Kansas coach Lance Leipold shares insight into London football trip

FRISCO, Texas — There’s been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to get Kansas football ready to make the trip this season to play Arizona State in London.

KU coach Lance Leipold said during Big 12 Conference media days in July that the team has talked to a lot of people in the NFL, and others who’ve played overseas, in order to figure out what the best ways they should go about their preparation. Leipold shouted out Michael Painter, the team’s chief of staff, for working tirelessly to take care of all of the details needed — like passports. There’s work that has to be done not just for the players and coaching staff, but the larger traveling party as well.

Leipold is also excited about being able to play a game in Wembley Stadium. Considering the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there’s going to be something special about the chance to compete in an iconic venue. Culturally, he thinks it’ll be an experience his players won’t forget.

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Here are a few more takeaways from what Leipold had to say in Frisco, Texas:

How has Kansas’ approach to its roster budget evolved?

Leipold noted they’re always trying to adapt, and deal with whatever challenges come their way at KU that could be different than some of the teams the Jayhawks compete against. He pointed to Rob Ianello, the team’s general manager, and highlighted the work Ianello does to allocate their resources across their various positions. Leipold thinks what they’ve done this year has given them the most depth and opportunity to be successful, and alluded to a support of different ways for an athletic department to bring in more revenue to help its teams — such as a jersey patch.

When it comes to Kansas’ depth, is there a position that’s stood out compared to last year?

Leipold downplayed the notion that just because he doesn’t name a certain position, he doesn’t like it, as he named some. He likes the depth at offensive line, running back, linebacker and safety, while mentioning they will need some safeties to emerge. Looking at why Kansas has been losing too many close games, and noticing how many snaps have been played by certain guys, he thinks the Jayhawks have a chance with this roster to rotate more earlier in games so they can be fresher late in games and also be healthier later in the season.

What will it be like, playing 9-straight games without an open week?

Kansas has an open week following its Sept. 19 game in London against Arizona State, but following that open week plays nine-straight games without another one to close out the regular season. Leipold allowed he had hoped the Middle Tennessee game, which follows the open week on Oct. 3 in Lawrence, would be a week zero game. But it isn’t, and he said they’ll just make the best of what they have in front of them.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas coach Lance Leipold shares insight into London football trip