THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009
SPORTS
3B
COACHES (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Name: Turner Gill
Age:47
Current position: Buffalo head coach, 20-30 in four seasons
Why it might happen: Gill is generally considered a more even-tempered head coach, something Lew Perkins might be looking for in his coaching hire after the intervention into Mangino's program. Gill has
Big 12 experience at Nebraska. Another interesting sideplot: Gill's daughter Jordan is a sophomore at the University.
Other Jordan is a sophomore at the University. Why it won't happen? Despite winning the MAC with an 8-6 record in 2008, Buffalo finished their 2009 season just 5-7 overall. Gill has no experience coaching defenses, another aspect Perkins might choose to factor into his search.
Name: Randy Edsall
Age:51
Current position: Connecticut head coach, 65-65 in 11 seasons
Why it might happen: The most obvious reason is Edsall's ties to Perkins, who hired the coach in 1999 while Perkins served as the athletic director at Connecticut. He has also made the football program respectable at a traditional basketball power.
Why it won't happen: Once again, Edsall doesn't possess the big name that Perkins might be searching for in order to fund the Gridiron Club. Plus, Edsall hasn't made Connecticut into a serious BCS contender during his tenure.
Name: Nolan Cromwell
Age:54
Current position: Texas A&M offensive coordinator
Why it might happen: In his second season, Cromwell has helped transform A&M's offense from a question mark in 2008 to a capable and productive unit this season. Plus, Cromwell was an All-American at Kansas during the 1970s.
Why it won't happen: Cromwell has no experience as a head coach. That could certainly place him behind some of other candidates who have time as head coaches under their belts.
Name: Kevin Sumlin
Current position: Houston head coach, 18-7 in two seasons
Age:45
Why it might happen: Sumlin has developed into a popular name in the rumor mills as his highly-potent offense has kept Houston in the national spotlight this season. He also has important connections in Texas, the place Kansas recruits most from.
Why it won't happen: Similar to Fedora, Sumilin doesn't have experience on his side. And his defenses have been skeptical at Houston, a trend that Kansas may choose to stay away from after the last few seasons.
Name: Skip Holtz
Age:45
Current position: East Carolina head coach, 38-26 in five seasons
Why it might happen: Perkins obviously respects Holtz, hire him at Connecticut in 1993. He led the Huskies to the 1-AA playoffs before rejoining his father coaching at South Carolina. In his short time at East Carolina, he has turned the team into a AA/AF team.
Why it won't happen? Holtz has no real connections to the Midwest other than Perkins which would make it tough to make a big splash in recruiting early. He has also been rumored to have interest in the Virginia head coaching job, an area that would be more comfortable for Holtz in recruiting.
Name: Jim Harbaugh
Age:45
Current position: Stanford head coach, 46-
25 in six total seasons as a head coach
Why it might happen: Harbaugh presents Kansas with the big name Athletic Director Lew Perkins could be searching for. He has been a proven winner and his wife, Sarah, is from Kansas City. Harbaugh would also certainly experience a new role if
Name: Brett Veneables
certainly experience a pay raise if he left Stanford for Kansas.
**Why it won't happen:** Harbaugh is quickly developing into a hot commodity in both the NFL and college ranks. With Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez's recent struggles, Harbaugh might wait for his alma mater to come calling. Some also speculate that bolting Stanford for Kansas would be a parallel career move.
Aqe:38
Why it won't happen: The defenses were never great under Mangino. Even though Kansas has young playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, it would be years before Veneables got talent even close to what he has at Oklahoma. Veneables is young and has never been a head coach before.
Current position: Oklahora defensive coordinator
Why it might happen: Kansas presents a chance for Veneables to grab a Big 12 head coaching gig and run with it. In 2006, he was one of five finalists for the Broyles Award given to the nation's top assistant coach. Veneables was also born in Sallna.
Age: 47
Name: Larry Fedora
Current position: Southern Mississippi head coach, 14-11 in two seasons
Why it might happen: Fedora has strong recruiting ties in Texas and has proven in his short time at Southern Miss that he can recruit talent, especially offensively. Fedora has also experience in the Big 12 as an assistant at Baylor and Oklahoma State.
Why it won't happen: Only in his second season as the head coach of a major program, Fedora doesn't carry the lengthy – and proven – resume that Kansas could be searching for. Plus, Fedora might sit tight and wait for a bigger job to open up in the near future.
