And, just like that, Kansas University’s spring football season is done.

It took only a month, began with a microburst postponing a practice, was halted by spring break and finished with a flurry of big plays and impressed fans at Friday night’s spring game.

Over time, the spring football season has been cut shorter and shorter and now stands at 15 practices, but such restrictions don’t bother coach Mark Mangino too much.

“As a coach, I’d like 40 of them,” Mangino said Friday. “But the reality is, I think 15 is just about right.

“For us here, I think we need to do a good job with our strength and conditioning program in the winter, and then we can get into spring ball. : We need that time in the weight room. We’re a team that needs to have that.”

Individual workouts – and more strength and conditioning – will pass the time between now and August, when preseason camp begins. The opening game is Sept. 2 against NCAA Division I-AA foe Northwestern State.

“We can improve in every area,” Mangino said. “I don’t think we’re a team right now that we can sit back and say ‘We’ll be excellent here and excellent there.’ : I think we’ve got to work on all phases of our game.”