Kansas and Missouri are playing out the string on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Both schools are having sub-par seasons. We know why KU is in their current predicament. (If you really don’t, then check out this post: The Big Lead’s Coverage Of My Chat With Jocques Crawford ). As for Missouri, I really don’t know what happened to them (nor do I care). But since Thanksgiving is this week, I would like to share something I am grateful for. I am thankful for this video of my friend Ryan explaining why “we all can’t be winners”.

Happy Thanksgiving, and pray that the Smith Family can keep the peace at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

I went to bed last night backing Coach Mangino, but I now find myself defending the other side of the argument. Quite a few KU alums were updating me on the situation last night at our KU Basketball watch party, and based on the accusations, they condemned Mangino’s actions. I argued in his defense, and reminded them that I would not have had a sweet winter vacation in Miami when the team reached the Orange Bowl. He pretty much steered a dead in the water program to national prominence in a span of 5 years. So, I was of the belief that whatever he was doing works, and let’s not revert to the Terry Allen years. So I jokingly tweeted with my old roommate about the whole deal, and said

w/o Mangino, we are nothing. Stop bitching about 8 hour practices! RT @rmattwill: @jacknealy: save mangino. #ku #jayhawks #ihatetheallenyrs

http://twitter.com/jacknealy/status/5819383530

But all that changed when Jocques Crawford responded to that tweet.

Jocques Crawford at KU

“Who said anything about 8 hr pract.the guy is an asshole”

http://twitter.com/JocCrawford/status/5833329541

I decided to engage him just to get his perspective on Mangino. Having known quite a few student-athletes at KU, they tend to get treated unfairly in the press once they enter the coach’s dog house. Jocques is one of those athletes. He played for Mangino for one season and now attends Tennessee Tech. According to Crawford, he did not have an amicable relationship with the coach.

for someone as disrespectful as him.that’s not good coaching my friend..he doesn’t encourage his players or congrad them on their efforts even if they weren’t up to his expectation. How is that good coaching.

http://twitter.com/JocCrawford/status/5836747474

http://twitter.com/JocCrawford/status/5836771581

Jocques also claimed the relationship was physically abusive, “He shoves ppl get in the face as though he wants to fight you. Many of us have kept our composure and not blow up in his face but he tries to provoke plyers”. Now, I know football coaches kind of have to be a jerk at times, but it is pure cowardice when you get physical with a player, knowing the player can’t fight back or lose his scholarship. This is indefensible. I would rather lose honorably than win BCS Championships with coaches that abuse their power.