J. Brady McCollough, Kansas City Star: Kansas' Mark Mangino had similar issues in his first job nearly 20 years at Ellwood City (Pa.) High. Just weeks into the season, a group of disgruntled parents and players went to the Ellwood City School Board demanding that Mangino be fired. "It was a really nasty situation," said Thomas Costa, whose son, Landon, was on the team. Plus, Mangino went on a lengthy rant Thursday night to take on his critics. Click here to listen to the audio.
Dugan Arnett, Lawrence Journal-World: Players continued to pile on Mangino, some describing a well-intentioned disciplinarian but many others painting a picture of a man who was controlling, abusive and oftentimes kept players in an extended state of fear.
Sports By Brooks: The Ku Klux Klan will stage a university-approved protest on the Mississippi campus Saturday. The group is upset with Chancellor Dan Jones' decision to remove "From Dixie With Love" from the Ole Miss band's song selection.
Steve Guiremand, Las Vegas Review-Journal: Dennis Franchione has expressed interest in the opening at Nevada Las Vegas.
Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal: It's time for Louisville and Steve Kragthorpe to go their separate ways.
Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press: Should Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game be it for Rich Fraud, or are Wolverine fans really that eager to engage in the dangerous revolving door policy?
John Henderson, Denver Post: New Mexico coach Mike Locksley, whose team is about to log the worst season in 112 years of Lobo football: "It's been a great learning experience."
Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: Would regional officiating remove bias or add problems? Plus, Auburn received a grade of "D" from the Black Coaches & Administrators for its hiring last year of Gene Chizik.
Ken Tysiac, ACC Now: The Atlantic Coast Conference acknowledged an officiating error in last Saturday's North Carolina State-Clemson game. Video of the play.
Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register: John Madden said USC needs to stop whining about Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh's decision to go for a two-point conversion.
Tony Krausz, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Notre Dame's Charlie Weis said one of his biggest regrets is losing to Syracuse last year. "Mainly because those seniors walked out of here for the last time with a loss. It was a gut-wrenching feeling that stayed with me for quite some time."
Bodog.com: The site has posted odds on who will be the coach of Notre Dame in week 1 of the 2010 season if it is not Weis. Urban Meyer and Brian Kelly are co-favorites at 3-2.
Karen Crouse, New York Times: Stanford's Toby Gerhart has a decision to make at the end of the season. Does he prepare for the NFL Combine or plow into his senior season of baseball?
Graham Watson, ESPN: The Western Athletic Conference has suspended Louisiana Tech defensive back Chad Boyd for the first half of Saturday's game against Fresno State. Boyd had a hit on Louisiana State's Terrance Toliver that was deemed flagrant, although officials did not call a penalty. Click here for video of the play.
Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News: The buzz has been cut out of the Bowl Championship Series hype.
Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: One of the crazy corollaries to the BCS is Ohio State's having won or shared five straight Big Ten titles, six since 2001, but preparing for its first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1996 season.
Ken Goe, Oregonian: An irreverent look at the week in the Pacific 10.
Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Minnesota coach Tim Brewster's memory is pink and hazy.
Dave Kindred, National Sports Journalism Center: Fifty dos and don'ts for sportswriters.
Associated Press: A judge has warned Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros that he must complete a court-ordered program on the dangers of underage drinking by Dec. 7 or face up to 180 days in jail.
Amy Saunders, Columbus Dispatch: Cancer crusader Stefanie Spielman, the wife of Chris Spielman, has died. She was 42.
Doug Blackburn, Tallahassee Democrat: Steve Ellis, who covered Florida State for nearly 30 years, died after suffering a heart attack. He was 54.
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