Kansas University turned the ball over five times in its football season opener Saturday and suffered a 28-20 loss to Northwestern.

Coach Mark Mangino expects the Jayhawks to do a better job of hanging on to the ball Saturday night against UNLV.

“I don’t believe that fumbles are accidents,” Mangino said Tuesday during his weekly news conference. “They are fundamentals that must be learned by players, and they need to protect the ball. We need to do a better job of that.”

Three of KU’s turnovers happened in Northwestern territory, and two led to Wildcat touchdowns. KU’s inability to sustain drives took a toll on the Jayhawk defense, which was on the field for nearly 40 minutes.

Three different Jayhawks — receiver Charles Gordon, running back John Randle and quarterback Bill Whittemore — lost fumbles. Persistent rain might have contributed to KU’s fumbles, but Mangino said poor judgment led to interceptions by Whittemore and backup quarterback Brian Luke.

“The interceptions that we had were ill-advised throws,” he said. “We shouldn’t have made those throws. Those things add up and we have to be able to protect the ball a lot better.”

Whittemore struggled to hit open receivers in the wet conditions and also left the game briefly in the first half after “tweaking” his right knee, but the senior said his injury wasn’t serious and he expected to play against UNLV.

“Bill Whittemore, by his own admission, was not as sharp as he usually is,” Mangino said. “He will be fine. He led our offense last year and will continue to do so this year. I am not concerned about that.”

¢

Jones hurt: Mangino said junior defensive tackle Chuck Jones was “day-to-day” because of an undisclosed injury.

In a pregame session a minute before taking the field for Kansas University's football season opener against Northwestern, KU coach Mark Mangino points to a sign above the door and asks all the Jayhawks to touch it before leaving the locker room. The sign reads: Every

“Chuck is a guy that we are counting on to play a role on the defensive line,” Mangino said. “We need to have Chuck back very quickly. He means a lot to us in regards to stopping the run and play inside.”

If Jones can’t go against UNLV, senior backup Sid Bachmann, junior Phil Tuihalamaka and sophomore nose tackle Tim Allen will fill in.

¢

KU players of week: Mangino announced KU’s players of the week from the season opener. Senior Adrian Jones, a converted tight end, earned offensive honors for his efforts during his first start at left tackle. Sophomore linebacker Gabe Toomey was defensive player of the week after notching a dozen tackles. Sophomore Darren Rus earned special-teams honors after scoring a touchdown on a blocked punt. Scout-team honors went to freshman defensive end John Cannon and junior offensive lineman Nick McCaslin.

¢

More Mo: Freshman receiver Moderick Johnson played in the season opener but did not catch a pass. Expect Whittemore to throw in the Texan’s direction more Saturday.

“I wish we had used Moderick a little bit more,” Mangino said.

Mangino’s letter to the fans 6Sports video: KU’s kicking game struggling 6Sports video: Whittemore’s numbers below normPhoto gallery: Gridiron exclusive 9.03.03

¢

Geography 101: UNLV played Kansas last season in Las Vegas, and Rebels coach John Robinson was a little confused Tuesday about where Saturday’s game would be played.

“We play Kansas this weekend in Manhattan,” Robinson said during the Mountain West teleconference.

The game actually will be played at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

Robinson, however, did not have the Jayhawks confused with No. 7 Kansas State.

“Kansas is not a contender in the Big 12,” said Robinson, whose team defeated KU, 31-20, last year. “But I think they’re really pushing the program and starting to show some results. The first year they didn’t do very well, but this is the year — I think — they’ll play a lot of close games that could go either way. We think our game is going to be a close game.”

The Jayhawks comply on their way to taking the field

¢

Rebel rebuked: UNLV long snapper Ryan Heise was the second Rebel identified as one of five players suspended for the team’s season opener against Toledo because of their abuse of an assistant coach’s phone card, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported.

Wide receiver Earvin Johnson had been named previously. Robinson said three others served their punishment by missing Friday’s game but did not name them.

Six other players have yet to serve their suspensions, but a UNLV spokesperson said Monday that no players on the team’s two-deep list would miss Saturday’s game. Heise and Johnson will play against KU.

¢

Rebels honored: Two UNLV players received Mountain West Conference player of the week honors after last week’s 28-18 victory against Toledo. Linebacker John Andrews took defensive honors after making eight tackles, including a sack. He also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

Tight end Greg Estandia (6-foot-8), who caught two touchdown passes, took special-teams honors for blocking a field goal.