Kansas head football coach David Beaty responds to questions during Big 12 media days, Monday, July 18, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

A year ago, at this very event, we learned that new Kansas football coach David Beaty was the son of a former Dallas police officer and his father was within arm’s reach of Lee Harvey Oswald when the man who assassinated president John F. Kennedy was shot.

So it’s clear that Beaty’s ties to his hometown and, in particular, the police force in his hometown, run deep and, like many things in his world, have had a profound impact on who and how Beaty is as a man.

That’s why it came as no surprise Monday, when Beaty opened his Q&A session at Big 12 media days at the Omni Hotel with a heartfelt message about the recent police tragedy that rocked Dallas, mere minutes away from the ballroom in which Beaty sat.

“Excited to be back here with you at Big 12 Conference Football Media Days,” Beaty began. “Excited to be back home in my hometown of Dallas, Texas. As many of you know, I am from the Dallas area and my father is a police officer here. My heart hurts for the Dallas communities and for the communities across the country that are suffering and in pain right now. I pray that we will begin to listen to one another, love one another and get to the hard work of healing our nation.”

Sports and political or social issues do not always mix. But in this case, and others like it in the past, countless coaches and athletes have taken advantage of their platform to push the message of peace, understanding and even reform. And Beaty was merely doing exactly that before getting into the nuts and bolts of the upcoming football season.

“I believe that college football can be an example in the midst of our struggles in America. Young men from all walks of life (and) different backgrounds coming together, listening to one another, working hard together, learning from one another, fighting together for a common goal. I think society can learn a lot from these young men and I’m excited about working with some of them at KU.”