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KU to remove track from football stadium - BewareThePhog - 06-23-2014 04:14 PM
Starting Tuesday, KU will be removing the track that is currently in Memorial Stadium. While there would still be many challenges to really bring our old stadium up to current standards (it's so old that John Wooden helped build it as a summer job), it's the first step of the process. We do have a good weight facility and a good football training/locker facility adjacent to the stadium, so the next step is to work on the stadium itself. Well, that and to build a competitive team to play in it.
RE: KU to remove track from football stadium - Otacon - 06-23-2014 04:50 PM
What type of upgrades are planned for KU's stadium?
RE: KU to remove track from football stadium - bitcruncher - 06-23-2014 05:32 PM
If KU is smart, they'll do like the folks at TCU did. Tear down the old stadium around the field, and build a new one. It's far cheaper than trying to retrofit an antique.
RE: KU to remove track from football stadium - BewareThePhog - 06-24-2014 09:55 AM
There have been a number of proposals suggested, but they haven't announced a specific upgrade path as of yet. The first step was to create a new track facility, and this track removal is the next step of the process. Whatever specific path is ultimately taken, track and field is now officially no longer a concern for football planning.
I would think that among other factors, they need to get an idea of how much money they can raise. We have some supportive alumni who have donated a lot over the years (not surprisingly, mostly for basketball) but there's not an endless spigot of funds available. Kansas City is home to several sports architecture firms, so there is local talent available for consulting and design work.
There has not yet been much talk of taking bit's suggestion to follow TCU's lead and tear down and rebuild essentially in place. There has been much more talk of lowering the existing field level to allow expansion of the stands closer to the playing field.
There is also some resistance to fully enclosing the stadium, particularly among female alumni. Currently, it's a "U" configuration at the bottom of a small on-campus valley, with the open end facing uphill towards a campanile tower. At graduation, the tradition is for the seniors to "Walk The Hill" and come down past the tower and file into the stadium, while proud parents watch from inside the stadium.
If we could have maintained some momentum following the ouster of Mark Mangino that would probably have helped boost the football culture here. The Orange Bowl year was definitely an anomaly, but he had taken us to several minor bowls prior to that. That's a huge improvement over the present situation. Mangino left Gill with very little talent, but the Gill hire was a poor choice, and while the Weis gamble was intriguing, we're going to have to see some improvement start to take place. Many fans are hopeful that John Reagan will make some difference, but even if he brings better college-level offensive coaching, we need to get more talent as well.
RE: KU to remove track from football stadium - bitcruncher - 06-24-2014 11:06 AM
I've got a feeling the Weis isn't going to be around KU very much longer. IMO he should have stuck with pro football.
RE: KU to remove track from football stadium - BewareThePhog - 06-24-2014 12:10 PM
Weis himself started the clock shortly after arriving:
"It's going to be five years. That's the quick stop," Weis said in a radio interview shortly after being hired. "What we're going to do here is we're going to go try to turn this program into a perennial winning program and then try to have it where one of the guys on this coaching staff takes over."
That's candid (which reporters love) but it also gives opposing coaches easy recruiting ammunition (which home fans hate) after year 1. "So you're thinking of going to KU? You know Weis won't be there by the time you graduate...."
Dave Campo is 66, so he's not going to be taking over when Weis steps aside. There's certainly been no official announcement to that effect, but I suspect that new Offensive Coordinator John Reagan (who has had some success as an assistant coach in several stops, including an earlier stint at KU) may well be an unofficial coach-in-waiting, particularly if he can help revive our moribund offense.
I think that the Weis hire was a gamble by Sheahon Zenger to make a splashy hire at a school that is not known for football. He was probably hopeful that Weis' NFL history would be helpful for recruiting, and Weis has said that he's learned from mistakes of the past at this level. He did finally let go of the offensive coordinator duties (although perhaps due to behind-the-scenes pressure) so perhaps that is true. But as you note, he's been a successful NFL assistant, so that's probably his best niche.
RE: KU to remove track from football stadium - bitcruncher - 06-24-2014 02:14 PM
Kansas would be better off hiring a young go getter next time around. IMO there are way too many recycled coaches floating around, most of whom aren't worth hiring after failing at more than one previous stop. Give some young guy with a lot of energy a chance. Perhaps he'll be able to do what no other has before, because he's young enough to ignore the past in favor of a glorious future.
RE: KU to remove track from football stadium - BewareThePhog - 06-25-2014 01:29 PM
There aren't a whole lot of successful recycled coaches. Clearly Saban and Meyer have both managed to do well at multiple schools, but for the most part (and particularly when you're talking about a school like KU) I agree that you have to take the chance on identifying and hiring the right "up-and-coming" assistant. Sure, you risk losing him to a more prestigious rival if he's successful, but that's always a concern regardless of where you get a coach.
At best, what you hope for is a situation like KSU had with Bill Snyder, who is a great example of a coach who is a perfect fit for his school. Or, you can look to the example that happened in KU basketball where a relatively unknown 2nd assistant from North Carolina was able to come in and establish a consistent level of success that made the position attractive for his successor. Admittedly it helped a lot that Bill Self had KU ties, but the job was a lot more attractive in general in 2003 than it was in 1989.
RE: KU to remove track from football stadium - MellowCorn - 08-22-2015 12:23 AM
(06-25-2014 01:29 PM)BewareThePhog Wrote: There aren't a whole lot of successful recycled coaches. Clearly Saban and Meyer have both managed to do well at multiple schools, but for the most part (and particularly when you're talking about a school like KU) I agree that you have to take the chance on identifying and hiring the right "up-and-coming" assistant. Sure, you risk losing him to a more prestigious rival if he's successful, but that's always a concern regardless of where you get a coach.
At best, what you hope for is a situation like KSU had with Bill Snyder, who is a great example of a coach who is a perfect fit for his school. Or, you can look to the example that happened in KU basketball where a relatively unknown 2nd assistant from North Carolina was able to come in and establish a consistent level of success that made the position attractive for his successor. Admittedly it helped a lot that Bill Self had KU ties, but the job was a lot more attractive in general in 2003 than it was in 1989.
KU has a ton of potential. Can't wait till it pays off in fb.
Go Big 12!