When Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was hired last month he said one of the first moves he wanted to make was to compile easier nonconference schedules.
A quick look at the Jayhawks’ tentative 2002 slate shows KU opening with back-to-back road games at Iowa State and Nevada-Las Vegas. The two away contests, on Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 respectively, hardly are an easy way to kick off a season, let alone a head coaching career.
Perhaps that’s why KU is checking into making a change.
“I don’t know if it’s rumblings or rumors, but our football schedule is a work in progress,” KU athletics director Al Bohl said Tuesday. “We’ve been looking at anything we can do to help put us in the most favorable football schedule that we possibly can. There hasn’t been any game that’s off-limits to try and take a look at it if we can help ourselves try to be more successful.
“It is no secret, after six losing seasons, the key to being successful is having a winning season and getting to a bowl game.”
The Jayhawks, who haven’t been to a postseason bowl since the 1995 Aloha Bowl, have inquired about the possibility of moving the season opener in Ames, Iowa, and/or the second game at UNLV.
Of the utmost concern is the prospect of not playing at Memorial Stadium until the third game of the season, Sept. 14 against Southwest Missouri State.
“I think we’re looking at the first two games being both on the road, seeing if there’s any move we can make with either place,” KU associate athletics director Richard Konzem said. “There’s a lot of things happening with football this year with 12 games scheduled. There’s a lot of flexibility there. I’m getting calls almost on a daily basis about a lot of scheduling things.”
One possibility would be moving the game against the Cyclones, which originally was scheduled for Nov. 23, to later in the season. Another option would be scheduling the game at UNLV for a different date.
Right now the Jayhawks have openings on Sept. 28 and Nov. 23.
“It’s very close to being finalized,” Bohl said. “What happened with Iowa State is we were looking to see if there’s a possibility of moving that game. We start off at Iowa State and at UNLV. Those are still very good games for us to be playing, but if there was someone else that would make our schedule more favorable, that’s what we’re trying to really look at.”
One of the indictments against former KU coach Terry Allen was his habit of scheduling nonconference games against perennial powerhouses like Notre Dame and UCLA.
“Over the next couple years we’re going to continue to investigate how we can make the most effective schedule for Kansas,” Bohl said. “Eventually you’ll see us moving to the point where, as our talent gets better and we get better, then Mark and I definitely agree that we want to have a schedule that’s competitive and allows us to win.
“But right now, it’s so important for us to get some ‘W’s out there that we ought to be trying to schedule that way.”
l
It’s official: The Jayhawks confirmed Tuesday that Mangino has completed his staff with the additions of Tyrone Dixon and George Matsakis.
Dixon, who spent the past two seasons as Cincinnati’s assistant head coach/wide receivers coach, will serve as KU’s running backs coach. Matsakis will be Mangino’s director of football operations, after filling the same role at the University of Houston.
“Tyrone Dixon is an outstanding coach who will be a valuable addition to our staff,” Mangino said. “He has coached at both the collegiate and professional level and is highly regarded in the coaching profession.
“George Matsakis will play a meaningful role in the administration of the football program,” Mangino added. “He comes from a football family and will be extremely valuable in helping our program in a variety of roles.”
Mangino already has announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Bill Young, offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro, linebackers coach Dave Doeren, defensive line coach Travis Jones, offensive line coach Dave Borberly and secondary coach Pat Henderson. Brandon Blaney and Clint Bowen also have been hired, but their positions have yet to be announced.
When Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was hired last month he said one of the first moves he wanted to make was to compile easier nonconference schedules.
A quick look at the Jayhawks’ tentative 2002 slate shows KU opening with back-to-back road games at Iowa State and Nevada-Las Vegas. The two away contests, on Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 respectively, hardly are an easy way to kick off a season, let alone a head coaching career.
Perhaps that’s why KU is checking into making a change.
“I don’t know if it’s rumblings or rumors, but our football schedule is a work in progress,” KU athletics director Al Bohl said Tuesday. “We’ve been looking at anything we can do to help put us in the most favorable football schedule that we possibly can. There hasn’t been any game that’s off-limits to try and take a look at it if we can help ourselves try to be more successful.
“It is no secret, after six losing seasons, the key to being successful is having a winning season and getting to a bowl game.”
The Jayhawks, who haven’t been to a postseason bowl since the 1995 Aloha Bowl, have inquired about the possibility of moving the season opener in Ames, Iowa, and/or the second game at UNLV.
Of the utmost concern is the prospect of not playing at Memorial Stadium until the third game of the season, Sept. 14 against Southwest Missouri State.
