#kufball uniform on display at Big 12 Media Days, in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/QzFmnvsJ9D
— Benton Smith (@BentonASmith) July 20, 2015
**5:05 p.m. Update — By Benton Smith**
There aren’t a lot of expectations for Kansas football this season. So Ben Goodman, Jordan Shelley-Smith and Ben Johnson didn’t anticipate hearing a lot of questions about wins or bowl games at Big 12 Media Days.
Goodman said while they respect people’s opinions, given KU’s recent struggles, they also easily keep themselves from feeling negative about outside perceptions.
“We just look at it as motivation, man,” Goodman said.
The Jayhawks know few in the college football world think they are capable of becoming relevant.
“We have to earn it, which is our slogan, but we have to earn people’s respect, too,” Goodman said. “Stay tuned in in Lawrence, and I hope we earn y’all’s respect.”
Since Goodman brought up “earn it,” I asked him how often David Beaty uses the two words.
“He says it a lot,” the senior defensive lineman said, before giving his impression of Beaty, which wasn’t quite as polished as Shelley-Smith’s. “‘Hey, man. Earn it. Earn it, earn it, earn it. Love you guys.'”
Beaty doesn’t mind those type of light-hearted moments, because he wants players enjoying themselves while they work toward restoring the program’s public image.
**4:15 p.m. Update — By Benton Smith**
The interview portion of the afternoon just wrapped in Dallas, and Jayhawks Ben Goodman, Ben Johnson and Jordan Shelley-Smith, as well as first-year coach David Beaty, spent over an hour and a half answering questions.
One of the highlights of the session had to be junior offensive lineman Shelley-Smith giving his Beaty impression, which of course included the team slogan, “earn it.”
.@beaty_david approves this Jordan Shelley-Smith impression of the 1st-year #kufball head coach. #Big12FB pic.twitter.com/QVlGRt2MRZ
— Benton Smith (@BentonASmith) July 20, 2015
**12:37 p.m. Update — By Benton Smith**
*TEXAS TECH COACH KLIFF KINGSBURY*
A former quarterback himself, Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury has two quarterbacks competing to become the Red Raiders’ starter this fall.
Junior Davis Webb and sophomore Patrick Mahomes both have had individual success at times in their careers. Kingsbury said both will need to eliminate negative plays at the QB position for Texas Tech to win more games.
Both showed progress in the spring with ball security, but Kingsbury knows that has to carry over to actual games to mean anything. Whomever is named the starter, he added, won’t see a quick hook when mistakes come.
Kingsbury plans to name a starter “fairly early” in preseason camp, but if an injury takes place after one guy wins the job, he won’t be worried, because he thinks Tech has two players capable of winning games.
**12:18 p.m. Update — By Benton Smith**
*KANSAS STATE COACH BILL SNYDER*
After leading his Kansas State football team to a 9-4 record in 2014, coaching legend Bill Snyder heads into preseason camp with significant uncertainty at the most marquee position.
Snyder, who has seven quarterbacks on his K-State roster, said the Wildcats will open practices in a few weeks with four players sharing opportunities to become the starter. Ideally, one will emerge as the clear starter before the season begins.
“I don’t know how fast that will be,” Snyder said. “Right now, they’re all on equal footing.”
When questioned on the possibility of implementing a platoon, or two-quarterback system, Snyder said that won’t be the intent. He doesn’t favor that approach, but he hasn’t ruled it out, either.
One of the four leaders at this juncture is transfer Jonathan Banks, a sophomore from Contra Costa College. But because he joined K-State in the summer, so they haven’t seen him in practices yet.
Freshman QB Zach Davidson red-shirted in 2014. Sophomore Jesse Ertz played in mop-up duty last season. Junior Joe Hubener played in seven games a year ago.
“They’re all good young guys,” Snyder said. “They all care, they’re all good teammates.”
**11:33 a.m. Update — By Benton Smith**
*WEST VIRGINIA COACH DANA HOLGORSEN*
Headed into his fourth year coaching in the Big 12, West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen feels pretty confident and comfortable with his team.
Part of those positive vibes come from having more than 50 players who have been on the field in Big 12 football games. And some of the optimism originates from how competitive the Mountaineers were in 2014, when they went 7-6, despite having major issues with giving the ball away.
WVU was 120th in the nation in turnover margin last season, and four of its losses came by 10 or fewer points.
