photo by: Nick Krug

Charlie Weis makes an opening statement after being introduced by Kansas University athletic director Sheahon Zenger during a news conference Friday in which Weis was announced as the new head football coach.

All this waiting around for players to make decisions and coaches to be hired kind of stinks.

I know it. You know it. We all know it.

But don’t let the bummer of the wait cloud your view of what’s happening with Kansas University football right now. In fact, it’s very possible that all of this waiting actually could be good for KU. In the very least, it seems that it’s not really that harmful.

Here’s why:

Let’s start with KU’s defensive coordinator opening. Sure, it would be nice to know the name of every member of new KU coach Charlie Weis’ coaching staff, but wouldn’t you rather those names be the right guys?

Hiring a defensive coordinator could be the most important move Weis makes at Kansas. It certainly will go a long way toward determining how his first couple of seasons go, and, because of that, it’s important that he get it right.

Waiting until he feels he’s found the right man for the job increases the odds of KU being successful under Weis. And it really doesn’t do anything to hurt KU’s offseason approach.

For starters, waiting actually increases the size of the pool of candidates. Weis may have his eye on a couple of guys still coaching — be that in bowl games or in the NFL — and would be wise to at least talk to them before picking a coordinator. Going with a guy who’s available now just to fill the job could do damage to the entire defensive staff.

I know many think waiting around could delay KU’s efforts to rebuild the defense, but it won’t. It’s a dead period in recruiting, which means that even if Weis had a DC in place, he couldn’t be on the road talking to prospects anyway. Even contact by telephone is limited right now.

All the more reason to let Weis search high and low to make sure he finds the right fit for what he wants to do here at Kansas.

There’s not a lot of talk out there right now about which coaches might be on his list. But my hunch keeps leading me to guys with previous head coaching experience. Whether that’s a guy like Butch Davis (possible), Jim Leavitt (doubtful) or someone else in that category, it wouldn’t surprise me for one second if the new DC comes loaded with experience. In fact, it would surprise me if he doesn’t.

Moving on to the players — specifically the quarterbacks — waiting on these guys to pick a school also can be tough, but the same rules apply here. These guys are making big-time decisions that will affect their futures both in college and possibly the NFL.

Patience is key and it’s my belief that the guys who take longer to make a decision might be the guys you want playing for your team anyway. Most often, the longer a decision takes is an indication that more thought and research went into making it.

In the case of former Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist, who currently is picking between Kansas and Wisconsin for his final season of college football, there are a number of factors in play. Some of them, I touched on in the article we ran today.

Ex-Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist still weighing options

Others, like the possibility of Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst being hired as the head coach at Pitt, also factor in to Crist’s decision.

When that decision will come or what his choice will be remains anybody’s guess. But this much seems safe to say: If Chryst leaves Wisconsin, Crist will be coming to Kansas.

Here’s a little more on Chryst’s candidacy at Pitt:

http://host.madison.com/sports/college/football/uw-football-chryst-made-a-great-impression-at-pitt-but/article_eae3a0f2-2b94-11e1-bd11-001871e3ce6c.html

I know this blog didn’t provide the answers that many of you were looking for, but the bottom line here is that most of those answers aren’t out there at the moment.

So get comfortable, sit tight and enjoy the wait. Trust me, it’s not a bad sign.