To the editor:
Rare as hen’s teeth is my opinion as it relates to sports. However the recently revealed Mangino behavior is beyond that of field play. Whether or not the testimonies of players quoted are exact or paraphrased, they represent a tenor of disrespect and disregard for them as people.
Neither motivational nor inspirational is this approach, as reflected in this season’s record. There finally comes a time where these antics lose effect. Fear is never synergistic, and that’s what brings the win.
To allow this kind of leadership to continue risks a bleed into the spirit of KU. It’s a blemish that’s been winked at, excusing poor behavior and disrespect long enough. Surely there are self-respecting coaches waiting in the wings who value those to whom they could model like behavior.
Comments
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merrill (anonymous) says…
Just exactly what are the antics?
Big time donors have dropped some big bucks on a KU college stadium based on a program without long term history as a consistent winner. Mangino had two good years and was named 2007 coach of the year. This year has been a struggle. Maybe the donors will never be happy.
Every coach in my history was quite demanding and tough talking.
Football is an abusive sport that does destroy joints,knees,shoulders,ankles and more for life. This abuse is chosen by those who want to play football. Words from a coach cannot accomplish this much damage.
The reality it seems to me is that there is more that we'll never know than what we will ever know about this matter.
This year has not been a winning season. Is it always a coaches fault?
KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…
The author is a wuss.
smitty (anonymous) says…
QUOTE: "If you don't shut up, I'm going to send you back to St. Louis so you can get shot with your homies."
target: Former Kansas WR Raymond Brown
back story: Raymond Brown has a brother (one he presumably also considers a "homey") who was shot in the arm in St. Louis.
QUOTE: "Are you going to be a lawyer or do you want to become an alcoholic like your dad?"
target: An undisclosed teammate of Raymond Brown
back story: Said player had confided in the team that he had an alcoholic father and that he dreamed of one day becoming a lawyer
QUOTE: "You were a sheat(the software scolded me and will not allow me to post what Mangino actually said) friend to someone I knew that passed away. You're a bum. I'll send you back to Oakland where you could be drinking out of a brown paper bag."
target: Former LB Joe Mortensen
back story: Mortensen is from Oakland, apparently was a bad friend to someone who died, and had a citation for alcohol consumption at some point.
QUOTE: "You're not back with your homies. If you're not careful you'll be watching the game in the stands with your homies. You'll be back in that neighborhood."
target: Former RB Jocques Crawford
back story: Crawford apparently came from somewhere with lots of homies and, perhaps missing said homies, transferred to Tennessee Tech after one season.
These particular quotes are from a Houston sports blog but are quoted in other sources., too.
Maybe, just maybe, these are some of the coaches antics. On another day, on another issue, these comments would get many racist, abusive criticisms.
smitty (anonymous) says…
Most especially from you, merril.
BlackVelvet (anonymous) says…
Smitty is exactly right! Several of those comments, made by anyone else, would be called racist by MANY on here.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Football is little more than ritualized, tribalistic violence. Isn't it a bit hypocritical to expect that the coach be polite and civilized? I don't intend that as a defense of Mangino's behavior, but if we're honest, isn't being a crude, insensitive foul-mouthed barbarian really just part of his de facto job description?
smitty (anonymous) says…
For being that barbaric coach, the salary and bonuses are so significant that Mangino makes enough in one year(unlike most of us) to retire without ever needing to coach/work again.
I have no sympathy for his problems. Mangino has already protected his future with the exorbitant pay.
How about buying some **education on motivation with out abuse**? Call it continuing education complete with tax deductions for participation.
His new found humillity from the side lines in Texas sucks.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
I think you missed my point, smitty. As long as this country worships at the altar of the ritualized violence of football, asking its coaches to be "civilized" is pure hypocrisy.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…
what the heck?
was this the chess club?
or the football team?
get real.
anytime anybody refers to themselves as 'homies' it is acceptable and when someone else does it is racist?
beyond ridiculous.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
and all the quotes come out when the team is losing. That's the problem I have. If these quotes really bothered Perkins, then he would have addressed them when they happened. Why wait until a 5 now 6 game losing streak? I think there is more to worry about than Mangino's lack of civility.
