KU football coach David Beaty challenges students to a friendly game
By early Thursday afternoon, David Beaty’s right shoulder was a little sore.
Beaty, Kansas’ first-year football coach, had spent 90 minutes on campus, challenging KU students to an assortment of games at a makeshift carnival setup in front of Watson Library. Beaty, in an effort to connect with the student body and combat apathy towards football on campus, arranged a Campus Challenge event, which consisted of pop-a-shot, a baseball throw and the yard game “bags.”
The event came just two days before the KU spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
“I’m pretty sure I lost about three of them, to be honest with you,” Beaty joked. “So I think I was like 75-3. It was a great deal just to get out here and meet students. They’re part of being our stakeholders, and to just kind of get to know them and get them to introduce themselves to me and know what kind of support we need from them.
“That’s really going to be important for us moving forward.”
Beaty ready for spring game
After 14 spring practices, Beaty says he will have minimal expectations for his first spring game. But he is curious to see which players can translate practice lessons into game conditions on Saturday.
“Really, I just want to see them compete,” Beaty said. “(Thursday) is really kind of our final practice, and we’ve gotten a lot done. We’ve come a long way since that first day, and for us, it’s kind of just putting them in a game-day atmosphere and see who changes. Who can be consistent in that game-day atmosphere. We call it the “big field.”
Pro Bowler Chris Harris to attend spring game
Beaty revealed Thursday that a long list of former Kansas players will be in town for Saturday’s spring game, including Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris.
In addition to Harris, former KU football players Bradley McDougald, Tyler Patmon, Steven Johnson and Toben Opurum are also expected to be there.
“They’re the shoulders of giants that we’re standing on,” Beaty said. “I talk about that all the time, and those guys want to see this place be great. They really do. I love the spirit they have and wanting to give back.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 4:23 PM with the headline "KU football coach David Beaty challenges students to a friendly game."