8B • THEUNIVERSITYDAILYKANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2002
Memorial Unions
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Wednesdays 9:280
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Schedule TBA
COMING THIS FAL
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UPCOMING EVENTS
THURSDAY 39 PM
FILM SERIES
grand opening
The Sweetest Thing
7:00 pm
Woodruff
Auditorium
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level 5
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30TH
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MENNESDAY
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THURSDAY
feature film
Spiderman
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Woodruff
Auditorium
kansas
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level 5
tunes noon
12:00 pm
feature film
Spiderman
7:00 & 9:00 pm
ALL TICKETS FOR MOVIES ARE $2.00 at
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Freshman quarterback Brian Luke, Walnut Creek Calif. stretches during Monday's practice. Coach Mangino has kept the fledgling season in secret by regulating private practices and restricting media coverage. The Jayhawks kick off the 2002 season against Iowa State this Saturday.
John Nowak/KANSAS
Mangino careful with words despite media's need for info
Ryan Greene
Kansansportswriter
Football coach Mark Mangino's new policy of closing all practices has left Jayhawk football fans — and reporters — scratching their heads with questions.
Such as, is freshman running back Clark Green closer to the starting job than we think?
In the past, breaking news from daily practices had been available right away, such as injuries and progress reports on certain individual players.
John Nowak/KANSAN
This year Mangino is available to the media only through the Big 12 Conference teleconference at 10 a.m. each Monday, a press conference from noon to 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday, and after each Wednesday practice. Members of the media are also allowed to attend the first 30 minutes of each Tuesday practice. He will also take part in the Jayhawk Radio Network's Hawk Talk on Thursdays.
"Initially I didn't like it, but at the same time, the steps he's taking to create a big-time atmosphere create a different mood of discipline," King said. "Just being
Junior Defensive Tackle Brock Teddleton practices hitting on junior Wide Receiver Jerome Lewis.
Jason King, who covers Kansas football for the Kansas City Star, originally disliked Mangino's policy, but said now he saw where the coach was coming from.
around those players, they have a different attitude and confidence that they haven't had in about five years. They're going to struggle no matter what this year, but just that one small step will make a difference in the team's attitude."
Dave Mitchell, Kansas football reporter for the Lawrence Journal-World, said Mangino's new regulations made gathering information difficult for the media and fans. Mitchell said he had concerns about learning of injuries from sources aside from the players or coaches.
"I think the negative from the team's point of view is that if we never know if players are injured right away, and we have to call high school coaches and players instead." Mitchell said. "The new policy gives fewer distractions for the players. However, there are more intrusions placed on the players' parents and coaches." But the new closed-door policy has not stopped sportswriters from asking about injuries when the opportunity arises.
"You know those bumps and bruises that come with spring ball. He is fine." Mangino said. "Actually it wasn't even the bumps and bruises. It was a medical thing. A little sinus deal. It's no big deal at all."
During yesterday's teleconference Mangino was asked about defensive tackle Travis Watkins. Watkins sat out most of the scrimage during fan appreciation night last Wednesday, but Mangino would not give the media a specific reason why the sophomore did not play.
Rick Anderson, sportswriter for the Topeka Capitol Journal, said during the teleconference that he thought Mangino had been very good to the media.
He asked the coach if he thought he had upset members of
the media or Kansas football fans with the introduction of the new policy.
"There is just a certain way that you run a Division I football program if you want it to be successful," Mangino said. "And that takes the changing of the mind set of a lot of people maybe that perhaps were already here."
Contact Greene at rgreeene@kansan.com. This story was edited by Adam Pracht.