Notebook: Turnovers plague Kansas in latest road loss

Austin, Texas ? All season, Kansas University football coach David Beaty has talked about controlling the things his team could control and being competitive by playing smart, mistake-free football.

Saturday, in a 59-20 loss at Texas, Kansas turned the ball over four times — three interceptions and a lost fumble in five cough-ups — and forced just one take-away.

“Awful,” Beaty said of KU’s performance in the ball security. “Can’t do it. We had a turnover fest out there.”

Howdy, partner

Prior to Saturday’s game, Beaty was presented with a black cowboy hat and silver spurs by UT officials.

The gesture is a customary tradition for all visiting coaches making their first trip to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Despite it matching his attire perfectly, Beaty did not wear the lid during the game.

This and that…

The Jayhawks won Saturday’s opening coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff…. The Texas marching band honored its opponent by performing KU’s alma mater prior to kickoff…. KU safety Fish Smithson posted his sixth double-digit tackle effort of the season, tying a career-high with 13 stops…. Texas’ 598 yards of offense marked the eighth consecutive game that the KU defense has surrendered 500 or more yards…. Temperature at kickoff was 62 degrees, under cloudy skies with winds of 15 mph out of the north.

— See what people were saying about the game during KUsports.com’s live coverage