KU coach kinder, gentler

Good point, coolsportsdad. I'm of the opinion that one does not need to be an abusive jerk in order to win. Discipline, yes. Bullying, no. There are plenty of good football coaches around who treat their players with dignity and respect and still win.

But Hawk1969 also has a point. Let's wait and see how this plays out, after all the facts are in. Judging prematurely often leads to embarrassment. Case in point: all the unfounded criticism of Arist Wright who apparently did not instigate all of this, but only cooperated with the investigation when called upon.

November 23, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU coach kinder, gentler

Yates33333, sounds like your high school coach was in the wrong profession. Seriously. If my son played for such a coach, I would have grave concerns, as well.

Most of us recognize that there is a different kind of subculture in football. Certain actions and behavior which would not be tolerated in other venues are seen as normal in a football environment. Whether this is a positive or a negative is open to discussion. However, based on the reports that are now surfacing we are beginning to see a picture of a coach with some very serious character flaws.

It is rather disturbing that some posters on this site are more than willing to cut MM plenty of slack because he won an Orange Bowl and turned around a losing program. This strongly suggests that some have lost sight of what is truly important. The welfare of these young people who have played football for KU and who have allegedly suffered various forms of abuse are far more important than a few wins. Don't you think?

November 22, 2009 at 4:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Hofstra standout’s plan goes awry

In these comments, Jenkins shows both respect and admiration for a superior opponent. No sour grapes. Gotta like that. Not to mention that he put on a pretty good show himself. Great effort by a very talented player.

November 14, 2009 at 10:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

A senior moment

Seniors, thank you for all the amazing memories. If we do not win another game this season, you have still given us so much....the Orange Bowl, the incredible win over MU at Arrowhead in the snow, making KU football fun again. All your sweat and blood, all the aches and pains, the hard work and self-sacrifice --everything you have given for this program--is greatly appreciated.

But do you know what time it is now? Much like Samson of old, it is time to shake yourself and rise up from the throes of defeat and despair and with renewed strength, crush the Philistines...er, the Huskers. :-) Go Hawks!

November 14, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

X-cellent debut

jayhawk1866, may God keep you safe over there, and thanks so much for your willingness to serve. Plan to be back in the states for the tourney and to see our Hawks win it all.

Whew! Do we have a lot of weapons or what? I suspect that it will be our depth that will carry us to the championship. On those nights when things aren't clicking and most of the team is struggling to score (it happens to the best of teams, of course), there will be one or two who will be able to step up and and carry us.

I know an undefeated season is a rarity these days. and I may be just a tad too optimistic, but if ever a team had the potential to do it, this one does. It has experienced leadership, amazing talent and athleticism, inside and outside scoring ability, strong defense, a team-first mentality, tremendous drive, great chemistry, outstanding coaching, and the aforementioned depth. I know. It still takes an incredible amount of good fortune to accomplish such a feat. I also know that Hofstra is not Texas. In addition, it is still very early. A team must mature and develop strength and character over the course of a season filled with many tests and battles. But still...it doesn't take a PhD from KU to recognize that this team could be very special. Friends, we could very well be seeing history in the making.

November 14, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Cliff's Notes version: Bill Self press conference, 11/5/09

Jesse, many thanks for providing these "notes." Whereas I may take the time to watch the video press conferences that are offered on this site, I usually don't bother with the audio only version. Thus, your notes allow me to stay informed, and I really appreciate having that information made available.

November 5, 2009 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

The Sideline Report with Alonso Rojas

Jesse, what a tremendous, informative article. Great job! And how impressive is Rojas? The kicking game is so important in football, and we are greatly blessed to have two outstanding kickers.

October 30, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Ahead of schedule

The great Walter Payton once said "I owe my success to God and my offensive line" (this is a paraphrase as I can't recall the exact quote, but this is close).

These guys don't get much glory, but it's nearly impossible to have a successful football season without a good o-line. So, it's great that the LJW is giving them some props.

O-line, way to go! Keep up the good work.

October 9, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Brady Morningstar delivers open letter to KU fans

Brady, I appreciate very much your public apology and your willingness to take full responsibility for your actions. You offered no lame excuses; just an honest admission of your failures and sincere regret for those you disappointed. Your letter reveals maturity, humility and class.

I know you must be hurting right now. Besides losing a treasured semester of basketball, you must face a certain amount of public humiliation and the deep pain of disappointing others you love and respect. But I want to offer you some brief words of hope and encouragement.

First, it is often through our failures that we learn the most valuable lessons of life. Secondly, people can be very forgiving when individuals are truly honest and remorseful concerning their wrongdoing. Though it may feel like you're terribly exposed and somewhat on an island right now, you may be pleasantly surprised at the support others are willing to give. Third, the way you handle this situation will impact your life for years to come. Your public letter of apology demonstrates that you intend to handle this incident wisely. Although it is just a first step, it's a step in the right direction. God bless you as you continue to walk through this time of personal growth.

October 8, 2009 at 5:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Mangino calm, collected

It's nice to see so many positive comments about Keegan's article. Personally, I think he (and other writers on this website) take way too much flak. It must get very old and rather discouraging for them to read some of the vitriol that follows almost every article they write. For the most part, I appreciate what they do and love having access to daily articles about KU athletics.

Regarding Mangino...a good coach knows the right buttons to push. Good for him for taking the calm, cool and collected approach. Undoubtedly, it contributed to the fabulous come-from-behind win in Ames last year. I think yelling and screaming is overrated anyway. Used too much, it becomes ineffective, much like a "resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." (I Cor 13:1)

October 7, 2009 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )