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Beaty encouraged by Briles' turnaround at Baylor, thinks 'sky's the limit' at KU
David Beaty has a colossal task at hand as he attempts to resurrect Kansas' football program from the depths of despair.
The tall task has already claimed two head coaches this decade, Turner Gill and Charlie Weis, who recorded meager win percentages of .208 and .185, respectively, while at Kansas.
However, Beaty is determined to be the guy who turns things around at Kansas for good, and he has a current success story across the conference to inspire him.
Art Briles has transformed Baylor from a program that struggled to gain traction in the Big 12 to one that's been a contender for the national championship in back-to-back seasons.
"I think that's living proof that you can accomplish what you want to accomplish if you believe in it, and you get your guys to believe in it, and you have a plan, and you work that plan, and you do not sacrifice your vision along the way," Beaty says to Grantland of Briles' massive achievement at Baylor.
Revitalizing a historically suffering program was a process for Briles, nonetheless.
Before leading BU to its first seven-win season in 16 years and then four consecutive eight-win seasons, Briles suffered consecutive 4-8 seasons in which the Bears only won three conference games.
Now reaping the reward of Briles' successful rebuilding project, Baylor has won over five times as many conference games in the past two seasons alone.
"It's a process to get there. Baylor didn't just get there. It took them awhile," Beaty says. "There were steps involved in getting there. And [Briles] didn't sacrifice anything along the way, and now they're sustaining that success."
Beaty understands that despite his efforts to effect immediate change at Kansas, expecting instant gratification is simply unrealistic.
"Our long-term goal is to be able to be a champion here in the Big 12. That's a long-term goal. It's not an immediate goal. But that is the goal," he says.
Since 2009, the Jayhawks have only won four conference games, a low amongst all FBS teams during that span, according to Grantland.
Briles inherited a program that had won seven Big 12 games in the five years preceding his arrival. Now, Baylor has notched 30 conference victories in the past five years under Briles.
Beaty's rebuilding project at Kansas will likely take years to gain steam. Right now, he's more concerned with revamping KU football's brand as a precursor to reengaging the fan base and boosting recruiting.
"We just want something we can be proud of. We want people to understand that this is a real place, with real facilities, that wants to play real ball," Beaty said. "We've got to make sure that we provide our kids in this state and in the Kansas City area with a university that they're proud to come to, that they don't want to leave our borders. And that's a process, not an event. It doesn't just happen overnight, and you don't get that by talking. You get it by showing."
"I think the sky's the limit [here]," he added. "I really do."
(h/t Grantland)
