Kansas coach Mark Mangino defended himself and the Jayhawks football program on Thursday, speaking on Sports Radio 610 in Kansas City.
Mangino, who is faced with allegations of verbal abuse and inappropriate physical contact against players, pointed to the team's success on the field and high graduation rates.
Mangino, who is faced with allegations of verbal abuse and inappropriate physical contact against players, pointed to the team's success on the field and high graduation rates.
"We are sending kids out into the world prepared," Mangino told the radio station. "But I can't do the work of some parents, what they should have done before the players got to me. Some of these guys are bitter, they are bitter and [the allegations] are about that.
"There are some things that happen for 18 years of their lives that I can't change in four years of college. Can't do it. Can't change their behaviors, can't change their attitudes."
Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins has launched an investigation into Mangino allegedly grabbing, yelling at and putting his finger in the chest of a player who had been laughing during a walkthrough or practice prior to the Colorado game on Oct. 17, two people briefed on the situation told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday night. The Kansas City Star identified the player as senior linebacker Arist Wright.
Since then, several former Kansas players come forward with allegations of verbal abuse.
"There are people who want to embarrass the program for their 15 minutes of fame," Mangino told the radio station.
Former Jayhawks receiver Raymond Brown recalled how in 2007, after his younger brother was wounded in a shooting near his home in St. Louis, teammates gathered around and warmly pledged their support.
A few days later, Brown said, an angry Mangino ordered him to the sideline during practice and made a shockingly insensitive comment.
"He went off on me yelling, which is fine," Brown told The Associated Press. "I kept saying, tYes, sir, yes, sir,' to everything he was saying. A teammate asked me what happened. Then he started on me again and I said, tYes, sir,' and he said, 'Don't you 'yes sir' me. I'll send you back to St. Louis where you can get shot by your homies."'
Brown and another former player also told the AP that Mangino made insensitive comments about a player's father being an alcoholic.
A spokesman said Mangino, who needs three victories to become the winningest coach in school history, was not returning calls Thursday. He has said he has done nothing wrong.
The university this week confirmed that it is investigating allegations of verbal and emotional abuse by Mangino, the 2007 national coach of the year.
The probe by associate athletic director for risk management Lori Williams began Sunday after senior linebacker Arist Wright complained to athletic director Lew Perkins that Mangino had poked him in the chest while chewing him out.
None of the players interviewed by the AP had been contacted by the school, but they likely will.
"Lori Williams will talk to whomever she feels she needs to talk to to conduct this review," associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Thursday. "It will be thorough."
Mangino maintains he has done nothing wrong and is fully focused on getting the Jayhawks (5-5, 1-5 Big 12) ready to play at No. 3 Texas this Saturday.
"I have not done anything that's inappropriate," Mangino said after practice Wednesday night. "I have been in this conference for nearly 20 years, and what I can tell you is that our coaching intensity does not largely differ from the other Big Eight and Big 12 teams that I have observed. We have handled this program in terms of intensity and holding players accountable the same since 2002 to today."
Nevertheless, a rising tide of criticism seems to be threatening Mangino's job just two years after he received a raise and contract extension for going 12-1 in 2007 and beating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. While some players voiced support for their coach, many former players have bitterly recalled instances where they say his comments went over the line.
"There are some things that happen for 18 years of their lives that I can't change in four years of college. Can't do it. Can't change their behaviors, can't change their attitudes."
Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins has launched an investigation into Mangino allegedly grabbing, yelling at and putting his finger in the chest of a player who had been laughing during a walkthrough or practice prior to the Colorado game on Oct. 17, two people briefed on the situation told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday night. The Kansas City Star identified the player as senior linebacker Arist Wright.
Since then, several former Kansas players come forward with allegations of verbal abuse.
"There are people who want to embarrass the program for their 15 minutes of fame," Mangino told the radio station.
Former Jayhawks receiver Raymond Brown recalled how in 2007, after his younger brother was wounded in a shooting near his home in St. Louis, teammates gathered around and warmly pledged their support.
A few days later, Brown said, an angry Mangino ordered him to the sideline during practice and made a shockingly insensitive comment.
"He went off on me yelling, which is fine," Brown told The Associated Press. "I kept saying, tYes, sir, yes, sir,' to everything he was saying. A teammate asked me what happened. Then he started on me again and I said, tYes, sir,' and he said, 'Don't you 'yes sir' me. I'll send you back to St. Louis where you can get shot by your homies."'
Brown and another former player also told the AP that Mangino made insensitive comments about a player's father being an alcoholic.
A spokesman said Mangino, who needs three victories to become the winningest coach in school history, was not returning calls Thursday. He has said he has done nothing wrong.
The university this week confirmed that it is investigating allegations of verbal and emotional abuse by Mangino, the 2007 national coach of the year.
The probe by associate athletic director for risk management Lori Williams began Sunday after senior linebacker Arist Wright complained to athletic director Lew Perkins that Mangino had poked him in the chest while chewing him out.
None of the players interviewed by the AP had been contacted by the school, but they likely will.
"Lori Williams will talk to whomever she feels she needs to talk to to conduct this review," associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Thursday. "It will be thorough."
Mangino maintains he has done nothing wrong and is fully focused on getting the Jayhawks (5-5, 1-5 Big 12) ready to play at No. 3 Texas this Saturday.
"I have not done anything that's inappropriate," Mangino said after practice Wednesday night. "I have been in this conference for nearly 20 years, and what I can tell you is that our coaching intensity does not largely differ from the other Big Eight and Big 12 teams that I have observed. We have handled this program in terms of intensity and holding players accountable the same since 2002 to today."
Nevertheless, a rising tide of criticism seems to be threatening Mangino's job just two years after he received a raise and contract extension for going 12-1 in 2007 and beating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. While some players voiced support for their coach, many former players have bitterly recalled instances where they say his comments went over the line.
College is a lot different than high school. In high school coaches are critized for swearing at their players and crossing the line. In collge, the coaches jobs are on the line, if they dont win they dont come back next year. Yes, athletes should not be yelled at and called names to a vertain extend. But players know what they know what they are getting into when they get to a college program. It isnt all fun and games anymore, you are there to win and it pretty much becomes a job. I feel coaches are just trying to get you the message and get everything they know they should be getting out of you by yelling at you. they shouldnt be pushing the limits and making nasty comments of where you came from or your brackground. But the athletes should know that there is a higher expectation in college athletics.
ReplyDeleteYes i agree with you on that point but coaches also have to know that their players are humans and do make mistakes. Yelling at a player is appropriate but keep it in a respectable manner and do not humilate them because it could have a negative affect on that player. Player play the sport because they enjoy playing but college players want to raise their game.
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