Good Afternoon Wildcat Nation,

It's great to be back in Manhattan following a terrific week at the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. The bowl staff and the many volunteers - led by President Rick Baker, Chairman Tommy Bain and Team Selection Chair Fin Ewing - provided outstanding service in hosting the Wildcats and providing our student-athletes, staff and fans with a first-class experience. And, the entire nation tuned in as the classic was among the highest rated program in America that evening among all networks, including ABC, CBS and NBC, while over 8.3 million viewers were focused in on the Powercat and our university!

I would like to thank those of you who made the trip to Dallas/Arlington to support the K-State football program and our university. From the 15,000-plus fans that packed Rangers Ballpark for the pep rally, to the 35,000-plus who filled Cowboys Stadium for the game, once again, you have proven once again that K-State has the best fans in the country!

Top News Stories from Local and National Newspapers:

• K-State's Snyder has hit the age of wonder (Kansas City Star)

Greetings from Texas!
 
The AT&T Cotton Bowl family has done a tremendous job hosting the K-State nation over the past week, and after our incredible pep rally today at Rangers Ballpark I know our team and fans are all ready to head across the street tomorrow for the big game versus Arkansas!
 
It's been awesome to watch the area fill up with purple over the last couple of days - we are grateful to the passionate support of all K-Staters, both those who will be present in the stadium and the extended Wildcat Family watching around the nation on FOX! Thank you!
 

View Thursday's photo gallery | Watch video recap from Thursday

January 5, 2012

Hi folks:

DALLAS, Texas - Are you ready for some football?
         
Well, this long-awaited day has finally come when No. 8 and 10-2 Kansas State plays No. 6 and 10-2 Arkansas in the 76th Annual AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboy's Stadium.
        
The Wildcat Nation demonstrated that they are stoked for the 7:32 p.m. kickoff yesterday as more than 15,000 fans gathered at the home of the American League baseball champion Texas Rangers for a pep rally AND the surprise announcement of KSU's historic $75 million West Stadium Center project.
         
Even baseball Hall of Famer and Texas Rangers President Nolan Ryan was impressed as he called down from his office over the left field wall and asked Rob Matwick, who was handling the field operations for the Rangers, "How many people do you have down there? I thought this was only going to be a small deal."
         
Stadium signs read "K-State Football" and "Pack Dallas with Purple," and that's exactly what the Wildcats did extending down the left field line to the foul pole to taking seats in the upper deck behind home plate. All were entertained by video highlights of the week, plus the superlative plays of the season, not to mention the K-State marching band, cheerleaders and Classy Cats, who together numbered 424 and traveled to Dallas in nine buses.
         

View Wednesday's photo gallery | Watch video recap from Wednesday
Read transcript of quotes from Head Coaches' Press Conference

By Mark Janssen

Bill Snyder said he's still assessing the accomplishments of his 2011 Kansas State Wildcat team, but during Wednesday's press conference at the AT&T Cotton Bowl the Wildcat coach did tip his hat to his 10-2 club.

"It's certainly a young group that exceeded whatever the expectations may have been. We've had a number of past teams able to do that, and I have a great appreciation for each and every one of them," said Snyder. "I'm not going to go through and try to rank which was the best team because each one was somewhat different and the competition was somewhat different. But I am proud of this football team and I would say it's come as far as any football team we have ever had up to this point in time."

View Tuesday's photo gallery | Watch video recap from Tuesday
Read transcript of quotes from Offensive Press Conference

By Mark Janssen

DALLAS, Texas - In the 116-year history of Kansas State football, there have been only 25 individuals crack the 1,000-yard rushing mark for a career. For a single season, the 1,000-yard milestone has been conquered only 13 times.

The latest of those is K-State quarterback Collin Klein with his current season of 1,099 yards.

Hoping to be next on the list is John Hubert, who has totaled 933 yards this season heading into Friday's 76th Annual AT&T Cotton Bowl against No. 6 Arkansas.

View Monday's photo gallery | Watch video recap from Monday
Read transcript of quotes from Defensive Press Conference

FOCUSING ON THE 'D', MEMORIES, AND ROLLING THE HIGHWAYS

Hi Y'all...

While Monday was still a relaxing holiday for some of you folks, those of us in Texas continue to slave away prepping for Friday's 76th Annual AT&T Cotton Bowl.

View Sunday's photo gallery | Watch video recap from Sunday
Read transcript of quotes from media day

By Mark Janssen

POSTMARK DALLAS, Texas

Howdy, y'all:  (That's Texas talk)
    
First, the news of the day.
    
There are so many areas where Bill Snyder does it better than anyone else coaching the game and one of those is finding a way to get his best athletes on the field.

He's proven that can mean moving quarterbacks Ty Zimmerman and Tysyn Hartman to safety, or switching Jordan Voelker from the offense to defensive end.

View Saturday's photo gallery | Watch video recap from Saturday


By Mark Janssen

DALLAS, Texas - First off, Happy New Year from the "Big D."

All Wildcats arrived safe and sound via a couple charters out of Manhattan on Saturday and then were treated to a Cowboys Stadium Welcome last night to open the 76th AT&T Cotton Bowl festivities.

So far, spectacular is the word.

Greetings Wildcat Nation!

Let's start by congratulating Deb Patterson and the K-State women's basketball team for their win over Marist in New York last night which improves the Wildcats' record to 9-3 on the year. Coach Patterson's charges return home to open Big 12 play against defending NCAA champion Texas A&M next Wednesday, January 4, at a special start time of 5:30 p.m. A Wildcat Weekday 4-Pack, which includes four tickets, four concession vouchers for chips, drinks and a hot dog, is available for as little as $30 - come out and support the Cats!

On the Road at Christmastime
I hope that K-Staters everywhere have had a happy and safe holiday season. The Currie family had the good fortune to roll out to Colorado for a few days over Christmas. We drove back on Tuesday, December 27, which happened to be a beautiful sunny day. Anytime I make that drive, passing through great Kansas towns like Goodland, Colby, Hays, Russell, etc, I love seeing the crop fields, elevators, oil rigs, corrals and now windmills that cover the landscape - all representing the hard work and productivity of the people of our state. I also think about the many, many hours K-State's great fans spend on the road coming to Manhattan to support the Cats throughout the year!