A few conference realignment thoughts

Sept. 2, 20119:34 p.m.

Made a few calls Friday about the topic of conference realignment, and wanted to pass along two tidbits.

1. A Kansas State source told me he was in favor of BYU joining the Big 12. The source’s reasoning was that the Cougars, currently a football independent and member of the West Coast Conference in all other sports, would be a solid addition for a conference in need of a new member with a strong football tradition. Beyond that, the source said BYU joining the Big 12 would bring the conference some much needed positive publicity at the national level. That would increase the Big 12′s chances of attracting two more new members and returning to a 12-team league.

There are other obvious reasons for the Big 12 to covet BYU, which the Salt Lake Tribune reports is in talks with the Big 12. The Cougars have a strong national following, and could enhance the league’s TV appeal.

Other possible Big 12 expansion candidates are Air Force, Louisville, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Arkansas, Houston and SMU.

2. The possibility of Kansas and K-State splitting up and joining different conferences in the event that the Big 12 crumbles is a very complicated matter. Though KU chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little told the University Daily Kansan the two could separate, the Kansas Board of Regents would need to approve such a move for it to actually happen.

Though Topeka regent Dan Lykins told me yesterday he’s not sure how the board would vote in such a situation, it’s hard to imagine the regents supporting a move that isn’t beneficial for both schools.

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Regent feels ‘real good’ about Big 12 future

Aug. 14, 201110:23 a.m.

When the Kansas Board of Regents meet in Arcadia on Monday for their annual three-day retreat, Dan Lykins is certain conference realignment will be discussed.

Lykins, a Topeka attorney and Kansas State alum who serves on the board, said he is looking forward to hearing about the topic from both K-State president Kirk Schulz and Kansas chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little.

As long as Texas A&M is considering a move to the SEC, he says the status of the Big 12 “is a critical issue that the regents are very concerned about.”

However, he is feeling much better about the league’s future than he was during last summer’s conference realignment scare, when he openly wondered at times if the Big 12 was going to survive.

Though he and the other regents have not been actively involved in any realignment discussions, such as the conference calls that Big 12 athletic directors and presidents participated in Saturday afternoon, he says administrators from both K-State and KU have kept them informed.

So far, he likes what he hears.

“No one can force Texas A&M to do anything,” Lykins said. “Right now, it’s in their corner. So it’s a waiting game. But I feel comfortable that whatever happens, KU and K-State will still be in the Big 12 and will continue working together to make this a better conference … I feel real good about what’s going on.”

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Postgame: K-State 59, KU 7

Oct. 15, 201011:11 a.m.

KUFootballThomas

Winning the Sunflower Showdown hasn’t looked that easy in years. The Kansas State Wildcats did everything right on Thursday against the Kansas Jayhawks. Bill Snyder had his team ready to play, Carson Coffman was on fire and Daniel Thomas regained his mojo. Here’s a deeper look:

FIVE THINGS THAT WENT WELL
1. When Carson Coffman finished his media obligations for the night, Kansas State administrators and fans lined up to shake his hand. One after another they waited to tell him how proud they were of his gutsy performance.

The last time I saw that much appreciation for a K-State sports figure was when the K-State basketball team defeated then No. 1 Texas at home last season, and everyone wanted to congratulate Frank Martin.

Considering Coffman shook off a rough start to the season, criticism from his own fans and speculation from his coach that he would be benched this week to put up the game of his life, the kudos were definitely deserved.

Just look at this stat line: 15 of 16 for 184 yards and two touchdowns, 10 carries for 42 yards and three touchdowns. Amazing.
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Gameday Preview: K-State at Kansas

Oct. 14, 201012:08 p.m.

KUKSU

Of the 107 Sunflower Showdowns that have been played over the years, this one is not expected to rank the near top.

K-State is trying to move to 5-1 and put itself one win away from bowl eligibility. Kansas is trying to even its record at 3-3 and pick up its first conference win of the year.

Both teams are coming off tough losses, and both teams have struggled to stop explosive offenses. But everything has a way of evening out in rivalry games.
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Player to watch: Justin Springer

Oct. 13, 20105:24 p.m.

Football vs. North Dakota State When Kansas surprisingly defeated Georgia Tech this season, Justin Springer was a big reason why.

The senior middle linebacker flew around the field, made 15 tackles and provided some much needed leadership on defense.

