Temper problem? What are you talking about?
The times sure have changed in Lawrence, Kansas. When head coach Mark Mangino was sporting a 12-1 record and an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech, not a peep was coming out about his questionable coaching philosophy or his temper.
Now that the Jayhawks have tasted success, they expect nothing but the same results. However, after pouring a significant amount of money into revamping the football program and facilities, the team came out strong starting 5-0. Then reality set in. The Jayhawks’ wings have been clipped as they are coming off of a five game losing streak. To make matters worse, they face #3 BCS bound Texas this weekend.
So boosters, fans, and supporters of the program are trying to determine how the situation got so bad. It appears their conclusion is Mangino’s coaching tactics. It is alleged that his treatment of players is somewhat unethical and questionable at times. Former players are coming out saying how he verbally and physically abused them-he is an abusive bully. He would publicly riducle you about personal affairs, etc.
Mangino’s response to the accusations was somewhat simple in that he believes you have to bring someone down before they can push them to the top. He doesn’t believe he is doing anything that isn’t done at other top programs.
His philosophy may be true, but something tells me he isn’t exactly a saint. Most recently, he was banned from his son’s highschool sidelines because of his run-in with officials during his son’s football game. But his temper problems stem beyond that as a few years ago he suggested in a post-game interview that the officals rigged the outcome of their close loss to Texas to ensure a second conference team gets a BCS bowl bid. Of course, he apologized after the comment was made, but it left a bad impression.
The supporters believe that he is losing the team, despite Mangino insisting that he has not lost the team, but rather people “around here.” Presumably, he means the support of the school, but I can’t figure that out as he signed a contract until 2012 and the school has dumped over $30 million in renovation expenses.
At this point in the season, Mangino better focus on the task at hand–winning. You can get away with a lot more when you are 12-1 rather than 5-5. If he doesn’t, the unemployment rate in Kansas will go up by 1.
