Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1403981
2021 Football Preview 16C n Wednesday, August 25, 2021 Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer KANSAS, Okla. — Warren Kirk be- lieves there are championships to be won at Kansas, and he has good rea- son for thinking that. Kirk, a former Kansas standout, was hired as head football coach last April, and he brings with him the experience of the glory years of Kansas football under legendary coach Jon Hanna. Kirk had previ - ously been head coach at Jay, Okla., for the last several seasons, going 22-24 overall. "Obviously, I graduated here in 2004 and played for Coach Hanna, and during his 30 years here he turned this place into a football tradition-rich school," Kirk said. "I loved it at Jay, but when I got the call this winter I couldn't pass that up. This place is home, and I know there's tradition here. You can go win a state champi - onship here. This can be a champion- ship school." Kirk was a three-sport athlete at Kansas in football, basketball and baseball. He wound up playing col- lege football at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. He volunteer coached at Kansas under Eddie Barn- well before getting hired as an assis- tant at Jay in 2013. He became head coach in 2016. Kirk replaces Jimmy Dushane at Kansas, who went 18-22 in four years, including playoff appearances in 2019 and 2020. When Kirk took over the Comets program, he liked what he saw in terms of talent. "I kinda knew what was around here as far as kids and athletes," Kirk said. "There's a lot of athletes right now. I'm satisfied with the caliber of kids we have here. Now we need to push them to another level of conditioning, toughness and expectations." The Comets open the season at Del - aware County rival Colcord on Sept. 2. The Hornets have won seven straight in the series with last year's game be- ing canceled because of covid-19. "We come out of the gate — that's a big one," Kirk said. "If we can get that one, the sky's the limit. It would be a big confidence booster. I think we're a playoff team. I really do think we're a playoff-type team and that's what I'm expecting, especially with a freshman, sophomore-heavy type team this year. We're still expecting playoffs." Of the Comets' 35-man roster, only six are seniors. The Comets will spread out on of - fense with the goal of being balanced running and passing the football, said Kirk, who is the offensive playcaller. Defensively, Kansas will be a 4-2-5 setup or 3-4 hybrid with Todd Lank- ston as defensive coordinator. Senior Ty Lewis (6-1, 185) returns at quarterback and safety for Kansas. "He's a great leader with a great work ethic," Kirk said of Lewis. "He showed up all summer, worked his tail off. We're expecting big things as a true duel threat kid." By Graham Thomas Staff Writer n gthomas@nwadg.com Kirk excited to lead Comets Graham Thomas/Westside Football Preview The Kansas (Okla.) Comets open the season Sept. 2 at Colcord. Kansas coach Warren Kirk See COMETS on Page 17C