“I think we’re looking at the first two games being both on the road, seeing if there’s any move we can make with either place,” KU associate athletics director Richard Konzem said. “There’s a lot of things happening with football this year with 12 games scheduled. There’s a lot of flexibility there. I’m getting calls almost on a daily basis about a lot of scheduling things.”
One possibility would be moving the game against the Cyclones, which originally was scheduled for Nov. 23, to later in the season. Another option would be scheduling the game at UNLV for a different date.
Right now the Jayhawks have openings on Sept. 28 and Nov. 23.
“It’s very close to being finalized,” Bohl said. “What happened with Iowa State is we were looking to see if there’s a possibility of moving that game. We start off at Iowa State and at UNLV. Those are still very good games for us to be playing, but if there was someone else that would make our schedule more favorable, that’s what we’re trying to really look at.”
One of the indictments against former KU coach Terry Allen was his habit of scheduling nonconference games against perennial powerhouses like Notre Dame and UCLA.
“Over the next couple years we’re going to continue to investigate how we can make the most effective schedule for Kansas,” Bohl said. “Eventually you’ll see us moving to the point where, as our talent gets better and we get better, then Mark and I definitely agree that we want to have a schedule that’s competitive and allows us to win.
“But right now, it’s so important for us to get some ‘W’s out there that we ought to be trying to schedule that way.”
l
It’s official: The Jayhawks confirmed Tuesday that Mangino has completed his staff with the additions of Tyrone Dixon and George Matsakis.
Dixon, who spent the past two seasons as Cincinnati’s assistant head coach/wide receivers coach, will serve as KU’s running backs coach. Matsakis will be Mangino’s director of football operations, after filling the same role at the University of Houston.
“Tyrone Dixon is an outstanding coach who will be a valuable addition to our staff,” Mangino said. “He has coached at both the collegiate and professional level and is highly regarded in the coaching profession.
“George Matsakis will play a meaningful role in the administration of the football program,” Mangino added. “He comes from a football family and will be extremely valuable in helping our program in a variety of roles.”
Mangino already has announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Bill Young, offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro, linebackers coach Dave Doeren, defensive line coach Travis Jones, offensive line coach Dave Borberly and secondary coach Pat Henderson. Brandon Blaney and Clint Bowen also have been hired, but their positions have yet to be announced.
When Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was hired last month he said one of the first moves he wanted to make was to compile easier nonconference schedules.
A quick look at the Jayhawks’ tentative 2002 slate shows KU opening with back-to-back road games at Iowa State and Nevada-Las Vegas. The two away contests, on Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 respectively, hardly are an easy way to kick off a season, let alone a head coaching career.
Perhaps that’s why KU is checking into making a change.
“I don’t know if it’s rumblings or rumors, but our football schedule is a work in progress,” KU athletics director Al Bohl said Tuesday. “We’ve been looking at anything we can do to help put us in the most favorable football schedule that we possibly can. There hasn’t been any game that’s off-limits to try and take a look at it if we can help ourselves try to be more successful.
“It is no secret, after six losing seasons, the key to being successful is having a winning season and getting to a bowl game.”
The Jayhawks, who haven’t been to a postseason bowl since the 1995 Aloha Bowl, have inquired about the possibility of moving the season opener in Ames, Iowa, and/or the second game at UNLV.
Of the utmost concern is the prospect of not playing at Memorial Stadium until the third game of the season, Sept. 14 against Southwest Missouri State.
“I think we’re looking at the first two games being both on the road, seeing if there’s any move we can make with either place,” KU associate athletics director Richard Konzem said. “There’s a lot of things happening with football this year with 12 games scheduled. There’s a lot of flexibility there. I’m getting calls almost on a daily basis about a lot of scheduling things.”
One possibility would be moving the game against the Cyclones, which originally was scheduled for Nov. 23, to later in the season. Another option would be scheduling the game at UNLV for a different date.
Right now the Jayhawks have openings on Sept. 28 and Nov. 23.
“It’s very close to being finalized,” Bohl said. “What happened with Iowa State is we were looking to see if there’s a possibility of moving that game. We start off at Iowa State and at UNLV. Those are still very good games for us to be playing, but if there was someone else that would make our schedule more favorable, that’s what we’re trying to really look at.”
One of the indictments against former KU coach Terry Allen was his habit of scheduling nonconference games against perennial powerhouses like Notre Dame and UCLA.
“Over the next couple years we’re going to continue to investigate how we can make the most effective schedule for Kansas,” Bohl said. “Eventually you’ll see us moving to the point where, as our talent gets better and we get better, then Mark and I definitely agree that we want to have a schedule that’s competitive and allows us to win.
