Kansas.com: K-State Wildcats

Wildcats regroup, get win on the road

JEFFREY MARTIN — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

It was mere minutes after Kansas State's 44-30 victory Saturday against Texas A&M at storied Kyle Field, where the Wildcats hadn't won since 1996, and junior quarterback Josh Freeman was reflecting.

A lot had happened in the past seven days.

"I think the guys came out and responded extremely well from all of the negativity from last week," he said. "We just kind of locked ourselves into the complex and drew closer as a unit, coaching staff and players alike."

Asked for specifics, Freeman shrugged his shoulders.

"We don't pay attention to anything going on," he said."... Just people on campus, some of the questions.... We knew we had to win. All that matters are the people inside that locker room.

WILDCAT REPORT

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

First quarter

Key play: Josh Freeman fumbled as K-State was driving deep into A&M territory.

Key stat: On the opening drive, Freeman accounted for all but two of the 81 yards on K-State's opening scoring drive.

Second quarter

Key play: Reggie Walker broke through the line of scrimmage and swatted Justin Brantly's punt early in the quarter. Courtney Herndon scooped it up and ran it in for a touchdown.

KSU BOX SCORE

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

Scoring

Kansas State (4-2, 1-1)	7 20 30 14--44
Texas A&M (2-4, 0-2)	3 7 6 14--30

Attendance --78,669

First Quarter

KSU--Freeman 12 run (Rossman kick), 11:45.

AM--FG Bullock 26, 4:44.

Wildcats psych up for trip to Texas A&M

JEFFREY MARTIN — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:38 CDT

These are the undeniable truths surrounding Kansas State football's first Big 12 road trip of the season today to Texas A&M:

K-State has won 2 of 8 Big 12 road games under Ron Prince.

Texas A&M has won the past five meetings between the schools.

The Wildcats haven't won at Kyle Field since 1996.

But, listening to Prince earlier this week, none of that should matter.

KANSAS STATE AT TEXAS A&M

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:40 CDT

1 p.m. today at Kyle Field (82,600), College Station, Texas

Radio: KFTI, 1070-AM

TV: None

WHAT'S AT STAKE TODAY

For KSU: All thoughts about six wins and bowl eligibility are flattened with a loss.

SCOUTING TEXAS A&M

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:34 CDT

1. Texas A&M could be better. Last week, the Aggies were victimized by Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant, who darted through A&M coverage unit for a 78-yard punt return. Mike Sherman told A&M beat writers, "There isn't one aspect of special teams _ other than our actual punter _ that I'm particularly pleased with right now."

2. The last time these two teams met was Oct. 22, 2005 at Snyder Family Stadium. A&M prevailed 30-28 as Jorvorskie Lane got loose, carrying 28 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Believe it or not, Lane's statistics from that one game are better than his season totals for this year. He has 18 carries for 65 yards _ no negative losses, by the way _ and no touchdowns. Sherman has shifted Lane to fullback because he believes that where Lane will play in the NFL.

3. Gabby Mayo is K-State wide receiver Brandon Banks' little sister. She runs track at Texas A&M. Their father, Daryle McNair, is going to be at Kyle Field today, and he'll be sitting with the K-State fans. Mayo plans to join her father, although she doesn't have any K-State "stuff." She's committed to her family, not her school. "I've been talking junk to the guys on the team, telling the corners my brother was coming to town and they'd better watch out," Mayo said. "They were like, 'We'll see.'"

Key matchup

K-State against its psyche. We've heard the talk, about how the team isn't giving up, etc. It's the same thing the Wildcats have been saying since Louisville, and we all know how dreadful K-State has been since then. If something positive doesn't occur soon, the negativity _ or negative momentum, as Prince termed it following the Tech loss _ will take over again, as we saw last November.

K-State's Snipes overcame extreme poverty to succeed

JEFFREY MARTIN — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:07 CDT

Attrail Snipes isn't sure who knows.

A couple of his Kansas State teammates are aware of what he's been through, but he's uncertain whether or not his coaches have any idea of his background beyond two seasons at Bakersfield (Calif.) College.

He's no longer embarrassed of his upbringing.

Then again, he's not the type to open up without an invitation.

Where to start? Is there a right place to explain to a new team -- a new family, really -- why you moved 40 times during your childhood?

