This just in- Coach Mangino gets large serving of humble pie along with his Thanksgiving turkey. And from the sound of what is being reported by previous players, its long overdue. When you have 1 or 2 accusations of impropriety, you look at the accusers. When you have a multitude of accusations all coming over a period of time from a myriad of sources, you look right at the accusee. And when that accusee is Coach Mangino, he ain't hard to find. Now, certainly the use of foul language is nothing foreign to a football practice atmosphere, but his apparent endearment with the philosophy of 'breaking players down to build them up' seems more in line with boot camp than spring camp, if you ask me. Yes, athletes need to have a thick skin when it comes to getting feedback from their coaches, especially if they screw up in key situations. Like it or not, that's just part of the gig. And if you had just one or two players coming out with these accusations, I'd have to take a closer look at those players and their background before laying any blame at the coach's feet. However, it has become apparent at this point that Mangino clearly has a history of verbally and mentally abusing his players by publicly humiliating and berating them- and we are only now hearing about this due to the fact that he doesn't have a winning record to keep everyone happy.
Folks, the administration is as much to blame as the coach. You mean to tell me that the AD never knew that this type of behavior was going on? That is hogwash if I've ever heard it. Only one player so far has admitted to being asked to keep quiet regarding an alleged situation of physical abuse, but how many others have yet to come forward? How many never will? Coach Bill Snyder could probably help us answer that question. Apparently, as long as the seats were filled and the W's kept coming, all was well in Lawrence, Kansas. Shame on the administration for taking 5 years to investigate this behavior, and shame on all of the coaches involved in letting this slide. Coach Mangino, if the accusations are true, your pathetic and lame defense that 'this is how I've always coached' should go down in the hall of fame as one of the worst pissant excuses of all time. It is painfully obvious that the only thing bigger than Mangino's exceptional girth is his ego. Remind you of another coach with a not-so-subtle anger management issue? Hey Coach Mangino, look on the bright side, once you're fired- and you will be fired this season- I'm sure we'll see you on the 4 letter network with a nice cozy (albeit very large) chair right next to Coach Knight. I mean, after all, that does seem to be a good fit for bullies, egotistical maniacs and womanizers alike. Although I highly doubt there is a room ANYWHERE (even at ESPN) that's quite big enough for both of those egos.
Cooking the Books
Hey, I'm just glad Coach Rodriguez isn't my accountant. I mean, I could just picture him telling the IRS "I promise, I started keeping those receipts once I became aware that I was supposed to."
Some coaches just have their houses in order and some don't. Does it really make any difference whether it's a mandatory NCAA regulation or not to keep records of what your football team is doing? Isn't it always in a program's best interest to be transparent and thorough when it comes to record keeping? I swear, there is ALWAYS something following this guy. I call weasel all the way. I would never want my kid playing for a guy like that.
Onto the actual games. This could be a quiet weekend...but it could also answer a lot of questions.
Stanford vs. Cal
Stanford...be afraid. The best defense that Cal has against these guys is the media. If Stanford can listen to enough people tell them how they are the best thing since green jello, Cal may have a shot. Emphasis on may. Cal is to soft, fluffy bunny rabbits as Stanford is to a Sherman Tank. Finesse (and cute furry cuddly-ness for that matter) may beat some opponents on some days, but I don't think this Cal team has the mentality to take on Stanford in a 60-minute grudge match. It all depends on the mentality of the Stanford offensive line. If Stanford is forced to pass all day due to lack of a running game, they lose. I just don't see it happening. Stanford 45 Cal 31
Texas vs. Kansas
Have you heard that song 'Ain't No Stoppin Us Now...'? I'm not sure who originally sang it, but Texas will be playing it all over the Kansas Uglybirds until the final whistle blows. Texas 59 Kansas 14
Oregon vs. Arizona
Does anyone want to win the Pac-10 this year?h It's up for grabs for the first time this late in the season since 2001. Four teams could possibly reach the Rose Bowl, but in the end I think Oregon St. upsets Oregon next week to go to the Rose bowl. however, this week they take care of business. Oregon 38 Arizona 20
Michigan vs. Ohio State
This is Michigan's season. A victory here would really be an epic upset, but Michigan's defense has been shredded as of late. Where did the early-season confidence and swagger go? Look for the Michigan DC position to be open after this weekend. Ohio State 27 Michigan 21
Nebraska vs. Kansas State
What Bo Pelini has done with the Blackshirt defense in 2 years is nothing short of remarkable. What Bill Snyder has done with this Wildcat team in less than a year is nothing short of miraculous. Statistically, K-St. is average across the board, but they will throw everything and the kitchen sink at the huskers. However, there is just too much speed, too much pride, too much desire on the part of Nebraska for this K-State team to have a realistic shot at an upset. Nebraska 44 Kansas St. 16
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