Staying hydrated

It sounds strange in late December, but Kansas University’s football support staff is making sure that the 104 players practicing this week are staying hydrated in the muggy weather.

“It’s hot,” cornerback Aqib Talib said after Saturday’s practice at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. “It’s like two-a-days.”

Temperatures flirted with 80 degrees with noticeable humidity, which meant consumption of fluids took priority. Coolers of Gatorade were scattered all over – even at KU’s beach party in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., later in the day.

“Coming down here, it’s a lot hotter than it is back in Kansas,” quarterback Todd Reesing said. “It’s going to take a couple of days to get used to the warmer temperature. But we went through two-a-days. We’ve just got to stay hydrated and drink a lot of fluids and we’ll be fine.”

Injury update

All of the players limping around during the Missouri game on Nov. 24 are in much better shape.

Offensive tackle Anthony Collins, defensive tackle James McClinton, safety Patrick Resby and cornerback Kendrick Harper all have been practicing and all are expected to play Thursday in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech.

KU coach Mark Mangino said a few other guys will be playing through pain against Virginia Tech, but wouldn’t say who. One is believed to be linebacker Joe Mortensen, who was hobbled by a bad knee the last few weeks of the season and continues to wear a brace.

Overall, though, Kansas is in good shape heading into the Orange Bowl.

“We’re a heck of a lot healthier than we were the last two weeks of the season,” Mangino said. “We have some guys that are going to play a little bit banged up, but we just can’t do anything about that. I think they’ll play well.”

Beach party

Soon after Saturday’s practice, the Orange Bowl played host to a beach party for KU’s team outside the Trump Sonesta in Sunny Isles Beach.

The party featured a DJ, lots of food and wave runners for the players to ride. In addition, a competitive volleyball game broke out between several KU players, including Reesing, Scott Webb, Kyle Tucker, Chris Harris and Dakota Lewis.

As the game heated up, dozens of people on the beach came over to watch the action.

Blast from past

Former KU linebacker Greg Cole was at Barry University on Saturday watching KU’s practice. Cole, who led the Jayhawks with 106 tackles in 2002, bounced around several professional leagues before settling down in the Miami area where he’s originally from.

Cole is married with a daughter and has another child on the way. He’s now the defensive coordinator at Coral Reef High in Miami and in his spare time has followed KU’s magical season closely.

“I was going crazy all year,” Cole said with a grin. “I was loving it, week in and week out.”

Cole, along with dozens of former players, will be at Dolphin Stadium on Thursday for the game.

Staying fit

Just yards away from KU’s beach party outside of the Trump Sonesta, All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez of baseball’s Detroit Tigers was working out on the beach with a trainer.

During rest time, Rodriguez posed for photos with several fans, including a couple of KU players.