K-State of the Union: Football Where We’ve Been Part 1
While the President won’t be telling us about how he sees things going until Feb. 2, I think the beginning of the brand new year is the best time to take a step back and survey where Kansas State has been, where they are going, and how to make it all happen. It’s been an exciting two weeks for Kansas State and while the season has just ended for one team, things are just beginning for another.
(Part 1 Covers the season opener to the Texas game)
The 2010 football season got off to a good start going undefeated in non-conference play. The season opening victory against UCLA was about as much as was hoped for. Daniel Thomas exploded which resulted in a little Heisman chatter and when it was all said and done, Kansas State had a win against a BCS conference foe who was expected to be a good team. Game #2 brought Missouri State to town and while the Wildcats took care of business 48-24, the fear began to creep in as the night included almost 450 yards of offense by the Bears. The next Saturday was an early conference showdown in Arrowhead Stadium against Iowa State. The game was won on the shoulders on Daniel Thomas who rushed for 181 yards and 2 TD to bring his three game total to 552 yards on the ground.
At this point things were looking great. 3-0 headed into a game against a team that turned out to be a much better opponent than expected. UCF played well in a battle that will be remembered for a major storm delay, an incredible photo featured in Sports Illustrated, and Carson Coffman leading a game winning drive (the game of his career) to make K-State 4-0 after the 17-13 victory.
The hopes of Wildcat nation were at a high headed into the Thursday night, nationally televised showdown with the defectors. Those hopes took a major beating. Nebraska steamrolled through Manhattan in the last Big 12 match-up between the teams and Taylor Martinez stole Daniel Thomas’ Heisman chatter with 241 yards and 4 TD on 15 carries. The game signaled the end of major bowl dreams for Wildcat fans as well as a reality check about the horrendousness of our defense in a 48-13 final score.
The cure for ills was found a week later just 85 miles east on I-70. Kansas State went bi-polar and played like pros racking up 276 yards rushing, 59 points, 3 turnovers, and a bunch of dead chickenhawks. The victory against a team who has been “awaiting history” since 2009 was sweet and swift. It looks like history is going to be in a holding pattern for a long, long, very long time.
A week and 2 days later, the Prozac wore off and Kansas State’s defense decided to watch Baylor become bowl eligible for the first time in 16 years. The final score was 47-42 but only one team came within a red zone of the 700 yards of total offense mark. The defense, or purple plague as I affectionately label it, continued their run at helping teams/players achieve season/career highs in plenty of categories. It was also the first time in all of eternity that Bill Snyder has lost to Baylor.
Halloween brought the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ nasty orange and black into Manhattan and another loss. The first win for the Cowboys in Manhattan since their head coach was their quarterback in 1988 was the punch in the gut after 213 yards rushing and 298 yards passing. The defense was able to give up nearly 300 yards in the air despite OKST’s best wide receiver missing the game after being suspended for a DUI. In simulations with Blackmon eligible, OKST’s passing yards increase to 732. (I might have exaggerated that stat a bit but you get the point.)
A 5-1 record had quickly melted to 5-3 and thankfully the cure for ills was found again, this time way down south against a team that is now officially owned by Kansas State University. Kansas State South, formally known as Texas University, was in the midst of a historically bad season and playing Kansas State would only continue the carnage in a 39-14 whooping. I would love to say the purple plague woke up but this was more on Texas QB Gilbert’s 5 INT. Gilbert actually completed more passes to Kansas State players than surprise starter Collin Klein who rushed for 127 yards and a couple of TDs.
(Where We’ve Been Part 2: Missouri to the Pinstripe Bowl and the good, bad, and ugly coming soon!)