Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was asked a fair question Tuesday: With Northwestern State having only seven seniors, is there a way for the Jayhawks to expose the Demons’ youth?

“I’ll tell them to join the club,” Mangino quipped. “We have a lot in common.”

Northwestern State could have as many as 22 true or red-shirt freshmen playing today, while Kansas could have roughly a dozen. It’ll make today’s 6 p.m. game between the two programs a clash of the young ones.

The advantage in that department has to go to Kansas simply because of better recruits, more scholarships and more seniors. NSU coach Scott Stoker is aware of that.

“It’s not the challenge you really want to face early in the season with a young football team,” Stoker said. “But it is what it is, and we need to go down there and try to get better.”

Stoker is more perplexed because of the mystery surrounding Kerry Meier. The last film on Meier was from a high school all-star game. He’ll be KU’s starting quarterback today.

“It does make it a little bit difficult to try to prepare for somebody you know you’ve never seen before,” Stoker said.

Of course, as Mangino would say, join the club.

¢Secret admirer: Stoker spoke highly of KU center David Ochoa, the offensive team captain who’s on several watch lists for postseason awards.

“Their center is probably one of the better centers I’ve seen in a long time,” Stoker said. “He’s a great football player.”

¢One-time deal: KU and Northwestern State’s contract is only for today’s game. No future games between the two schools are scheduled.

NSU, a I-AA program, will get $275,000 for appearing at Memorial Stadium.