INSIDE SLANT

Kansas could be parting ways with coach Mark Mangino.

An internal review has been initiated by the KU athletic department to investigate a personnel matter involving the eighth-year coach. Athletic director Lew Perkins confirmed the review was taking place hours before Mangino conducted his regular weekly press conference in advance of a game at Texas this Saturday.

Published reports indicate senior linebacker Arist Wright came forward and provided an account of an incident with Mangino. Details of that incident were not immediately known, though Perkins called a meeting with the team on Nov. 16. Mangino was not present at the meeting.

The matter comes on the heels of a five-game losing streak, which leaves Kansas 5-5 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12, where it sits last in the North Division. The Jayhawks were expected to contend for the division title and climbed as high as 16th in the polls following a 5-0 start, which included their lone league win against Iowa State.

When Mangino was pressed on whether he had lost control of his team, he became defiant.

“I have not lost the team, not one bit,” Mangino said. “I may have lost some people around here, but it’s not players.”

Asked to identify the people he referenced, in what could have been an insinuation at Perkins, Mangino said, “Take it for what it’s worth. You decipher it and see.”

Senior quarterback Todd Reesing, a co-captain, was one of five players who addressed the media during the gathering.

“It’s a little surprising it happened like it did,” Reesing said. “I didn’t realize things were being said, or feelings that people had. … They’re going to try to bring it to a quick resolve so we can get our focus and everyone else’s focus on this game (against Texas).”

Mangino has won 50 games at Kansas, leaving him two short of the school’s winningest coach, A.R. Kennedy, who served from 1904-10. Against Big 12 teams, Mangino stands 23-39 with just one winning season, 2007, when the Jayhawks claimed the Orange Bowl to cap a 12-1 finish.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Although Kansas awarded coach Mark Mangino an extension following the Orange Bowl run in 2007, bumping his salary $800,000 to $2.3 million per year, it was structured with an inexpensive buyout. If Mangino is terminated at the end of this season, he will be owed slightly less than $600,000.

• One potential cause for any termination proceedings involving coach Mark Mangino is the new Gridiron Club, a posh structure to be constructed atop the east side of Memorial Stadium. Seats in that new section are expensive, and sales reportedly are not moving well with Kansas mired in a five-game losing streak. A splashy hire of a new coach could spur sales.

Series History:   Texas leads Kansas 7-2 (last meeting, 2008, 35-7 UT).

Scouting The Offense:   Throughout the five-game losing streak, the Jayhawks have seemed to struggle in one certain phase. QB Todd Reesing had 10 turnovers in the first four games of the skid, but came back with a solid performance against Nebraska last week. But the run game was virtually non-existent, in part because Kansas got away from using RB Toben Opurum, a freshman power back who provided an initial spark. Play along the offensive line was good, especially with the Jayhawks matched against the Huskers’ strong interior front.

Scouting The Defense:   The unit provided a winning effort until late in last week’s game when DB Justin Thornton, who mostly plays as a nickel back, drew a 15-yard penalty for grabbing a facemask following a key stop on third-and-long. The infraction allowed Nebraska to continue its go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. Costly mistakes like those are something the Jayhawks can ill afford, particularly from a senior, given the inconsistent play among all the position groups on defense.

Quote To Note:   “You lose a few games in a row and these types of (negative) things surface. It’s not uncommon. I don’t take it lightly, but I’m focused on Texas and I’m very comfortable the way we manage and run the football program.”—Kansas coach Mark Mangino.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Kansas at Texas, Nov. 21— As if this matchup against the undefeated Longhorns wasn’t enough of a challenge, controversy swirls around the future of Kansas coach Mark Mangino, stemming from an internal review of his conduct. The situation is particularly hard on QB Todd Reesing. The senior was looking forward to this matchup earlier in the season as a potential showdown of division leaders pitting the third-year starter against his hometown school. Reesing starred in high school for nearby Lake Travis, but has struggled down the stretch.

Keys To The Game:   The Jayhawks will have to be robots to block out the distractions created by the uncertainty of Mark Mangino’s future. Even without that, competing against mighty Texas is daunting. The Longhorns possess the best defense in the country in terms of yards allowed, with playmakers in every position group. In addition, QB Colt McCoy will attempt to set the major-college record for wins by a starting quarterback as he goes his 43rd.

Players To Watch:  

WR Dezmon Briscoe—The junior ranks first on the Kansas career list for receiving yardage with 2,897. WR Kerry Meier, a senior with 2,209 career yards, needs 58 receiving yards to move into second.

LB Huldon Tharp—The true freshman has started six straight games and is coming off a career-best 13 tackles against Nebraska. He has averaged 8.8 stops in the last four games.

DE Max Onyegbule—He has scored both of the Jayhawks’ defensive touchdowns—a 48-yard interception return against Duke and a 3-yard fumble return against Texas Tech.

Roster Report:  

• OL Jeff Spikes is listed as the starter at left guard, which he moved to last week against Nebraska to give Kansas a veteran blocker to go up against Huskers standout Ndamukong Suh.

• WR Bradley McDougald continues to play as an extra defensive back and also has been used as a punt returner. McDougald was recruited by many teams as a defender, but chose Kansas because he could play receiver. McDougald is among four true freshmen and 11 freshmen overall to play this season.