Westside Football Preview

Football Preview 2017

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KANSAS, Okla. — Worthy applicants of a head football coaching job are lucky enough to get interviews for the open position. Jimmy Dushane gets a season-long audition. Dushane was named the interim head coach of the Kansas (Okla.) Com - ets football program back in June after Steve Patterson resigned his position as head football coach and athletics director. Patterson's resignation came so late, that the Kansas School Board and ad- ministration determined it was in the best interest of the Comets football program that an interim coach be named for the 2017 season and that the coaching position be re-evaluated at the end of the year. "They chose to go ahead and keep things as normal as they could," said Dushane, who had been the team's offensive coordinator. "I was able to become the interim head coach." The title of Kansas head coach is one Dushane would like to have on a permanent basis. "Sure, I would like to be the head coach here," Dushane said. "I have a year-long audition." Dushane will be 52 at the end of this month, and his current position is actually the fifth time he's been a head coach. Dushane was head coach at South Coffeyville (Okla.) for five seasons before moving to Fox (Okla.) as head coach. He was the head coach at Fairland for two years and also the head coach at Diamond (Mo.) before coming to Kansas in 2015. He'll have a heck of a challenge at Kansas, which went a combined 3-27 in three seasons under Patterson. "I'd love the challenge of that," Du - shane said. "With the exception of going to Fox, the other places I've been a head coach have been at a program that's been down. That's the challenge I like. I like helping to rebuild programs. I guess that's my drive. I don't like to be mediocre." Kansas is coming off an 0-10 season in 2016. But there is hope that better days are ahead. Numbers for the varsity program are in the mid 30s, which is decent for a Class 2A school in Oklahoma. The Comets were state champions in power lifting from sev - enth grade all the way through 12th grade this past winter. "That's a great place to start," Du- shane said. "I think we had really good success there. Hopefully through that success we can push it over to the football field." Dushane said the Comets are ready to turn the corner. "They're all hungry to be on that successful side," he said. "My juniors, as freshman, they went undefeated and last year (as sophomores) was a dose of reality. They saw it was a little bit different. "I think through maturity and hard work in the weight room, that group has matured and we'll see an improve - ment over what we've had in the last year or two." Much of what the Comets did under Patterson will remain the same at least for this season. When Patterson re- signed, the coaches kept the workouts going like nothing had changed. "We just kept on doing what we'd been doing," Dushane said. "Head coaching is kind of a title because as coaches here, we all stepped in and did what we have to do. "As football players you're kind of con - ditioned for 'who's the next one up?' Kids are the same way. Whenever it comes to that they just say 'who's next?'" Longtime Kansas assistant coach Todd Lankston will assume the role of defensive coordinator, while Du - shane will call up the offense. Coach Todd Phillips helps out the Comets in a number of different areas on both offense and defense. The Comets will run a multiple of- fense that they hope will be run heavy. Senior Austin Glass (6-0, 170) will get the first crack at playing quarterback. "He's kind of green, but he's made progress in doing what we're asking him to do," Dushane said. Junior Christian Glass (5-6, 145) also is getting some reps at quarterback, while Keelin Davis (6-0, 165) could be an option at quarterback, but the coaches want him to play wide re - ceiver. "I want to get his speed back on the edge at wide receiver," Du- shane said. The Comets will use two primary running backs, and junior Daris Glass (5-6, 145) will be one of them. Daris Glass is short in stature, but he is "very powerful," Dushane said. "He was the state champion power - lifter at 145 (pounds)," he said. "He's a very strong young man." Senior Aaron Reeder (5-8, 140) will man the other running back spot. "He's also a tough runner, but he's got a little more speed on the outside I think," Dushane said. "Hopefully that will help us." 2017 Football Preview 18 n Wednesday, August 23, 2017 The Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer Comets turn to veteran Dushane in 2017 n He became the interim coach in the summer when Steve Patterson resigned. By Graham Thomas Staff Writer n gthomas@nwadg.com Dushane A. Glass D. Glass Davis Michael Burchfiel/Herald-Leader The Kansas (Okla.) Comets open the 2017 season Aug. 25 at Oklahoma Union. See KANSAS on Page 19

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