There is so much content out there it's fairly hard to keep track of it all and stay ahead of the wave of KSU related information. I do appreciate everyone's support in sending links or articles in and I'll try my best to post as much of them as I can if they meet the "entertainment" test. Usually that means I try to make sure most of what gets posted has new or interesting information in it that you can't find somewhere else.
So, to that end, please don't be upset if I don't use something you send in. Keep 'em coming.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A lot of you won't like the music set to this West Virginia highlight package, but I do because I like techno music. Except it's not really techno, it's dubstep. And if you don't know what that is, it just means you're older than 26.
 |
| You have to admit, this XLarge format for images I've moved to does look pretty good. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a follow-up to a highlight package (Optimus Klein Issue #1) that was released earlier this year. Optimus Klein Issue #2 is produced with great transitions, a very original comic-book interface, and a sweeping soundtrack.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stan Weber honestly doesn't get interviewed enough.
He should be quoted in just about any and all articles regarding KSU. He is of course the foremost expert on all things purple, but for whatever reason he's not sought out as much as he should.
He should be quoted in just about any and all articles regarding KSU. He is of course the foremost expert on all things purple, but for whatever reason he's not sought out as much as he should.
So when you find an article that has him quoted, you better listen up. Here he breaks down Klein's improvement in 2012 in an article written by K. Robinett for the Wichita Eagle -- posted in a Lexington Kentucky paper. Must have been a slow news day not reporting on 5-star basketball players verballing to UK.
"Collin is unique," Weber said. "He's the first player I've ever seen that reads blocking schemes as well as he does coverage. He understands where blockers are coming from, what the timing is and where the defense is going. It's amazing. He is in complete control out there."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know the guy at goEMAW who does all those crazy play and set breakdowns, @ksu_FAN? Well, he's not only smart as hell, but he has an artistic side to him as well. What is he doing when he isn't breaking down game film? He's designing Heisman logos, of course. Should this come to fruition, these designs are all capable of making him a small fortune in T-Shirt sales:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Salute continues their podcast and the guys discuss the big win @ West Virginia. Great discussion on all the national hype, becoming America's favorite story, the big plays vs. WV, and a lot more.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A great story on Chris Harper, the Oregon game that Snyder canceled, and the current race between Oregon and KSU from Ken Corbitt in the Topeka Capital-Journal.. The change in schools was a big change in style of play for Harper.
“Oregon is the program for the modern age,” he said. “They have the out-of-the-world, alien-looking uniforms. They have the spread offense, throw-it-around no-huddle and get a play off in a second.
“I wouldn't say we're a throwback team; we're a balanced team. We have stuff from back when coach (Bill) Snyder and Joe Paterno first got into coaching. We can do both things, and that's what sets us apart.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We all know Gus Johnson by now. He worked his way into our KSU-consciousness in 2010 with the NCAA Sweet 16 call of KSU vs. Xavier and the epic battle between Jacob Pullen and Crawford/Holloway.
And by now you know he loves calling football (he did KSU's wins over OU and WV) with just as much flair and enthusiasm, leading the way for Fox as one of their top broadcasters.
And by now you probably know, he's coming to Manhattan this weekend. The only negative? I'll be at the game, not listening to the call on TV.
“They’re still rugged, they’re still incredibly disciplined and they don’t beat themselves,” he said, when comparing the two teams.
“They have a quarterback that is playing lights-out in Collin Klein. Their running back John Hubert is playing like an All-American candidate as well. And Arthur Brown may be the best defender in the nation, as least one of them.
“They take on the personality of their head coach. Coach (Bill) Snyder is a legend and he’s still on top of his game."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Klein now owns all 15 first place votes. ALL of them. Geno fell to SIXTH after playing KSU. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are NCAA's top 10 Plays and/or Players of Week 8. And of course, who else? Klein makes it to the top of yet another list.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here you thought the KState Mask was ... just the KSTATE Mask. But, as you can see, he's going national with his services and helping out the local community as well as cheering on the Cats. I'll post the Tech video this week as soon as it's out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's an absolutely great read from the Bleacher Report. "If Bill Snyder Can Do This In Kansas, What's Your Team's Excuse?"
Scout.com has been ranking recruiting classes and prospects since 2002, but Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder probably never noticed that because he's never reeled in a No. 1 recruiting class.
Snyder hasn't sniffed at a Top 10 class either. Or Top 20. Or Top 30. Or, believe it or not, a Top 40. In fact, the best recruiting class Snyder ever had, according to Scout, was in 2002 when the Wildcats' class was ranked No. 42.
