One of the best things about heading to South Florida for a week of practices leading up the Orange Bowl is the warm climate. But by the time Kansas was finishing its practice around 1:00 p.m. Saturday, the weather conditions were sticky if not downright hot.

In the 15 minutes I spent waiting for the Jayhawks to wrap up their practice and meet with the media, I worked up a very un-December-like sweat. I might not be acclimated to the humidity yet, but the Kansas players have started getting used to it.

”It’s definitely a lot hotter down here,” sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing said. “It’s taken a couple of days to get used to it, but we’re making sure to stay really hydrated.”

Junior cornerback Aqib Talib said the heat wasn’t much of a problem because the team had gone through two-a-days in the stifling heat of August afternoons in Kansas. But Talib said the players were drinking more Gatorade than usual to help alleviate any warm-weather woes.

Kansas coach Mark Mangino said he was pleased with the way the team’s first two days in Miami had gone. Only two players missed Thursday night’s team meeting, because of weather-related travel delays, and the Jayhawks participated in heavy workouts on Friday and Saturday that lasted two hours each.

Talib said the change in latitude has not changed the Jayhawks’ attitude toward preparation and practice, as the team had kept a normal practice schedule and shown “no rustiness,” in Talib’s words.

The Jayhawks, who were battered and bruised by the end of the regular season, have used the past several weeks to rest and recuperate. Mangino said junior safety Patrick Resby and junior offensive tackle Anthony Collins were feeling “pretty healthy” and that junior cornerback Kendrick Harper was much healthier than he was one month ago.

Another Orange Bowl development to keep track of: Aqib Talib could field punts in next week’s game. The All-American cornerback turned dangerous wide receiver would have seemed to be the best option at punt returner all season, but concerns about potential injuries kept Talib away from the position during the regular season.