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Friday, December 13, 2002
Notebook: K-State's collapse
By Marc Connolly
BCSfootball.com
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- As much as Kansas State and its boisterous fans beg for respect and refer to themselves as "a program" like the Nebraskas, Florida States and Michigans do, there's still something missing: A BIG-TIME WIN.
There have been some big victories throughout K-State's stay in the Top 25 the past 91 consecutive polls and during its current 39-5 run since 1997, but only one -- Kansas in '95 -- in 19 tries against Top 10 teams in Bill Snyder's regime. Recent woes go back to then-No. 9 Colorado's upset over the seventh-ranked Wildcats in the regular season finale in 1995. Perhaps it's biggest losses came the past two seasons when Snyder's team bowed to Texas A&M in the Big XII Championship Game after downing Nebraska at home in '98, and then against the 'Huskers in Lincoln last November with an undefeated record on the line.
Now this. To a team that was favored by more than a touchdown and in front of its own fans in a stadium that the Wildcats believe is up there with "The Big House" and "Death Valley" as far as being deathtraps for opponents. With two undefeated behemoths in their own conference and too many other one-loss teams in the mix, there goes another run at the national title.
In other words: this loss hurt.
"I can't speak for all the players, but obviously everyone's disappointed, myself, the players, the coaches," said Snyder after his team's backbreaking 41-31 loss to No. 8 Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon. "The fans and everyone that's involved in the program are rightfully so, disappointed. You know, we're concerned about some things that we did and didn't do and how well we played and didn't play."
"It's a lot of heartache -- it's a tough loss to take and we worked so hard and invested so much time and effort into it," said linebacker Ben Leber. "Anytime you do that and it doesn't come out in your favor, it's always kind of tough to take."
If there is blame to be thrown around, it would have to go to the defense. It's one thing to get beat by a spectacular quarterback like Josh Heupel (29-for-37, 374 yards and 2 TDs), but a totally different story when a multitude of receivers and backs are allowed to break tackles and turn short gains into first-down plays.
"It's my job to get them to play, and I'll take full responsibility," said defensive coordinator Phil Bennett.
The Wildcats fell victim to lapses in special teams coverage as well, not just because of J.T. Thatcher's 93-yard kickoff return to the K-State 2 that set up Seth Littrell's touchdown plunge in the first quarter, but also because of the ever-important battle of field position.
"We let them have field position with our kickoff unit, which I think was very good up to this point," said Snyder. "You saw the same things I saw. Sometimes it can be a slow death out there."
For Snyder, though, it was not a good day in any one position.
"I think collectively it was pretty much across the board."
Do that against Nebraska with a potential Big XII Championship Game berth on the line and the dubious mark against Top 10 teams will undoubtedly drop to 1-20.
Loving the schedule
The daunting task of playing Texas, Kansas State and Nebraska in a row is something that Bob Stoops thought was a plus from the day it was set in stone.
"I've said this all along, the schedule was set up perfectly for us," said Stoops, wearing his Steve Spurrier-like visor. "It would be best to beat Texas and then have the No. 2 team in the country at their place to get us ready to play under adversity and against a team like Nebraska."
T-shirt power
Heupel sported a prophetic T-shirt while talking to the media after his standout performance. On the front of the white tee reads, "Sooner Football 2000: A new season a new day." On the back is a verse from Isaiah 54:17: "But the truth remains: No weapons formed against thee shall prosper."
Record numbers file in for the Fab Three
Armed with "Corso for Prez" signs and everything and anything purple, 15,587 K-State fans stormed into KSU Stadium on Saturday morning to watch the ESPN Game Day crew -- Lee Corso, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit -- in action for their 10 a.m. CT telecast. ESPN said the lofty number broke the unofficial record set last November when Game Day invaded Virginia Tech for the Miami game. It was the second time the popular show has hit the Little Apple, the last time being in 1998 for the Nebraska game in which Corso correctly predicted an upset victory for the Wildcats.
Motorcycle heaven
Moments before the teams ran onto the field, approximately 100 motorcyclists circled the cement track around Wagner Field to the Steppenwolf's Harley anthem of "Born to be Wild." Of course, most of the bikers had purple on mixed in with leather.
ETC ...
K-State went three-and-out on its first drive. It was the first time all season the Wildcats failed to score a TD on their first possession ... Quentin Griffin's 11 rushing touchdowns are the most in a season by an OU player since Jerald Moore in 1994 ... With 374 passing yards, Heupel has now passed for over 300 yards in 12 of 18 career contests with OU. He has also thrown for 270 yards in nine-straight games ... The 41 points scored by Oklahoma are the most registered against K-State in Manhattan since Nebraska downed the 'Cats 45-8 in 1990 ... With two rushing touchdowns, Jonathan Beasley tied the single-season school record for rushing touchdowns with 14 to tie Bill Butler (1971) and Michael Bishop (1998) ... Best sign seen in the parking lot - "Yo, kitty, kitty: Rocky wants to pet you."
Marc Connolly is a senior writer for ABC Sports Online.
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Oklahoma's Quentin Griffin uses his feet and fingers to reach the end zone on a 17-yard run.
Josh Heupel answers the question of who should be No. 1.