Texas-sized homecoming

Though no one on Kansas University’s football roster lists Waco, Texas, as his hometown, 38 players list Texas as their home state and that alone makes this week’s trip to the Lone Star State something special.

“I love going back to Texas and playing,” said senior linebacker Justin Springer, who lists Los Fresnos, Texas, as his hometown. “But (Waco) is actually like nine hours from where I (grew up), so it is not that close to home, but at the same time, it is back in Texas, and I love playing in Texas.”

Asked what he was most looking forward to about this week’s return to Texas, senior safety and Mesquite, Texas, native, Olaitan Oguntodu, said: “Getting a W. Definitely. I think that’s the most important thing. Besides El Paso (KU defeated UTEP, 34-7, in 2009), I don’t think I’ve gotten a win in Texas, and El Paso is kind of far from where I’m from.”

Showing well in Texas has twice the importance for KU coach Turner Gill, who hails from Fort Worth and views his home state as vital to KU’s future.

“Everybody on our staff has connections to Texas,” Gill said. “We’ve all recruited that area, we’re very familiar with the high school coaches, they’re very familiar with us, and we’re going to try to get our share of talented athletes and complete student-athletes.”

Pick reacts to injury

Sophomore quarterback Kale Pick, who was injured in last week’s victory against New Mexico State and will miss the next three weeks, discussed the setback for the first time at Tuesday’s weekly media session.

“They just told me I had a crack in my (left) fibula,” Pick said. “And they said that recovery could be faster than we think, so that’s a positive thing.”

Pick was injured on a designed running play. After moving downfield for a 15-yard gain and being swarmed by a gang of NMSU tacklers, Pick said he knew something was wrong right away.

“Definitely,” he said. “I felt a pain through my leg and I was hurting pretty bad.”

Asked why he chose to stay in the game instead of seeking medical attention, Pick said: “I was never taught to stay down on the ground or take myself out.

I’ve always gotten up when I’ve gotten hit hard, and I’ve never taken myself out.”

The gesture spoke volumes, according to Long, who said: “I told Kale after the game, ‘That goes a long way. You don’t know how far that goes with your teammates. You’re in there a brief amount of time at the end of the game, but when you’re out there and you’re fighting through that, and they see that on film or see that on the field, that goes a long way with team toughness.'”

Punt woes fixed?

Through four games this season, the Jayhawks have allowed two blocked punts, both of which were critical in the outcome of KU’s two losses. Although KU’s punt team took care of business last week, Gill said he was not ready to give the all clear quite yet because KU punted just twice against the Aggies.

“I don’t know,” Gill said. “I’m still up in the air on that because I want to see it in a game. I think we’ve made some adjustments, but until we’re able to execute in a game on a consistent basis, there is some concern. We’re going to do the best we can, whether it’s personnel or the scheme, to solidify that a lot better than we have in the past.”

Injury update

In addition to Pick, senior cornerback Calvin Rubles also was banged up in last week’s victory. Gill said Tuesday that Rubles, who tweaked an ankle, was listed as probable for this week’s game at Baylor. Rubles, who hails from Richardson, Texas, has played in all four of KU’s games this season and has recorded nine tackles.

Gill also said that red-shirt freshman defensive end Tyrone Sellers was questionable for this week’s contest. Sellers has been out with a leg injury since Sept. 7.