Monthly Archives: August 2008

THE MORNING AFTER – North Texas

Aug. 31, 200812:43 p.m.

So, maybe it’s afternoon. Work with me…

I don’t see how you can criticize what Kansas State did last night. The Wildcats did what was expected, and they were very efficient in doing so. Would you have preferred 20 more points? A shutout? Neither of those things is going to help K-State get to where it wants to be, and after a relatively smooth opener, Ron Prince and his staff have a base, a foundation from which they can teach and move forward.

If you’re not impressed with Josh Freeman, well, just wait. That’s all I’ll say on that subject.

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By J-Mart | Filed under Football, THE MORNING AFTER | Comments (3)

K-Stated: The Vlog, Take 2

Aug. 29, 20081:00 p.m.

As promised, here’s another segment. This is probably more of what you can expect here, as I hope it combines elements of information and entertainment. Kind of like a low-budget – extremely low-budget – version of ESPN. Wow, how’s that for ego? Anyway, tee it up and let it rip…

By J-Mart | Filed under Football, K-Stated: The Vlog | Comments (6)

K-Stated: The Vlog?

Aug. 29, 200810:10 a.m.

Go easy, people. As I point out in the video, I want this to be interactive, as the blog already is. Send questions my way – jmartin@wichitaeagle.com or jmartin@kcstar.com – and I’ll address some on the air. I want fans to make appearances, and I might take this show on the road. Really, the possibilities are endless, but most of all, I want it to be fun.

OK, here it is:

Thoughts? Check back in the afternoon for another installment.

By J-Mart | Filed under Football, K-Stated: The Vlog | Comments (7)

FLIP SIDE – North Texas

Aug. 28, 20082:06 p.m.

Brett Vito covers North Texas for the Denton Record-Chronicle. His Mean Green blog is loaded with pertinent information and it’s a good read. He was kind enough to send along some perspective about the Mean Green because, really, who knows better? Certainly not me. Anyway, here’s his essay on the program and the situation…

IMAGINE for a minute that you are widely successful professionally and universally loved in the city you work in with no prospects of the good life changing any time soon.

Want to give it up?

North Texas head coach Todd Dodge, who will lead the Mean Green into a game against Kansas State this week, did just that.

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By J-Mart | Filed under FLIP SIDE, Football | Comments (4)

2008-09 Kansas State men’s schedule

Aug. 27, 200812:40 p.m.

From the K-State sports information department:

Nineteen home games, including visits by NCAA Tournament participants Baylor, Kansas and Oklahoma, highlight the 32-game 2008-09 Kansas State men’s basketball schedule released by athletic department officials on Wednesday.

“We are excited about the schedule that we put together,” said head coach Frank Martin. “It features some challenging road contests to go along with a home slate that features some really quality programs from throughout the country. We think that it is one that will harden our basketball team and prepare it for an obviously difficult Big 12 schedule, which I think will be as competitive as there is in the country.”

It will mark the fifth time in school history that Kansas State has hosted at least 18 regular-season home games, following the 1981-82, 1993-94, 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons.

In addition to the 19-game home schedule, Kansas State fans will be able to watch the team at the world-class Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., for the second consecutive year. The Wildcats will meet Southern Mississippi, led by former Iowa State head coach Larry Eustachy, on Thursday, Dec. 11. Last season, the squad defeated Florida A&M, 87-60, before 17,699 fans at the Sprint Center.

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By J-Mart | Filed under Uncategorized, What's the Big deal? | Comments (1)

K-State Sports Network Announces Affiliates

Aug. 26, 20084:42 p.m.

From the Kansas State sports information department:

The Kansas State Sports Network will broadcast K-State football across 30-stations in Kansas for the 2008 season, Ben Boyle, general manager of K-State Sports Properties, announced today.

The stations provide state-wide coverage throughout central, northwest and western Kansas, further improving the exposure of K-State football across the Sunflower State. The daytime reach of the 30 stations stretches from Denver to St. Louis and from Des Moines to Oklahoma City.

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By J-Mart | Filed under Football | Comments (3)

Josh Freeman on Josh Moore

Aug. 26, 200812:06 p.m.

