The Wiz of Odds

Mississippi's Nutt Reportedly on Kansas' List

Mississippi's Houston Nutt has spoken with Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins about becoming Jayhawk coach, the Kansas City Star reports.

Nutt, 52, has been coach at Mississippi for two seasons. He previously coached at Arkansas, Boise State and Murray State and has an overall record of 128-78, including 10 bowl berths.

Nutt was paid $2.5 million this season. Former Kansas coach Mark Mangino made $2.3 million.

Perkins will reportedly meet Tuesday with Buffalo's Turner Gill in New York. Gill, 47, has a 20-30 record in four seasons as coach of the Bulls.

Mangino Out at Kansas

The National Football Post is reporting that Mark Mangino has resigned after eight seasons as coach.

The athletic department had been investigating Mangino's treatment of players since Nov. 17. The investigation was complete, according to athletic director Lew Perkins, but documents related to the review would not be made public because of legal reasons.

Mangino had a record of 50-48, and only two seasons ago guided the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record that included an appearance in the Orange Bowl. But the team went 13-12 the past two seasons.

Kansas is hoping to have a new coach in place within two weeks.

Mangino's Anger Management Issues

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.

White Owl Arrested, Jailed

Long-time readers of the site will remember a story that was posted in June 2008 on White Owl, the eccentric quasi-mascot of the Kansas Jayhawks.

White, whose real name is Jimmy Tucker, was 61 at the time and seemingly had hit the jackpot when he announced his engagement to student Julia Lee, 22.

The wedding never happened and now White Owl is being held in Douglas County Jail on $5,000 bond. He is accused of violating a protection order filed by his ex-fiancee and not showing up in court for a hearing.

Another video from a documentary that is being made on White Owl is after the jump. Thanks to Andy Gray at Hot Clicks.

Billboard Bandits at It Again

It's Kansas-Kansas State week, and Wildcat fans have again targeted the Topeka Jayhawk Club's billboard on Interstate 70 between Topeka and Manhattan. The message this year is the same as last — EMAW, which stands for Every Man a Wildcat. Thanks to John!

After the jump are images of the billboard after it was defaced in 2008 and 2007.

The Big Hurt

Texas Tech's Jamar Wall puts a sledgehammer hit on Kansas' Jake Sharp.