Snyder's 2009's class, by the way, is on the same page as UTEP, Eastern Michigan and Idaho's classes. Even worse, you have to flip through five pages of class rankings to even find that 112th-ranked class.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, here's my friend Brent's perspective from his road trip to Morgantown last week as he and his wife Susan headed east to the rugged hills of West Virginia --
Friday:
Our journey began in Wichita on Friday with a smattering of purple at the airport. Downplayed anxiety on the faces of fans spending a little hard earned cash to get another first hand look at our collective dream personified.
In DFW, there is more purple, and a long layover and a few drinks and the mood lightens and doubt lessens. About that time I get a few texts suggesting that more than a few times opposing fans have left Morgantown battered and bruised. We double our resolve and board the flight to Pittsburgh and pass out.
Pittsburgh. Lovely little postcard of a sports town in autumn. Stayed in a nice place downtown, stuck between Heinz Field and PNC Park. We ate decent (not great) food at Bettis' and consumed a few more Yuenglings which were delicious. Not as much purple as I'd like to see. I welcomed sleep with open arms.
Gameday:
Free breakfast after a run with Susan by the Monongahela. South to Morgantown. I had a good feeling when Susan wanted more Beastie Boys. Arriving in Morgantown we knew we were in a hostile environment. There are WVU signs and colors EVERYWHERE. We were honked at and endured several insults that I would've been proud of when I was 20 and hammered.
Lunch came and went with several drinks, great pizza and very polite non-students welcoming us. At that point time speeds up at a little place called Fat Daddy's.
Fat Daddy's...A sea of purple. K State gameday on the stage and $2 Yuengling draws. I had 47. Waitresses sporting skintight shorts rather than pants. Chaos ensues. Ohio State eeks one out to the dismay of the crowd as does Notre Dame. Susan loses a game of Big Buck Hunter and I try to convince her to take a picture of me with the cute 21 year old bar waitress. No photo available.
At 4pm our ride picks us up and we head back to their house to navigate the treacherous hills to the stadium on foot supplied with enough beverages to sustain a crew of sailors for a week. More catcalls along the way regarding my choice of apparel. Varsity is the name of the bar adjacent to the stadium parking lot...it was full so we went to a WVU tailgate.
The tailgate was hosted by grad students with lots of expendable cash and marginal loyalty. I was apprehensive about our chances but everyone I talked to thought we would destroy the 'Eers.
"You're too well coached, and too disciplined,"
"We can't touch your QB,"
"Wait until you see our secondary,"
Drunk on the compliments and buzzed on the free Yuengling we make our way to the stadium. I think it seats only 8,000 more than ours, but this place seemed huge, and loud. Really loud. They were ready. Well, the fans were anyway.
We take our places amoungst WVU fans in a yellow section. They alternate navy and yellow based on sections. Our cohorts were mostly alumni and mostly sober. Lots of questions about our experience to that point and how tall my wife is. Opening kickoff sees Tremaine get a nice return and our drive stalls but we salvage a field goal.
"They only got three!" was almost chanted in unison around us and soon that would be revealed as the second best outcome of the night for the WVU defense.
Arthur Brown crushes the ensuing drive on fourth down and it becomes a clinic. All around us people are muttering about their defense. Boos are heard early in the second quarter and Klein seems to get about four-fold bigger standing in the pocket and picking his targets. He could've read the entire Manhattan Mercury prior to tossing the ball, he had that much time. I can't help but cheer, and cheer loudly, and nobody evens looks at me.
Haltime and the game is over. I walk out to the concession area to get 2 beers and am congratulated by most fans I pass. They are clapping me on the shoulder and saying what a great team and coach we have and how they appreciate the brand of football we play. I have never acted so gracious when I have been on that side. As I returned to my seat, everyone was gone. Headed for the hills. They had seen what they were afraid of happen at their home field. They could not protect their stadium from the purple wave. Our team simply overtook them like a windstorm through a wheat field. They were awestruck and silent and could not watch the carnage any longer.
HCBS sees Kleins numbers have surely gotten him national praise and pulls him from the game before any cheap shot can deter his run for glory. I actually don't think any Mountaineer would've taken a shot or had been successful against Optimus. Sams runs out the clock and "K S U" rings true through the stadium of our adversaries.
On the way from the stadium, I met and shook hands with Bob Huggins.
"Thanks for resurrecting our program coach."
"Your welcome ... sorry Frank didn't work out."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment