Why Mark Mangino Can No Longer Be Successful at Kansas

Let me first say that Mark Mangino has my complete and unquestioned benefit of the doubt. 

If anything has happened that is inappropriate enough to get him fired, it should have happened sooner, not later.

Because now, thanks to the bad timing with which this entire situation has come to pass, his fate has already been decided, and this season has been nothing more than a waste of everyone's time.

There are still at least two games left, but Mangino is done.

The fact that these accusations and investigation are coming at such a crucial point of the season, especially on a reeling football team, doesn't leave many options.

The players want him out, the administration is very disappointed in him, and fans will never be able to truly support him again.  It doesn't matter what results an investigation brings, Mangino can no longer be successful at Kansas.

Rumors are already circling that Mangino will be gone by the Texas game.  Another story most of us have heard from news sources claims players want Clint Bowen in charge for the Border Showdown.

Me?  Despite the immense respect I have for the big fella', I prefer the former.  If anything is going to happen, it's always better to be done quickly and start finding the next guy in line.

The most important aspects of this little conundrum are the players.  College is for the benefit of the students, and people must remember that athletes are among that group.  Even if Mangino has done little wrong, it all comes down to how the athletes feel about him.

Right now, the feeling is very negative, and I have a hard time believing that the Kansas Jayhawks will compete (well) for him at all in any further contest, which is why I think it's time for Mangino's exit.

As I said before, he has my benefit of the doubt, but if the players have written him off, he's not doing anyone any good; the players, himself, or the Kansas football program.

I would not even be against seeing him step down in the midst of the investigation, and personally hand the coaching duties over in a respectable, classy, Mangino-esque manner, especially if he has a pretty good idea of how the investigation may turn out.

Sorry, Mark.  For the benefit of your reputation, I hope the investigation turns out well, because I believe in you, and it's too bad that people have been so upset with your Jayhawks that they're using this as an excuse to call for your head.  Those fans should be ashamed of themselves, and this matter is not about wins and losses.

It's also too bad that I'm just not important here.

If players won't play for you (no matter for what reason), you can't be a head coach.  It makes me even sorrier to say that I think the entire situation would play out better if you left now instead of trying to resuscitate a team that has lost faith in you.

Give Clint Bowen the job, let him and Ed Warriner get smashed by Texas and Missouri without you, and let both sides of this fight start over next season.  It's for the best.

In the meantime, maybe the silver lining is the potential for an entirely new coaching staff.  I hope Lew Perkins is looking around a little for the next face of the franchise, because if he promotes Bowen again (or Warriner at all), I may transfer to Mizzou.