To the editor:

I have yet to hear anyone address the message that coach Mangino was getting across to his players. Professor Hoeflich condemns coach for this outburst, but in his condemnation of college football as a whole, he denies that football at Kansas University “instills ideals of collaboration and sportsmanship.” Isn’t this in fact the lesson that coach was teaching on the sideline that day?

Just like others, I watched this clip after someone told me how funny it was. I was struck with something entirely different. I was impressed that coach was actually teaching a lesson to this player. When you score a touchdown you shouldn’t celebrate yourself. You should celebrate your teammates who helped you get there. Celebrate the coaching staff that put you in that position. Celebrate the support staff that helps you gain a quality education. Celebrate your family for their support. The only thing you did on your own was cost the team 15 yards.

I don’t remember hearing Dante Hall mention the 10 other men on the field when he was returning kicks for Kansas City, but I do hear it from KU return men this year. I don’t remember mention of blocking assignments on special teams, but talk of KU’s execution on these units has become common. Perhaps we should all stop focusing on the trivial things about this incident and actually listen to coach. Or maybe next time he just needs to yell it louder so we all hear it like his players did.

Chris Enneking,

Lawrence