Lance Leipold explains emotions of Kansas' ongoing stadium construction

Memorial Stadium is undergoing a pretty large construction project. It’s a project that Kansas head coach Lance Leipold is able to see from his office.

Leipold explained the emotions of the ongoing stadium construction and emphasized that this is part of building the program as a whole.

“It’s pretty neat, you know,” Lance Leipold said. “Again, get my mouth straight here, but you’re thinking not even 14 months ago this wasn’t even announced. We talk about where it could be.”

Leipold praised the fundraising from the administration, pointing out how difficult those steps can be.

“It’s a tribute to Travis [Goff] and Chancellor [Douglas] Girod and everyone else in between there to keep moving, in the fundraising to the approval to state approval and all the other steps that it takes. To see that happening probably parallels some of the things we’ve been able to do on the field, as far as things happening quicker than anticipated.”

In many ways, for Lance Leipold, the construction is a metaphor that he can use for the program. It’s in progress, maybe even ahead of schedule, but not there yet.

“And that’s neat because it’s exciting about [it is] we have a lot to do yet. You look out your window and there’s a lot to do, yet. Those are good reminders but they’re exciting because we know when there’s construction that means good things [are] on the horizon. I believe that and always have.”

Lance Leipold describes 2023 Kansas team

With time to look back on the 2023 regular season, Lance Leipold shared his description of the Kansas Jayhawks team this year.

“I think you’re probably watching growth. I just don’t look at some of this year, I kind of look at try to think back to the year before and the first year with some of these guys and I look back to. I think about our two corners and how well they played and how successful they’ve been and things and watching. You know, they come in as freshmen from everything that we were doing as far as gaining strength and gaining weight and knowing the game and system, work habits and watching them gain confidence on the field and off. Those are things that I think about. The development of the defense and those things in the new pieces that kind of come in and their contributions, not just statistically but in other ways. That’s kind of neat,” Leipold said.

“And you know, it’s a special group, it’s been a fun group to be around in overcoming injuries at key positions at times and all those things have been very rewarding. But the most important thing is right now is I think, is that we do our best to get a chance to end this in a successful way.”