Kansas University’s football coaches didn’t have any trouble convincing players to stay in Lawrence this summer.

The Jayhawks weren’t likely to find a better place to get bigger, stronger and faster than KU’s new Anderson Family Strength and Conditioning Center.

“I’ve got the nicest facility in the country,” said director of strength and conditioning Chris Dawson. “I don’t know that I could be in a better situation. It couldn’t be better. We’re awfully proud of it, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the Anderson family. It really gives our kids the chance to train in the best environment in the country. I think it puts us at a different level, and with that there are different expectations.”

Coach Mark Mangino said all of KU’s returning scholarship players and about half of the team’s 26 recruits are in town.

“I’m very pleased with the turnout,” said Mangino, who has 40 returning lettermen in addition to numerous players who red-shirted last season.

The Jayhawks started their summer workout program with Dawson June 2. The four-day-a-week program runs through late July.

Mangino said the workouts would have benefits for the newcomers a mix of junior college transfers and freshmen other than gaining strength.

“They want to get accustomed to our program and get to know our players,” Mangino said in an interview with the Journal-World Wednesday morning.

¢ Chat transcript with Mark Mangino¢ Mangino begins series of online discussions

• It’s academic: Mangino said a few returning players need to earn summer-school credits, but he said he expected them to be eligible in the fall.

“We’re in pretty good shape academically,” he said.

The team had a 2.53 grade-point average in the spring after posting a 2.37 in the fall. The program had 22 Jayhawk Scholars players with GPAs of 3.0 or better.

Mangino said he would like to see the team raise its average into the 2.65 to 2.70 range.

A few of KU’s recruits still are working to earn their eligibility, but Mangino declined to name them.

“I think it will turn out pretty good,” he said.

• New rules: All of KU’s players will report to preseason camp Aug. 3. In the past, newcomers would report first and work with coaches before the veterans arrived. NCAA rules have changed that.

“You have to bring everybody in at the same time,” Mangino said.

That’s not the only change. Schools no longer will have weeks of grueling two-a-day practices. Under the new rules, teams are allowed to practice once a day for five days for no more than three hours at a time during their first week of workouts. After that, teams must alternate between one-a-day and two-a-day practices.

“This is a new challenge for all of us as coaches,” said Mangino, who said the rule was implemented due to concerns about heat-related deaths. “Trying to set your practice schedule is difficult. The bulk of my day has been spent working on this.”

Schools are allowed 29 preseason practices, but Mangino was skeptical that KU could use that allotment before the Aug. 30 season opener against Northwestern.

“We’ll schedule 29, but I’ll be surprised if it happens,” Mangino said.

• Staying busy: KU coaches wrapped up their four-day camp Wednesday. The coaches will spend much of the summer in front of televisions, but they’ll be working. Coaches, who have been scouting opponents since February, will continue evaluating film on this year’s foes. They’ll also breakdown films from spring drills and take a look at potential recruits.

The assistant coaches also have three weeks of vacation.

• New receiver: During an online chat Wednesday afternoon on KUsports.com, Mangino revealed Kansas had a new receiver on campus.

The coach was asked about the progress of KU’s receivers during the offseason.

“We also have a guy in named Scott Bajza,” Mangino said. “He’s from Cerritos College, and he is an impressive looking young man. Our strength staff has had a lot of good things to say about him.”

Mangino didn’t specify whether Bajza had been given a scholarship or had joined the team as a walk-on. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound receiver had 20 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore and was a Dean’s List student.

Online sports editor Levi Chronister contributed information to this story.