Watch Lists, Offseason Hype and Kansas Football

It's that time of year again, July.  Now is when we get a slow trickle of information surrounding the impending football season.  A "Watch List" here and there, media days, talk of intense summer workouts that will inevitably lead to success on the football field.  But if you've been paying attention to Kansas football since the end of the Mark Mangino days (oh to have them back), you know this is all pretty much lip service.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited for Ben Heeney (Bednarik, Nagurski), Jimmay Mundine (Mackey) and Trevor Pardula (Ray Guy) who were all named to a list associated with their respective positions, but we're still talking about a team that hasn't produced much of anything in terms of a viable product on the field for several years.  Is this the year?  As is the case almost every year, there is going to be some spin out there trying to convince you that it could be the case.

While it could well be the year, and that would be fantastic, the odds seem to favor another losing season for Charlie Weis and potentially a date with the dreaded hot seat for the big man.  Personally I think he'll hang on barring a total collapse.  At this point much of my confidence rests in the surrounding coaching staff and the improvement we started to see defensively, but if something doesn't flip most in the media see this as a 3 or 4 win team yet again.

Does that keep Weis employed?  I think there's a good chance it does and I've long been an advocate for continuity in building a program, but fatigue set in big time at the end of last year.  It feels a little like what I imagine it's like to be a Cubs fan.  You have this eternal optimism about 'next season' while knowing full well it's unlikely to change.    Oddly enough at our most successful I don't recall too many watch lists, offseason hype or any of the above surrounding Kansas football.

What's the point here?  I can't say I know exactly.  I've got a little of the football itch, I haven't been around much lately and I was curious what the feel is with the rest of the Jayhawk fanbase.  I'll say for the first time you're probably catching preseason pessimism in a big way from me.  But hey Mikeville spilled the beans so I figured let's open the floodgates.  I'm hoping for the best, but I'm 150% on the 'show me the money' bandwagon right now.  Until I see it, I'm not listening Charlie and I'm a bit afraid of what happens next.