To the editor:

I am surprised that the newspaper and Mike Hoeflich claim to be shocked that a coach gave a player a tongue-lashing and used foul language after the player made an error in judgment that cost his team. Perhaps football sideline talks should be more like the gentle discourse of a classroom where Mr. Hoeflich serves as a sideline ombudsman for players to ensure respect for their rights.

Hardly! Football is a fierce game played by physical people and it has a hard edge. Coach Mangino’s tirade is evidence of that hard edge. It is no secret that our head coach will express his emotions at times, and this was one of them. Do the editor and Mr. Hoeflich think the same conduct does not occur in any other highly competitive environment? If so, then they do not live in the same world most of us live in. Do they think such tirades do not occur in classrooms at Kansas University? I witnessed them while I was a student at KU!

What is disturbing about the column is that Mr. Hoeflich offers us his condescending views of KU football while admitting he has no interest in the program other than to criticize what he perceives as its shortcomings.

My advice to Mr. Hoeflich is to get a life : and support Kansas athletics!

Chris Condren,

Oklahoma City, Okla.