Probe aims to determine if Mangino went too far

I am very concerned that MM is being run out on a rail because of the losing streak.
The fact is, however, that you have to look very carefully at team morale, which this year, going back to the fight with the basketball players, Leuken being hurt and leaving the team, Crawford leaving, that something is going on with morale.

If MMs beligerance has harmed morale, and contributed to this debacle of losses we now find ourselves in, then Lew will have to make a tough decision, if on the other hand
there is nothing more than a couple of sore players, then nothing will happen.

I would have preferred that the matter not be made public. In doing so, the deck is already somewhat stacked against Mangino, and he will be damaged goods, even if he stays.

November 18, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Harris voices his support for coach

If you think this was done just because one kid got poked, you are crazy. There is something else going on. Perhaps there are systemic issues. But flower does not make a bouquet.

Why would parents be meeting with Lew, because of one player?

I do think that the fact the investigation was made public is probably not fair to MM.
It certainly weakens his position with his team, and with the public, and unfortunately with recruits.

November 18, 2009 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU AD Perkins meets with football players over concerns about coach Mark Mangino

Cool Hand

I really think you have got it right. The difference between KU football and KU basketb all is that the fans and the program are bigger than the coach, bigger than the players.

Our basketball fans demand excellence. Allen Field House is a jewel.

Lew understands that building up the facilities and the overall atmosphere is the key component, and the other component is die hard KU fans. I mean die hard, not wimpy, impress me if you can, fans, but people who are just a little crazy and a lot demanding.

There are many coaches who could get it done. The point is MM's role is limited, and
we need to reach for a replacement that yes, will need 2 years to get it going, but who will really get it going. That means coach, recruit, organize, maintain discipline without pummelling any players, or browbeating them into the ground, and someone who can talk to the presss, and represent the university like a man who gets 2 million dollars ought to be able to do.

November 17, 2009 at 6:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU AD Perkins meets with football players over concerns about coach Mark Mangino

Let' s all just ask ourselves, 8 years down the road in this football marriage, and are we satisfied? What if we had just started a football program, and we were only judging the performance, forget the past, it is miserable, a lot of it, and pathetic. I love the Jayhawks, and I sat through, I mean the entire game, of 49-7, 62, 84, you name the number games. The one thing that always ran through my mind at those times was that we are willing to settle for mediocrity.

In Nebraska, 9 wins a year wasn't enough, so Solich got the axe, (other factors played a big part also), now 9 wins a year and respectability in all games, pride by the players and the fans, the kind of thing we have in basketball, is not impossible, I repeat, not impossible. The questions Lew will be asking, because Lew is busting his butt trying to raise money for this program, is can MM deliver to keep the positive direction of football support going up?

Next year is half or more of memorial stadium is filled up with fans from other schools, then the answer will begin to become clear. Too many Nebraska fans at the game, I've seen it where three fourths were from Nebraska.

From a support standpoint, if we hired Nolan Cromwell, and paid for an excellent staff, if the people of the city and the state would make football tickets as hot a commodity as basketball tickets, and make a 5 years commitment to greatness, then the football jayhawk could truly soar.

On the other hand, we can just keep sawin wood.

November 17, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU AD Perkins meets with football players over concerns about coach Mark Mangino

I hope this is only the 1st of reviews of this program. Something is wrong and fishy in regards to the overall lack of discipline and morale of this program. Ask yourself about the effort you have been seeing. At the end of the Nebraska game, the defense basically just quit, when pride alone should have prevented the last running touchdown.

Maybe, just maybe there is more to this than meets the eye. Our margin for lack of concentration and absolute effort is razor fine. Anything else for KU means disaster.

November 17, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Is KU football worst in Big 12 this season?

KU is the worst, because we show no concept of how to win a game. Right now, we are closer than many realize to being as bad as when Mangino came. We are just slightly better, and that is after years of building and recruiting. Most depressing we are an undisciplined team that fails to do any of the fundamental things that every person who ever put on a pair of shoulder pads understands, field position, ball control,
defensive leverage, etc. etc., I do not want Mangino to fail, but this year puts his command of his craft into serious question.

I predict that next year we win 6 games, and I am being generous, and hopeful that Kale Pick is better than I think he is.

November 17, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

From bad to worse

Seniors

The truly great things you have accomplished in your careers can never be taken from you. You have made many who did not, now care deeply about KU football. My only regret is that the coaching staff this year were never able to figure out a receipe for success.

Todd you were placed in the impossible position of carrying a broken team on your back. Kerry the defenses began to cheat on you guys because of the offensive line problems, and the adjustment should of have come far earlier. That's what coaches are paid to do.

Stucky you have been an anchor, but the defensive ship has too many holes and alas is sinking surely. Fundamentally people miss their assignments, or try to do too much, speed wise we are not in the ballgame. Again, no plan for success.

Jake you got hurt, and they stopped throwing to you out of the backfield, you couldn't hold on to the big one against Nebraska, but seeing as how that was your first long pass in 5 games, I can understand it.

Kerry your willingness to change positions and excel will never be forgotten.

Beat Texas, Beat Missouri, if you do, you will go to a bowl, and I for one will say this was a good season.

November 15, 2009 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU coach Mark Mangino (Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews)

Either Mangino hires new assistants, OF, DEF, special teams, or he goes himself.
Inattention to detail has cost us at least 3 games. In addition, you will recall that this season had Brisco, and Green suspended, Leuken hurt, then leaving, Crawford leaving,
the big brawl with the basketball team. In other words Mangino did not kick but for violators, this team lacked discipline and thus little things killed it.

November 14, 2009 at 11:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Memories from 24 Late Nights

I was at the very first Late Night, Late Night with Larry (Brown). And I want to cast my vote for it. I have been to many since then, but that event was a big part of trying to get the KU basketball program back from the death and decay of the end of the Ted Owens era. Larry Brown had to actively promote KU Basketball to the community, to the conference, to the Nation, to CBS, we were at one of our lowest points ever.

Larry Bud Melman from the David Letterman show was a guest, he did some cutups with Larry Brown.

The other Late Nights are cool, but they don't have the poignancy that that one did.

October 17, 2009 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kansas volleyball swept by Texas

As much as I like Coach Bechard, I think what we all have to ask ourselves is not whether we should lose to Texas and Nebraska, but who can we beat. I have prayed that this coach and volleyball in general would move up to a level of consistent competition. We are not winning a single set. Do you realize what that means? We either do not have the players to compete, or the coaching, or both. And it is not just this year. Something has got to change, it's not the facility, KU has a wonderful one, one that deserves better.

October 15, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )