Notebook

Midway through the second quarter, Jon Cornish failed to down a punted ball at the one-yard line. When he returned to the sideline, Cornish was on the receiving end of coach Mark Mangino’s most spirited tongue-lashing of the night.

Mangino walked a good 25 yards down the sideline, seemingly getting more angry with each step, and unloaded on Cornish. The outburst ended with Mangino angrily waving his clipboard toward the sideline, sending Cornish off.

Mangino didn’t hold a grudge for too long. After being on the sidelines for a few series, Cornish returned to run for two more touchdowns.

“He just made a little mental mistake, that’s all,” Mangino said. “We just want to remind him mental mistakes are not accepted.”

So, Mangino’s instructive words to Cornish probably went something like this: “Excuse me, Jon, sorry to bother you. I’d just like to remind you that mental mistakes aren’t accepted.” Or not.

¢ Midway through the third quarter, guard Jake Cox got an earful from Mangino, and then walked 10 yards down the sideline. After a few seconds, Mangino decided he wasn’t done, walked back to find Cox and sent some more venomous words his way. It’s not as if Cox could have defended himself. He had just been flagged 15 yards for a late hit. Cox quickly became a spectator.

¢ Using words identical to his coach’s, Jayhawk linebacker Nick Reid said of the defense, “We need to get our mental edge back.”

¢ Offensive guard Todd Haselhorst did not suit up Saturday. Reporters covering Friday’s Olathe East High football game, Haselhorst’s alma mater, reported seeing the 6-foot-4, 300-pound sophomore in a cast, with his arm elevated by a bar extending from his side to his arm.

¢ Some freshmen suited up Saturday, including Jose Rodriguez, Jeff Wheeler, Caleb Blakesley and Jake Schermer. Another new face, non-scholarship freshman Jack Swab, also dressed. None played, however.

¢ Senior kick-return specialist Greg Heaggans did not suit up, despite Mangino telling reporters he’d be with the team this week. Heaggans has yet to play this season.

¢ KU called its first timeout in the first quarter in an attempt to give replay officials more time to determine if a call was worthy of being reviewed. ASU’s Kevin Richardon caught a swing pass and was hit hard by Aqib Talib, but kept running, eventually past the first-down marker. Replays showed Richardson might have touched his knee on the ground when hit by Talib, but the timeout strategy didn’t work – officials didn’t review the call.

¢ Quarterback Brian Luke completed six of his first seven passes Saturday, and the only incomplete attempt perhaps was the prettiest. A perfect strike downfield to running back Clark Green was dropped.

¢ Scott Webb’s missed point-after in the second quarter was the first miss of his college career. He previously had converted his first 32 attempts.

¢ Junior Charles Gordon had two impressive punt returns, juking past several defenders and breaking multiple tackles. The first return was called back by a holding penalty, but the second went 33 yards and started KU’s drive on the ASU 31. The Jayhawks would score a touchdown.

¢ Nick Reid again led the Jayhawks in tackles, compiling 14. He has 25 in just two games.

¢ A lengthy first-quarter drive by ASU was cut short just short of the end zone, when junior Rodney Allen forced Kevin Richardson to fumble the ball at the four-yard line. Banks Floodman made the recovery in the end zone.

¢ Despite having five tackles for a loss by five different players, KU didn’t pick up a single sack Saturday.

¢ Big penalties were a big problem for KU. In all, the Jayhawks racked up 90 yards on seven flags, including an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty, a roughing-the-passer penalty and a kick-catch interference flag.

¢ Kansas is 2-0 for the second straight year. Last year, it beat Tulsa 21-3 to start the season and Toledo 63-14 in week two. Mark Mangino is now 14-24 as head coach at KU.