It will be difficult for him to reproduce that stellar performance against K-State (15 tackles is his career high) but with the game being played in Lawrence you can pretty much count on him being a factor. During three home games this season, he has averaged 10 tackles. On the road, he has averaged just four.
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K-State football to play at KU again in 2011

Sept. 30, 201011:34 a.m.

In order to convert an eight-game conference schedule that spanned two divisions into a nine-game, round-robin format that includes all 10 remaining Big 12 teams, the conference had to get creative.

So in 2011, several league teams will make repeat trips to stadiums they visit this season.

For Kansas State, that means the Sunflower Showdown against rival Kansas will be played in Lawrence for two straight years. K-State travels to Kansas for a Thursday night game on Oct. 14, and will return on Oct. 22, 2011 to face the Jayhawks again next season.

The arrangement will no doubt irritate some K-State fans, but Wildcats athletic director John Currie said repeat trips were inevitable under the new scheduling arrangement.

“The conference office did a good job of limiting those instances, but overall we were more concerned about getting the proper balance right since we anticipate that this schedule pattern will be in place for many, many years,” Currie said. Read More »

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Looking ahead to Gameday: at Kansas

Sept. 1, 20105:16 p.m.

Editor’s note: In preparation of the upcoming football season, K-Stated will look ahead to all 12 games on the Wildcats’ 2010 schedule. Next up, Nebraska.

Gone is Todd Reesing. Gone is Mark Mangino. Gone are the high expectations of the past few seasons.

With new quarterback Kale Pick under center (backup Jordan Webb is expected to play as well) and Turner Gill on the sidelines, things are going to be different at Kansas this year.

Many are happy to see the beginning of a new era, but this is not the ideal time for change. The Jayhawks’ schedule is soft this season. Seven games come at home and one will be played at Arrowhead Stadium. Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech are nowhere to be found.

In 2007, Kansas took advantage of a similar slate of games and went 12-1. This time, few are predicting it to reach a bowl game.
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Wednesday K-State links

Aug. 25, 20103:42 p.m.

– For the second straight year, Kansas State will be featured on ESPN’s “College Gameday” basketball program.

Rece Davis, Digger Phelps and Jay Bilas previewed the Sunflower Showdown in front of a huge crowd at Bramlage Coliseum last season. The Wildcats and Jayhawks played an overtime thriller, and the game got big ratings. This year, ESPN will head to Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 29 to preview the rematch.

Gameday will also appear at Baylor (did I really just write that?) later in the season when the Bears host Texas.

– It’s been hard to keep up with all the injuries coming out of UCLA football practices, but the Bruins finally appear to be getting some good news. The Los Angeles Times reports sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince, barring a setback, should be good to go against Kansas State.

– Speaking of UCLA, this guy predicts K-State to beat the Bruins 17-7.
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Scheduling strategies differ in new Big 12

Aug. 11, 20104:35 p.m.

Scheduling photo

At his annual preseason media day news conference last week, a reporter asked Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder why he canceled a future home-and-home series against Oregon.

His answer was robotic.

“My feelings about scheduling,” Snyder responded. “That hasn’t changed. I still feel the same way — right, wrong or indifferent — that I always have.”

Snyder’s feelings about scheduling (if you need a refresher) are to play as many nonconference games as possible at home against beatable opponents. Traveling to both UCLA and Louisiana-Lafayette last year was not at all his cup of tea.

With the help of athletic director John Currie, he has added future games against Texas-San Antonio and Central Florida. Expect more games of that caliber to show up on future Wildcats’ schedules. Not just because they please Snyder, but because Currie believes extra home games will be needed when the Big 12 becomes a 10-team conference and switches to a nine-game format.

Other coaches and athletic directors across the league are also talking schedules these days, but no two opinions are exactly the same. K-State and Kansas appear to be scheduling light, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops is thinking about doing the same and Texas just added Notre Dame.
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Now at the podium: Kansas

July 28, 20109:50 a.m.

The main storyline surrounding the Kansas Jayhawks this season is their new coach.

Mark Mangino is out, and Turner Gill is in.

They couldn’t be more different.

Players say Mangino was a real screamer and used a tell-you-once coaching style. By comparison, Gill has instituted a no-cursing policy and likes to walk his players through drills after they make mistakes.

By all accounts, the Jayhawks like the change.

“He’s a great guy,” said defensive lineman Jake Laptad. “He’s very encouraging, and brings a lot to our locker room. He’s turned our program around and I think we’ll have a great year.”
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