photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas head football coach Charlie Weis talks with media members on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at the Anderson Family Football Complex. Weis introduced new members of his football team and also announced players that have left the program.

Today marked the first day of workouts for the Kansas University football team under the new coaching regime, and, by all accounts, it started bright and early and was as intense as anything the players had seen in quite some time.

New KU strength and conditioning coach Scott Holsopple — not new coach Charlie Weis — was the man in charge of today’s events, and, according to many of the players, Holsopple and his staff turned up the intensity a notch or two compared to what the Jayhawks were used to.

As Weis mentioned during his news conference on Monday, Holsopple will be one of the most important men in the KU program during the next few weeks. He’ll be the one coach who has direct contact with the players, and, if that contact is anything like Weis has promised it will be, the next few weeks are going to be brutal.

Early morning runs, intense workouts, weight-lifting marathons — all with a no excuses mentality.

It’s still early in the process, but a quick scan of Twitter this morning revealed just how Day 1 of the Charlie Weis era went.

Here’s a look:

Sophomore DE, Keba Agostinho – 8:27 a.m.
Done with 1st day of workouts n all I can say is it’s bout to get REAL around here!!

Junior DE, Toben Opurum – 8:59 a.m.

Can’t wait to get back in my bed lol

Freshman DE, Ben Goodman – 8:24 a.m.
Our workout was long… Damn near 2hrs #timetogethuge

Junior WR, D.J. Beshears – Mid-day

Today was a wake up call ,,, back to reality !

Senior WR, Daymond Patterson – Pre-workout

I’m ready to workout time needs to speed up

Sophomore WR, Chris Omigie – Mid-day
New semester rules for C.O….. class > sleep

Freshman LB, Ben Heeney – Early evening
First workout with the new coaches went good sore as a mug #teamswoll

Sophomore WR, Andrew Turzilli – Early evening
First workout with the new staff #complete

Sophomore WR, Erick McGriff – Mid Evening
u ever been so tired u fell aslp sending a txt #bodybag #kufball

I know that’s a small sample size, but in everything from realization and dedication to a change in attitude, it appears as if the Charlie Weis Era is off to a solid start.

I’m sure today was only the beginning.

Stay tuned…