LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Among all the changes that have taken place at Kansas since Les Miles was hired to resurrect the moribund football program, the easiest to notice is the title of the spring game.
Its called Late Night Under the Lights.
Might as well try to channel whatever you can from your powerhouse basketball program.
The Late Night in the Phog each September the annual tipoff of yet another basketball season full of expectations. The event Saturday night in Memorial Stadium represents much more: It is the start of what Miles hopes is a new era for Kansas football.
The adjustment, the culture and what we want to do, theyre ready, said Miles, who was hired at the end of last season to replace the fired David Beaty. Were pleased. We have work to do, were not done, but we sure are pleased with the effort.
It takes more than effort to win at Kansas, though.
The program has won just six games over the past three-plus seasons, and the last winning season belonged to Mark Mangino. Since he was walking the sideline, Kansas has churned through Turner Gill, Charlie Weis, interim coach Clint Bowen and Beaty, whose departure appeared amicable at first but now includes a lawsuit over money he says he is owed.
The 65-year-old Miles has been busy. His first, frantic recruiting class is in place, his coaching staff has been hired and spring practices have just about come and gone, the barest bones of his new-look offensive system and the defense the Jayhawks will play this fall already in place.
Weve kind of introduced some of the segments that are going to be consistent, Miles said, but what happens is you have to pay your dues on those kind of situations. You have to stay after it, and you have to practice it again and again, and were a ways away from that.
Miles guessed that about half the playbook will be in place when Kansas caps its night under the lights with a scrimmage. But he also said that his to-do list is largely superfluous.
It really makes no difference, is what that means, Miles said. The issue is when we get a feel and a grasp for our guys, then that offense and that defense will change some, because of what we can do. So were not there yet.
Kansas still has the entire summer and fall before it steps back onto the field for its opener against Indiana State on Aug 31. And the Jayhawks will need every rep of every day as they try to reach a competitive level in Miles first season in charge.
Then again, Miles knows what hes doing.
He took over a losing program at Oklahoma State and was headed to a bowl game within two years, then won nine games in his third year. He wound up with winning records his final three seasons in Stillwater before departing for LSU, where he won at least 11 games his first three seasons.
Miles capped that run with a national title in 2007, then returned to the title game again in 2011, going unbeaten in the rugged SEC before losing to Alabama at the Superdome.