Prince focuses on Wildcats' defense

JEFFREY MARTIN — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:33 CDT

There are no minor concerns on defense. Ron Prince wishes he were so fortunate.

As the Kansas State coach admitted Monday, everything about the Wildcats' defense has his attention right now.

Prince has been vocal about craving more production on the defensive front, and his insertion of John Houlik into the starting lineup for Saturday's game at Texas A&M following the junior's off-season DUI arrest and three-game suspension illustrates the coach's desire to shore up his linebacking corps.

And now, his focus shifts to the secondary, which has been somewhat overlooked in this dreadful defensive start to the season.

Everyone saw Louisville and Louisiana-Lafayette gash the Wildcats for more than 300 rushing yards, but the passing yards haven't been much better. K-State is allowing 229.2 yards, which is 86th in the country. In pass efficiency defense, the Wildcats are 78th.

Losses frustrate Campbell

JEFFREY MARTIN — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:20 CDT

Ian Campbell is frustrated.

The Kansas State senior defensive end, a two-time All-Big 12 selection, failed to record a single tackle in Saturday's 58-28 loss to Texas Tech -- only the second time in his three seasons as a full-time starter that's happened. So now he's talking about football being a business, and how it's his business, and how business is always personal, and on and on....

"I think you can't put so much of yourself into something and not take it personal," he says.

He's tired of talking, especially when answers aren't readily available, but what else can he do? He's also aware of the importance of being accountable, especially when times are tough.

That's what leaders do.

KSU BOX SCORE

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

Scoring

Texas Tech ()	0 0 0 0--0
Kansas State ()	0 0 0 0--0

Attendance --43,614

First Quarter

TT--Leong 1 pass from Harrell (Carona kick), 12:57.

KS--Pierce 33 pass from Freeman (Rossman kick), 11:31.

WILDCAT REPORT

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:43 CDT

First quarter

Key play: Texas Tech went for it on fourth-and-1 at its own 29 with about 55 seconds left. The run, from the shotgun, failed, and momentum seemed to shift.

Key stat: 1, the number of punts _ it was K-State's.

Second quarter

Key play: The 31-yard field goal seemed like a concession by Leach, but it was the first of 24 unanswered points by the visitors.

Big 12 letdown for Kansas State

JEFFREY MARTIN — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:17 CDT

The members of the band led the cheer.

"Block that kick," they repeated, almost in unison.

It didn't matter that Kansas State was mere minutes away from a 58-28 home spanking by No. 7 Texas Tech going final. Nor did it matter that it was the first punt of the afternoon for the Red Raiders, who racked up a mind-boggling 626 yards and scored on all eight trips inside the Wildcats' 20. And the band members didn't care at all that their voices, more so than roughly half of the announced 43,614 remaining in attendance Saturday at Snyder Family Stadium, were louder, and in some cases, more off-key than everyone else.

They wanted to see something positive.

And in that regard, Ron Prince can relate.

Wildcats ready for Texas Tech

JEFFREY MARTIN — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:40 CDT

In his words, Ron Prince isn't trying to be "Mr. Sunshine."

But where some viewed Kansas State's 45-37 escape from Louisiana-Lafayette as luck, the coach believes his Wildcats were fortunate to finish off the Ragin' Cajuns as they did -- with an offensive drive spanning 7 minutes, 12 seconds and a game-ending four-and-out defensive series.

It's enough to offer K-State a precious commodity today as No. 7 Texas Tech rolls into Snyder Family Stadium.

Hope.

"I know the number of points and the number of yards were very disturbing to all of us, but what I wanted our players to understand is that we were able to win a close ball game, a game that came down to the end," Prince said. "If you look at our drive at the end, it was a very impressive drive.... It didn't end in a touchdown, but we got the points that made it the kind of game that allowed us to then go on the field, rush the passer and finish the game with two very solid drives in a very tight ball game.

TEXAS TECH AT KANSAS STATE

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:38 CDT

2:30 p.m. today at Snyder Family Stadium (50,000), Manhattan

Radio: KFTI, 1070-AM

TV: KAKE, Ch. 10

WHAT'S AT STAKE TODAY

For Tech: Top 10 teams don't lose conference openers at middle-of-the-road opponents.

Banks' father took role as single parent

JEFFREY MARTIN — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:31 CDT

The speed, a blur of purple and white, was unmistakable.

The build? They share the same DNA, so that was familiar, too.

