Jayhawks take the conservative route in their loss to Texas

Perhaps the game plan seemed a little vanilla, but KU coach Charlie Weis said the KU staff intended to be as conservative as possible going into Saturday’s game.

Weis said he expected to be able to win a low-scoring game if the Jayhawks limited their turnovers and were effective in the red zone. Instead, quarterback Montell Cozart finished with four interceptions, and the Jayhawks came up empty twice in the red zone.

“We played today to win the game in the teens or 20s,” Weis said. “That’s the game we were playing. Now, how many colleges go in saying, ‘Hey, let’s win a game 24-17?’ People don’t do that anymore. But that’s kind of who we are.”

Lack of a flag frosts Weis

Weis vehemently protested what he thought was a missed holding call during Texas’ second touchdown — a 7-yard run by quarterback Tyrone Swoopes in the second quarter. Weis said he thought a KU linebacker was grabbed on the play.

“Whether I’m right or wrong,” Weis said, “I felt our linebacker who was going to make the play, I felt he got grabbed.”

Offensive linemen return

Starting right guard Mike Smithburg and starting right tackle Damon Martin both returned to the field after missing last week’s victory over Central Michigan. Smithburg, who had an appendectomy last Wednesday, played just 10 days after the procedure. Martin returned from illness.

Attendance watch

KU announced Saturday’s attendance as 36,904. That brings the three-game season average to 36,100.

New unis

The Jayhawks wore their crimson chrome uniforms for the first time — all-red attire that was unveiled in the preseason.

This story was originally published September 27, 2014 at 9:19 PM with the headline "Jayhawks take the conservative route in their loss to Texas."