Mangino: Victim of KU's success
Published: 7/22/2008 3:45 PM
Last Modified: 7/22/2008 3:45 PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas coach Mark Mangino has it all in perspective.
When he was asked Tuesday during Big 12 media days if he was concerned about the Jayhawks' schedule – considered extremely soft in 2007, helping KU build up a 12-1 record – getting a whole lot tougher this season with the addition of South powers Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech, Mangino said he welcomed the challenge of playing the best.
Then he reminded the questioner of a little history.
"We talk about the schedule. Yes, it is tougher," he said. "But let's back up a minute here and stop and think for a minute that Kansas' football coach has been asked about his schedule not being tough in a year where they defeated Nebraska, Texas A&M, Colorado and Virginia Tech. All that tells me is that we're making progress if you're asking me those questions."
Mangino also talked about raising expectations even from last year.
"Our goal at Kansas is to eventually compete for a championship and win a championship in this league," he said. "If you're not trying to win a championship, what are you doing? Why go out and compete if you're going to play for second or third place every year. I think every coach in this league is that way.
"We're a better program than we were six, seven, eight, 10 years ago. No question about that. But if you aim low, you usually make it. If you aim high, you've got a chance, I think."
Other tidbits from Tuesday:
* Colorado coach Dan Hawkins on freshman Darrell Scott, the No. 1 running back in the nation by most services: "My biggest talkings and dealings with Darrell have more to do with understanding a quality balance of life and what it takes to be successful. And he's a tremendous talent. He's a great player. He really is. And he's a good kid. But he's a very humble kid. But to me, (it's best) to get his feet on the ground academically and socially and really focus on those type of things."
* Kansas State defensive back Chris Chaney on last year's upset win at Texas and coach Ron Prince's animated sideline antics: "It was an exciting game to play in. any time you get a road victory, it's exciting. A ranked team, it makes it even more fun. It was definitely a fun game to play in. It took a lot of attention to detail that week and hard work to pull out the win because they're still a great team.
"I didn't see (Prince's arms-waving march). I didn't know too much about it until I saw the TV copy all over ESPN.
"Skinning and grinning. That's probably the most (emotion) I've seen out of him."
* KU defensive back Darrell Stuckey on winning at Kansas State last year: "I don't think I realized how big that win was until I looked at coach (Clint) Bowen in the eyes and he was crying. He was here the whole time, that whole (eight-game) streak we were losing at K-State (by scores like 41-7, 48-16, 50-9, 40-6 and 42-6), and he played here. So it was big for him to be a part of that. Just to realize how big and how far back it went, that whole rivalry thing and how long it's been since we'd won there. And the atmosphere was amazing. I think it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for us to break a streak like that, just like when we broke the streak with Nebraska two years ago. It's always good to be part of doing new things or breaking new records."
– John E. Hoover, World sports writer
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
