What Kansas head coach Lance Leipold said during Big 12 Media Days
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Kansas head coach Lance Leipold and team representatives took the podium on day two of the Big 12 Media Days.
The Jayhawks were part of the final day of festivities from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The Big 12 kicked off an action-packed summer of media days across all major conferences.
Leipold took the stage and answered questions across 15 minutes about different topics from the running back room to London.
On addition of RB Yasin Willis:
Willis had a breakout season for Syracuse last season, carrying the ball 129 times for 558 yards and four touchdowns. He transferred to Kansas and will join Dylan Edwards in the backfield.
“He’s a big back, physical back, downhill runner, able to move the pile a little bit. We really like the depth of the room we have at the running back position, but Yasin being complimented with Dylan Edwards, we think we really have two different running styles that can really give us some explosiveness as an offense and some versatility.”
On trip to London:
The Jayhawks will travel to London in Week 3 to take on Arizona State at Wembley Stadium. The Sept. 19 game will be followed by a bye week. Leipold was asked about the positives and negatives of the trip.
“I think it’s unity for both our programs, for this conference. Obviously it does have its challenges. The commissioner brought this opportunity to us, first of all, is giving up a home game. We’re in phase two of our stadium renovation and we’re at a reduce capacity. So that was part of the formula. But I still think about student athlete experience and I think we’re providing an opportunity for student athletes to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience to go over there and play a football game.
Playing Week 3 is definitely going to be unique to us and the challenges that are provided. Both teams will have an open week afterwards, but getting there, acclimating time change, everything from meals to practice facilities. I had a chance to go over in April and see it. It’s going to be a great setup. You get to play in one of the more iconic stadiums in all of the world. I think it’s going to be a special experience but one like you said and Kenny has alluded to it as well is to have our teams ready to play that day but then continually play the nine games afterwards will be very important.”
On urgency in London to avoid disappointing season:
In reference to the Kansas State-Iowa State season opener in 2025, Leipold discussed how to avoid a letdown following a trip overseas.
“When you go over and play that game, if you win everything is good. If not, then everybody has that’s the reason the rest of the season and that’s a tough opportunity. One thing that I think is a little different, even though it’s in Week 3 for us versus the Kansas State-Iowa State game of a year ago, both teams came back and had to play that next Saturday. Didn’t matter if it was an FCS opponent or who they each played. They had to get their teams back and ready and that’s tough. I think hopefully we have a confident plan that when we do get back about how we’re going to get our guys some down time, transition back, and then get ready for a game on October 3.”
On program fundamentals for life after football:
“I think a lot of things that we do in our program transitions to what life is about. Number one is punctuality. Being where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there. That’s a life skill. And honestly, many times we lose sight of that. And if you can’t be on time, you want to own a business someday, you’re going to have appointments. You’re going to expect people to be there.
We talk about our academics. We continue to do great things in the classroom. We had our second semester in a row over a 3.4 and what we find out if you’re going to do well, you can’t just be a great football player. You need to be good in everything and if you strive to improve in every facet of your life, you will get better.
They get academic success through support in college. Their personal confidence grows. Their confidence on the field grows. They talk more confidently. They answer questions, they’re inquisitive. Those things are life building things. We talk all the time because we know, the average NFL career is going to be very small. I’ll give you five years in the NFL. That’s fine. Odds are you don’t have enough money to live the rest of your life and you better find something else to do and you won’t even be 30 years old yet. So, you better have some other things to fall back on and we try to emphasize that daily in our program.”
On approach to get on national level to when he started:
When Leipold took over as head coach, Kansas was at the bottom of the barrel in college football. There have been some better years but the Jayhawks are still looking to take that next step nationally.
“Standards have changed and expectations have changed in Lawrence, Kansas since we arrived and we’re proud of that. Obviously, the last couple years have not gone the way that we have wanted. We haven’t found a way to close out some close ball games. We’ve had some opportunities probably well documented some close losses that easily put us that we could be sitting here talking about four consecutive bowl games, but we haven’t’ done that and where does it fall? It falls on the head coach and I have to do a better job.
Our players embrace that. They understand that we’re getting people’s better shots than we did a couple years ago as far as who the Kansas Jayhawks are and we have to embrace that. I love the depth that we have in our program and we’re going to put ourselves in a position because the one thing about the parody in this conference that kind of goes through with the balance is that we’ve seen the years. So, a lot of things can happen in this new portal era.”
On pressure heading into year six:
The reporter referenced Glen Mason and Mark Mangino as the only coaches to have a winning season for Kansas in year six or later. That is the situation for Leipold now and he was asked about any added pressure.
“Extra pressure in the year six, I think I probably put enough internal pressure on myself for our team to be at it’s best year in and year out, whether it be year three or year six. Like I said, there’s no doubt expectations are higher. Sustained winning is difficult. Our expectation is that we improve and that we compete for conference championships. For us to be able to sustain and move forward, I think in today’s era of having the ability to add to your roster, I think it gives us a little better chance. We look at what we can do each and everyday to put ourselves in position and we’re excited about what this team will be.”
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