Opinion
Players’ rights important, too
September 12, 2007
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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.
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12 September 2007
at 8:43 a.m.
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mmlaughsatnerds (Anonymous) says…
Good grief Mike, this is football, not ballet dancing. Do you honestly think across the whole NCAA that this is an isolated incident? Have you ever stepped on a football field before? Do some research before you start passing out judgements. You might be embarrassed by Mangino's actions, but I'm embarrassed that you, also a representative of the university, are so easily offended and just don't “get it”.
12 September 2007
at 8:52 a.m.
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mmlaughsatnerds (Anonymous) says…
And one more thing, do I need to remind you of some the incidents that Terry Allen, a reputed “nice” and “respectful” coach had during his tenure? Did you write a column about how respectful Allen was towards the two players charged with sexual assault by only making them run stairs as punishment? I'm sure your staff manual bylaws would say that was appropriate.
12 September 2007
at 9:24 a.m.
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therealistreturns (Anonymous) says…
It's interesting to me that this opinion piece would come from professor Hoeflich. On one occasion I distinctly remember seeing him berate a first year law student so severely that she nearly cried. On another, he repeatedly embarrassed a law student for nearly half of a class period for being 5 minutes late to class. I guess the people unfortunate enough to attend his classes must have a little thicker skin than Mr. Hoeflich.
12 September 2007
at 9:25 a.m.
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TrueBlue (Anonymous) says…
Pansie. Is this the professor from “Back to School”? There are so many other things to be outraged about. Clearly personal. Now, put on your plaid hat and smoking jacket and write a case study.
12 September 2007
at 9:27 a.m.
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TrueBlue (Anonymous) says…
So he's a hypocrit. Thank you realistic. Great idea writing this article….huh, Mike?
12 September 2007
at 9:28 a.m.
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KU_cynic (Anonymous) says…
I'm amused by Hoeflich's righteous indignation. It's hard to believe that only after this incident have the scales fallen from his eyes and that only now he sees collegiate athletics for what they are. C'mon, Mike, did you really get your cherry busted by Mangino's recent crudeness? If so, you're naive. If not, then you're being a drama queen in your recent column.
There are two ways to look at this. In sympathy to Hoeflich, KU leadership has indeed sold its soul in exchange for the bags of silver brought in by athletics. The irony is that KU spends more on football in terms of scholarships, salaries, travel, and facilities (properly accounted for) than it brings in. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent each year on academic counseling for student athletes. Yes, these services benefit all student athletes, but in terms of time and attention spent by the administrators and tutors the bulk of it is spent on the football players, who still on average earn GPAs more than 0.50 less than other students athletes and the general KU student population. And with rare exceptions, football players are not earning these GPAs in the more demanding academic programs of the university. Academically, it's a scam. And anyone who thinks that Mangino can be an example or role model to his charges is asking way too much of him. (Anyone who's heard the rumor of Mangino himself caught cribbing for a mandatory NCAA compliance exam might chime in with some more details).
On the other hand, a little sympathy for Mangino is in order. Mangino is a guy who grew up in western Pennsylvania, where high school football and unrealistic dreams of what it may lead to are a dominant aspect of the local culture (much like in Texas). Mangino worked his way up through the coaching system there. He never went to college, but kept parlaying one successful assistant coaching experience into another until he found himself at K-State under Bill Snyder, then Oklahoma under Bob Stoops, and now at KU as head coach. Mangino is a very blue-collar self-made kind of guy, and he obviously lacks education and refinement. He's unlikely to spend an evening sipping port with Hoeflich and discussing nuanced ideas as articulated by Marcus Aurelius in the original Latin, for instance.
Mangino reacted completely in character in response to a hot-dogging player who cost the team a penalty. One can't expect a junkyard dog not to bark (and maybe bite) every now and again. One might just as well ask Mike Hoeflich not to be pedantic.
12 September 2007
at 9:56 a.m.
