First off I want to start with what has been the hottest topic on the board and that is Lance Leipold's possible new deal they could be re-structuring.
There is no real rush to sign something for Leipold if you think about it. He is signed through 2029 when he inked a seven-year deal after the 2022 season. I know a lot of people on the board bring it up and I get asked about it. But really outside of this board and the people who follow KU football close, signing a new contract isn't even a conversation.
I was telling someone who covers another Big 12 school the other day I believe he will get a new one. This person responded, "didn't he just get one?"
My point is Leipold has a good contract that keeps him at KU for a while.
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I know most of the news about the future home games is centered around playing at DBKMS and Arrowhead. There are people reporting that has been a done deal, but things change. I think there is a possibility now that the two games in Lawrence could get moved. One of the big reasons would be saving a lot of construction time to get the stadium ready for the 2025 season. It would save weeks on construction time.
Going into January the only two options on the table were DBKMS and Arrowhead. There were no other discussions, but now I believe Children's Mercy Park could be a possibility for the two games that were expected to be at home.
The Big 12 schedule will release next week and I could see KU having new information on the location of games soon after that.
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I expect things to get moving soon to fill the new cornerback position. Leipold has been on the road recruiting and they have been vetting names. It has been a while since I could say something like this, but I get the feel instead of them going out to find coaches, this time around coaches may come to them.
KU is a program on the rise, has a coach under a long-term contract, is paying better than they ever have, and might have the best group of cornerbacks in the league. That will be attractive to several coaches. I think they will get interest from coaches at the P5 and G5 level.
If they wanted to go with someone on the inside the best candidate would be Oscar Rodriguez, who is a defensive analyst. Most of his coaching time has been spent with linebackers and he has been a defensive coordinator at several stops. He works close with Borland and knows the system. He has recruiting contacts in the region.
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I don't want to say never, but right now it looks like the 2024 class is coming to a close. The portal window for adding a DE or LB has dwindled and I don't believe any visitors are on campus this weekend.
The high school spots are used up, so what you see right now is what you get.
Like I have said, the late signing day is really non-eventful. They will announce some PWOs but outside of that we knew that class in December.
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Staying on the subject of new contracts I will be shocked if Travis Goff isn't signed to a new deal. He has done a tremendous job with the athletic department and I don't know the last time it was in this strong of shape from top to bottom. He's got good people in his administration, most every sport is in good shape, he has made several quality hires, and the health of the department is strong.
Goff is young and is a Jayhawk. I won't get into details but I can tell you other schools have come calling for him. He has turned them down and never entertained their approach. He could have looked into schools with a bigger name and more pay, but he has been loyal to KU. Time to reward him.
There is no real rush to sign something for Leipold if you think about it. He is signed through 2029 when he inked a seven-year deal after the 2022 season. I know a lot of people on the board bring it up and I get asked about it. But really outside of this board and the people who follow KU football close, signing a new contract isn't even a conversation.
I was telling someone who covers another Big 12 school the other day I believe he will get a new one. This person responded, "didn't he just get one?"
My point is Leipold has a good contract that keeps him at KU for a while.
-----------
I know most of the news about the future home games is centered around playing at DBKMS and Arrowhead. There are people reporting that has been a done deal, but things change. I think there is a possibility now that the two games in Lawrence could get moved. One of the big reasons would be saving a lot of construction time to get the stadium ready for the 2025 season. It would save weeks on construction time.
Going into January the only two options on the table were DBKMS and Arrowhead. There were no other discussions, but now I believe Children's Mercy Park could be a possibility for the two games that were expected to be at home.
The Big 12 schedule will release next week and I could see KU having new information on the location of games soon after that.
-----------
I expect things to get moving soon to fill the new cornerback position. Leipold has been on the road recruiting and they have been vetting names. It has been a while since I could say something like this, but I get the feel instead of them going out to find coaches, this time around coaches may come to them.
KU is a program on the rise, has a coach under a long-term contract, is paying better than they ever have, and might have the best group of cornerbacks in the league. That will be attractive to several coaches. I think they will get interest from coaches at the P5 and G5 level.
If they wanted to go with someone on the inside the best candidate would be Oscar Rodriguez, who is a defensive analyst. Most of his coaching time has been spent with linebackers and he has been a defensive coordinator at several stops. He works close with Borland and knows the system. He has recruiting contacts in the region.
-----------
I don't want to say never, but right now it looks like the 2024 class is coming to a close. The portal window for adding a DE or LB has dwindled and I don't believe any visitors are on campus this weekend.
The high school spots are used up, so what you see right now is what you get.
Like I have said, the late signing day is really non-eventful. They will announce some PWOs but outside of that we knew that class in December.
---------
Staying on the subject of new contracts I will be shocked if Travis Goff isn't signed to a new deal. He has done a tremendous job with the athletic department and I don't know the last time it was in this strong of shape from top to bottom. He's got good people in his administration, most every sport is in good shape, he has made several quality hires, and the health of the department is strong.
Goff is young and is a Jayhawk. I won't get into details but I can tell you other schools have come calling for him. He has turned them down and never entertained their approach. He could have looked into schools with a bigger name and more pay, but he has been loyal to KU. Time to reward him.
