Justin Thornton News

It was 24 degrees outside the Anderson Family Football Complex just after 7 p.m., the day the sawing stopped, when Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins stepped out, having just told the Jayhawks that Mark Mangino would be their coach no longer.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Idaho senior guard Mike Iupati is an American Football Coaches Association All-American, the AFCA announced Thursday.

Civil War for the Roses Dec. 3: Jeremiah Masoli says the Ducks are ready for their matchup with hated rival Oregon State as a spot in the Rose Bowl hangs in the balance.

To his own chagrin -- a term he uses occasionally -- Mark Mangino has been the focus of the coverage and interest in the Kansas football program for two weeks.

Did KU Head Coach Mark Mangino make the right play calls late in the fourth quarter, and do you think it will cost him his job? Let us know what you think in the comments section KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 28: Danario Alexander #81 of the Missouri Tigers is pushed out of bounds by Justin Thornton #46 of the Kansas Jayhawks after making a catch ...

After everything that has happened, the six straight losses, the ongoing investigation into their coach, the Kansas Jayhawks contend that they still have plenty to play for today against border-rival Missouri.

Kansas cornerback Justin Thornton chases down Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin during the first quarter of the NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov.

Justin Thornton has been a constant in the KU secondary. Nov. 25, 2009 Reflecting on his five years in the Kansas football program, senior safety Justin Thornton described his time at KU as a fun, but rough ride.

Mark Mangino coached like a man with nothing to lose. It's likely that Mark Mangino won't be in Kansas next season.

Kansas coach Mark Mangino has always used football to insulate himself from the outside world.

With the nation watching, Kansas football coach Mark Mangino showed a softer side.

Justin Thornton blamed nobody but himself for the key facemask penalty that extended Nebraska's go-ahead drive.

Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee scores a touchdown while tackled by Kansas linebacker Justin Springer and linebacker Drew Dudley during the first half of their NCAA college football game Saturday in Lawrence.

Roy Helu Jr. ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns, helping Nebraska move into a tie atop the Big 12 North with a 31-17 victory over Kansas on Saturday.

At a time like this, excuses can seem pretty futile. So Kansas senior Justin Thornton wasnt going to blame his personal-foul penalty in the fourth quarter on the stroke of bad luck that placed his hand on the other guys facemask during what was otherwise a pretty outstanding defensive play.Its not a matter of luck, Thornton said.

NU quarterback Zac Lee fumbles as the ball bounds into the end zone. Roy Helu recovered.

Darrell Stuckey is one of 15 seniors making their final appearance at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium.

For further evidence that seniority matters little to Kansas coach Mark Mangino, check out the latest defensive depth chart, which features four freshmen in the starting lineup.The young guys are really talented, Mangino said.

Last night, I went back and watched the tape of the KU-Colorado game, and today I've been combing over the Big 12 stat pack that we get each week.

There were some complicating factors in Bradley McDougald's recruitment, which took him from Ohio State commitment to Kansas commitment, but maybe the least complicated part of the whole thing was that McDougald wanted to play receiver.