By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• Just 14 games into his time at KU, and standing 4-10, Lance Leipold is linked to the Nebraska opening.
• Look, I am fast becoming an ardent admirer. And I actually told a few friends to tap the brakes after the opening win over an FCS program from the Ohio Valley.
• But Leipold seems to be building something special.
• Dang, though. Nebraska looking at a KU coach? With a few rumors also swirling about Chris Klieman as a darkhorse?
• That signals a revolutionary reversal of fortune, though this revolution for Nebraska football has been going on for about a quarter-century.
• For quite a while now, the N on the helmet has stood for nothing.
• Big Ten allocations can be invested more effectively without coaching terminations.
• Scott Frost could do worse than find a position as an NFL assistant.
• Bill Callahan has earned praise there as an offensive line coach. Gary Gibbs spent eight seasons with the Chiefs.
• And then there’s Ron Prince, who … never mind.
• How far can Jalon Daniels, his deep backfield and an improving receiving corps take KU?
• Yeah, it’s early. But the September game I thought would be pivotal is over and KU won at West Virginia.
• By 13 points. In overtime. After digging a 14-0 deficit after one quarter.
• Made me quit grumbling about the white top-red pant uniform scheme.
• Actually, I don’t go ape poop gaga over alternative uniforms. I realize it thrills players and fans, so that’s cool.
• As far as KU, I am more excited to see stadium reconstruction.
• Thing about Leipold is he could be the coach who finally drives demand for suites, a decent component for measuring the appeal of a college football program.
• Still think Leipold must coach the Jayhawks to a winning season before he fields other offers, but maybe not in this day of rapid perception.
• KU just might post a winning record. The Big 12 is wide open.
• K-State is actually going to show off a helmet makeover Saturday.
• Pennant-waving Willie will adorn the white lids.
• Between that wardrobe change and four newcomers added to the Ring of Honor, I’m a bit startled.
• I had thought Bill Snyder had a clause in his retirement papers giving him perpetual control of some football matters.
• The K-State defense is one stubborn crew. Playmakers on every level and lots of interchangeable parts.
• That helps with Adrian Martinez’s transition, which warrants an incomplete grade so far.
• In fairness to Martinez, his receivers need to play better, an all too familiar refrain at K-State.
• None of them are better than Washburn’s James Letcher.
• Gene Taylor has probably noticed. The K-State AD is following the Ichabods and his son Jared, a transfer quarterback from Northern State.
• Big trap game coming up before K-State begins Big 12 play in prime time on Fox.
• No. 6 Oklahoma better not take Nebraska too lightly in Lincoln after the Huskers’ coaching move.
• What’s that? Sure, K-State better not take Tulane for granted, either.
• Nebraska, Missouri, Texas A&M … do you want more proof the money isn’t always greener?
• I expect Texas and Oklahoma will provide it.
• Told my wife I wanted to start over.
• We deserve a honeymoon as sweet as Jerome Tang’s.
• Haven’t seen him coach yet but planting himself into K-State’s student section and ending the F-KU chant is regal stuff.
• So is his purple campus couch.
• I was itching to use regal in honor of the queen. Or is it honour?
• Enough on nobility, which is something the N on Nebraska’s helmet no longer represents.
• Back to Tang. It sure seems he can pack all his magnetism into delivering better results for the Cats.
• Recruiting better talent is a nice start.
• Not making any bold predictions just yet on K-State hoops. Reluctant to even do that with KU football.
• However, it’s fascinating what can happen when coaches introduce and commit to disciplined structure.
• Not all of them do, including a string of four straight KU football failures.
• Too much was made about Russell Wilson’s arrival in Denver and not enough about the son of Paul Hackett.
• I’d like to think I looked as good at 50 as Arrowhead Stadium, but I’ve never had a manicure, so no.
• Conference realignment does not apply only to major colleges.
• We also see the effects with high school football, including the end of an interminable losing streak for Highland Park.
• Argue the merits of changing leagues all you want, but I find some joy in the Scots being 2-0.
