Game No. 2
Troy State (0-0) at
No. 7/5 Kansas State (1-0)
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003
6:10 p.m. (Central)
KSU Stadium
(50,000 FieldTurf)
Manhattan, Kan.
Kickoff: 6:10 p.m. (Central)
Television: none.
Radio: Live across the 28-station Mid America Sports Network. Wyatt Thompson (color), Stan Weber (play-by-play) and Chris Allison (sideline) serve as the on-air talent.
On the Web: A live audio stream of all Kansas State football games is available via the Internet at K-State's official site, www.k-statesports.com.
Records: Kansas State enters its home opener with a 1-0 record after defeating California, 42-28, in the BCA Classic at Arrowhead Stadium. The game is the season opener for Troy State, which posted a 4-8 record in 2002.
Rankings: Kansas State enters the contest ranked No. 7 in the AP Top 25 and No. 5 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. Troy State is not ranked.
Series: Saturday's game is the first meeting on the gridiron between Kansas State and Troy State.
Coaches: Kansas State's Bill Snyder, enters Saturday's home opener with a 117-51-1 (.692) record in 14-plus seasons with the Wildcats. Larry Blakeney enters the Trojans' 2003 season opener with a 102-42-1 (.703) in 12 seasons at Troy State.
No. 7/5 Cats open home slate
No. 7/5 Kansas State, coming off a workman-like 42-28 victory over California in the 2003 BCA Classic at Arrowhead Stadium, opens its a school-record tying eight-game home schedule against Troy State Saturday at KSU Stadium.
The game, which kicks at 6:10 p.m. (Central), is the first of four straight non-conference home games for the Wildcats, who won't leave the Little Apple again until they open Big 12 Conference action at Texas on Oct. 4.
There is no television schedule for the game. However, the contest will air live over the 28-station Mid America Sports Network. Wyatt Thompson will call the action with former K-State quarterback Stan Weber providing the analysis. Chris Allison will serve as the crew's sideline reporter.
It is the first meeting ever on the gridiron between the Wildcats and Trojans. Troy State, a former NCAA Division I-AA power, made the move to 1-A prior to the 2001 season. Currently playing as an Independent, the Trojans will officially move into a league in 2004, when they join the Sun Belt Conference.
At stake for K-State
Kansas State brings a number of streaks into today's home opener vs. Troy State:
The Wildcats have won 36 consecutive regular-season games against non-conference opposition, including K-State's season-opening victory over California last Saturday. The win over Cal was also the Wildcats' 14th straight in a season opener.
Kansas State has won 13 straight home openers. The Cats have not dropped a home opener since suffering a 10-8 setback vs. Northern Iowa on Sept. 16, 1989 -- Bill Snyder's first season at K-State.
Overall, K-State has won 38 consecutive non-conference home games. The Wildcats' last non-conference loss on Wagner Field occurred on Oct. 17, 1992, when Utah State defeated K-State, 28-16.
The Wildcats enter Saturday's game riding the nation's fourth-longest overall winning streak. Dating back to last season, K-State has won seven games in a row. Only Ohio State (14), Boise State (11) and Southern California (8) own longer intact winning streaks.
No. 108 at home
Saturday's contest vs. Troy State will be Kansas State's 108th home opener. The Wildcats are 74-28-5 in home debuts, including a 13-1 mark under current head coach Bill Snyder.
The Wildcats enter the game with an all-time record of 416-561-41, with 28 percent of those victories coming in the last 14-plus seasons under current head coach Bill Snyder (117-51-1).
Under Snyder's direction the Wildcats have not had a losing season since going 5-6 in 1992.
Of Kansas State's 35 winning seasons in 107 years of football, 10 have come in the last 12 years.
Special Guests
The Kansas State football program will celebrate its past with three reunions during the 2003 season, beginning with today's acknowledgment of the 1982 Wildcats. K-State's first ever bowl team, head coach Jim Dickey's "Making Tracks" squad of 1982 was led by team MVP and quarterback Darrell Dickey, who threw for 1,225 yards. The Wildcats finished the season with a 6-5-1 record and earned a berth to play Wisconsin in the Independence Bowl. Just the third K-State team since 1936 to finish with a winning record at the time, the team featured such standouts as All-Big-Eight first teamers Mike Wallace (SE), Greg Best (CB), Reggie Singletary (DT) as well as current Troy State defensive coordinator and former Wyoming head coach Vic Koenning (DE).
Starting strong
Kansas State will put a 13-game winning streak in home openers on the line when the Wildcats face Troy State. The streak dates back to a 10-8 setback vs. Northern Iowa on Sept. 16, 1989 -- Bill Snyder's first season at K-State. Though impressive, the streak is not the longest in school history. Between 1914-1928, the Wildcats won 15 consecutive home lid-lifters.
August agrees with Cats
The August heat does not seem to bother Kansas State, which has posted an impressive record in early-season games.
Kansas State improved its all-time August record to a perfect 5-0 with its 42-28 victory over California in the 2003 BCA Classic.
The Wildcats are 4-0 in August under Snyder.
The only August match up played prior to the Snyder era was on August 30, 1986, when K-State defeated Western Illinois, 35-7, at KSU Stadium.
