Orange Bowl representative Vance Carlton visited Kansas University to formally invite the Jayhawks to the Orange Bowl.

He had a tan.

It was a cruel way for Vance Carlton to arrive in Lawrence, where you can see your own breath this chilly time of year. But Carlton, a lifelong Floridian and member of the Orange Bowl Committee, came with news Monday that made his bronze skin not so offensive.

“I’m here to formally give the invite to Kansas in person,” said Carlton, decked out in a bright orange blazer and carrying Orange Bowl patches. “Obviously you can give it over the phone. But it’s a little nicer when you show up.”

Kansas University’s football team will play Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3 in Miami, news that went public Sunday night. Carlton’s four-day stay in Lawrence, therefore, is only a formality.

But Carlton met with KU coach Mark Mangino on Monday morning to officially invite the Jayhawks to South Florida, and he spent the rest of the day shaking hands and doing interviews with various local media outlets.

It will continue throughout the week.

“It’s just meet-and-greets,” said Carlton, who will head back to Florida on Thursday. “Making sure everybody understands how excited the Orange Bowl is to have Kansas come down to South Florida.”

The Jayhawks can expect to play in front of a big crowd in 75,000-seat Dolphin Stadium next month. Kansas and Virginia Tech have an allotment of 17,500 tickets each that they currently are in the process of selling. On top of that, the Orange Bowl already has sold 35,000 tickets to local fans and corporate sponsors.

Though he’s been here only one full day, Carlton already has noticed the mood on campus toward KU’s postseason destination.

“They’re excited,” Carlton said. “Obviously they’re proud of the season they’ve had. In talking to everyone from the university, you can see it in their conversation. They want to rehash the whole season with you.”

He’s here to listen to all of it. The 300-plus member Orange Bowl Committee sends a representative to the campus of each school as soon as a decision is made. Carlton left for Lawrence on Sunday evening almost immediately after the Jayhawks were picked.

Ironically, while Carlton is here hanging with the locals, Mangino will head down to Miami on Wednesday to do the same. He’s scheduled to participate in a news conference in Hollywood, Fla., with Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer on Wednesday afternoon.

KU’s sixth-year coach probably is well aware of the climate he’ll run into down there. The Jayhawks recruit Florida annually.

But just in case he forgot, Carlton is happy to provide insight – as if his skin tone doesn’t say enough.

“Sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun,” Carlton said. “Eighty-two degrees. Sand. Beaches.”

And, soon enough, football.