It’s a minor miracle Bill Whittemore is still standing after eight Kansas University football games.

“Bill is banged up. He’s sore. This guy has been beat up,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “Our trainers have to go ask him if he’s OK because he never complains about anything. He is one of the toughest son of a guns I’ve been around.”

Whittemore, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound junior, is not only the top passer on KU’s 2-6 team, but he’s also the top rusher. What’s more, he is on the board as a receiver, hauling in a 16-yard option pass reception from fullback Dan Coke last Saturday against Texas A&M.

“My body is beat up, but nothing major,” said the soft-spoken Nashville, Tenn., native, who grinned when told of Mangino’s comment about his toughness.

“I hope it doesn’t mean we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said. “A lot of it (getting bruised) is running the ball. A lot of times there’s not the opportunity to get down like they want me to.”

Whittemore is hoping for the day KU will be able to rely on a more conventional attack. He has rushed for 522 yards on 129 carries and scored 11 touchdowns. Tailback Clark Green is the squad’s second-leading ball-carrier with 470 yards on 115 carries. Whittemore also has completed 132 of 268 passes for 1,424 yards, with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

“We would like to get the tailbacks involved,” Whittemore said. “We’ll keep working at it. I’m not sure what exactly has gone wrong at times. A lot of times I hand the ball off and I’m turning the other way. I don’t see the holes Clark will see. A couple times we ran against A&M we had success somewhat. We have got to stay with it. It’ll come.”

Whittemore says the attitude of the offensive unit has been good and the Jayhawks are geared for Saturday’s game at Missouri. He picked up his first taste of the rivalry last year, attending the KU-MU basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse.

“I think it was the first week I got here,” Whittemore said. “It was my first basketball game. It was neat, great to beat Missouri. It was a good time. KU fans are awesome. You could feel the intensity of the rivalry.”

Whittemore was asked about reports some Missouri players “hate” KU.

“I’ve heard a couple quotes that there’s only one team they hate and that’s us,” Whittemore said. “It’s fine. It’s what rivalries are about. I assume some guys on our team feel the same way about them.

“I’ve heard a lot about it. It’s the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi.” he added. “It will be a good time. They are having a good season. They’ve got a good defense. I don’t think they quite compare to A&M, but I won’t take anything away from Missouri.”