Kansas didn’t just open up their football season this weekend with a 24-point win. They also opened with the debut of the first part of the newly renovated edition of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Following the 31-7 win for the Jayhawks over Fresno State on Saturday, Lance Leipold shared his thoughts on being out […]
Kansas didn’t just open up their football season this weekend with a 24-point win. They also opened with the debut of the first part of the newly renovated edition of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Following the 31-7 win for the Jayhawks over Fresno State on Saturday, Lance Leipold shared his thoughts on being out in their new stadium. He said he tried taking it all in as they prepared to start the game, from warmups and coming out of the tunnel to seeing an attendance of over 41,500 fans and students who came to watch the season opener at KU.
“You know, I tried to, I tried to look before kickoff. You know, it was so impressive,” said Leipold. “Probably the earliest I’ve seen the student section, you know, filled up at a time. And, as we, you know, came down the tunnel and stuff? You know, a, coming out of a real tunnel. It kind of felt like a real Power Four football team, you know. So, it’s – part of that, and seeing the crowd and to see how full it was? I did kind of look up. And, even during warmups, I thought that there’s a lot of people, that they were in seats maybe earlier than maybe in the past.”
“So, hopefully, you know, I’m sure there’s things on the outside that are just like us, that there’s some kinks to work through. But I think it’s a pretty good place, pretty cool place to watch a college football game,” Leipold said.
During the renovations, Kansas played their home games last season at either Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas or at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Now, though, the Jayhawks have returned to Lawrence.
Kansas had a big homecoming too in the 31-7 win over Fresno State to start their fifth year under Leipold at 1-0. After an early tie in the first quarter at 7-7, the Jayhawks built their margin by shutting out the Bulldogs the rest of the way, doing so by holding them to 216 yards of offense and by forcing three turnovers with a pair being interceptions. KU themselves then put up a good offensive outing as QB Jalon Daniels was 18/20 (90%) for 176 yards and three touchdowns, two of those going to WR Cam Pickett, while Daniels (47) along with RBs Daniel Hishaw Jr. (69 yards) and LeShon Williams (57 yards, TD) accounted for 173 of the 207 yards they ran for.
Leipold appreciated everything yesterday, from being in their new and improved stadium to all the people who came out for the opener. However, that said, Leipold asks that they continue to do that as it won’t matter how nice the venue is if they Jayhawks don’t have fans there in it.
“I really, you know, can’t thank them enough for their energy and the time for them to come as early as they did,” said Leipold. “You know, the stripes and everything in the stands was great for us to do, all those things.”
“I said it when I talked to the newcomers on campus, to the freshman class and the newcomers. Our student body and our fan base is what’s going to be the key to make this stadium special, okay,” Leipold said. “It’s a top of the line stadium. It’s really nice. But, if nobody is in it, it really doesn’t matter. And, if we’re not there to create that advantage. You know, you know, we need them and hopefully they’ll keep showing up.”
Category: General Sports
