LAWRENCE, KAN -
Another former University of Kansas football player has spoken out in support of embattled head coach Mark Mangino, saying that the coach was trying to make him a "better person."
Charles Gordon, a former wide receiver and defensive back for the Jayhawks, said that Mangino was a good coach who is a disciplinarian in a letter sent to media outlets on Wednesday. Gordon, who played for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings from 2006-2009 and is currently a free agent, called Mangino's motivational techniques "not out of the ordinary."
"Coach Mangino cares about players and goes to bat for them," said Gordon in the letter. "He did it time and again when I was at Kansas. Like any good coach, he holds players accountable who are late to class, late to team meetings, late to practice or who are making bad decisions. A team is like a family. There are disagreements and Coach and I did not always agree. Each time we disagreed he was trying to make me a better person, a better player, or a better leader. Coach Mangino is a great coach and I stand by him 100 percent."
On Tuesday, current Jayhawks Kerry Meier and Darrell Stuckey defended Mangino as an internal investigation into claims that he mistreated his team entered its second week.
"We look to him to see how he reacts, and the way he's handled everything has been an inspiration to us," said safety Darrell Stuckey. "To see him go out there and be mentally tough -- everything he's preached to us about being mentally tough, to see him live it out, means a lot."
The probe was announced a week ago after athletic director Lew Perkins met with the team without Mangino and said he would look into the allegations. No one has accused Mangino of physical abuse; the complaints center on things he allegedly said in the heat of discussion during games or practice.
Meier said he and some other players have been interviewed in connection with the probe. He said he gave his coach his full support.
"College football is a tough game and everything that comes with it is tough as well," Meier said. "If you're going to try to get something done, a lot of times you're going to have to raise your voice and say some things to get people moving."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Charles Gordon, a former wide receiver and defensive back for the Jayhawks, said that Mangino was a good coach who is a disciplinarian in a letter sent to media outlets on Wednesday. Gordon, who played for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings from 2006-2009 and is currently a free agent, called Mangino's motivational techniques "not out of the ordinary."
"Coach Mangino cares about players and goes to bat for them," said Gordon in the letter. "He did it time and again when I was at Kansas. Like any good coach, he holds players accountable who are late to class, late to team meetings, late to practice or who are making bad decisions. A team is like a family. There are disagreements and Coach and I did not always agree. Each time we disagreed he was trying to make me a better person, a better player, or a better leader. Coach Mangino is a great coach and I stand by him 100 percent."
On Tuesday, current Jayhawks Kerry Meier and Darrell Stuckey defended Mangino as an internal investigation into claims that he mistreated his team entered its second week.
"We look to him to see how he reacts, and the way he's handled everything has been an inspiration to us," said safety Darrell Stuckey. "To see him go out there and be mentally tough -- everything he's preached to us about being mentally tough, to see him live it out, means a lot."
The probe was announced a week ago after athletic director Lew Perkins met with the team without Mangino and said he would look into the allegations. No one has accused Mangino of physical abuse; the complaints center on things he allegedly said in the heat of discussion during games or practice.
Meier said he and some other players have been interviewed in connection with the probe. He said he gave his coach his full support.
"College football is a tough game and everything that comes with it is tough as well," Meier said. "If you're going to try to get something done, a lot of times you're going to have to raise your voice and say some things to get people moving."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
