Last winter, Kansas University’s football team started its offseason workout program without its director of strength and conditioning.

Chris Dawson, who spent the previous two seasons at Minnesota, didn’t take over KU’s program until February, and the Jayhawks didn’t move into Anderson Strength and Conditioning Center until March.

Things are expected to go more smoothly when KU opens its seven-week winter program at 6 a.m. today with a team run.

“It’s tough when you don’t know what you have,” said Dawson, a former Oklahoma linebacker who spent six seasons on OU’s staff. “It’s easier to set expectations when you’ve built that trust between athlete and coach. You can get more out of the kids. As their expectations rise, so do mine. I’m going to expect more from them and more from my staff.”

The Jayhawks likely will expect more from themselves after making their first bowl trip since 1995. Still, Dawson hopes KU’s 56-26 loss to North Carolina State in the Tangerine Bowl left the players wanting more.

“I think as a team we’re eager to get going,” he said. “Anytime somebody tells you, ‘Do this and good things will happen; you’ll reap the benefits,’ you’re going to do it. If it doesn’t happen the first time, you think ‘OK’ and keep working. If it doesn’t happen the next time or the time after that, kids get a defeatist attitude. But when you do have success, and you see it does work, they’re going to buy into what you’re doing and work even harder.

“We did well and achieved one of our goals, but to take the next step we have to work that much harder. I think they’re eager to get back and get after it.”

The longest winter break in KU history ended today. Fall classes ended Dec. 11, and the last day of finals was Dec. 19. The start of winter conditioning today coincides with the start of the second semester.

“I didn’t want them laying on the couch for a month with the remote,” Dawson said. “I gave them all running and lifting to do, but I know it’s a much more relaxed atmosphere when you go home. I expect that. You don’t need somebody hounding you all the time. You need a break. I remember that from when I played. Were the workouts easier? No, but they were shorter.”

Workouts will get harder today, though the NCAA limits athletes to eight hours per week with strength coaches during the offseason. The Jayhawks will lift weights four days a week — Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — but the athletes won’t all do the same amount of running. One group will run on that same Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday schedule; another will run only Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.

Dawson wants players to make the most out of their eight hours per week. The group running only three days a week is for athletes who need more time in the weight room.

Now that he has been here nearly a year, Dawson knows who those players are.

“What makes it easier for me is I’m more familiar with the team,” he said. “It’s much easier when I know who I’m working with and know their strengths and deficiencies.”