I blame Oklahoma for all this mess... but not for what you'd think

This is probably the real reason we're on the verge of the giant cluster-F that is going to kill college football as we know it.

I guess here's to hoping we end up with something decent out of all the conference leftovers...

Long Off-season

Well, its been a long off-season and I haven't posted jack.  I need to throw some thoughts out on the whole Texas A&M whining festival, the impending Miami death-penalty and our shot at actually finishing in the top half of the Big XII(-2) this year.  Alas, that's not gonna happen today.

45:00

I admit I've been pretty bitter about K-State football since mid-season and haven't posted much.  Did want to get this up here before I lose it:

Old and busted:  :01.  new Hotness:  45:00

Pre-Mizzou 11/13/2010

Well, I didn't even reference the Texas game last week and we blew them out.  Not being superstitious or anything but I'm not going to say anything about the Mizzou game and see if I get lucky again.

In BBall news, looks like we got the PG we were looking at for next year's class, Angel Rodriguez.
Sounds pretty promising but, since we're full on scholarships already, it'll be interesting to see just how Frank fits all the pieces together and if someone ends up getting pushed out.

Pre - Okie State 10/30/2010

Well for all the anger/fighting we keep hearing about in practice this week, hopefully that'll translate to us actually trying to tackle somebody this week.  At this point in the season, I have to agree with most of the people who want Cosh gone (I actually sort of agreed with that last week as well, along with every week since.... well the Missouri state game).  Oh, and by the way, Koenning is doing really well at Illinois >:(  I'm not confident we can sprint the upset this week, though I wouldn't be super-surprised if we do manage to pull it off.  I'll go with Okie 38 K-State 24.

Here's the Top 5 things to watch for from Cowboys Ride for Free, the Okie State equivelant of BOTC.
Austin Meek's thoughts on the D and the future.
And a general synopsis of just how much fun we're going to have on Saturday.

Pre-Baylor

Odd-ball collection of links this week:

BOTC had a vote for the top 5 K-State QBs of all time.
CJWorld has another story on the often criticized Coffman...
and one on the often over-rated Griffin III.

The standard "score guessers" around the internet are fairly consistent with picking Baylor by 10+.
I can't say I disagree with any of their reasoning but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that K-State squeaks by 30-27.  I have absolutely no solid reasoning for this pick whatsoever but I'll say that K-State adequately moves the ball, Baylor moves the ball very well, but we'll get a couple game-changing turnovers.

Here's a look at this week statistical ratings:  KSU went up in every single category except passing defense last week.  That will get tested this week for sure :/

Stat	KSU	BU
Total Offense	59 (+10)	8
Total Defense	81 (+1)	80
Scoring Offense	37 (+30)	32
Rushing Offense	16 (+10)	36
Passing Offense	102 (+5)	13
Scoring Defense	49 (+17)	38
Rushing Defense	115 (+1)	72
Passing Defense	12 (-4)	79

Husker Fans

I've seen a lot of links since Saturday on "America's Classiest Fans" and I'm going to start collecting links. 

Article over at Husker Illustrated about Niles Paul getting heckled by NU fans.
This one has been all over the place.

K-State Press Conference 10/19/2010

Here's this week's press conference.
Veeeeery nervous about the Baylor game.  As usual, I'm NOT optimistic ;)

Well, didn't see that coming...

Well, I have to admit, I had no idea that *could* happen, in theory, with like, you know, looking at numbers and stuff.  I cackled maniacally every time *fumble* KU would *fumble* do something stupid that would *interception* give us easy points.  I thought we'd get a couple turnovers, but I didn't see this kind of ass-whoopin coming.  Carson was pleasantly unspectacular and efficient, DT was good for 5-7 yards a carry, and our receivers caught the accurately thrown passes.  Very.... basic and ... boring as far as 59 points can be.

I really can't figure out how KU has fallen this far this fast.  They were a decent, ranked team at the beginning of last year and now they can't beat anyone not in the ACC.  How does that even happen?  Did Mangino eat all the good players on his way out of town?  Does Gill have these guys staying up too late with their bible study?  I just don't get it.

On a side note, I got to watch the game with the Mrs. which is always enlightening.  She's picked up a lot about football the last couple years and occasionally surprises me with some pretty good insight that I may have thought about subconsciously, but haven't really put into words. 

