Could Mark Mangino be on the verge of losing his job?
The Kansas coach's rough-edged approach is being called into question after linebacker Arist Wright complained to athletic director Lew Perkins about a recent incident where Mangino poked him in the chest.
Perkins then made the matter public by announcing an investigation into Mangino's behavior to see if it had become an ongoing theme within the program.
Several players — past and present — have since come forward to discuss Mangino's tough-love approach. Some have gone on the record, others have chosen to remain anonymous. Nearly all say Mangino has been out of line.
Dexton Fields, a receiver for the Jayhawks from 2004-08, called the complaints legitimate.
"It's been a long time that stuff has been happening and it had to surface," Fields told the Daily Kansan. "Of all the talent that KU has there, it had to be some other reason that KU isn't producing out on the field. It's been long overdue."
The Jayhawks have lost five in a row after winning their first five.
Marcus Herford, another former Jayhawk receiver, said Mangino's way of motivating a player was by "demotivating" him.
"I knew it was a matter of time before somebody reported it or said something, because it's been happening since I got there and I'm sure before then," he said. "I'm surprised actually that it took this long honestly."
Mangino's outbursts have spilled into the public eye before. In 2002, he was seen yelling and pointing a finger at high school officials after a Lawrence High football game in which his son, Tommy, had played quarterback. Mangino later issued an apology.
In 2004, he was reprimanded and fined $5,000 by the Big 12 for comments about officiating in the Jayhawks' 27-23 loss to Texas. Mangino was upset with a controversial offensive pass-interference call against Charles Gordon. The video of the end of the game and Mangino's outburst afterward is below.
In 2007, footage surfaced of Mangino unleashing a profanity-laced tirade at receiver Raimond Pendleton after the player was flagged for an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty. You can view that video below.
Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star, no stranger to carrying a few extra pounds, said weight issues are the root of Mangino's problems.
Whitlock writes: "I can relate to Mangino's struggle. He's three or four inches shorter than me, and he weighs anywhere from 450 to 500 pounds. He's a public figure in a demanding, high-stress job.
"The weight and the stress form a perfect recipe for depression. They can put your mind in a very negative place. They can make you moody and volatile."
One of these days, Mangino is just going to physically "pop"! And not in a good way.
Posted by: Will | November 19, 2009 at 10:39 AM