Number_1_Grandma (anonymous) says…
mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…
and all the quotes come out when the team is losing. That's the problem I have. If these quotes really bothered Perkins, then he would have addressed them when they happened. Why wait until a 5 now 6 game losing streak? I think there is more to worry about than Mangino's lack of civility.
********************************************************************
Would anyone listen if we're winning instead of losing? It needs to come out how these elitist coaches think they don't have to be accountable to anyone for there actions....they're wrong! Lawrence is excepting of a lot of things but coaches who coach by threats, racist remarks or dropping F-bombs every other word is not coaching, nor acceptable. Everyone talks of these coaches as "giving life lessons" by there bad behavior. What lessons are we teaching kids by not holding these coaches accountable for there actions?
Good coach or not, Mangino's antics on and off the field should not be tolerated from quality institutions!
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
so, does anyone know if Perkins is "abusive".?
perhaps,Mr. Mangino should replace Mr. Loring at the LCS and give some pep talks around that place., what say "smitty" ?
the letter writer ,I am wondering is less than 48 years old and has never been scolded.
If Mangino is "abusive" then Perkins is just as much with his heavy handed operation, hiring relatives and such. The photo of Perkins in the JW sure doesn't like he is showing is kind side either. In fact, Perkins looked liked he was a bit miserable.
What is it anyone does not understand: Perkins picked the coach, Perkins has been playing the calls for the program. Sometimes, there is no room for two coaches.
The AD has become, maybe, with too much power.
Let's see who slides down the chimney on Christmas eve. Oh, how stupid, of me, one cannot even refer to Christmas anymore.
Lawrence is just soooooooo special,
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
oh wow!
look, Merrill and Boozo have come out against football.
jason2007 (anonymous) says…
Merrill breathlessly said, "Is it always the coaches fault?"
To that I say, everything rises and falls on the leadership which means it is always the coaches' fault.
If you have a talent problem, then your coach is a bad recruiter = his fault.
If you have a problem where a group of stars go from good to hideous within one year without losing any significant tools in the offense, that is the coaches' fault.
If the O-coordinator is calling the same plays he was calling at the Orange Bowl and our opponents have figured us out and shut down our stout offensive attack, that is the caoches' fault.
If the D gets all the coaches' attention at the expense of ensuring that your offense stays focused, that is a lack of an ability to multitask/delegate to effective individuals = coaches' fault.
I could go on, but this is absolutely a coaching issue.
ksdivakat (anonymous) says…
If these prissy little boys that he is coaching think that he is tough, I guess they wont be going onto the NFL which is 20x harder and more "abusive" if thats what you want to call it. Football is a violent sport, the clip that continues to play in the media with him poking the kid and grabbng his face mask, if you watch the kid isnt even paying attention to him and is looking around, thats why he grabbed his face mask, Ive seen high school coaches worse, so I guess none of htese guys will go onto NFL cause they are to woosey for it.
garyr (anonymous) says…
Turner Gill would never, ever do anything like this!
BigAl (anonymous) says…
Mangino didn't show any class with his antics at the LHS football game. He proved to me that he was nothing more than a bully when he basically attacked the kid that properly issued him a parking ticket.
He is on a huge losing streak and right or wrong, he has alienated several players, parents and donors. He was highly rewarded when he was winning and he has to answer for the losses.
Lew Perkins has raised a lot of money for the athletic dept and has improved facilities at every corner. Like him or not, Lew has done exactly what he was hired to do. It is time to get a new head football coach in here and start developing a family atmosphere within the program.
ksdivakat (anonymous) says…
yeah...and by the way, just one question...Exactly how was KU's football program before Mangino??
TheOriginalCA (anonymous) says…
Excuse me? has any kind of report of substantiated charges been handed down yet? I can't believe that this libelous letter made it to print. Right now we have a bunch of allegations and heresay. Yeh, things don't look good, but let's at least let the process complete before we allow such letters to hit the press.