I may have to make this its own blog from now on:
1.  She's always surprised when Coffman does something good.  It always just seems unnatural to her.  Coffman had 3 running touchdowns.  One was a sneak, but on the other two, we watched the replay and it dawned on her that when he runs, he flails his non-ball carrying arm out.  It gives the appearance of "running like a girl."  Like he's giggling the whole time he's running.  After actually watching his arm, I agree, its a little bizarre and helps gives that aura of "WTF" when he actually runs for positive yards.  I can imagine how depressing it is for opposing defenses to get burned by him with this demoralizing little trait in full "flair."

2.  Forward progress.  She doesn't get this and we "argued" about it for awhile.  She does not understand why, if a guy catches it at the 30 past the 1st down marker and then gets pushed 5 yards back, why they spot the ball for the first down.  KU got some first down this way and I had to rewind it and show her again how he got the first down.  She refuses to accept that this is the way it should be.  Smart-ass comments ensued for the next couple drives.  Then on a K-State sack, she asked well why do they spot the ball all the way back on this play when he started at the line of scrimmage?  I gave up at this point.

3.  More bananas for the folks in the crowd at memorial stadium but I'll get into why at some other time.

Baylor looks much more winnable this week.  Bowl eligible 6-1?

Prediction 10/14/2010

I think, in the end, that this is a game that K-State should win, but I have no idea if they will or not.  Season is still too young to have a great read on either team, but the folks predicting that K-State will pummel KU are semi-delusional.  KU is going to score on our woefully slow D and our offense has not looked spectacular at any time this season (1-AA teams included).  I think K-State wins, 23 - 21 with KU bricking a FG attempt with less than a minute left.  I'll take the win, but its NOT going to be pretty.

This week's stats: 10/13/2010

Well, we got worse in just about every single category except passing defense, and that's because Nebraska didn't have to...

Rushing D.... 116. 
... 116...

Stat	KSU	KU
Total Offense	69 (-4)	89
Total Defense	82 (-25)	75
Scoring Offense	67 (-17)	100
Rushing Offense	26 (-4)	74
Passing Offense	107 (-4)	84
Scoring Defense	66 (-27)	72
Rushing Defense	116 (-14)	116
Passing Defense	8 (+5)	41

Ah yes, KU week...

Trying desperately to get fired up for this one.  This now kind of has the feel of the old days where 0-4 K-State gets ready for the biggest game of the year at 0-4 KU.  Toilet-Bowl revisited...
Then again, K-State, despite being embarassed at home by Nebraska, is still only 2 wins from bowl eligibility unless all the bowl representatives secretly subtracted some wins from K-State after that debacle.

Nice random thoughts article from Hawkzone which pretty much nails what a lot of people are thinking on this side of the fence
David Ubben at ESPN still has K-State 6 in the Big XII power rankings this week. 
Someone in the AP is still voting for K-State but I'm not really sure why right now...
Article in the Wichita Eagle about moving on.
And they've got an article on how the direct flights into Manhattan really help with recruiting.

And in other good news, Daniel Sams doesn't appear to care about us signing Tuggle.  Which is great.  And by the way, though he's a QB, they use him as DB occasionally too and he returned an interception 102 yards the other night for a TD.  I like that alot...  God we might actually have a QB next year...

Good times! Now that that's over with...

We exerted a lot of energy on this game and maybe that was part of the problem.  We built it up way too much and people just freaked out when it started going downhill.  Our offense looked terrible but not nearly as bad as our defense.   I can't remember the last game where we just gave up big play after big play without even looking as good as a high school team.

And Smith is probably done for the year.  That's also going to be a problem.

Its a good thing we have a few extra days to get over our mental hangover from this and try to get focused on KU.  We have to be able to put this behind us because if we let KU get us, we're on a dangerous downhill slope from here on out.

I Hate Nebraska

I hate them and now, I always will.  Who the FUCK hired Cosh?????!?!?!?!?!??!!
And who the FUCK pulled Coffman for Klein?
WTF??

Well... that blows - Live blog

Ok, so sitting here debating with my buddy after the first half.  He seems a little despondent.
After the first quarter, I felt ok because we were moving the ball (slowly- and expected) and had a shot at some more points.  Now, after the 2nd quarter, that feeling of "oh shit" is starting to set in.  Yes, we're only down by 14 and we're traditionally better in the 2nd half after making some adjustments, but they get the ball first and watching Martinez waltz through my secondary again will make me throw up.