Name: Phillip Fulmer
Age: 59
Current position: College football analyst for CBS
Why it might happen: Fulmer, the former Tennessee coach, has made it public that he is interested in returning to the coaching ranks. Kansas could provide him with that opportunity. And Fulmer has certainly proved that he can recruit
Why it won't happen: Reports have surfaced that Fulmer has interest in the Notre Dame job, signaling that maybe he's waiting for a top level football program to show interest. Don't forget: Fulmer was also fired from Tennessee.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Briscoe declares for the 2010 NFL Draft after dicussing the situation
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
As is the case with many college-aged students, junior wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe spends part of his free time slouched in front of a television with a video game controller in his hands.
During his three seasons at Kansas, Briscoe has openly talked about playing Madden, his game of choice, with fellow teammates, and even once attributed part of his improvement to the game.
So during his Friday afternoon press conference to announce his intentions of entering the NFL draft, Briscoe responded positively to a question about his possibly entering into the video game world when the next Madden is released.
"That's a good question," Briscoe said. "We've been on NCAA this year and I'm pretty good on that
game. It just depends on what my ratings are in Madden."
As most expected, Briscoe announced his intentions to forgo
his senior season and enter the 2010 NFL draft.
Briscoe said he talked with his mom, Shannon Greene, Monday and then met with
Briscoe
former coach Mark Mangino and other members of the staff to discuss the situation.
"The Kansas program has really done a lot for me," Briscoe said. "There is no other school that I would have rather been at. I want to thank the University of Kansas for the opportunity to play for their
Briscoe said his decision was finalized after those meetings.
football team."
In his three seasons at Kansas, Briscoe achieved a handful of school receiving records, including 3,240 career receiving yards — the fourth highest total in Big 12 history and the highest total in Kansas history.
Briscoe produced the top two single-season record for most yards. He had 1,407 yards in 2008 and 1,337 yards in 2009.
But Briscoe also developed into Kansas' big-play threat, routinely delivering highlight moments during games.
During his time at Kansas, Briscoe never hid his desire to someday play in the NFL. After turning in another solid season this year, many speculated Briscoe's days as a jawhawk were numbered
"He is easily the most talented player I have ever coached," Kansas receivers coach David Beaty said.
Briscoe scheduled a press conference shortly after Mangino's resignation was made public Thursday night.
On Friday he sat down and explained that with quarterback Todd Reeing and fellow receiver Kerry Meier graduating, he decided the chance to play in the NFL was too good an opportunity to pass up.
"Todd has been my quarterback all three years that I've been here," Briscoe said. "A remarkable guy. No other quarterback I'd rather have in the nation than him, and I did take that into consideration. I don't really have that kind of chemistry with the quarterbacks that are already here so that helped me in my decision."
Briscoe said his biggest focus entering the draft would be improving his speed for the NFL combine.
— a place where players' stocks can either skrivetor or din
He said his fastest time was 4.5
Briscoe hasn't hired an agent and noted that his focus would be on finishing this semester. At some point, he said, his mom would make sure he completed his degree.
seconds in the 40-yard dash, but he hoped to trim that number to the 4.4 range.
"I'm pretty sure I'm too old for this, but she'll probably give me a whooping." Briscoe said.
Briscoe, who considers himself one of the 10 best receivers entering the draft, could possibly travel to Tampa, Fla., to join former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant's workouts.
"After all this stuff that has been going on with coach Mangino and the coaching staff, the season we had, the seniors I've grown to love and the people in my class
— I wanted to leave but I didn't" Briscoe said.
In his meeting with members of the media, Briscoe made sure to
Briscoe said that he had talked with former Kansas cornerback and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Aqib Talib, who told Briscoe that he should seriously consider entering the NFL.
Now that opportunity is a reality.
thank Mangino and teammates for helping him through off-the-field issues that, at one point, resulted in his suspension from spring practices before this season.
"It's sad," Briscoe said. "Not the point to where I'm going to cry about it, but it's sad knowing the people I've grown to love, and I'm not going to be there with them anymore. I'm going to start a whole new life with whole new friends."
Follow Jayson Jenks at twitter. com/JaysonJenks
Edited by Alicia Banister
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