As Kansas University’s football team gets closer to bowl time, it’s possible the practices have started feeling a little more like spring or summer workouts — too much hitting of teammates, not enough whacking an opponent.
The chilly weather does plenty to remind the Jayhawks of what season it is.
Nevertheless, KU has spent three weeks strictly beating up on itself as it fills the dead time between the Nov. 26 season finale and Friday’s Fort Worth Bowl with practices meant both to develop youth and prepare for Houston, KU’s final opponent of 2005.
“Based on the practices that we’ve had and the practices that we have ahead of us, we’re right on track,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “We feel really good about our preparation.”
Mangino and his players — particularly the experienced ones — rave about how different the attitude is preparing for this bowl compared to the 2003 Tangerine Bowl. After living it up in Orlando, Fla., and going home on the short end of a 56-26 blowout against North Carolina State, it seems a lot of players had an epiphany as to what’s the most important aspect of bowl week.
Adjusted attitude and all, they’re slowly getting ready for another chance as the plane flight to Fort Worth is right around the corner.
“There’s a 180-degree feel,” center David Ochoa said. “We’re taking a real business-type approach to this game. We know that the bowl game is there for the game. Not necessarily for the experience.”
¢ Brrrrrrr: Kansas practiced until about 5:30 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium, where the temperatures dipped into the mid-30s.
Though Fort Worth weather can be unpredictable in the winter months, chances are it’ll at least be a little warmer than it has been in Lawrence recently.
“I think it’ll help us,” Ochoa said of the Kansas chill. “Not necessarily physical, but with mental toughness. Once we get comfortable in this kind of temperature, we’ll go down there and it’ll seem tropical.”
¢ Four more: Kansas will have four more practices before Friday’s Fort Worth Bowl ends its season. The Jayhawks will practice today in Lawrence, then work out Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Texas before conducting a walk-through Thursday.
The team will conduct its closed practices at Burleson High, about 15 minutes south of Fort Worth.
¢ Lineman commits: Kansas snagged its 14th pledge of the 2006 recruiting season Friday, when lineman Ian Wolfe made a nonbinding oral commitment, according to Jon Kirby of rivals.com.
Wolfe had offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Kansas State, Oregon, Washington State, Wisconsin and Wyoming. But he chose the Jayhawks after taking an official visit to Lawrence earlier this month and being recruited by KU assistant Earnest Collins.
“He’s very intelligent on the field,” Eric Rice, Wolfe’s high school coach, told rivals. “He’s very quick of foot for a big guy. He’s very quick out of his stance, and he never lunges. He will be a good prospect for Kansas.”
Wolfe is rated as the 39th-best offensive tackle in the nation by rivals.
