KU Football Notebook: Kansas assistant coach Bowen to find time for wedding tonight

Today will be a busy day for Clint Bowen.

Kansas University’s running backs coach and special teams coordinator will be on campus this morning for the Jayhawks’ scrimmage.

Oh, and then tonight he’ll marry Miss Kansas.

It’s been a busy offseason for Bowen, who saw boss Terry Allen fired with three games left in the 2001 season, was retained by new head coach Mark Mangino, switched from tight ends to running backs coach, helped with recruiting and now is busy with spring drills.

So why tie the knot during the middle of spring practices?

“That was the time that worked best for both their schedules,” said Charles Bowen, Clint’s father. “I tried to talk them into running off, but they wouldn’t do it.”

While the younger Bowen won’t be quite as busy after the spring game on April 26, fiance Kristie Knox will be entering her busy time of year as a wedding planner. Miss Kansas USA 2001 and the former Lawrence High and KU defensive back will wait until after the spring game to take their Virgin Islands honeymoon.

Bowen was not available to the media.

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Warner in Spain: NFL Europe begins its season today. Only one former KU player is listed on rosters of the six-team league. Ron Warner, an all-Big 12 linebacker in 1997, was allocated to the Barcelona Dragons by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Warner was a seventh-round draft pick by New Orleans in 1998.

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Looking ahead: The NFL Draft is next Saturday and Sunday. The KU senior most likely to be selected is Nate Dwyer, who one analyst ranks as the seventh-best defensive tackle available. Algie Atkinson was rated the 14th-best linebacker by the same Website. Justin Hartwig was ranked the 23rd-best offensive tackle. After the seven-round draft ends Sunday, other Jayhawks who might be signed as undrafted free agents include linebacker Marcus Rogers, receiver Termaine Fulton and cornerback Andrew Davison.