And those hands? Daryle McNair says he had an amazing set as well, insisting he was one of the slickest-fielding outfielders in his native Raleigh, N.C.

When McNair watched Kansas State junior wide receiver Brandon Banks in the Wildcats' 38-29 loss to Louisville a few weeks ago on ESPN2, he noticed the similarities between he and his son, but was struck by a glaring difference.

"He has more heart than I did," McNair says.

SCOUTING THE RED RAIDERS

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:38 CDT

Three things about Texas Tech

1. K-State coach Ron Prince and Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill go way back. All the way back to Appalachian State, in fact, where Prince was an offensive lineman in 1990-91 and McNeill was the linebackers coach. In 2006, when Prince was securing his initial staff, he wanted McNeill as his defensive coordinator but he passed.

2. Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell are legitimate Heisman candidates. And, if this is finally the year the Red Raiders break through in the South, that might be the boost they need. Crabtree is third in the country (No. 1 is K-State's Brandon Banks) in receiving yards per game at 114.2, and his 7.2 receptions per game is 10th in the nation. Harrell is No. 1 in passing yardage (393.2 yards).

3. The Red Raiders have scored 30 or more points in 70 games under Leach, and Tech has won 59 of those games. The Red Raiders have eclipsed 30 points in 20 of the last 22 games, including the last eight. K-State has allowed 30 or more in eight of its last 12 games.

Key matchup

Special plays are special

JEFFREY MARTIN — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:24 CDT

It all began, as it often does at Kansas State, on special teams.

Just a few weeks ago, Tysyn Hartman was maybe the Wildcats' third-string quarterback, facing an uncertain future at the position behind junior Josh Freeman and sophomore Carson Coffman. But then he converted a fourth-and-2 at K-State's 27 late in the first half at Louisville on a fake punt.

Although the Wildcats lost, the activity pushed Hartman to ask the coaching staff for a larger role.

Ron Prince acquiesced, switching the 6-3, 205-pound freshman from Kapaun Mount Carmel High to the secondary.

Then, last weekend in K-State's 45-37 victory against Louisiana-Lafayette, Hartman did it again, extending the Wildcats' final offensive possession inside the visitors' territory that resulted in a field goal to provide the final margin.

KSU defense faces tough test

JEFFREY MARTIN — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:41 CDT

From the beginning of August until mid-September, Texas Tech was little more than an upset that hadn't quite happened yet.

The Red Raiders were destined to roll into Snyder Family Stadium, the Big 12 opener for the visitors and Kansas State, and play the victim, stunned yet again on the road, and Ron Prince would have another big-name victory on his resume against a ranked South foe from the state of Texas.

Ask Mack Brown and the Longhorns about the last two seasons against the Wildcats.

But then K-State, 3-1, was exposed defensively in Louisville... and again 10 days later at home against Louisiana-Lafayette, and suddenly the prospect of a defense that surrendered an average of 543 yards in its last two games attempting to slow the nation's No. 1 passing offense and No. 3 offense overall Saturday isn't very appealing.

Appalling, maybe.

Cats find positives in to-the-wire victory

JEFFREY MARTIN — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:56 CDT

It was hardly worth celebrating.

Kansas State's closer-than-anticipated 45-37 victory Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette was secure only after:

• Freshman quarterback-turned-safety Tysyn Hartman converted another first down on another successful fake punt on fourth-and-2 from the Wildcats' 42 midway through the fourth quarter.

• Brooks Rossman's 26-yard field goal with 1:37 remaining extended K-State's lead to eight points, which meant overtime was still an option.

• A final, somewhat unexpected stop by the Wildcats' defense, which stymied quarterback Michael Desormeaux , running back Tyrell Fenroy and the Ragin' Cajuns (1-3) when it mattered most, recording a four-and-out as time ran out.

WILDCAT REPORT

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:38 CDT

First quarter

Key play: Lamark Brown is now being given the chance to be K-State's featured running back. His first carry, a 6-yard gain, was the Wildcats' first offensive play of the game.

Key stat: 80, the number of rushing yards accumulated by Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Michael Desormeaux.

Second quarter

Key play: Not a specific sequence in the game, but an actual play. The quarterback keeper was a good call for K-State, as 6-6, 250-pound Josh Freeman bowled through the Ragin' Cajuns' defense whenever his number was called.