Notebook: Jayhawks finding long wigs are all right

The lock-ness monster. The long-hair bear. The man with the mane.

Someone has to get Paul Como a nickname.

When it comes to hair, nobody stands out more than the Kansas University junior, a role-playing defensive end who recorded four tackles and two sacks last week against Florida Atlantic.

Don’t know who he is? Just look for the poof of brown hair coming out the back of a football helmet. That’s him.

“Some people make fun of me for it,” Como said. “I don’t know. I like it. I’ll keep it until I can’t stand it anymore.”

Como, who had his hair in cornrows recently before abandoning that idea, isn’t alone in the long-locks department. Junior cornerback Kenneth Thompson also sports a mop that a helmet can’t contain.

So who’s ‘do is better?

“(Como) has that wild caveman look,” Thompson said. “Mine is G.Q. smooth right here.”

The two wigs certainly are unique. Both Como and Thompson have grown their hair for more than two years, and it’s definitely given them an edge in the creative-look department.

They have no plans to do massive work with the clippers anytime soon, either.

“I will not cut it because me and my brother have a thing going,” Thompson said. “Whenever he cuts his, I’ll cut mine off. He keeps his going, I’ll keep mine going.”

Added Como: “Might as well grow it while I got it.”

¢ Big time: Appalachian State has gone Hollywood.

KU’s opponent today had three seconds of fame in the major motion picture “The Longest Yard.” Convict Paul Crewe, played by Adam Sandler, told inmates about his playing days at Florida State, saying the Seminoles would always “open the season by whipping an overmatched opponent like Appalachian State.”

In a good-natured response, ASU sent an open invitation for Sandler to attend a Mountaineer home football game this season.

¢ Curse the luck: Appalachian State has one Kansan on its roster, starting cornerback Dominick Dingle.

Only he won’t be starting today.

Dingle, a Leavenworth native, injured his leg early in last week’s game against Eastern Kentucky, and is listed as doubtful for today’s tilt.

“It’s disappointing to Dominick,” ASU coach Jerry Moore said. “Particularly with timing, since he’s from Kansas.”

Moore said the injury wasn’t a break, and if the swelling has gone down, there’s a chance he could play sparingly today.

¢ Flyover cancelled: The Air National Guard was planning a flyover today just before kickoff, but that was cancelled..

The Guard informed Kansas officials that the high tempo of current operational events has forced a stoppage of flyovers through Sept. 30.