After contemplating cleaning a few of his teammates’ clocks after an Oct. 15 football game, Kansas University senior Nick Reid found what he felt was a more appropriate place for his fist — in his own mouth.

After KU’s 19-3 loss to Oklahoma, Reid said he’d like to get in a “fistfight” with some offensive players for their ineptitude.

He then added, “We’re out there busting our butts. They need to play with more heart.”

The quotes actually were received well by teammates and coaches. But Reid put a muzzle on himself after the firestorm the comments caused and didn’t speak again with reporters until Tuesday.

“I didn’t think it’d be such a big hoopla,” Reid said. “I guess if you spout off like that, you’re going to have to hear about it for a while. I learned from it.”

If subsequent performance is any indication, Reid’s comments served a role. After scoring six points in the two games before the interview, KU’s offense regrouped and scored three touchdowns and 26 points the next two weeks, including Saturday’s 13-3 victory over Missouri.

“I think I kind of hurt a few people’s feelings,” Reid said. “But I think for the most part it kind of lit a fire under them. I know they were tired of not playing good. Maybe it was the spark they needed.”

Reid said he wasn’t cut off from the media by the coaching staff after the headline-grabbing words, but didn’t talk because interviews are “my least favorite thing to do in the world.”

Regardless, Reid said he wasn’t concerned about his comments causing unneeded strife in the locker room.

“We’re a tight group,” said Reid, the Big 12 Conference’s leading tackler with 83 stops. “When me or anybody else calls somebody out on the team, they’re going to step up and try to prove to whoever it is that said that that they can do it, and they will do it.”

¢ Staying involved: Mangino vowed during KU’s four-game losing streak to get more involved in day-to-day operations of the offense, something he said he had continued to do to this point.

“Six brains are better than five,” Mangino said. “I wanted to get more involved. That’s not a sign of a lack of confidence in our offensive staff. … I just felt it was necessary as the head football coach that I get a little involved and do some things that I like to do and do some of the things I did as a coordinator or assistant coach. It’s fun.”

¢ Unsolved mystery: KU’s right-tackle position still seems a bit unsettled, as senior Matt Thompson and freshman Anthony Collins continue to compete for playing time.

Collins started Saturday, but was taken out after a personal-foul penalty and never returned. Thompson played the rest of the game at the position.

“I wouldn’t call it disciplinary reasons, no,” Mangino said of pulling Collins. “It’s just that he had two critical errors in the first series. I talked to our line coach, and we felt like he probably needs to get out and get him situated and get Matt Thompson back in there.

“Then, Matt was doing pretty good, so we figured, hey, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

¢ Still dinged: KU quarterback Brian Luke wasn’t an option to back up Jason Swanson against Missouri, and his status for Saturday’s game against Nebraska still is up in the air.

Luke had a noticeable limp after coming out during the Colorado game. His practices were limited last week.

“We had a light workout on Sunday, and he said he felt better,” Mangino said. “(Tuesday) we’ll get a better idea as to how far he has come along.”

¢ Players of the week: Cornerback Theo Baines was named defensive player of the game for the Border War showdown. Clark Green was honored on offense, while Charles Gordon was cited for special teams.