No scrambling

The Kansas University football team introduced a new offensive scheme against Central Michigan, and Saturday it was missing one big aspect of what other recent KU teams did: quarterback scrambles.

Todd Reesing had just six carries for eight yards, with one being a sack for a loss of nine. For the most part, Reesing was there to pass the ball, with Brandon McAnderson and Jake Sharp doing the ground work.

Many of Saturday’s plays were option reads, where Reesing decides whether to hand it off or keep it himself. He usually chose to hand it off.

“Obviously, we’d rather have the ball in the hands of the running back, whose job is to run,” Reesing said. “Not having to run is fine by me. If they can run and get seven yards a carry, there’s no reason for me to carry the ball at all.”

One vote in poll

Kansas received one 25th-place vote in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll after demolishing Central Michigan last week.

Considering the Jayhawks’ schedule the next three weeks, it’s unlikely they’ll get too many more votes anytime soon, even if they finish the nonconference slate unbeaten.

The Jayhawks haven’t been ranked in the AP Top 25 since Sept. 28, 1996, when they were No. 20 right before losing to Utah. KU last received votes at the end of 2005 after winning the Fort Worth Bowl.

Reesing honored

Reesing was named the Division-I Football Bowl Subdivision Performer of the Week by CollegeSportsReport.com on Tuesday, after completing 20 of 29 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns against CMU.

Resby’s the winner

A months-long battle for the starting strong-safety position was won by junior-college transfer Patrick Resby, who collected three tackles and a fumble recovery last week.

Tang Bacheyie, the other candidate, played exclusively on special teams.

“Tang got nicked up a couple of weeks ago, and he missed a bunch of practices,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “Tang is back on track, and we feel good about both of those kids. We’re going to need them both.”

Mangino didn’t want to use Bacheyie’s injury as the deciding factor. He said Resby’s growth since he arrived at KU made a big difference, as well.

“You can’t be a confident player if you don’t know the system,” Mangino said. “He got his feet wet in the spring, he learned all of it here in August, and now he’s playing with confidence.”

Ticket sales high

KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Tuesday that 69,000 tickets had been sold for the Kansas-Missouri game, which will be played Nov. 24 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

The number includes KU’s season-ticket sales. Arrowhead Stadium holds 79,451 fans.

Briscoe the next No. 3

If freshman wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe has his way, No. 3 will continue to be a star-studded digit at Kansas.

The current owner of jersey No. 3 is cornerback Aqib Talib, who said he plans to give the number to Briscoe once he’s done at KU. That could be after this season if Talib leaves school early to go to the NFL.

Talib, of course, got the number from former Jayhawk Charles Gordon after Gordon left for the NFL.

“That’s a pretty big honor,” Briscoe said, “but I think I’m ready to take it on.”

Players of the week

Kansas coaches named Reesing the team’s offensive player of the week for the Central Michigan game. Defensive honors went to both linebacker James Holt and end John Larson. Kicker Scott Webb was cited for special teams.