Feeling better

Kansas University linebacker Joe Mortensen said his right knee is feeling better than it did last month, when he played through pain to close out the Jayhawks’ regular season.

Mortensen had to sit out a couple of plays against Iowa State on Nov. 17 and has shown a limp since, but he said he’s ready to go for the Orange Bowl on Thursday.

“I’m feeling great,” Mortensen said. “This warm weather is nice, and it’s helping out. This last month we’ve been rehabbing and conditioning. We’re all feeling pretty healthy.”

Almost a mohawk

Of course, most people wanted to talk to Mortensen about his new look, not his wrapped knee.

The normally clean-shaven Mortensen now has a full beard and a mohawk hair design thanks to the helping hand of cornerback/team barber Gary Green.

“I grow facial hair pretty quick so it only took me like two weeks,” Mortensen said. “It’s funny, I have a mohawk, but I have this bald spot. I’m kind of rockin’ it.”

The look didn’t spread to teammates, though.

“I can only get so much facial hair. I guess that’s the Indian blood in me,” linebacker James Holt said. “I thought about it, but my mom told me not to. I respect her wishes.”

Hospital visit

About 20 people from KU’s traveling party – including 12 players – spent a little time after practice Sunday at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Miami, visiting patients and handing out KU gear.

The Veteran Affairs hospitals, located across America, provide patient care to armed-forces veterans and their dependents.

“It was a great time,” running back Brandon McAnderson said. “These people have made it possible for us to live free and go to things like the Orange Bowl.”

Practice update

After media obligations Sunday morning, KU had a closed practice at Barry University on Sunday afternoon. Today will be a similar schedule – offensive coordinator Ed Warinner and six offensive players will talk to the media in the morning before an early-afternoon practice.

Riggins sighting

Former KU great John Riggins will be a part of the Orange Bowl television coverage on Fox. Riggins, a former running back now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will be in studio alongside Chris Rose and Jimmy Johnson for pregame, halftime and postgame coverage.

Riggins, who played in the 1969 Orange Bowl for the Jayhawks, was added to the Memorial Stadium Ring of Honor in October as a tribute to his college career.