Each member of Kansas University’s football team will receive six free tickets for family and friends to attend the Tangerine Bowl Dec. 22 at Orlando, Fla.

That supply will leave Tony Stubbs a bit short of meeting demand.

“I’m hoping I can pull off 30 because my mom gave me a list of 85 names, and there’s no way I can get 85 tickets,” said Stubbs, a junior defensive back from Lake Worth, Fla. “It’s going to be pretty tough. Somebody’s going to have to buy some tickets.”

Tickets for KU’s game against North Carolina State cost $45. Stubbs is one of five Florida natives trying to find teammates who won’t be using all six of their complimentary seats.

“I’m going to need a lot of tickets,” said Stubbs, who ranks fourth on the team with 88 tackles. “I’m just asking everybody, ‘If you can give me one, give me that one or two or just give me anything.’ I’ve got a few people coming through.”

Sophomore running back Clark Green, who hails from Tampa, has had his share of requests from home.

“Too many,” he said. “Most of them want me to get them. But if I can’t, then they’re on their own.”

Before Kansas accepted a bid to the Tangerine Bowl Saturday, there had been some speculation that the Jayhawks might head to Texas for the Fort Worth Bowl.

Coach Mark Mangino asked for his team’s input on which bowl the Jayhawks should accept an invitation from, but Florida products Green, Stubbs, Remuise Johnson, Harold McClendon and Dan Coke didn’t have to lobby their teammates.

Kansas running back clark green gives his gloves to a fan after the Jayhawks defeated Baylor Oct. 18 at Memorial Stadium. Green is one of five Jayhawks who will be playing in his home state when KU meets North Carolina State in the Tangerine Bowl Dec. 22 at Orlando, Fla.

“Everybody wanted Florida already,” Green said. “They wanted to go where it was sunny.”

What about the 17 Texans on KU’s roster?

“Most of them wanted to go to Florida, too,” Green said.

Green leads KU with 881 yards rushing and six touchdowns, and he ranks third with 41 receptions for 434 yards and a touchdown. He would like nothing better than a breakthrough game for himself and the Jayhawks in front of a national television audience on ESPN.

“It would mean a lot,” Green said. “Not just because my family is down there but to show the nation what we can do.”

Tough task: Florida Jayhawks scrambling for tickets (12-5-03) Fans not eating up Tangerine Bowl (12-6-03) Mangino: Tangerine berth certainly will help recruiting (12-3-03) Chat wrap with Mark Mangino Woodling: Tangerine is worth the trip (12-5-03)

• Watkins watch: Mangino said Friday during a chat on kusports.com that junior defensive tackle Travis Watkins remained questionable for the bowl. Watkins suffered a broken foot during the preseason and has played in only one game this season.
• Warm welcome: Whittemore and Mangino traveled Thursday to Orlando and met with the Florida media.

“Orlando is more of a vacation spot, really,” Whittemore told the Orlando Sentinel. “As a player, you don’t want to go to Detroit or Boise or anywhere up north for a bowl. Nobody’s really thrilled when they are playing in freezing cold weather. To come down here is great.”

• Local tie: Lawrence High and KU graduate Bill Newton will have a good seat for the Tangerine Bowl. Newton is in his first year as assistant director of media relations for N.C. State.