Mangino admits Jayhawks don’t have third QB

Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was asked Tuesday if the Jayhawks had a third-string quarterback lined up for Saturday’s game against Texas.

The third-year coach just grinned.

Busted.

“We don’t,” he confessed with a chuckle. “I told the offensive line, ‘I don’t want anyone near the quarterback.'”

It’s understandable. How could Mangino have guessed four quarterbacks wouldn’t be enough this year? All four were healthy just two weeks ago, before starter Adam Barmann’s season came to an end with an apparent shoulder injury at Iowa State. Against Colorado on Saturday, new starter Jason Swanson hurt his shoulder, too, and might be out for the season as well.

Now, it’s John Nielsen’s turn, with Brian Luke backing him up. But who in the world is backing Luke up, if it comes to that?

“The third guy?” Mangino repeats, followed by a long silence.

He’s just not sure, though he did eliminate Greg Heaggans and Marcus Herford as possibilities. Heaggans took some snaps in a similar situation in 2002, but Mangino said he had no plans to do that again.

Herford, meanwhile, still is going to spend the season as a red shirt, especially since bowl possibilities were eliminated when Colorado handed the Jayhawks their sixth loss last week.

“That’d be unfair to him,” Mangino said. “His future here is very bright.”

Pressured to come up with some solution, Mangino finally buckled.

“The worst-case scenario, we’d probably talk about snapping the ball to Charles Gordon,” Mangino said, “or one of the injured quarterbacks just to hand it off or throw it to someone else to pass it.”

In other words, Mangino is really hoping the quarterback curse ends for good with Swanson. Nielsen did well in Swanson’s place Saturday, passing for 183 yards and a touchdown against the Buffalos. Mangino is confident the walk-on senior could be even more effective against Texas with a week of preparation.

“The initial parts of the game plan were put in (Monday), and he looked sharp,” Mangino said. “He’ll manage the game well, and now that he’s getting repetitions on the practice field and he understands that he is the guy, he’s taken on that role rather well.”

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McCoy update: Mangino said he heard from John McCoy, KU’s defensive tackle currently on military duty, Tuesday via e-mail.

“He still can’t reveal his location, but he said it’s really hot and dusty,” Mangino said. “He said he’s keeping his spirits high. He’s hoping to come back and play for us. His e-mail was very upbeat.”

J-W Staff ReportsA case involving a charge of drunken driving against a Kansas University football player has been continued.Greg Heaggans, who returns kickoffs, will make an appearance in court at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 18. The continuation was at the request of Mick Allen, an attorney representing Heaggans.Heaggans, 21, was arrested Sept. 16 on suspicion of drunk driving. He missed three games while under an apparent suspension by coach Mark Mangino.

McCoy, a defensive tackle, is a member of the Army Reserve, and his unit was called to active duty over the summer.

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Moderick update: KU’s Moderick Johnson, a wide receiver on last year’s team who was academically ineligible this fall, is not working with the team, according to Mangino.

“At this point in time, Moderick is not working out with us,” Mangino said. “He’s not with us.”

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Gordon grabs honor: No surprise here: Gordon was named KU’s defensive player of the game for his efforts in the Jayhawks’ 30-21 loss to Colorado.

Gordon was all over the place, intercepting two passes, sacking CU quarterback Joel Klatt and recovering a fumble. Mangino has spoken highly of the sophomore since, calling him one of the best players in the nation.

Tight end Lyonel Anderson was named offensive player of the week, but nobody was selected on special teams.