To the editor:

I feel really bad for coach David Beaty and the Jayhawk football team. With many starters back, this is the game on the schedule that most thought KU would win, but the same old outcome.

I don’t know if the problem is talent or coaching, but it looks as if coach Beaty is not doing the job. I am still upset coach Mark Mangino was forced out. I know he was often ill-mannered and perhaps mishandled players. But why was he just not disciplined with a fine or suspension? Ohio State wasn’t dumb enough to fire Urban Meyer.

I know KU staff and faculty disliked his behavior. But he was not hired to win popularity or beauty contests. He was hired to win football games, and he did, with a winning record in eight years. His accomplishments include winning coach of the year and an Orange Bowl win and finishing 12-1. His teams won three bowl games. He produced about 70 All-Big 12 honors and even more important produced 45 Academic All-Big 12 honors. All the coaches replacing him have not combined to win as many games.

I am curious to know how much lost revenue resulted from Mangino’s exit. The current situation is embarrassing; as the cameras scan the stadium and we see all those seats empty, it resembles a high school game. It is starting to look like a winning season or a bowl game is very far over the horizon. Thanks for the memories, coach Mangino!

Craig Tucker,

Lawrence