Nobody confuses Mark Mangino with legendary Texas A&M and Alabama coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, but Mangino is on his way to equaling one of Bryant’s trademark accomplishments.

Mangino, the head coach of the perennially-atrocious Kansas football team, led the Jayhawks to a victory over No. 23 Missouri, 35-14, last Saturday in Lawrence, Kan. The win was a major step in rebuilding the program.

When Bryant was brought in to rebuild a struggling Texas A&M in 1954, he led his team through a brutal training camp in the Texas heat to find a group of players who were committed to winning. Two years later, Bryant’s Aggies won the Southwest Conference Championship.

Two seasons ago, Mangino, then the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, was given his first head coaching position and the task of building a competitive football program on a basketball-obsessed campus.

Unlike Bryant, Mangino said the way to rebuild a modern football program was not by breaking players down, but by raising their confidence and self-esteem.

‘When I arrived at Kansas,’ Mangino said, ‘It was bleak, it was depressing. The kids just didn’t feel good about themselves. I realized I would have to do something to raise their spirits or I would never get them off the ground.’

Mangino and his staff focused on praising small accomplishments in the weight room or during spring practice. He didn’t dwell on the fact that he inherited a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 1995. Mangino said his main focus was to give players the confidence to believe they could be a winning football team.

He set out to recruit any player that would accept a scholarship to a school known more for its Final Four appearances than its football program.

‘We’ve finally got people excited about football along with basketball,’ Mangino said. ‘There’s room for plenty of sports to be successful at KU.’

After suffering through a 2-10 season in 2002, the Jayhawks have opened the 2003 season 4-1 for the first time since 1997. Last week’s victory was the first over a ranked opponent in six seasons.

‘We think (Coach Mangino’s system) is for real, and we’re buying into it,’ Kansas linebacker Banks Floodman said. ‘We think our potential is limitless now.’

The leading force behind Kansas’s early season success is quarterback Bill Whittemore, a junior college transfer who was recovering from shoulder surgery at the time he was recruited. Still, Mangino took a chance and offered him a scholarship.

Whittemore recovered from the surgery and has thrown for 10 touchdowns and more than 1,200 yards in the first five games of the season.

‘Nobody really wanted him,’ Mangino said, ‘But we didn’t have many people to pick from and it turned out to be a perfect fit.’

Mangino said he was also encouraged by the boisterous crowd that he said helped lead the Jayhawks to victory. The sellout crowd of 50,071 at Memorial Stadium marked the first sellout of Mangino’s tenure. It’s an occurrence he wants to see more of.

‘A winning program is what puts people in the seats,’ Mangino said.

Mangino said he’s still a ways off from building the power football program he desires, but, like Bryant’s, his second season is proving that his methods are working. Last Saturday, even Missouri began to take notice.

‘We felt confident that we were prepared today,’ Missouri offensive tackle Rob Droege said, ‘But KU played a great game. Those guys really played their hearts out.’

Working overtime

Two Top 20 teams faced different fates in equally crazy overtime finishes last Saturday.

Then-No. 3 Southern California lost in triple overtime to Pac-10 rival California, 34-31.

The game featured two game-saving blocked field goals by USC, including a towering block by tight end and basketball forward Gregg Guenther of a 29 yard, game-winning attempt in the first overtime.

The teams traded touchdowns in the second overtime before California kicker Tyler Fredrickson kicked the game winner.

California fans stormed the field, signifying the end of USC’s hopes for an undefeated season.

Several hours earlier in Tuscaloosa, Ala., No. 9 Arkansas came back from a 31-10 deficit to defeat Alabama, 34-31, in overtime.

The Razorbacks capped a 21-point, second-half comeback with a touchdown pass with 27 seconds left.

Then, after Alabama missed a field goal during its overtime possession, Arkansas kicker Chris Balseiro kicked a 19-yard game winner to keep Arkansas undefeated and atop of the SEC standings.

Teams to watch

Washington State

After a season-opening overtime loss to Notre Dame, the Cougars have gone unbeaten, the highlight of the streak being their 55-16 upset blowout over No. 16 Oregon, in Eugene, Ore., last Saturday.

Washington State is led by quarterback Matt Kegal, who replaced current Tennessee Titan quarterback Jason Gesser.

Texas Christian

The Horned Frogs, who are 4-0 heading into their Conference USA schedule, are one of only two non-BCS conference teams ranked in the Top 25. No. 17 TCU is led by a strong defense and the rushing attack of freshman Robert Merrill and sophomore Lonta Hobbs.

Big Numbers

1,247

Passing yards by Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons in his last two games, both Red Raider wins, against Southern Methodist and Mississippi.

Symons put up an NCAA-record 661 yard performance in a 49-45 win over Mississippi last Saturday in which he completed 44 passes and threw for six touchdowns.

14

Points scored in each quarter by No. 6 Florida State in its 56-7 win over Duke last Saturday.

The Seminoles used three quarterbacks, four running backs and 10 receivers, as Florida State’s offense scored the first seven touchdowns of the game before the defense added an interception return for a touchdown.

Really, really early Heisman rankings

1. Philip Rivers, QB, North Carolina State

Rivers spends his second week at the top of the list thanks to a 423-yard performance in a victory over North Carolina.

Rivers has completed 141 passes and still boasts a 77 percent completion percentage.

2. Walter Reyes, RB, Syracuse

Reyes continued to put up huge numbers, picking up 162 yards and two touchdowns in a win against Toledo.

Reyes leads the nation in rushing, has 10 touchdowns and is second in the nation in points scored.

3. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh

The offensive strategy for the Panthers this season seems to be a) snap the ball to quarterback Rob Rutherford, and b) throw the ball to Fitzgerald, no matter the coverage.

The sophomore (and former Minnesota Vikings ballboy) already has nine touchdown catches this season and is making highlight-reel grabs a routine occasion.

Say what?

California kicker Tyler Fredrickson after making his overtime-winning kick following two previous USC blocks:

‘Its one of those games where you’re thankful to God for the opportunity to go out and get a second, third and fourth chance.’

Published on October 1, 2003 at 12:00 pm