Regents vice chair supports investigation

Kansas Board of Regents vice chair Gary Sherrer said Tuesday that — as long as it’s carried out in a fair and thorough manner — he supports Kansas University’s ongoing investigation into the actions of football coach Mark Mangino.

“Honestly, as long as it’s very public that a formal process is taking place, then — and I’m speaking for myself, I can’t speak for the other regents — I think that’s fine; that’s the way it ought to be,” said Sherrer, contacted Tuesday by the Journal-World.

“I believe it would be a terrific mistake if the Board of Regents made some kind of rush to judgement based only on preliminary information,” he added. “And I just have confidence in the Chancellor and I have confidence that the university has a process in place that will be fair and timely, and we’ll judge that when it’s completed.”

Will six wins be enough?

Mangino seemed confident Tuesday that a victory over Missouri in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. Border War matchup would be enough to propel Kansas (5-6, 1-6 in the Big 12) to its third straight bowl appearance.

“Everything I’m hearing from my sources, which I think are pretty credible, (tells) me that 6-6, for us in the Big 12, would qualify for a bowl,” Mangino said.

Mangino’s opinion of Arrowhead deal depends when you ask

Asked Tuesday whether he supported the athletic department’s recent trend of playing the annual Border War game at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, Mangino answered candidly.

“Here’s how it works,” he said. “When you win the game, you think it’s a good idea to play it at Arrowhead. And when you lose, you think it’s a bad idea. That’s the coach in all of us.”

Based on that logic, Mangino’s been equal parts pleased and frustrated since the neutral-site series began two seasons ago.

In 2007, the first year of the Arrowhead arrangement, the previously unbeaten Jayhawks lost to Missouri — a game that cost them a shot at a Big 12 title — but rebounded to win last year’s game, 40-37, on a last-second touchdown pass from quarterback Todd Reesing to receiver Kerry Meier.