Farmageddon IV

I don't really like the fact this game has a name, now.

It implies that there's an actual rivalry here, and to be honest, there just isn't.  I think ISU would like to think there is, or because they somehow always play us close (and always lose), that this game should have it's own nickname.  ISU has only beaten Snyder four times, and two of those where in 2004 and 2005, when Snyder 1.0 had run out of gas.

But either way, it for sure does not need it's own Wikipedia page.  But it does.  Sadly.

Historically the game was not considered a major rivalry, but in light of changes in the Big 12 in the late 2000s the universities pushed to highlight to generate revenue and interest for their football programs. They scheduled two neutral-site games at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri in 2009 and 2010, which fans and the media dubbed "Farmageddon", a reference to the agricultural roots of these land-grant universities. Kansas State swept both matches, which drew average crowds, and the game was brought back to the university's campuses for the 2011 season.

This name is actually more closely associated with a terrifying documentary about the Unseen War on American Family Farms.

This could be a horror film for all I know.

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Yes, I know this Mask Iowa State pre-game video isn't that funny. They can't all be world class. It's hard to keep you people entertained, you know.

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Sophia Vergara in KSU gear is required posting.
It's in my contract.
In the fine print.  

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Absolutely love this video that opened up the KU game last week at BSFS.  

Not sure if they intentionally went with an Inception inspired soundtrack + production or not, but it scores big points with me. (And you would nod your head knowingly if you knew where Inception ranked in my top movies of all time. hint: it's way up there.)

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This is also an especially good KU-themed 'Proud of this House' prior to kick last Saturday. I'm sure I'm blinded by the especially strong purple passion punch tonight but I like this song and these highlights prior to the games.

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If you actually watched that purple passion video I commend you.  You are an elite PK reader.

This How-To video and web series on how to make alcoholic
drinks is 98% unwatchable.

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A pretty good read from the Bleacher Report about Snyder.

"There are no plays in football that work just exactly like we put them up on the board. It just doesn’t happen that way… We believe that the players on the field are in the best position, with the best vantage point to make critical decisions. The ideal situation is to have your team so well prepared that each time the defense presents itself we will know exactly what we need to do.” 

"Yelling, screaming and swearing is not the answer. You can be very demanding without that. Accepting mistakes and less than a player’s best performance is also not the answer. He must know that you will not tolerate less than his best, yet he must know that you love him like your own. This is the true art of coaching."  -- Bill Snyder

Note it says "Can."  Not necessarily "Will".
But I'll take it.

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Fine.  I'll talk some about Iowa State since that's why you've come all this way.

You want stats?  Well stats you will get.  And stats of course, are everything.  

I lifted this right off of lotthall's post on GoPowercat.com.  If that is against the rules I'm sure I'll be hearing about it.

I'd like to also point out that ISU does not have a statistical advantage OF ANY KIND heading into this game.  Not one offensive stat except Passing Offense. (And yet we have fewer INTs, higher yards per completion, and higher yards PER ATTEMPT.)  

Yards per Play
#4 KSU 7.28
#90 ISU 5.10 

Yards per Game
#41 KSU 441.2
#91 ISU 365.2 

3rd down conversion %
#7 KSU 55.10%
#68 ISU 40.00% 

4th down conversion %
#1 KSU 100% (1 attempt)
#1 ISU 100% (1 attempt) 

penalties per game/ penalty yards per game
#1/1 KSU 1.80 penalties/game for 14.20 yards per game
#16/30 ISU 4.40 penalties/game for 41.60 yards per game 

First downs/ game
#48 KSU 22.20
#72 ISU 20.40 

Passing offense
#107 KSU 67.02% completion; 2 INT; 9.44 yds/att; 14.06 yds/completion
#90 ISU 64.56% completion; 9 INT; 6.54 yds/att; 10.13 yds/completion 

Passing efficiency
#7 KSU 166.60 rating
#68 ISU 131.06 rating 

Red Zone offense
#47 KSU 85% 23 scores in 27 drives (78% touchdowns vs field goals)
#84 ISU 76% 13 scores in 17 drives (85% touchdowns vs field goals) 

Rushing
#9 KSU 263.8 yds/ game
#68 ISU 158.60 yds/ game 

Scoring offense
#11 KSU 43.60 points/ game
#72 ISU 26.80 points/ game 

Turnover Margin
#5 KSU +2.00/ game 13 TO gained 3 TO lost
#80 ISU -0.20/ game 12 TO gained 13 TO lost 

Turnovers lost
#2 KSU 3
#101 ISU 13

The teams are closer in terms of defense so I won't post those to avoid undermining my point about how dominant we will be tomorrow.

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I'll end with this pretty solid analysis from the CycloneReport.com.  

While Paul Clark gives the Cats an edge in 3 of the 5 categories and ultimately picks KSU by a score, I think it's worth noting that everyone seems to forget ISU has already lost to Tech (at home), and barely squeaked by Iowa 9-6.  Those are two unimpressive games on the ol' ISU resume this season, and I'm just not buying the TCU purple koolaid for this year as ultlimately it's clearly a rebuilding year for Gary.

The Wildcats play a very disciplined and clean brand of football, ranking #1 in the country in fewest penalty yards and being +10 in turnover margin coming in. Iowa State is -1 on turnovers and a very good 30th in fewest penalty yards. 

Both teams will be challenged to play clean football if the weather is as bad as some of the forecasts. If lightning and severe thunderstorms do materialize, the game will be delayed as necessary, providing an extra mental challenge for both teams to overcome. Just rain itself is not a huge issue as Iowa State's state-of-the-art natural grass surface will handle whatever comes in that regard.

It's going to rain.  A lot.  And in the end, KSU will stand victorious and move to 6-0 with a dominant rushing attack and just enough passing to keep ISU's defense from doing much against another solid performance from Heisman candidate, Collin Klein.

Thanks for playing Iowa State  -- you unfortunately played your upset card too early this year.

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