Weis sees reason for optimism as Kansas coach

DALLAS (AP) -  Charlie Weis took an objective look at the situation when he was offered the coaching job at Kansas, which has won only two Big 12 games the past three seasons.

   First, Weis looked at Kansas State and Missouri, the Jayhawks' two closest competitors.

   "I'm saying, OK, the two schools that are in the closest proximity are both doing fairly well," he said Tuesday. "And you look at what both those programs are doing, solid, winning programs. I think that that's one of the reasons that gave me reason for optimism, because there's no reason why you can't have a third one into the mix and become more competitive."

   While Weis said he couldn't get a time-frame for turning things around at Kansas, he said it obviously can be done because of those teams are already doing it.

   Plus, it was only five years ago when Kansas won 12 games and was the Orange Bowl champion.

   "It wasn't like it was 20 years ago," Weis said. "It was a short time frame ago that that football program was playing in bowl games and winning. So you say, OK, they were there, they're here, what happened?  ... To be honest with you, I think it's a very challenging situation.  And it's one that, as I talked over with my wife and my son, we thought would be a very good challenge for us as a family but also very rewarding if it paid dividends."

   Weis, who loves college basketball, said taking football prospects to a Jayhawks game in Allen Fieldhouse is a wonderful recruiting tool. And the coach gets great seats.