Media indignation over Mangino’s situation is dumb — The coach will almost always win a popularity contest over the AD when it’s played out in the media. This implied notion that “we wouldn’t be talking about this if KU were winning” put out by many in the media who should know better is a silly red herring. Of course we wouldn’t be talking about Mangino being an insufferable jackass if KU were 11-0. But, that’s not unique to sports. It’s the same as anything else in life. People will put up with insufferable jackasses when they produce in every industry. But whoa unto jackasses when they don’t produce. Where’s the injustice in that? Sometimes a relationship just runs its course.

The schedule-maker finally caught up with the Beakers - KU has benefited in the past from not having all three South powers on the schedule, and we know they’ve made a habit of scheduling cream puffs in non-conference. Well, they had a tougher schedule this year. (In fairness, Mizzou benefited from the “easy” league schedule this year. Things could have been a lot worse for us.) The disappointment in KU was performance in the North. It became clear that Mangino lost players even before the scandal broke. I mean really, what coach can survive a 7 game losing streak-even in basketball?

For all the “I’m such a strong disciplinarian” bluster… Where was all that discipline when the football and basketball teams were fighting each other? Things happen with 18-21 year old young men. No program is immune to the impulsiveness of young people. So, I’m not casting stones. Athenagate did not reflect well on Mike Anderson. Blane Dalton’s idiocy did not reflect well on coach Pinkel. But each acted decisively, and did so in ways that harmed their team’s short-term prospects to protect the long-term integrity of the program. Didn’t see that so much coming from Mark “I run a house of discipline” Mangino.