What Is 1989 Kansas Jayhawks football team

Overview

The 1989 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Glen Mason, the team competed in the Big 8 Conference and played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.

The Jayhawks finished the season with a 5–6 overall record and a 3–4 mark in conference play, placing fifth in the eight-team Big 8 standings. Despite not qualifying for a bowl game, the season marked continued rebuilding under Mason’s leadership after years of subpar performance.

• Season Record: The team finished with a 5–6 overall record, including a 3–4 mark in Big 8 Conference games, reflecting moderate improvement from the previous year’s 3–8 finish.
• Head Coach: Glen Mason was in his second season as head coach, having taken over in 1988, and was working to revitalize a struggling football program with a focus on disciplined play.
• Home Stadium: The Jayhawks played all their home games at Memorial Stadium, a 51,500-seat venue in Lawrence, Kansas, which has been their home field since 1921.
• Scoring Output: Kansas scored 219 total points during the season, averaging 19.9 points per game, ranking 75th nationally in scoring offense.
• Defensive Performance: The defense allowed 268 total points, averaging 24.4 points per game against, which placed them 87th out of 106 Division I-A teams in points allowed.

Performance & Season Highlights

The 1989 season featured several notable games and developments that illustrated both progress and challenges under Glen Mason’s leadership. Kansas showed flashes of competitiveness but struggled with consistency, particularly in close conference matchups.

• Season Opener: Kansas opened the season with a 24–14 win over Central State, a Division II team, setting a positive tone before tougher conference play.
• Key Victory: A 28–24 win over Oklahoma State in October was one of the team’s most significant wins, showcasing offensive resilience in a road game.
• Loss to Nebraska: The Jayhawks were defeated 52–7 by the eventual Big 8 champion Nebraska Cornhuskers, highlighting the gap between top and middle-tier teams in the conference.
• Close Losses: Three of Kansas’s six losses were by seven points or fewer, indicating that improved execution could have changed the team’s bowl eligibility chances.
• Quarterback Play: Starter Jason Bean (though not to be confused with the later player of the same name) led the offense, throwing for 1,352 yards and 7 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.
• Rushing Attack: The team relied on a balanced attack, with running back Tony Sands contributing 618 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns before injuries limited his availability.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1989 season can be better understood by comparing Kansas’s performance to other Big 8 teams and recent seasons:

This comparison shows that Kansas was competitive with mid-tier Big 8 teams like Kansas State but struggled against elite programs like Nebraska. Their scoring and defensive metrics were close to conference averages, suggesting they were a middle-of-the-pack team lacking the consistency to break through.

Why It Matters

The 1989 season was a transitional year in the broader context of Kansas football history, illustrating the challenges of building a competitive program in a tough conference. While not a standout season, it contributed to the foundation for future improvements under Glen Mason.

• Program Rebuilding: The 1989 season was part of a multi-year effort to rebuild the Jayhawks’ football program after years of poor performance in the 1980s.
• Coach Development: Glen Mason gained valuable experience during this season, which helped him lead Kansas to a bowl appearance in 1992.
• Recruiting Momentum: Competitive games against teams like Oklahoma State helped boost recruiting visibility in key Midwestern states.
• Stadium Tradition: Continued use of Memorial Stadium reinforced the team’s identity and connection to its fanbase despite losing records.
• Statistical Benchmark: The 5–6 record became a benchmark for measuring future progress, as Kansas had only one winning season between 1983 and 1995.
• Historical Context: The season is remembered as a modest step forward in a long-term rebuilding process that eventually led to the 2007 Orange Bowl appearance.

Though the 1989 Kansas Jayhawks did not achieve postseason play, their season represented incremental progress in a program striving for relevance in a competitive conference landscape.