This week’s player to watch: senior defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald

Nov. 5, 20091:46 p.m.

Jeffrey Fitzgerald

Ever since Jeffrey Fitzgerald accepted coach Bill Snyder’s mid-season challenge and became one of Kansas State’s vocal leaders, the Wildcats have looked completely different on the defensive line.

Up front, K-State is now able to rush the quarterback and force turnovers on a consistent basis. In its last two home games, K-State recorded 10 sacks and forced 10 turnovers.

Fitzgerald alone has five sacks against conference opponents this season and one interception return for a touchdown. Continuing that type of play will be key against Kansas.
Read More »

By Kellis Robinett | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Player 2 Watch | Comments (1)

Gameday Preview: K-State at Oklahoma

Oct. 30, 200911:37 p.m.

Oklahoma is ranked and Kansas State is not. Oklahoma is a 28-point favorite and Kansas State is not. Oklahoma is playing at home, where it has won a nation’s best 27-straight games, and Kansas State is not.

On the surface, this game is a mismatch.

But, at 5-3, the Wildcats do own a better record than the Sooners. Having won their last two games, they are also riding a longer winning streak than Oklahoma.

They are little things that won’t mean much once the game starts, but they have given K-State a jolt of confidence.
Read More »

By Kellis Robinett | Tags: , , , , , , , , Filed under GAMEDAY | Comments (2)

Postgame: K-State 20, Colorado 6

Oct. 24, 20097:20 p.m.

The fans were happy but Bill Snyder was angry.

Even with his team having just defeated Colorado 20-6 — and maintained its position atop the Big 12 North standings in the process — on Saturday at the stadium that features his name, he saw an offensive effort so poor that he couldn’t be happy.

Most reporters were a little shocked by his anger. Sitting at 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big 12, especially with Nebraska and Kansas losing, puts K-State in a fantastic position to win the division. If the Wildcats win their final two home games, odds are they will win the division.
Read More »

By Kellis Robinett | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Football | Comments (1)

Postgame: K-State 62, Texas A&M 14

Oct. 18, 20091:50 a.m.

Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder said he didn’t see this coming. A better effort? Sure. Overall improved play? Yeah, that was possible. A win? Totally within reach.

But a 62-14 pounding of Texas A&M a week after the Wildcats themselves were on the wrong end of a 66-14 score at Texas Tech? No, he couldn’t have predicted that.

As he said in the postgame media interview, if he could predict the future, he’d be working “in Vegas.”

The few people out there who figured K-State could beat A&M by a massive amount of points are likely wishing they could reverse time and go to Vegas today. In one of the biggest turnarounds you will ever see, the Wildcats went from losing to a Big 12 south team by 52 points to beating one by 48. That’s a 100-point difference.
Read More »

By Kellis Robinett | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Football | Comments (0)

What we’ve learned about K-State football

Oct. 15, 20098:57 p.m.

We’re midway through the football season, and Kansas State is right about where most preseason predictions had it at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

With six games remaining, there’s a lot that could still happen. But after six games, here’s what we’ve learned:
Read More »

By Kellis Robinett | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Football | Comments (1)

Postgame: K-State 49, Tenn. Tech 7

Sept. 27, 200912:09 a.m.

When a win comes as easily as Kansas State’s 49-7 rampage over Tennessee Tech did on Saturday at Snyder Family Stadium, there are inevitably two ways to look at it.

You can walk away heavily impressed by the Wildcats’ big victory. Or you can walk away laughing at the poor play of the Golden Eagles.

But seeing as how Kansas State scored more points than it had all season in this game — and it did so with top playmakers Daniel Thomas, Brandon Banks and Carson Coffman watching from the bench for the final 25 minutes of the second half — the Wildcats did more than enough to deserve praise.
Read More »

By Kellis Robinett | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Filed under Football | Comments (0)