This blog almost got some great publicity today. Sitting in the front row at Hadl Auditorium listening to Mark Mangino speak, my eyes lit up as the KU coach went into a detailed answer about steady improvement for his program over the years.”It’s a cliche, and I know you guys hate it…” Mangino started.This was it. Not two weeks after the blog’s humble debut, Mangino was about to say his trusty quote which this place was named after. Just keep sawing wood. Say it!”I don’t blame you, because if I was sitting in your chair and I was up here telling me the same thing all the time, I wouldn’t like it,” he continued.Say it!Then, he didn’t.”It’s about improvement. It’s about trying to get better all the time. That’s what it is,” he said.Darn.He’s got a point — after winning the first two games by a combined 114-7, a weak-minded team would leave well-enough alone with Toledo and Florida International coming to town.But this team doesn’t seem to be wired that way — even if their philosophy doesn’t involve a saw and some wood anymore.”Trying to find out where you’re weak and make it stronger,” Mangino said, “and trying to find what our strengths are and try to maintain that level of play.”Well said. But we might need a new blog name.Now, onto the Tuesday’s press conference tidbits:- Defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst said he’s 95 percent healthy and ready to up the intensity on the playing-time battle he’s in with Caleb Blakesley. Haselhorst broke his foot while running during summer conditioning in July.- Kendrick Harper is still on target to return Oct. 6, with the Sept. 22 game at Florida International an outside possibility. He’s getting some limited work on the practice field now.- Mangino was asked whether the viewing of game film from last year’s loss at Toledo is for technical purposes or for motivational purposes, considering the Jayhawks lost to the Rockets, 37-31, in double-overtime last year.”It’s all technical,” Mangino replied. “Some things don’t need to be said.”- Not press conference related, but an epiphany my smooth brain had: Assuming Florida International gets crushed by Miami (and no [ brawls break out][1] that suspends the entire team), each of KU’s nonconference opponents will travel to Lawrence looking for its first victory of the season. So yeah, no argument here. The nonconference schedule isn’t too strong.See you tomorrow with Big 12 linky-dinks. [1]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR4l0vMSrlc