Kansas coach Mark Mangino apologized Sunday for suggesting the BCS influenced the officials during Saturday’s last-minute 27-23 loss to Texas.
“I regret my remarks,” Mangino told The Associated Press. “I said them after an emotional loss, and I want to make it perfectly clear that I’m not implying that any official or anybody is trying to determine the outcome of a game.”
During his postgame press conference, Mangino expressed his disgust for a late-game penalty call against his Jayhawks.
With less than two minutes to go, officials flagged wide receiver Charles Gordon for offensive pass interference, wiping away a first-down catch that likely would have iced the game for Kansas. Replays show the official threw the flag after Gordon made the catch.
“You know what this is all about don’t you?” Mangino asked. “BCS. That’s what made a difference today in the game. That’s what made the difference in a call in front of (Texas’) bench: dollar signs.”
The third-year coach said Gordon made a “swim move,” something taught to wide receivers in high school, college and the NFL.
“All of America sat at home and watched the play,” Mangino said. “All college football fans who watched the game, we’ll let them be the judge about the call.”
Mangino shrugged off any potential fine for his comments.
“I’ve got a football team to fight for,” he said.
But the next day, Mangino took it all back.
“I regret I made the statement because I don’t believe it,” he said. “I have the utmost confidence in the Big 12 and the BCS.”
Playing favorites
Bob Stoops, coach of No. 2 Oklahoma, mentioned ESPN’s contract with the SEC Tuesday, saying poll voters should consider it when judging the network’s analysis of college football.
However, Stoops would not go so far as to directly accuse the network of bias.
“I’m not saying that,” Stoops said. “I’m saying I’m aware of what their contracts are with. Whether people are directed in certain ways, I’m not going to say that.”
Many speculate Stoops’ comments were in response to analysis favorable to Auburn, now tied with the Sooners in the AP poll.
“That would be for everyone else to comment on, not me,” Stoops said.
ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz denounced Stoops’ suggestions.
“The direction we provide our commentators is to be fair, to be objective and to give their opinions,” Krulewitz said.
Stoops felt most sportscasters lack objectivity.
“Surely AP or the coaches are all aware everybody has agendas,” he said. “Anybody who’s on TV has one. It’s impossible to remove agendas. (Analysts) have producers and ratings. I don’t know what impact they have, but I’m sure they have some.”
Stoops did not mention ABC, which broadcasts Big 12 football. ABC and ESPN both are owned by Disney.
Cornhusker ‘collision’
An Oklahoma student said he plans to press charges after he was hospitalized following a pregame incident with a Nebraska football player.
According to witnesses, Adam Merritt of the Oklahoma spirit group “OU Ruf/Neks” was attacked by Nebraska offensive lineman Darren DeLone, knocking out two of Merritt’s teeth.
During Nebraska’s pregame warmups, DeLone pushed Merritt into a brick wall after ramming his helmet into the freshman’s face, knocking him unconscious, witnesses said.
Campus police did not hold DeLone after the game, and the OU police department still is investigating the incident, an official said.
The Nebraska athletic department issued a statement Sunday night expressing knowledge of a “collision that occurred on the field of play,” but offered no further comment.
“I have a lot of empathy for the young man who got injured,” said Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan, who did not see the incident. “It’s astounding to me that these kids can be right in the midst of a warmup between these 300-pound-plus linemen.”
Merritt was released from the hospital before the end of the game, but is scheduled for oral surgery this week, hospital officials said.
Reach Pat Dorsey at [email protected].