Coffman is going to have to throw.  There's no other option.  We did well on the first posession when we were throwing when they weren't expecting it and they back off the line a little.  That's what ended up working in the 4th quarter of the UCF game, use DT as a diversion and kill them other ways.  I'm sure that NU is expecting that.  Though I can't stand Pole's nose, I'm sure he's not an idiot. 

Well...

Either way, thank God Brown isn't hurt.  Now we have to make some defensive adjustments and I'm not sure Cosh is the guy to make them.  Where is Koennig again?

Somebody needs to take this kid's block off...
Lamur had a shot in the first quarter and didn't lay into it...
Maybe Slaughter can pull that off in the 2nd half...

Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday Bill

Hopefully you'll have reason to celebrate tonight

Today's Links: 10/07/2010

A lot of these are painfully similar.  There's only so much you can say about it.  In any other year, it would be a big game.  Tonight is big with quite a bit of sad mixed in.  I will miss this game so much, but I won't at the same time.  I'm sure Nebraska fans couldn't care less but I'm sad to see the game go.  Maybe we'll meet again in some crap-tastic .com bowl someday.

Good article from WIBW about some of the historical backdrop.
Capital Journal World has several articles.
CornNation has their 5 reasons NU could/will lose to K-State.
Actual article on Nebraska's farewell tour from the NY Times.
The "What bettors need to know" from Covers.com
An interview with Chris Harper of all people from KC Star's Campus Corner.
And one of a couple articles on ESPN

2 Things:

First of all, expect something like this to be the play of the game tonight:
Secondly, I'm just gonna put this right here... 

Snyder Interview

Here's an interview from Rivals with Snyder covering a range of topics from mildly interesting to not interesting at all...

A Dozen Comments: 10/6/2010

K-State

All things considered, I would have been a little surprised at the beginning of the season that we’re 4-0 at this point being the pessimist.  None are super impressive wins, but then again, how much can you bitch about ending the 1st part of the season undefeated when you’re just trying to get to a bowl?

KU

I think Gill realistically gets 2 years.  I’ve already heard the mumblings of running him out of town already.  Those who questioned his ability to coach are feeling a bit smug right now and its hard to go against that.  I think, unless there’s a total implosion over there (which I don’t think there will be, there’s still some talent) he gets 2 years to see if there’s some recruiting magic and to get acclimated.  I can see him getting axed mid-way through his 3rd year if things are ugly.  I like Gill, but I really don’t want KU to be any good at football… ever.

Mizzou

I’m quite impressed with their mediocrity at this point.  Keep up the good work guys!

Iowa State

Did not see that coming.  Good for Iowa State. 

Nebraska

Will offer predictions on this tomorrow.  K-State Extra had a nice piece on “Crash” Ekeler and how he really enjoyed his time at K-State but there’s no split allegiance here.  I don’t really understand why they ask guys questions like that.  Who’s gonna say “Well of course I want us to lose, I still like that other place better?”  I need to be a reporter…

Colorado

Not even going to comment on the rushing the field.  God have they left the Big XII yet?  Get ‘em the F out of here already

Texas

Everyone should smell blood and pile on these idiots while they’re “down.”  All the other 11 teams in this league can agree how much no one can stand Texas.  Hopefully they’ll implode like they did in basketball last year and everyone can get in as many cheap shots as possible this year.  Kick ‘em while they’re down and keep kickin!

Oklahoma

Good to see Stoops get a win in this game for the first time in awhile.  I’m hoping Oklahoma limps through the season undefeated so we can have some sort of representative in the championship game, assuming they have enough of a resume to get that far.

Okie State

I really really wish these guys weren’t starting to look like a decent team.  Until “I’m a Man” is out of there, I won’t like the Cowboys, just ain’t gonna happen. 

Tech

I wonder what Tech’s record would be if The Pirate Captain himself were still around.  3-1?  4-0?  Tommy is a good coach (in my opinion) and I’m sure he’ll set things straight soon enough.  But I have to wonder why they seem to be having so many issues with the players they’ve got.

Baylor

I remember, or think I remember (its been so long), when Baylor was actually a semi-respected football school for miles around (25-30 miles I think).  So, while I’m not positive it’s a sign of the apocalypse, I’m surprised that I’m surprised that they are actually looking like a fairly good football team.  Then again, KU is making a lot of people look better than they are (unless you’re ACC that is)

A&M

I was really hoping that A&M would beat Okie State but alas, I’m annoyed with A&M yet again.  I just can’t figure out how a Texas team with that much tradition and access to those kind of players is routinely mediocre.