It was a simple tackle during a Kansas University football practice two weeks ago. Nothing out of the ordinary – not even the pain in safety Rodney Harris’ neck.

“A very routine tackle,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “He practiced the rest of practice. He happened to stop in the training room after practice and said, ‘Hey, I’m a little sore right here.'”

About 48 hours later, Harris was having neck surgery for an injury Mangino declined to detail. Harris’ football career now is in jeopardy, and Mangino remains dumbfounded as to how the senior safety reacted to what turned out to be a damaging hit.

“He didn’t even lay on the ground,” Mangino said. “Didn’t say ow. Didn’t do anything.”

Now, a return to football is questionable at best; Mangino said Harris’ future was uncertain.

“He sustained an injury that will need a lot of therapy and treatment,” Mangino said. “It’s an injury that’s set him back quite a ways. But he’s going to be fine.”

Harris was back in pads for the first time in nearly a year when the injury occurred. An honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference defensive back in 2004, Harris sat out the 2005 season to be home in California for personal reasons.

Mangino left the door open when Harris informed the coach of his decision to go home last summer, and Harris jumped on the opportunity soon after the Fort Worth Bowl in December.

With Harris’ future hazy and perhaps doubtful, KU gets even younger at free safety. Jerome Kemp is expected to start at strong safety, but free safety could be between freshman Darrell Stuckey, sophomore Raymond Brown and other inexperienced talents battling it out in spring drills.

¢ No Lew today: Kansas will hold a news conference today regarding the upcoming Kansas Relays, but athletic director Lew Perkins won’t be there as planned.

Perkins instead will be in Kansas City for a news conference regarding the upcoming stadium vote in Missouri. Jackson County residents are voting next week on a tax increase that will renovate Kauffman Stadium, home of the Royals, and Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs.

“They asked me to come support it,” Perkins said.

Proponents of the renovations have pulled out all the tricks in convincing voters it’s the right thing, including promises of a Super Bowl and a baseball All-Star game in the next 10 years.

Perkins said his cameo today would not involve any promise of future KU football games in Kansas City. Kansas officials, though, are on the record saying they may be interested in playing at Arrowhead again. The Jayhawks played Oklahoma there last season.

¢ Topeka practice: KU will have another practice open to the public Saturday at Hummer Park in Topeka. Gates open at 1:15 p.m. for a 2 p.m. scrimmage.

It will be the last chance for the public to see the Jayhawks until the spring game, which will be held at 7 p.m. April 14 at Memorial Stadium.