Motivation has not been a problem for Kansas University’s football team this nonconference season.

Heavy favorites against Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana and Toledo, the Jayhawks have suffered no Michigan-style upset defeats … or even close calls.

They have outscored the outmanned opposition, 159-20, entering Saturday’s 6 p.m., pre-Big 12 tuneup against Florida International at Memorial Stadium.

“With all the upsets we’ve seen, we know we can’t take anybody lightly,” sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing said, explaining KU’s killer instinct.

“It’s our mindset we’re playing a USC every day,” freshman defensive back Chris Harris said.

So who’s mostly responsible for the Jayhawks maintaining focus week after week against what critics have called inferior foes?

Junior offensive lineman Chet Hartley said the squad’s captains deserved credit for leading by words and deeds, both.

Sophomore defensive tackle Jamal Greene points to the top.

“I think he is the biggest motivator,” Greene said of coach Mark Mangino, who speaks softly at his media sessions and loudly on YouTube but in 2007 appears to be getting his message across.

“He being the head coach, it is his life. It is our life. This is what keeps him going. It’s what keeps us going.”

Greene says Mangino has repeated one mantra over and over.

“‘Fear no one and respect all,'” Greene responded when asked to reveal Mangino’s favorite saying. “All the upsets out there, we take nobody lightly, but fear no one.”

“I’d say he does say it a lot,” Hartley said of Mangino repeating that command. “It’s motivating.”

Harris said Mangino chose his spots for his oft-repeated message.

“He says that every time we are in the fourth quarter of practice: ‘Respect everyone; fear no one.’ He’ll say it every time.

Also … “Fourth quarter is ‘go time.’ That’s what he always says,” Harris added. “He always gets us mentally ready, and that is not a problem for us.”

As a defensive back, Harris admits other thoughts drift into his mind while he’s on the field.

“What is in my head is ‘We’ve got to make a play right here,'” he said. “We’ve got to get off the field quick and get the offense on the field.

“The mental part is important. Football is more mental than anything. Every team has a weight room. Every team works out all summer. It’s all about the mental edge right now. Teams that have the mental edge are winning.”

And so a trip around the interview room has the Jayhawks spouting what media may consider cliches, but what the players apparently believe in.

“We treat Florida International like everybody else. We prepare hard, practice hard,” Reesing said. “The motivation is to keep the season undefeated, get our fourth win, that much closer to a bowl game, bowl eligibility and win our last game before conference play.”