“We know we would’ve put ourselves in a position to win the conference,” Holgorsen said, if the Mountaineers had taken care of the ball.
Holgorsen has been known in his coaching career for his involvement in Air-Raid offenses, and he thinks his West Virginia version will only be as good as its quarterback.
Success with the Air-Raid, the fifth-year WVU coach said, comes down to taking care of the football. The Big 12 has had “tremendous” quarterback play through the years and many instances of pass-heavy offenses.
“The main thing when it comes to winning a championship,” Holgorsen said, “is guys that take care of the football.”
**11:05 a.m. Update — By Benton Smith**
*KU COACH DAVID BEATY*
#KUfball coach David Beaty mingles with Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby at Big 12 media days in Dallas… pic.twitter.com/jDhywLMlFh
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
First-year Kansas football coach David Beaty opened his morning press conference at Big 12 media days talking about how excited he is to be back in his hometown of Dallas, Texas, one of the nation’s hotbeds of high school recruiting.
• Beaty said getting KU’s football program back on track will be a process, not an event. The new KU coach said he and his staff have high standards, and they have simple ways to reach lofty goals: work hard and earn everything.
• Beaty wants KU football to have a brand that is tough, competitive and fun for players to play in.
• On freshmen/first-year players: In college football these days, it’s hard to tell a player he will for sure red-shirt. Injuries are a part of the game, so depth usually becomes a factor. High school players are coming in more prepared than ever. But incoming freshmen will have to earn playing time.
• Beaty referenced his time at KU as an assistant under Mark Mangino. Some of the things Mangino created, in terms of good habits, are still there, according to Beaty.
• Senior QB Michael Cummings is a better kid than he is a player, Beaty said. His knee injury in the spring game broke Beaty’s heart. Cummings had surgery in June, and Bowen looked out his office window the other day and saw Cummings down on the field throwing the ball. If anybody can make it back this season, it’s Cummings.
• It was a no-brainer decision to keep Clint Bowen on his staff as assistant head coach. Beaty and Bowen, and their families, vacationed together this summer. Beaty likes the kind of person Bowen is, but also how much Bowen cares about the KU program.
• New offensive lineman Jordan Shelley-Smith has been a consummate pro. That’s probably the most impressive thing about him. Shelley-Smith has put on 65 pounds since converting from tight end and it should pay dividends for him.
• With two days of contact now the standard for practicing in the Big 12, it won’t change the way KU does business. The program will adjust to this and other changes that come in the college football landscape.
• Strength coach Je’Ney Jackson used to be at KU as an assistant coach and worked with Aqib Talib and Chris Harris. Beaty hired Jackson because of how talented he is. He likes the standards and expectations Jackson sets for the players.
• You need to have some depth at running back in college football, and Beaty thinks the Jayhawks have that. He pointed to Taylor Cox, Ke’aun Kinner, De’Andre Mann and Taylor Martin as the players KU will lean on at the RB position.
• High school coaches in Texas know Beaty and co-defensive coordinator Kenny Perry well, and they know when their kids go to KU they’ll be taken care of, and nothing will be given.
**10:35 a.m. Update — By Benton Smith**
Some on social media wondered if Kansas football was going with “KU” on its helmets, without a Jayhawk logo.
But, as we saw last season, Kansas actually has a number of helmet options, and some of them that KU brought to Dallas have “KU” on one side and a Jayhawk on the other.
#KUfball coach David Beaty up next here in Dallas… That means it’s time to set up the KU helmets… Here’s a look. pic.twitter.com/jHxx43azKQ
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
**10:25 a.m. Update — By Benton Smith**
*TCU COACH GARY PATTERSON*
This summer’s trip to Big 12 Media Days feels a lot different than the 2014 venture for TCU coach Gary Patterson. Twelve months ago, the Horned Frogs were coming off a 4-8 season in 2013, with few expecting much out of them.
“A year ago, you had to prove people wrong. Now you’ve gotta prove people right,” said Patterson, whose team went 12-1 last season after installing a new offense, and now is expected to battle Baylor for the 2015 league crown.
Patterson said entering this season as a Big 12 favorite only means so much.
“It’s a nice feeling, but I’ve been in this business too long to get caught up in it,” the TCU coach said.
Patterson has to stay even keeled, he continued, because then his team will do the same.
