Reporters scrambled Sunday asking several Kansas University football players what they knew about Houston, KU’s opponent for the Fort Worth Bowl on Dec. 23.

A blank stare was the most common answer. The most insightful response, though, came from offensive lineman David Ochoa, who happened to know that Houstonians call the school “The U of H.”

Thanks for playing.

The familiarity no doubt will come when the Houston game film is FedEx’ed to Kansas in the coming days. But until then, Jayhawk players will remain in the dark about their upcoming foe.

Ochoa, a Houston native, knows nobody on the team. KU and UH haven’t played each other since 1995 and haven’t faced a common opponent since last season, when both teams were crunched by a powerful Oklahoma squad.

That shows little, except maybe that the Cougars aren’t afraid to schedule anybody. Since 2003, Houston has tangled with Michigan, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma and Oregon in nonconference action.

Houston was scheduled to play Nebraska this season, but the Huskers backed out over the summer to play a I-AA opponent, causing a minor national ripple after Houston athletic director Dave Maggard lashed out.

“This is absolutely unprofessional in every way,” Maggard told the Houston Chronicle at the time. “It’s gutless. Spineless. … I’ve lost a tremendous amount of respect for that program.”

That blew over, though, and Houston stumbled to a 1-2 record before winning five of its final nine games. Most were high-scoring: UH reached the 30-point plateau four times, including a 44-41 loss to Texas-El Paso, a 35-14 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette and a 35-18, bowl-clinching victory over Rice on Nov. 26.

Individually, Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb has thrown for 3,044 yards and 19 touchdowns in 11 games this season, also throwing 12 interceptions. Vincent Marshall (69 catches, 927 yards) is his favorite target, and running back Ryan Gilbert (1,030 rushing yards, nine touchdowns) balances the offense.

One Texas writer said Houston’s quirky offense would make Texas Tech’s look stale, and KU coach Mark Mangino didn’t dispute it. Of course, like his entire team, Mangino also admitted not being too informed on the Cougars at this point.

“I had the opportunity to watch them for maybe a half,” Mangino said of an early season game against Oregon on ESPN. “They did a lot of different formations and things of that sort. They try to out-gap you, and they try to get some leverage in the pass game.”

¢ Out recruiting: Mangino phoned into the Big 12 coaches conference call Monday from Dallas, where he spent the day recruiting. Mangino will meet associate athletic director Larry Keating today in Fort Worth, where the Fort Worth Bowl will have a formal introduction of both Houston and Kansas at the Fort Worth Club.

¢ Gordon improving: Junior do-all Charles Gordon is continuing to improve from what’s believed to be a shoulder injury suffered against Iowa State. His status for the bowl game is undetermined, but Mangino has said he could see Gordon playing.

“I don’t have any medical report on him,” Mangino said Monday, “but he was on the field yesterday doing some minor things.”

¢ No controversy: A Texas writer asked if there was any question who would play quarterback for KU on Dec. 23 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

“Jason Swanson is our starter,” Mangino said. “Brian Luke will be prepared. If we need him, he’ll play.”