Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Players’ rights important, too

By By Mike Hoeflich

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During my 13 years as a faculty member at Kansas University, there have been times when I have been exceptionally proud of the university and other times when I have felt disappointed and let down. Never before, however, have I felt embarrassed about being at KU as I do now. I am embarrassed as a member of the community and as a member of the faculty. What is the source of my embarrassment? Football coach Mark Mangino's behavior toward his players as evidenced by the startling video now available on YouTube and other Web sites. According to the count on one site I looked at, more than 150,000 people have seen this video.

I am not a great fan of college football as it is conducted today. I have said repeatedly that, to me, Division I football is highly exploitative of student-athletes for the purpose of providing entertainment for students and alumni and bringing in substantial income to universities. I have never believed that collegiate football as it is played at schools like KU instills ideals of collaboration and sportsmanship either in the players or in the spectators. But although I have been skeptical about college football, I have always held out hope that football teams, with the right coaches and the right spirit brought to the field, could be a positive factor on campus. In theory, football can increase alumni donations to universities for things other than sports; it can bring students together and heighten school spirit. It can provide educational opportunities for players who might not otherwise be able to attend college. But the video of coach Mangino's recent on-field behavior has dashed any such hopes I might have had for football at KU. The fact that no senior member either of the KU administration or of the athletic department has publicly condemned coach Mangino's actions leaves me no choice but to believe that the only thing important to those who are in power at KU is providing a profitable spectacle for the audience. Any thought of the players' rights and dignities is absent.

What bothers me about the YouTube video is not that coach Mangino uses profanity. That's unfortunate, but people say stupid things during times of stress. What I find so troubling about the video is the obvious violence and utter lack of respect for the player shown by the coach. Football players at KU are not paid professionals. They are students. They deserve to be treated like students. No normal faculty member could behave toward a student as coach Mangino did and avoid serious consequences. The KU Faculty and Unclassified Staff Manual deals with students' rights and faculty responsibilities. Chapter 2.e, article 5 on page 60 of the manual lists as actions prohibited to faculty and staff:

"5. Behavior in the discharge of his/her duties that violates commonly accepted standards of professional ethics as defined, for example, in the statement of professional ethics adopted by the 52nd Annual Meeting of the AAUP, April, 1966 : Abusive or unprofessional treatment of students, faculty, or other members of the University fall within this category. Repeated infractions of one's responsibilities, whether informal and/or formal admonitions, warnings or reprimands have occurred, are more serious than initial infractions of the same type. ..."

Perhaps coach Mangino is neither a faculty member nor a member of the unclassified staff. I believe, however, that even if he isn't, he ought to be subject to the same ethical standards as those who are. If he isn't, and the university is willing to permit him to behave as he is shown to have done on the video, then all I can ask is, why? And if the answer is, indeed, that he is exempt from these ethical standards, then I must confess, my respect for KU as a place dedicated to teaching, research and service will be damaged beyond repair.

Mike Hoeflich, a distinguished professor in the Kansas University School of Law, writes a regular column for the Journal-World.

Comments

slantrox (anonymous) says...

Get a grip on yourself man! I'll bet there isn't one football recruit KU is chasing that is adversely effected by that video and probably much to the contrary. This may be the reason some kid chooses KU. I haven't talked to one KU fan that thought the video shed a bad light on KU. Of course they are much like me and think you have to like college football to actually know something about it.

Ihave also talked to two K-State fans and a CU grad, they both have a new found respect for Mangino!

Have you never played football? Have you never been to a practice or a game? This is the world of football. It happens everywhere!!!!!!!!!!! i really wish I could say that Mark Mangino is special in his outrage and remark, but is not. Other football coaches across the country are either laughing with the rest of us or cheering with the rest of us.

Coach Mangino is to be commended for his actions and words. Football is the ultimate team sport. Do you really think one person can play against 11? If you don't have all your players playing on the same page somebody could easily get hurt or killed. He wasn't just yelling at that kid because he "hot dogged" he was doing it for the other players to know that you play within the team concept or get out!!!

Coach Mangino's actions are exactly what I would want as a player (and certainly are as a KU fan)! I sure as helll would rather him defending me in court than you.

rock chalk jayhawk and rock chalk coach mangino!

September 12, 2007 at 7:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Raydude (anonymous) says...

Heads Up...Remember when John Randle removed himself from the football team for bad behavior. But, he was allowed to continue with his education at KU. Coach could have could have kept him on the team...broken his own rules...or disowned him publicly. However, Coach would not disavow his support of John as a human being and continued his financial support as a student. That thoughtful act speaks more than volumes of where Coach's heart is ....rather than a candid camera moment in an emotional moment.

Think about it ...Coach has a good heart.

September 12, 2007 at 8:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

SoKanHawkfan (anonymous) says...

Comments and attitudes like this are indicative of someone who has never participated in college athletics and who completely misses the point Coach Mangino was making. Celebrating your 'individual' accomplishment at the cost of team goals is counter productive and should be strongly discouraged, which is what coach did. He was discouraging an attitude that could deter the team from achieving their unified goals. As a potential employer I want to know that perspective employee's have an understanding of what it takes to put the goals of team before self. This is what allows successfull groups to trump more talented individuals. This is what allows teams to overcome more talented but less unified groups. That is the real world and anyone not recognizing those benefits, or condeming those who try to teach those ideals in favor of the alleged rights of individuals to trump the collective efforts of team, is sadly out of touch with reality.

