If this is the final year for Charlie Weis, left, at Kansas University and Bill Snyder at Kansas State, many of the same names could come up to fill the vacancies.

If this is the final year for Charlie Weis, left, at Kansas University and Bill Snyder at Kansas State, many of the same names could come up to fill the vacancies.

The last time Kansas University and Kansas State hired a new football coach the same year, 1986, KU gave the job to Bob Valesente, K-State to Stan Parrish. Call it a draw of the toothless-dogfight variety.

In fact, both men coached in a game that nobody from either side will ever forget, no matter how hard they try. Kansas 17, Kansas State 17, played in front of 37,600 rubber-neckers in Manhattan on Nov. 7, 1987, was best summed up by KU defensive end Teddy Newman in retired Journal-World sports editor Chuck Woodling’s game story.

“It was nowhere like a win, but it’s better than a loss,” Newman said.

KU’s best chance at victory ended with a mishandled shotgun snap. K-State’s two best chances died with an interception in the end zone and when Marvin Mattox blocked a field-goal attempt on the final play. The gun that sounded to end the game must have called to mind a behind-the-barn euthanizing to many in the audience.

Valesente lasted two years (4-17-1), and his .205 winning percentage ranks ahead of only Weis (.167) on KU’s all-time coaching list. Parrish ended his three-year run (plank walk?) with a .076 winning percentage.

It’s not too big of a stretch to think that for the first time in more than a quarter-century, the Big 12’s two Kansas schools could be in the market at the same time for a football coach after this season. Weis could be replaced if the Jayhawks don’t show progress in the third year of his five-year, $12.5 million deal. Snyder turns 75 on Oct. 7, and some in Manhattan are preparing for the possibility of him deciding to retire for good at season’s end.

It’s conceivable both schools could talk to some of the same candidates, especially given that KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger worked for Snyder.

Let’s say you’ve interviewed at both schools for the job and are offered similar salaries and various other support. Which job do you take? The knee-jerk reaction would be to say K-State because it has a winning tradition.

Not so fast.

That tradition is tied completely to one man, the phenomenal football coach after whom the stadium is named. There are negatives to following a legend. Also, it’s not as if Kansas State gets players who turn down Texas powerhouses to come to Manhattan. Snyder gets players who are better than the level at which they are recruited because he can evaluate prospects better than most. And he coaches them up better than most because his consistency and ability to hammer home his message has a contagious effect on assistants and players. Once he’s gone, all that goes with him.

The Kansas State job comes with higher expectations, but not necessarily greater advantages in terms of attracting assistant coaches and players.

Obviously, discussing this is ridiculously premature.

Since Snyder hasn’t hinted in any way that this could be his final season and Weis has sounded genuinely optimistic about his senior-laden roster, it would be extremely tacky to mention any names of possible successors at this point.

So here goes, a list in alphabetical order of 13 men who could land interviews at one or both schools in the event the jobs open:

David Beaty, Texas A&M wide receivers/recruiting coordinator: He coached KU’s receivers under Mark Mangino and Turner Gill and has been cleaning it up on the recruiting front for the Aggies. Former Texas high school coach has strong recruiting ties in the state.

Tim Beck, Nebraska offensive coordinator: A GA under Snyder at K-State and wide-receivers coach for Mangino at Kansas, Beck has been Nebraska’s offensive coordinator the past four seasons.

Clint Bowen, Kansas defensive coordinator: Aggressive young coach understands how to defend the spread offense and how to motivate a sensitive generation of athletes with tough love. His best shot at heading one of the state’s two programs, should one come open, lies in KU having a monster defensive year.

Dana Dimel, Kansas State offensive coordinator: Some consider Dimel the leading candidate to replace Snyder. Dimel went 22-13 in two seasons as head coach at Wyoming, but his stock dropped after an 8-26 record in three seasons at Houston.

Eric Kiesau, Kansas wide-receivers coach: The former Washington offensive coordinator has a smooth presence about him. By coaching up returning players and adding star Nick Harwell to the mix, Kiesau has a chance to enhance his portfolio by upgrading a wide-receiver group that has been among the nation’s least productive the past two seasons.

Jim Leavitt, San Francisco 49ers linebackers coach: His outrageously successful start-from-scratch job at University of South Florida ended when he was too rough with a player at halftime of a game. Worked six seasons for Snyder and is a proven winner.

Mangino, Iowa State offensive coordinator: How would KU’s fan base react if K-State hired the coach who took the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record and an Orange Bowl victory?

Raheem Morris, Washington Redskins defensive-backs coach: Hired as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the age of 32, the energetic Morris worked for Ron Prince at K-State, but that shouldn’t be held against him.

John Reagan, Kansas offensive coordinator/offensive line: Extremely smart and driven, he did strong work for Mangino as offensive-line coach at Kansas and twice coordinated Rice’s offense to victories over KU.

Sean Snyder, Kansas State associate head coach/special-teams coordinator: A punter for K-State, he lacks the offensive- or defensive-coordinating experience that usually is a prerequisite for becoming a head coach.

Matt Wallerstedt, Texas Tech defensive coordinator: Married to the former Josie Lewis of Lawrence and a former standout linebacker for Kansas State, Wallerstedt ended a string of five defensive coordinators in five seasons by returning to Tech for a second season. The Red Raiders will need a standout year defensively for Wallerstedt to make either school’s short list.

Ed Warinner, Ohio State co-offensive coordinator/offensive line: Strict disciplinarian has succeeded with run-happy offenses and pass-happy ones. Worked as Mangino’s offensive coordinator during the Todd Reesing glory days.

Eric Wolford, Youngstown State head coach: Former K-State offensive lineman needs to make the FCS playoffs for the first time to start making FBS short lists.