News Flash: Mangino says he hasn’t lost team

University of Kansas football coach Mark Mangino told reporters Tuesday that his team is still with him, one day after players met with the school’s athletic director to discuss concerns about the coach.

“I may have lost some people around here, but it’s not the players,” Mangino said at his weekly news conference.

A.D. Lew Perkins has begun an internal investigation into the allegations.

The issues brought to Perkins’ attention on Monday were raised by a current player and others with ties to the program, according to the Lawrence Journal-World. The entire team met with Perkins. Quarterback Todd Reesing later told the Journal-World that an “unbiased person” would conduct the probe.

Mangino said he met with Perkins on Tuesday for 10 to 15 minutes.

“I can confirm an internal review is under way,” Perkins said in a release. “It involves a personnel matter, and as a result, is confidential. It would be inappropriate for me to provide further information right now.”

The Jayhawks (5-5) are the in the midst of a five-game losing streak. They play at No. 3 Texas on Saturday.

Hancock named BCS boss

Bill Hancock has been named the first executive director of the Bowl Championship Series.

Hancock, a long-time college basketball and football executive, will run the daily operations of the BCS, interact with the bowls and television rights holders and also be the spokesman for the BCS.

Current BCS series coordinator John Swofford, the ACC commissioner, will continue as the rotating two-year coordinator of the BCS through the end of his term on Jan. 7, 2010. Hancock then will assume command.

“Bill has been a tremendous asset to the BCS since beginning his involvement in 2005,” Swofford said in a statement. “With the continued growth and interest in the BCS, it became evident to all of us that an executive director was necessary to coordinate what has become a full-time slate of daily responsibilities.”

Locksley’s job safe?

Speculation that embattled New Mexico coach Mike Locksley may lose his job after an altercation with an assistant coach earlier this season appears unfounded.

Locksley was suspended by the school for 10 days on Oct. 13 after an incident with assistant coach J.B. Gerald. Gerald alleged that Locksley struck him. Locksley denied hitting Gerald and the university conducted an internal investigation. Locksley lost about $29,000 in salary and was required to attend conflict resolution training.

Locksley also resolved legal claims by a former football administrative assistant who accused the coach of age discrimination and retaliation.

But New Mexico president David J. Schmidly has pledged his support of Locksley. It would cost the university more than $3 million to buy out the coach’s contract.

Locksley is in his first year on the job. The Lobos are 0-10 with games remaining against Colorado State and at TCU.

ASU QB uncertainty

Arizona State isn’t sure who will start at quarterback at UCLA on Saturday. The 4-5 Sun Devils need two wins to become bowl eligible.

With Danny Sullivan out with a sore right arm, freshman Brock Osweiler made his first career start last week in a 44-21 loss at Oregon. He left in the second quarter with a left arm injury. Sophomore Samson Szakacsy came on and impressed. He led the team to consecutive touchdown drives after coming in trailing 31-7. Szakacsy, the most fleet and athletic of ASU’s quarterbacks, completed 6 of 7 passes for 62 yards with a touchdown.

Expect ASU coach Dennis Erickson to make a decision later this week.

Cincy, Va. Tech to play at ‘Skins home

Cincinnati has reached a deal to play Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., in 2012.

The Bearcats and Hokies have met nine times, with Tech holding a 5-4 edge. The schools last met in the Orange Bowl after last season, which Virginia Tech won, 20-7.

Cincinnati never has played at FedEx Field, while this will be the Hokies’ third game in what’s the home of the Washington Redskins. Tech played USC in FedEx in 2004 and has a date with Boise State there in 2010.

Injuries whack ‘Pack

How bad has N.C. State been hit with injury?

The Wolfpack have lost 112 games to injury this season. That comes after a 2008 campaign that saw N.C. State lose 94 games because of injury or suspension.

No doubt, that has played a part in the Wolfpack’s disappointing 4-6 season that includes a 1-5 mark in ACC play.

“You can’t work around it,” N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien told reporters this week. “You have to understand what’s going on. The kids are fine. I think they’ve kind of accepted the fact they’ve been dealt a bad hand. There’s nothing they can do but fight their way out of it, so we are going to continue to fight and play hard and be the best team we can.

“We thought it was bad last year. It’s three times as bad this year. It’s got to end sometime before I die here. I don’t know, one or the other. I hope I’m the next one hurt the way we’re going. I’ll take a hit for the team if it’ll keep somebody else healthy.”