In the final week of his interim run as head coach of Kansas University football, Clint Bowen had plenty to address at his weekly press conference Tuesday afternoon.
Of course, the Jayhawks (3-8 overall, 1-7 Big 12) close their season this holiday weekend with the Sunflower Showdown in Manhattan, versus their rival, No. 11 Kansas State (8-2, 6-1).
But Bowen also took the time to show his appreciation for this experience — or audition, if you will — following the removal of former head coach Charlie Weis.
Here are the highlights from Bowen’s Q&A with the media:
• **The Jayhawks needed “over-the-top” type effort to win and didn’t get it** at Oklahoma… A lot of times KU didn’t play very smart reading keys on defense.
• **KU got a good start to this week early Monday morning** (5:30 a.m.) with its first practice of KU-K-State week.
• **Bowen has tremendous respect for Bill Snyder and his staff.** K-State has an offense that is challenging to defend, with a “gamer” quarterback in senior Jake Waters and a big-time receiver in senior Tyler Lockett.
• **K-State has adapted the QB run game into its offense in a creative manner.** They use designed QB runs instead of reads a lot. The tailback even blocks for the QB. They also have options to throw out of the QB run plays. The wrinkles create conflicts for defenses.
• **Importance of the rivalry game:** In the state of Kansas you’re on one side or another for the most part. Through the years, KU fans and non-KU fans take shots at each other. For the program, it’s also about fighting for the same recruits.
• **The 1992 KU-K-State game stands out for Bowen,** in his memories of playing, but KU was dominant up front defensively. For him, playing in the back, it was pretty boring, with little action getting to his position.
• **The Bowen family is a Lawrence group**, and pretty much always focused on KU as fans. Definitely not Missouri.
• **Senior CB JaCorey Shepherd, a former WR, adapted to switching** and jumped right in. He has physical skills but he had a lot to learn and took pride in his craft.
• **Bowen spoke with Snyder about a job a few years back**, after Mangino’s staff was let go. He considers himself fortunate to have had that interview “so to speak.” Bowen said he didn’t get an offer for the assistant position so he didn’t have to make that choice.
• **This is the last game of the season, so there is a senior day feel to it for KU**, even on the road. It can be a motivating factor with the last time the Jayhawks’ seniors put their helmets on. The coaches don’t talk about this week as their own bowl game or anything, but the coaches will teach the players about the rivalry today.
• **A lack of stability at the head coaching position, on both sides of this rivalry,** through the years have made the rivalry game streaky — with one team dominating the series for years on end.
• **This game definitely means a little more to “Kansas kids,”** who grew up in this state.
• **Freshman defensive lineman D.J. Williams, freshman offensive lineman Jacob Bragg and sophomore tight end Kent Taylor are some talented young guys** who have stood out this season without getting a chance to play a major part on Saturdays.
• **KU feels good about its red-zone defense** because the whole field shrinks. Once they hit the red zone, the Kansas defense feels like that’s an advantage. KU has had success forcing field goals.
• **Bowen and the staff will be out on the road recruiting early next week** to sell all the positives about Kansas “regardless of the head-coaching situation.”
• **In these nine weeks as an interim coach, Bowen has learned a lot about himself and dealing with people**. It is a leadership position. That part has been rewarding, because you realize you can impact a program and people’s lives. You learn how to make decisions and rely on the people around you. The last eight weeks went by pretty fast.
• **The biggest lesson Bowen has learned: It’s virtually impossible to be the defensive coordinator and head coach**. There is too much time required of both positions. Guys that have those dual roles have some help behind the scenes with that work.
• **Regarding this interim tenure:** It’s always about KU and the program. That’s what he has always believed.
• **Bowen closed the press conference by thanking chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and athletic director Sheahon Zenger** for the opportunity to represent Kansas football. He also thanked the assistant coaches and football support staff for working hard and doing what was right for the program through a difficult time. The players deserve credit, he said, for fighting and battling, too.
• **On the head-coaching search**: Bowen has never made it a secret that he would like to have this job. But it is never about him. Dr. Zenger has a “great plan” to find the best person for the program. When the selection is made, it is time for everybody to put their full support behind the choice. … KU football is a program that can be and should be successful in a power conference. Everyone has to work together as a team for that to happen.
*- Listen to the press conference in its entirety: [Clint Bowen talks K-State, his desire to become KU’s permanent head coach][1]*
http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2014/nov/25/36010/
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/podcasts/press_conferences_postgame_interviews/2014/nov/25/clint-bowen-talks-k-state-his-desire-become-kus-pe/
