Budde was a lineman for the Jayhawks from 1987 to 1990. He now provides color commentary for Channel 6 telecasts of KU football games.

Cig

Do you think the Bacon Brothers have a shot at the league championship this year?

Thanks Cig

Moderator

Hi folks. I’m Joel Mathis, managing editor for convergence at the Journal-World. Chip is joining us over the phone today, while intrepid sports editor Tom Keegan takes dictation – so that you, loyal KU sports fans, can tap into Chip’s wisdom.

Here we go:

bangaranggerg

Will the lack of a buyout clause in Coach’s contract make him more likely to leave the program? How long is it, likely, he will coach at the University of Kansas?

Chip Budde

The bottom line is, regardless of whether he leaves the program is going to be in a lot better shape than when he started. So we would be able to bring in a good coach because it’s a good situation come into. I hope he stays as long as he wants to and I think he likes it here a lot. The lack of a buyout clause doesn’t bother me.

jbroz

Chip, when is KU finally going to recruit some offensive lineman (specifically centers) that are up to the quality of the teams you played on?

Just kidding.

What do you think are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of this team both offensively and defensively?

Chip Budde

The biggest strengths and weaknesses, the only thing I can do is compare this to years past. Two strengths: No. 1 they’ve got better athletes and No. 2, more importantly, they expect to win. And that helps a lot. Weaknesses, there are a couple of positions that could probably improvement, as far as generally speaking, it’s experience. We have good athletes across the board, it’s just that some guys don’t have game experience. We’ve got guys out there as big as Big as Big Foot and we didn’t have that in the past. Not guys who can move anyway.

RoyHeatherly

I coached Chip when he was a broken arrow brave, just wondering how he and his family is.

Chip Budde

We’re great, thanks. My parents are great. My wfie and two sons are great.

Moderator

Keegan and I have a couple of questions…

tkeegan

Chip, I maintain that an offensive line gets too much credit when blocking for a quick running back and too much blame when blocking for a running back who is slow to hit the hole. Tiki Barber/Ron Dayne when they were together with the Giants illustrated this well. Jon Cornish, I would think, is a back who can make a line look good. How would you have liked blocking for Jon Cornish?

Chip Budde

Yes, I agree completely. Barry Sanders was the best example.
Your blocking schemes can be a lot less regimented with a quick back who has field vision because all you have to do is wall off the defensive lineman for a second or two and the back can pick the gaps as soon as they open up and a back like Jon Cornish can be into the next level with the linebackers before the linebackers have a chance to react. The linebackers are turned and running and trying to make a side hit on Jon Cornish and if you’re not standing in front of Jon Cornish he’s tough to bring down. Jake Sharp, too.

Joel

Chip, you were a lineman. We always pay attention to the glamour positions — QB, RB, WR. What’s it really like in the trenches?

Chip Budde

It’s a job. When you’re on the field with 10 other guys you don’t notice one position is more glamorous than any other because you’re all out there doing your job and pulling one-eleventh of the weight. There are some shots that receivers and quarterbacks have taken that I certainly would not want to be a part of. … Back to that last question for a second: An offensive lineman NEVER gets too much credit.

tkeegan

Chip, You started every game during your four years at KU. Was that more of a statement about your talent, or about the state of the KU football program?

Chip Budde

I can’t even think of a funny metaphor. The tallest guy at the bottom of the well? It was the state of the program. We did one spring with nine offensive lineman. Bill Hundelt had to play every down of the spring game. By the end of the game, defensive linemen were begging to go against him because he was tired. We were a pretty tight group.

Joel

What about this week’s game. It’s a given — isn’t it? — that KU’s going to win. So what should we be looking for from the Jayhawks, development-wise?

Chip Budde

Unless lightning strikes, yes. It should be a win and it should be by a couple of touchdowns. What we’re looking for is improvement on the offensive side of the ball, from receivers and offensive line. Coach Mangino always says the biggest improvement of the year is between the first week and the second week. We should see a lot of that improvement, hopefully some of that on the punt team. Of course, the best thing you can do is take the punt team out of the equation.

Moderator

I suspect our next question comes from somebody in a Fantasy Football league – or something similar – with our chatter…

Cig

Do you think the Bacon Brother have a shot at the league championship this year?

Thanks Cig

Chip Budde

I think this refers to a fantasy football league. So the answer is NO!

Moderator

What is the hardest thing an offensive lineman has to do?

Chip Budde

Fight off the girls.

Moderator

How about when he wakes up?

Chip Budde

Drive them home.

Moderator

Let me rephrase the question: During the course of a GAME, what is the most difficult assignment for an offensive lineman?

Chip Budde

Communicating with your fellow offensive linemen, because it really is a team within a team. The center has to know when the guard is going to need help with a down lineman or a linebacker because those responsibilities will change not only based on the offensive play call but the defensive sets and even tendencies of particular players on the defense. There are a lot of variables that change up to the moment the ball is snapped. And unless the tackles, guards, centers and even tight tends, are communicating, they are going to have problems.

Moderator

Thanks for joining us Chip. Chip can be heard this weekend on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6, doing color commentary on the replay broadcast of the KU-Louisiana-Monroe game, 11 a.m. Sunday.

Chip Budde

Thanks for having me. Rock Chalk.