offensive coordinator Rob Likens held play-calling duties mostly last year, as the offense finished last in the Big 12 in scoring.
players went to their first session. On the same field Willis and Beaty were previously working, the Kansas offense began its first work in 2016.
After stretches the horn blared again, meaning the
With Willis unable to participate, senior Montell Cozart was the first quarterback to take a snap. For the next five minutes, the Jayhawks worked on screens and shovel passes with the quarterbacks and receivers.
On the other field, the field goal unit was getting its first work of the year with senior Matthew Wyman kicking field goals.
The final session that the media was allowed to see was position drills.
Kansas will have 11 more practices before its Spring Game on April 9 at Memorial Stadium.
Edited by Matthew Clough
Big 12 Basketball Awards
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Honorable Mention:
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All-Defensive Team:
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