Some more quick Kansas State notes as I ponder whether or not a Sun Belt team will upset a BCS school this year…

- IT’S obvious I believe, or I’m “confirmed” in my thoughts that Josh Freeman is going to be the most compelling K-State football figure this year, and really, isn’t it about time? Isn’t this what we expected from the first day he arrived in Manhattan? Shouldn’t the starting quarterback expose his personality?

Instead, he was shielded by Ron Prince in his first two season, which was probably the right move.

Those days are obviously over.

Have to love those stories that play up his self-confidence, which I find comical. Find me a Division I quarterback lacking confidence, and I’ll bet that quarterback sits the bench.

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By J-Mart | Filed under Football | Comments (5)

Leftover nuggets

Aug. 25, 20088:22 p.m.

Here’s some stuff that won’t appear in tomorrow’s Eagle or the Star:

- REMEMBER Wali Lundy? Well, that’s who Keithen Valentine reminds Ron Prince of. Now you know…

- SPEAKING of RP, he uttered the word “confirmed” 14 times in a 30-something news conference, which is impressive. But the best moment came when Mark Janssen of the Manhattan Mercury asked Prince “how confirmed” he was on the defensive side of the ball and Prince, never missing a beat, replied, “Very confirmed…” Classic.

- MO Latimore has given Daniel Calvin a nickname: “The Diesel.” Feel free to borrow.

- RP is serving on the NCAA Rules Committee.

- THE K-State coach loves how the freshman quarterbacks are faring but, as he openly admitted, neither Collin Klein nor Joseph Kassanavoid are ready to challenge Josh Freeman just yet.

- AS you might have already known, Leon Patton and John Houlik are not practicing with the team.

- THERE was a Bubba Brown sighting at Butler. No confirmation if that, indeed, means he is enrolling there, although that is the suspicion. More information as it becomes available, people.

- HARD not to root for Blair Irvin. I wanted to say “nice kid,” but he’s 25. Nice man, I guess.

By J-Mart | Filed under Football | Comments (4)

Kansas State Preseason Special, Ron Prince Show on FSN

Aug. 22, 20083:42 p.m.

From the Kansas State sports information department:

Fox Sports Net Kansas City has announced that it will air its preseason kickoff special featuring the Kansas State football program beginning August 23.

The 2008 Kansas State Football Preseason Special, produced by K-State, will air two times on FSN Kansas City. The one-hour show will air throughout the entire Fox Sports Net Kansas City territory on Saturday, August 23, at 4:30 p.m. (CT) and will then be replayed on Friday, August 29, at 12 p.m.

The 2008 Kansas State Football Preseason Special is co-hosted by the voice of the Wildcats, Wyatt Thompson, and head coach Ron Prince and includes an inside look at the Wildcats offense, defense and special teams as well as an analysis of the upcoming 2008 schedule and individual player features.

Inside K-State Football with Head Coach Ron Prince, Kansas State’s weekly football show, makes its debut on FSN Kansas City on Sunday, August 31 in a new time slot as the show will now air at 10:30 p.m. each week.

By J-Mart | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Bedore on Rimington List

Aug. 22, 200810:04 a.m.

From the Kansas State sports information department:

Kansas State senior Jordan Bedore is one of 43 players nationally and six from the Big 12 Conference named to the 2008 Rimington Trophy Watch List, the award committee has announced.

Bedore, a Goodland native who was named to the award’s spring watch list in May, returns for his senior season as one of the Cats’ most experienced lineman with 22 career starts.

Last season, Bedore started and graded out very well over the first five games of the season before suffering a season-ending injury. A team captain for 2008, Bedore was honored this past season as the recipient of the Anthony Bates Memorial Award at K-State by best promoting team unity and unselfishness for the benefit of the team.

The nine-year old trophy, which is given annually to nation’s top center, is presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $1.3 million for the award’s benefactor, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which is hosted by the Boomer Esiason Foundation that to date has raised over $65 million for CF research.

Other Big 12 centers on the list include Baylor’s J.D. Walton, Colorado’s Daniel Sanders, Kansas’ Ryan Cantrell, Oklahoma’s Jon Cooper and Texas’ Chris Hall.

By J-Mart | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (2)