Music to listen to: Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas
I know its cliché but It was either this or Melissa Etherridge…you’re welcome.
State of Kansas State football: When Bill Snyder returned to Kansas State in 2009, it was looked as an opportunity for the Wildcats to remind fans of better times and pay respects to the best coach in school history before the program hired another younger facilitator to take the program into the next decade. Furthermore, the losing seasons of the previous head coach, Ron Price, didn’t help booster the morale of the program. However, with a 10-3 campaign in 2011, including wins over Texas and Baylor, the Wildcats were back to becoming the perennial top-20 national team that it was during the peak of Snyder’s first tenure.
What I like: The Wildcats saw the emergence of quarterback Collin Klein as one of the elite dual-threat signal callers in the entire nation last season. The senior quarterback threw for nearly 2,000 yards while rushing form more than 1,000 as well. The offense will return numerous receivers such as Chris Harper along with Tramaine Thompson and Tyler Lockett.
On the defensive side of the ball, Arthur Brown is one of the top linebackers in the nation and the defensive line should be stout upfront.
What I don’t like: The Wildcats must replace three starters on the offensive line which can always be a tenuous situation.
Furthermore, the Wildcats had the 103rd ranked pass defense in the nation and they compete in the second-best passing conference in the nation arguably with the Pac-12. That’s why Kansas State lost to better teams that could throw the ball last season, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Arkansas, where it gave up 58, 52 and 29 points in those defeats respectively.
Uniform/Mascot Overall Grade: B+
I love the shade of purple that Kansas State uses. While I think some schools use a shade that’s too dark (Northwestern) or too light at times (LSU), the Wildcats got it right. The grey works well with the uniform patterns as well, even though having it as an official school may make things a little dreary looking in sports outside of football. The wildcat silhouette as a logo is a nice touch as well. This is what I don’t like…
How is that supposed to inspire the fan base? That little child is probably still having nightmares about the giant cat head with a human body.
Schedule:
9/1 Missouri State
9/8 Miami (FL)
9/15 North Texas
9/22 at Oklahoma
10/6 Kansas
10/13 at Iowa State
10/20 at West Virginia
10/27 Texas Tech
11/3 Oklahoma State
11/10 at TCU
11/17 at Baylor
12/1 Texas
The Wildcats should be 3-0 heading into its fourth game against preseason top-five squad Oklahoma. Even if Kansas State loses at Oklahoma, The Wildcats should get healthy before the swing game on the entire schedule, the contest at West Virginia. If Kansas State can find a way to get a victory in Morgantown, another 10 win season may be on the horizon.
Former/Current Co-Ed I would like to attend a Box Social with:
Kristie Alley…anyone? Cheers? Look Who’s Talking? Anyone?
Final thoughts: The offense should be solid behind Klein but an injury to him or continued regression of the pass defense will dock the Wildcats several wins. However, with an easy non-conference schedule and winnable games at home, a solid bowl appearance should be on the horizon for the Wildcats.
Prediction: 8-4, 4-4 Big 12
The Sports Inquirer 
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