LAWRENCE — When Sheahon Zenger needs to have a long conversation with David Beaty, he knows it’s going to be a long night.
The Kansas athletic director has adjusted to his new football coach’s schedule, learning to start important phone calls with him at 10 or 11 p.m. that often last past midnight.
There’s good reason for the timing.
“He is truly busy,” Zenger said, “every minute of the day.”
One can certainly understand why.
Since being hired in December, Beaty is embarking on perhaps the greatest rebuilding job in college football. Just before the season began, Beaty counted his returning scholarship players with either 60 or 61 — about 25 lower than the maximum allowed of 85 that other schools in the Big 12 will have.