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Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…
I think this unknown professor is a wee bit jealous over the fact that the football coach gets plenty of media coverage. Don't worry Mr. Hoeflich, you may get a minute of local fame around campus as a result of your letter.
Student 1: “Have you ever heard of Mike Hoeflich?”
Student 2: “Who? No. Oh wait, is he that crybaby who wrote a letter to the Journal World because he was upset about Mangino yelling at a player?”
12 September 2007
at 10:21 a.m.
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brainfreeze (Anonymous) says…
somebody call the waaaaaaaaahhhmbulance
12 September 2007
at 10:25 a.m.
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BigDog (Anonymous) says…
Mr. Professor you should be complimenting Coach Mangino for being angry with his player ….. afterall by hotdogging …. his player was making the Central Michigan player feel bad. And you know young people today have fragile egos and can't handle failure. Ha Ha Ha
Mr. Hoeflich, maybe in your next piece you can write about how keeping score in college athletics damages players self-esteem.
12 September 2007
at 10:33 a.m.
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Phogfan86 (Anonymous) says…
I think Prof. Hoeflich should stick to reading “Jack Armstrong: All-American Boy” and trying to figure out what all this fuss about the forward pass is about.
He's either the most naive person on the planet or the most pompous. Having spoken with a number of your students, I know which one I'm leaning toward.
12 September 2007
at 11:40 a.m.
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hawkbygod (Anonymous) says…
“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.”
You are right Mike, these kids do not get free educations and housing, exposure to the NFL and other pro leagues, ready made connections with local business leaders/owners, nor do they get to be a part of something special that they will remember for the rest of their lives. DARN you college football and your exploitation of these meek young men!
12 September 2007
at 11:52 a.m.
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Easy_Does_It (Anonymous) says…
great post.
Can't wait to use pedantic in a sentance this weekend.
12 September 2007
at 12:53 p.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
Holy Gawd. This guy writes his LTE's in legalese. That last paragraph had me wanting to settle. And I'm not even involved in this mess. Wait. There is no mess. Just another angry lawyer.
12 September 2007
at 5:03 p.m.
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Easy_Does_It (Anonymous) says…
Pilgrim - my spelling has always been a little pedantic. A little stretch but by the weekend I'll be all over it.
12 September 2007
at 5:29 p.m.
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pimp11 (Anonymous) says…
the author in a way is correct about the coaches actions…..but seriously its football, there are other students out there beatin the hell out of each other. isnt there a “law” about that in the book of laws on campus.
Ramirez– The Mangina has turned the program for the better since he took over. He just hasnt takin them to the promise land! hahaha — We (KU) will be ranked if we can go 4-0 and then head into Manhattan and kick the chit out of those purple p*ssies!!!!!
go hawks!!!!!!!!!!!
12 September 2007
at 11:21 p.m.
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TrueBlue (Anonymous) says…
It has taken Mangino this long to clean up TA mess. We were on par with a high school team when Mark too over the program. It was an abyss. How many bowl games did TA go to? Oh please bring back TA!!Football was so much better under him.
13 September 2007
at 11:25 a.m.
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booklover2 (Anonymous) says…
I read with interest Professor Hoeflich's column. Interest because I've never read such a piece of hypocritical b.s. in all my life. Either the man is oblivious to his own profane tirades or thinks he is above them. It must be both.
13 September 2007
at 9:49 p.m.
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ctrmhero (Anonymous) says…
I am so glad I didn't go to that school in Green Hall. I guess the law prof must have arrived after the scandal at the law school where grades were traded for sex
13 September 2007
at 11:53 p.m.
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toefungus (Anonymous) says…
Law students, this is the time to use a video phone in the law class. Time to get to work and show us the real person who is commenting here. YouTube awaits your cinema graphic debut.
24 September 2007
at 3:27 p.m.
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lawyerlee (Anonymous) says…
This column is completely, sorely misguided.