While I'm not a proponent of vulgarities and believe you can make a point without them, I understand the 'heat of the moment' passion on the sideline and stand behind Coach Mangino in his attempt to educate this young man about the importance of putting team before self. If given a choice of who I would want enfluencing my children (and I've put two through KU in the past nine years), I would chose Mark Mangino's philosophy over Mr. Hoeflich's every time.

Stand firm Coach!

September 12, 2007 at 9:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GrayHawker (anonymous) says...

Rumors are that the "learned" professor has verbally abused students publicly for late arrival to his class.

Care to comment professor?

Frankly, classic example of someone that has never lived or had to deal with life outside of the protection of their classroom walls.

As far as wondering if he never participated in college athletics, I heard more then a few heated words from my coaches in high school.

Bet he was a male cheerleader. Any relation to a local radio host?

September 12, 2007 at 10:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

shannyvan1 (anonymous) says...

One really can't compare a football coach's behavior to an English lit. prof. It's truly apples and oranges. While Mangino's behavior would be outrageous in the classroom, on the sideline of a football game, I have no problem with it.

September 12, 2007 at 10:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuone (anonymous) says...

The prof has no clue.Not one.
He may do an adequate job in his environment but he lacks any understanding of the outside world.Coach Mangino's classroom is not temperature controlled.Mistakes in his classroom can result in serious injuries or even death.There are often 50 to 80,000 people there,paying to see it and also helping pay the profs salary.
It is considered a violent sport.The lack of knowledge and understanding is rather funny if it were not so stupid.Yes stupid.To compare the environments is not rational.The player made a huge error in judgement that effected the team.It was a mistake that could have cost the game or even an injury.There is no time for tea and cookies to discuss it by a panel of his peers.The prof needs to stay in the ivy tower and sing protest songs.He is out of touch and has stuck his foot so far in his mouth it is embarrassing to all.I am disappointed his comments were even given the light of day.

September 12, 2007 at 11:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bobsacamano (anonymous) says...

If the writer cares so much for the players, why did he not even mention the name of the player from the video in the piece? Did he not know it or not think it was relevant to his point?

September 12, 2007 at 11:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

Apparently punishing someone for an unsportsmanlike conduct is NOT promoting good sportsmanship. It's football. Stay in line or get your ass chewed. Wake up!

September 12, 2007 at 3:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jimmy_Dean (Alan Halvorsen) says...

"its division i football! its the big xii!
Go play intermurals brother. Go play intermurals."
-Dan Hawkins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S3RbR...

September 13, 2007 at 12:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JHawk4Whittemore (anonymous) says...

I'm sick and tired of people dogging on Mangino. He's the best coach we've had here in a loooong time. We've already heard the jokers at LJWorld say that his job is on the line this year unless he gets eight wins, and now they're getting on him for trying to instill some discipline in his players. You know what happens to a football team when they don't have the discipline that Mangino brings to the table? Think about Terry Allen and get back to me.

Mangino is a top notch coach and I'm glad that he chewed him out. So what if he cussed at a player? Every coach in the D1, aside from teams like TCU or BYU, has cussed at a player. That's part of football AND part of college life in general.

Mangino put the freshman in his place and kept him from getting a big head. Four years down the road, whether he goes on to play for the NFL or starts his career in a different field, he will remember that tongue lashing and continue to be a solid TEAM player. I wonder if the guy who wrote this has had that type of an affect on a student... sounds more like professional jealousy to me.

September 13, 2007 at 1:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuone (anonymous) says...

Sorry to comment again but so many of you are correct.
Mangino is the best coach for us and is light years ahead of past coach.
The prof is a poor example of some in the school who really should stay in the classroom. I have been by a few of them at games and they act like any noise is bad. We need die hards at these games and this program is doing great and building the way it should.

September 13, 2007 at 11:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Wow. And you wonder why football struggles at KU. This is just a small example of the fight that the football program fights every day against the administration. We are never going to be the 'Harvard of the Midwest,' known for our rigorous academics first and athletics second. The school down the road figured that out a LONG time ago and look where they've come since '93. What this prof may not realize is that a solid football program does wonders for an entire University. The $ brought in by a successful football program FAR exceeds that of anything else. If I were this guy, I'd be backing Mangino 100%. Wonder if he actually saw the incident in person or just watched it on youtube. Sheesh...

In addition to being an excellent revenue-driving vehicle, football instills life principles such as character, accountability, and the importance of team above self; lessons best learned through tough love. I am a football guy; that's what I know, love, and comment about--I don't write columns critiquing the way professors teach, perhaps they should extend the same courtesy to Coach.

September 14, 2007 at 12:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jerryjhawk (anonymous) says...

Sorry, Prof, but it kind of sounds like maybe someone should have raised their voice toward you once in a while in your upbringing.......your tone comes across as "holier than thou" and condescending! Sheeeeesh!!!!

September 14, 2007 at 5:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )