AUSTIN, Texas | With the nation watching, Kansas coach Mark Mangino showed a softer side. He walked onto the field to check on his injured players, even trying to help freshman running back Toben Opurum off the ground. He told a referee that he was “a good man.” He gave sophomore Daymond Patterson a big ol’ hug after a long punt return. You could have called it a Bear hug. But no amount of love from Mangino, affectionately called “Bear” by old friends in Steel Country, could motivate KU to compete with No. 3 Texas, which demolished the Jayhawks 51-20 on Saturday night and extended their losing streak to six. The question coming in was whether KU’s players would play for their embattled coach, who is facing an investigation by his own athletic department into his treatment of student-athletes. It’s hard to judge the collective heart of a team, but the Jayhawks, now 5-6 and 1-6 in the Big 12, certainly did not look like a team that had given up on its season.“We’re united,” KU senior Justin Thornton said. “We’re going to stick by each other no matter what. This is our team.”The Jayhawks moved the ball with consistency on offense and made some fine plays. They got a few stops defensively, including a three-and-out and fumble recovery in the first quarter. And they finally had some success in the return game, as Dezmon Briscoe busted a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter. But, despite those positives, the Jayhawks still got creamed by the Longhorns, whose talent advantage was overwhelming. “I felt like tonight was the first time we’ve come out and actually got beat,” Thornton said. Mangino was asked about Briscoe’s ability, more than any other Jayhawk, to stand out in games against talented teams.“There’s more than just Dez,” Mangino said. “There’s not enough ‘more than just Dezs,’ and that’s OK. The reason why is you get their very best. You get these kids’ very best effort every week. I mean, we are what we are, and we just keep fighting hard.”If this was Mangino’s last game as the Kansas coach, it would be fair to say it had the same feel as most of the Jayhawks’ recent games against the top programs in the Big 12 South. Mangino’s record against Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech is now 0-12. Even for those KU supporters who want Mangino to be the Jayhawks’ coach next season, that’s an ugly statistic. There are others to follow. Pretend for a moment that Mangino was not being investigated as a candidate for being fired for cause and that he was being judged only by his merit as the KU coach. Under Mangino:•The Jayhawks are 23-40 in Big 12 play. •They are 4-20 against the Big 12 South.•They are 5-14 against top 25 teams. •They are 8-7 against rivals Kansas State (4-4) and Missouri (4-3). The Jayhawks will need to beat the Tigers this Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium to become bowl eligible for the fifth straight season. Before Mangino, the program had never played in back-to-back bowl games. Mangino said he had no doubt he would coach the Missouri game. “None whatsoever,” Mangino said. “I’m ready to go. My players are ready to go. But you asked the wrong person that question.”Mangino, of course, was referring to KU athletic director Lew Perkins. It was Perkins who decided on Monday night, with two games still to play, to meet with the entire team and inform them of the investigation of Mangino. “I don’t think there’s any sense in stirring up all the commotion right now,” Thornton said. “I honestly wish none of this would have come up in the middle of the season. I think it’s something that could have waited until we were done.”Mangino was asked about whether all of the drama this week had made it harder to focus. He again showed that new softer side.“I have a player, D.J. Marshall, who is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at a cancer center,” Mangino said. “He just started his chemotherapy this week. That’s called a bad week. I’ve had a great week.”

Posted on Sun, Nov. 22, 2009 12:21 AM

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Kansas shows some fight, but not enough, in loss to Texas

By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH

The Kansas City Star

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AUSTIN, Texas | With the nation watching, Kansas coach Mark Mangino showed a softer side.

He walked onto the field to check on his injured players, even trying to help freshman running back Toben Opurum off the ground. He told a referee that he was “a good man.” He gave sophomore Daymond Patterson a big ol’ hug after a long punt return. You could have called it a Bear hug.

But no amount of love from Mangino, affectionately called “Bear” by old friends in Steel Country, could motivate KU to compete with No. 3 Texas, which demolished the Jayhawks 51-20 on Saturday night and extended their losing streak to six.

The question coming in was whether KU’s players would play for their embattled coach, who is facing an investigation by his own athletic department into his treatment of student-athletes. It’s hard to judge the collective heart of a team, but the Jayhawks, now 5-6 and 1-6 in the Big 12, certainly did not look like a team that had given up on its season.

“We’re united,” KU senior Justin Thornton said. “We’re going to stick by each other no matter what. This is our team.”

The Jayhawks moved the ball with consistency on offense and made some fine plays. They got a few stops defensively, including a three-and-out and fumble recovery in the first quarter.

And they finally had some success in the return game, as Dezmon Briscoe busted a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter. But, despite those positives, the Jayhawks still got creamed by the Longhorns, whose talent advantage was overwhelming.

“I felt like tonight was the first time we’ve come out and actually got beat,” Thornton said.

Mangino was asked about Briscoe’s ability, more than any other Jayhawk, to stand out in games against talented teams.

“There’s more than just Dez,” Mangino said. “There’s not enough ‘more than just Dezs,’ and that’s OK. The reason why is you get their very best. You get these kids’ very best effort every week. I mean, we are what we are, and we just keep fighting hard.”

If this was Mangino’s last game as the Kansas coach, it would be fair to say it had the same feel as most of the Jayhawks’ recent games against the top programs in the Big 12 South. Mangino’s record against Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech is now 0-12. Even for those KU supporters who want Mangino to be the Jayhawks’ coach next season, that’s an ugly statistic. There are others to follow.

Pretend for a moment that Mangino was not being investigated as a candidate for being fired for cause and that he was being judged only by his merit as the KU coach. Under Mangino:

•The Jayhawks are 23-40 in Big 12 play.

•They are 4-20 against the Big 12 South.

•They are 5-14 against top 25 teams.

•They are 8-7 against rivals Kansas State (4-4) and Missouri (4-3).

The Jayhawks will need to beat the Tigers this Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium to become bowl eligible for the fifth straight season. Before Mangino, the program had never played in back-to-back bowl games.

Mangino said he had no doubt he would coach the Missouri game.

“None whatsoever,” Mangino said. “I’m ready to go. My players are ready to go. But you asked the wrong person that question.”

Mangino, of course, was referring to KU athletic director Lew Perkins. It was Perkins who decided on Monday night, with two games still to play, to meet with the entire team and inform them of the investigation of Mangino.

“I don’t think there’s any sense in stirring up all the commotion right now,” Thornton said. “I honestly wish none of this would have come up in the middle of the season. I think it’s something that could have waited until we were done.”

Mangino was asked about whether all of the drama this week had made it harder to focus. He again showed that new softer side.

“I have a player, D.J. Marshall, who is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at a cancer center,” Mangino said. “He just started his chemotherapy this week. That’s called a bad week. I’ve had a great week.”

To reach J. Brady McCollough, call 816-234-4363, send e-mail to jmccollough@kcstar.com or follow him at twitter.com/BradyMcCollough

Posted on Sun, Nov. 22, 2009 12:21 AM

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