Volume 124 Issue 69
kansan.com
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Zenger looks for best fit
For many KU fans who watched Turner Gill's 19
Hatched Turner Gill's 19 losses in the last two seasons, the decision to relieve him of his coaching duties probably seemed like a no-brainer. But don't let that record fool you. There seems to be an unwritten rule that college football coaches should get no less than three seasons to get their program where they want it with no ties to the previous administration, and for the most part, I agree with that. Firing a coach after just two seasons
— especially with a coach as nice as Gill, who every player seemed to love — could bring some backlash from national media. But for most people who had watched those weekly train wrecks up close and personal, adhering to protocol was not an option with Gill's situation.
Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger took appropriate and swift action, and it was spot-on. Now comes the hard part — finding a coach who will take Kansas football from a national laughingstock to a respectable program.
When the news of Gill's departure became official, many Jayhawk fans wanted former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who has been out of coaching since being fired in 2009 after alleged player mistreatment. According to cbssports.com, Leach has agreed to terms with Washington State to be its next football coach, squashing any hopes of the offensive genius returning to the Big 12. Leach was the one of the more wanted candidates from most fans' perspectives. Not Just at Kansas, but at a lot of schools that are looking for a new coach.
From Southern Mississippi coach Larry Fedora, to Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, to former South Florida coach Jim Leavitt — the list of candidates doesn't stop at Leach. And it certainly doesn't stop at the three aforementioned coaches.
It was rumored that Zenger had been setting up interviews earlier this week. It has been confirmed that on Wednesday he was not in Lawrence, said associate athletics director Jim Marchiony, and possibly out interviewing the candidates who remain on his wish list. With Zenger's background as a coach and his track record of hiring a football coach at Illinois State, combined with the bounty of good candidates still available, KU fans should not worry about who Zenger chooses for next season.
But the good news for Jayhawk fans is that Zenger knows what he's doing. He's a former college football coach himself and has many relationships with coaches across the country. Would he have liked to sign Leach? I'm sure he would have. But there's plenty of good coaches still available for the picking, and Zenger will have plenty of chances to hire a coach good enough to overhaul Kansas football.
Mike Leach was the best coach available this off-season, and for whatever reason it didn't work out. However, the opportunity to hire a coach near Leach's ability without any of his baggage could be considered a victory. But as Kansas football fans now know all too well, games are won in the fall, not in press conferences in December.
- Edited by Mandy Matney
Carolyn Davis named to Naismith Watch List
Sutherland is a major part of team's success this year
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KANSAS 77. FLORIDA ATLANTIC 54
HAWAIIAN HANGOVER
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman.kansan.com
twitter.com/udk_bball
Call it post-Maui jet lag, laziness or simply overlooking their foe.
For the first four minutes of Wednesday night's tilt with Florida Atlantic University at Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks appeared unready to avenge their loss to Duke.
"It was the Hawaii hangover;" Self said. "Too much pineapple juice."
After a pair of turnovers and a few Florida Atlantic jump shots, the Owls led the game 9-3 and coach Bill Self, face reddened and disusted, called a time out.
From that point on, the Jayhaws found a lead through aggression and a sense of urgency, but despite the lead, Kansas regularly committed fools, turnovers and mental errors. The ugliness wouldn't cease.
Kansas still won the game 77-54, but they never found a true rhythm in their first game back in Allen Fieldhouse following the 19 day separation.
"I don't know if their concentration was where it needed to be because they were pretty much in control." FAU coach Mike Jarvis said. "They might have relaxed a little bit."
Self said at Monday's press conference that he wanted to establish his bench players: a difficult task in games as tight as those in Maui. Freshman guard Naadir Tharpe, sophomore forward Justin Wesley and junior forward Kevin Young, all substitutes, committed seven
fouls in a combined 35 minutes during last night's game, but they weren't the only players at fault.
With 7:10 left in the game, junior guard Elijah Johnson dribbed up the court, stopped just after the half-court line and tossed a pass to a teammate. The ball deflected off a defender's hand and out of bounds. The pass never really had a chance, which Johnson probably knew by the time the ball left his hand. Self, his face red, slapped his hands together and turned away in disbelief. It was a lazy mistake that epitomized Self's frustrations.
"Hes still in Hawaii." Self said of Johnson, who finished the night without a point and three turnovers. "He didn't get hungover. He got left there."
Perhaps baffled at what they were seeing, the usually raucous fans of the Fieldhouse never approached deafening volumes.
"We didn't do anything to juice the building." Self said.
No. 2 Ohio State will visit Lawrence a week from Saturday, but junior forward Thomas Robinson said that the team won't look past this Saturday's game against South Florida, nor Tuesday's game against Long Beach State.
Kansas surrendered a total of 17 turnovers Wednesday, but Robinson repeated that it's still too early in the season to call it an omen.
"That's something that comes over time," junior forward Thomas Robinson said. "Just keeping our focus and not catching ADD."
— Edited by Alexandra Esposito
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Junior forward Thomas Robinson dunks during the second half as Florida Atlantic freshman guard Jalani Floyd watches. Robinson had 17 rebounds with 19 points. Kansas defeated Florida Atlantic, 77-54.
FOOTBALL
University not alone in coach search
epadway@kansan.com
ETHAN PADWAY
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