His best player, senior quarterback Trevone Boykin, has kept his cool this summer, as hype builds around the Heisman Trophy front-runner.
Patterson said Boykin spent all summer doing seven-on-seven work with his offensive teammates, instead of leaving town to work with some “quarterback gurus.”
**10:21 a.m. Update — By Matt Tait**
Just caught my first glimpse of KU coach David Beaty and the three KU player reps here in Dallas. Beaty and Ben Johnson elected to go with the light gray suit look while Jordan Shelley-Smith went dark blue and Ben Goodman went with the dark gray. All of them look sharp and they’re all rocking the Jayhawk pin on their jackets.
A lot of teams just wear slacks and team polos to this event but the KU players always have tried to make sure they look as sharp as they can.
I think part of it is that they want to make sure they look like a top-level team so that people will treat them like one in spite of their record during recent seasons.
Beaty will hit the podium at 10:40 for his first official Big 12 Q&A.
**Original Post: 9:25 a.m. — By Matt Tait**
Like it or not, Big 12 football media days in Dallas always sort of represents the unofficial end of summer and the infant beginning of another college football season.
And it has arrived.
Four representatives of the Kansas University football team, along with players and coaches from the other nine Big 12 schools have invaded the Omni Hotel in Dallas to talk about the upcoming season, the challenges facing college football today and any and every other quirky and comedic thing they can think of to represent their schools and teams and kick off the 2015 season in style.
KU will be represented by first-year coach David Beaty, who should flourish in this setting, as well as players Ben Goodman (senior defensive end), Ben Johnson (sophomore tight end) and Jordan Shelley-Smith (junior offensive lineman).
Those three players, though not widely known throughout the conference will be in charge of answering all of those tough questions the Jayhawks normally get down here — Why is it so hard to win at Kansas? What’s it like to lose so often? Will this year be any different than the previous five? And so many others like that.
I saw the KU contingent in the lobby when we checked in last night and they don’t appear to be concerned with those types of things. Instead, they’re excited to be here, ready to represent KU well and looking forward to showing people that there’s more to football and the teams in the Big 12 than the results on the field.
I wouldn’t expect to hear any outlandish comments from any of these guys. They’re respectful young men who understand that the best way to talk the talk is to walk the walk. But I’m sure they’ll be happy to share with us how hard they’ve been working this offseason and why they’re optimistic about what’s ahead.
As for Beaty, you can bet he’ll give some colorful quotes, simply because he uses such interesting and entertaining language. But you can also bet that you’ll hear him speak the words “earn it” about a million times and also will NOT hear him call his team or anyone else “a pile of crap.”
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby is speaking to the media to kick things off and the coaches press conferences get rolling at 10:05 with TCU coach Gary Patterson. Beaty is set to speak for the first time at 10:40.
Keep it right here for all of your coverage from Day 1 of Big 12 media days from myself and your guy Benton Smith.
**Twitter updates:**
Getting ready for kickoff at Big 12 media days 2015… Here’s where #KUfball will set up shop a little later today… pic.twitter.com/ImIl7i3O8K
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
Bowlsby says B12 is still committed to full round robin & won’t look at conference title game this year… Does mention “down the road”
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
Big 12 commish Bob Bowlsby doesn’t think the college football playoff will expand from 4 teams any time soon.
— Benton Smith (@BentonASmith) July 20, 2015
Bowlsby on B12 going 2-5 in bowl games last year: That’s not satisfactory. We want to win all of those games & national championships…
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
Bowlsby said B12 coaches weren’t using every day for contact anyway so he doesn’t think going from 3 days of hitting to 2 will hurt anything
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
Bowlsby on expansion: Majority believes 10 is still the right number & until that opinion shifts I don’t think you’ll see us expand…
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
Bowlsby said he still doesn’t believe that having 10 teams and no conference championship game hurts the Big 12…
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
2015 #kufball media guide, featuring 1st-year coach David Beaty pic.twitter.com/fFSLdHk5In
— Benton Smith (@BentonASmith) July 20, 2015
Beaty on coaching staff: You’re only as good as the men you have out there that beat the bushes. #KUfball
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
Beaty on rise of Baylor & TCU: What a couple of great examples of how to do it and that it can be done… #KUfball
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015
Beaty on QBs: Cummings had surgery in June & was on the field throwing the ball the other day. But they’re looking into a 6th year #KUfball
— Matt Tait (@mctait) July 20, 2015