“But right now, it’s so important for us to get some ‘W’s out there that we ought to be trying to schedule that way.”
l
It’s official: The Jayhawks confirmed Tuesday that Mangino has completed his staff with the additions of Tyrone Dixon and George Matsakis.
Dixon, who spent the past two seasons as Cincinnati’s assistant head coach/wide receivers coach, will serve as KU’s running backs coach. Matsakis will be Mangino’s director of football operations, after filling the same role at the University of Houston.
“Tyrone Dixon is an outstanding coach who will be a valuable addition to our staff,” Mangino said. “He has coached at both the collegiate and professional level and is highly regarded in the coaching profession.
“George Matsakis will play a meaningful role in the administration of the football program,” Mangino added. “He comes from a football family and will be extremely valuable in helping our program in a variety of roles.”
Mangino already has announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Bill Young, offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro, linebackers coach Dave Doeren, defensive line coach Travis Jones, offensive line coach Dave Borberly and secondary coach Pat Henderson. Brandon Blaney and Clint Bowen also have been hired, but their positions have yet to be announced.
When Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was hired last month he said one of the first moves he wanted to make was to compile easier nonconference schedules.
A quick look at the Jayhawks’ tentative 2002 slate shows KU opening with back-to-back road games at Iowa State and Nevada-Las Vegas. The two away contests, on Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 respectively, hardly are an easy way to kick off a season, let alone a head coaching career.
Perhaps that’s why KU is checking into making a change.
“I don’t know if it’s rumblings or rumors, but our football schedule is a work in progress,” KU athletics director Al Bohl said Tuesday. “We’ve been looking at anything we can do to help put us in the most favorable football schedule that we possibly can. There hasn’t been any game that’s off-limits to try and take a look at it if we can help ourselves try to be more successful.
“It is no secret, after six losing seasons, the key to being successful is having a winning season and getting to a bowl game.”
The Jayhawks, who haven’t been to a postseason bowl since the 1995 Aloha Bowl, have inquired about the possibility of moving the season opener in Ames, Iowa, and/or the second game at UNLV.
Of the utmost concern is the prospect of not playing at Memorial Stadium until the third game of the season, Sept. 14 against Southwest Missouri State.
“I think we’re looking at the first two games being both on the road, seeing if there’s any move we can make with either place,” KU associate athletics director Richard Konzem said. “There’s a lot of things happening with football this year with 12 games scheduled. There’s a lot of flexibility there. I’m getting calls almost on a daily basis about a lot of scheduling things.”
One possibility would be moving the game against the Cyclones, which originally was scheduled for Nov. 23, to later in the season. Another option would be scheduling the game at UNLV for a different date.
Right now the Jayhawks have openings on Sept. 28 and Nov. 23.
“It’s very close to being finalized,” Bohl said. “What happened with Iowa State is we were looking to see if there’s a possibility of moving that game. We start off at Iowa State and at UNLV. Those are still very good games for us to be playing, but if there was someone else that would make our schedule more favorable, that’s what we’re trying to really look at.”
One of the indictments against former KU coach Terry Allen was his habit of scheduling nonconference games against perennial powerhouses like Notre Dame and UCLA.
“Over the next couple years we’re going to continue to investigate how we can make the most effective schedule for Kansas,” Bohl said. “Eventually you’ll see us moving to the point where, as our talent gets better and we get better, then Mark and I definitely agree that we want to have a schedule that’s competitive and allows us to win.
“But right now, it’s so important for us to get some ‘W’s out there that we ought to be trying to schedule that way.”
l
It’s official: The Jayhawks confirmed Tuesday that Mangino has completed his staff with the additions of Tyrone Dixon and George Matsakis.
Dixon, who spent the past two seasons as Cincinnati’s assistant head coach/wide receivers coach, will serve as KU’s running backs coach. Matsakis will be Mangino’s director of football operations, after filling the same role at the University of Houston.
“Tyrone Dixon is an outstanding coach who will be a valuable addition to our staff,” Mangino said. “He has coached at both the collegiate and professional level and is highly regarded in the coaching profession.
“George Matsakis will play a meaningful role in the administration of the football program,” Mangino added. “He comes from a football family and will be extremely valuable in helping our program in a variety of roles.”
Mangino already has announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Bill Young, offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro, linebackers coach Dave Doeren, defensive line coach Travis Jones, offensive line coach Dave Borberly and secondary coach Pat Henderson. Brandon Blaney and Clint Bowen also have been hired, but their positions have yet to be announced.
