Give Chris Dawson a few days off from his duties at Anderson Strength and Conditioning Center, and Dawson, Kansas University’s strength coach, finds another weight room to investigate.
“I like to see how they set up to lift weights during training camp,” Dawson said from Oxnard, Calif., where he was visiting the Dallas Cowboys’ camp.
Dallas strength coach Joe Juraszek was Dawson’s mentor as a player and graduate assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma, and Dawson still is learning from the man who has survived three head-coaching changes in seven years in Dallas.
“I’ll watch and see how they do things,” said Dawson, who observed the Cowboys running tests and their first practice last weekend. “I’d be crazy not to keep my eyes and ears open and see what else I can pick up. All good coaches are that way.”
KU football coach Mark Mangino gave Dawson rave reviews for his efforts during summer conditioning, which ended Wednesday.
Dawson gave all the credit to the players.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the way the kids worked,” he said. “I was impressed with the young guys. The veterans did a good job of setting the tempo for them, and the young guys had no choice but to come in and get their butts in gear. And they did.”
While Mangino and KU’s position coaches take their vacations during the summer, it’s one of the most hectic times of the year for Dawson.
“I was ready for a break,” he said. “I love summer. It’s my favorite time, but at the end I’m ready for a break, and so are the kids. Then we come back and get after it.”
The Jayhawks report for preseason camp Aug. 6. After that, players work out with Dawson only two days a week, instead of the four they put in during the summer.
“I won’t call it a maintenance program,” Dawson said. “We’re still there to improve.”