Early start
Kansas State, which hopes to be playing in college football's final game of the season, played in one of the nation's first contests of the year, when the Wildcats opened their 108th year on the gridiron Aug. 23 in the 2003 BCA Classic vs. California at Arrowhead Stadium. The game is the earliest start in school history for the Wildcats. San Jose State and Grambling technically kicked off the college football season in the Literacy Classic at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. at 5 p.m. (CT), one hour and 47 minutes before the Cats and Golden Bears teed it up. To put things in perspective, as recently as 1999 K-State did not start its season until Sept. 11. This year, the Cats play their fourth game of the year on Sept. 13.
Come early, stay late
Not only will Kansas State play its earliest game ever, but if the Wildcats were to win the Big 12 North they would also play a record number of games - 15. K-State played a current school-record 14 games in 2000, opening in the Eddie Robinson Classic vs. Iowa on Aug. 26 before taking on its 11-game regular season schedule, advancing to the Big 12 Championship game and playing in the Cotton Bowl. Should the Cats win the North, their season could span seven months (including two practice day's in July and a possible New Year's Day or post New Year's bowl berth), and at least 156 days.
Streaking in 2003
Kansas State brings the nation's sixth-longest active winning streak into Saturday's home after rolling up victories in each of its final six games of 2002 and taking a 42-28 decision from California in the BCA Classic. The nation's longest streak belongs to 2002 national champ Ohio State, which has won 14 straight.
More streaking
In addition to its current seven-game winning streak, here are a couple more K-State streaks:
Kansas State has won 11 games in five of the last six seasons and join Nebraska and Florida State as the only two programs in the history of college football to accomplish that feat.
K-State has won at least nine games in nine of the last 10 seasons.
Kansas State has capped each of its last 10 seasons with a bowl trip, making K-State one of just seven programs with an intact double-figure bowl streak.
The Wildcats have won 14 straight season openers and 13 consecutive home openers.
Kansas State has won 36 straight regular-season games vs. non-conference opposition. The Cats' last non-conference loss was on Oct. 17, 1992, when K-State dropped a 28-16 decision at Utah State.
K-State has won 38 straight non-conference home games. The last loss to a non-league foe at KSU Stadium was a 37-20 setback vs. Northern Illinois on Sept. 30, 1989.
Ball Hogs
Kansas State's high-powered rushing attack has helped the Wildcats keep the ball away from opposing offenses. heading into Saturday's tilt with Troy State, K-State has held the time of possession advantage in eight straight games, including last week's win over California. Holding onto the ball seems to be paying off for the Cats, who are 7-1 in those last eight games.
Rushing to victory
California became the latest opponent to be outgained on the ground by Kansas State. The Wildcats rolled up a massive 330 to 62 rushing edge over the Golden Bears last Saturday in the BCA Classic, marking the 14th consecutive game K-State has outrushed an opponent. Since 1990, Kansas State is 63-3 when rushing for at least 200 yards. The Cats' 330 rushing yards vs. the Golden Bears, marked the seventh straight game the Cats have gone over 200 yards on the ground. Kansas State also has scored a rushing touchdown in each of its last 28 non-bowl games.
Roaring 40s
With its 42 points against California, Kansas State has now topped the 40-point mark in five of its last seven games. The misses during that stretch were a 34-point outing vs. Arizona State in the 2002 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl and 38 points at Missouri in the regular-season finale. Dating back to the start of the 2002 season, the Wildcats have eclipsed the 40-point mark in nine of 14 games and have not been held out of the end zone since scoring just three points vs. Syracuse in the 2001 Insight.com Bowl.
Three by air
Kansas State may be know for its rushing offense, but the Wildcats unveiled solid aerial assault against California, passing for 205 yards and three touchdowns. The three touchdown passes were the most by the Cats since Marc Dunn and Jeff Schwinn combined to toss three vs. Eastern Illinois last year.
On the march
If Kansas State's offensive performance vs. California is any indication, the Wildcats should once again be one of the nation's most potent attacks. Including the 535 yards K-State rolled up against Cal, the Wildcats have now topped the 400-yard mark in total offense in five of their last six games. The only miss during that stretch was a 385-yard outing against Iowa State on Nov. 9, 2002. Dating to the start of the 2002 season, Kansas State has produced over 400 yards of total offense in nine of 14 games.
The exception, not the rule
After 2002's 11-2 campaign, its looking like K-State's 6-6 mark during 2001 was more of a bump in the road than a precursor of things to come. Still, the turnaround engineered by Bill Snyder and his staff during 2002 was historic at Kansas State as the Wildcats' five-win pickup from 2001 to 2002 equaled the largest single-season improvement in school history. tying the 1905 and 1953 teams.
Tough vs. the Run
Kansas State may have replaced six starters on the defensive side of the ball, but the Wildcats proved to be as tough as ever to run against in the season opener. K-State held Cal to just 62 yards on 29 attempts (2.1 ypc), which is a fraction below the 62.5 yards per game the Cats allowed on average last season to finish up ranked No. 2 nationally vs. the run. Overall, K-State has held each of its last nine opponents below 100 yards rushing.
Media likes the Cats
For the first time in the eight-year history of the Big 12 Conference, Kansas State has been picked to win the league's North Division. The Wildcats have been tapped as high as second three times (1998, 2000 and 2001), and predicted to finish third during four other seasons. K-State went on to win Big 12 North titles in 1998 and 2000. Over the first seven years of the league, the media has correctly predicted seven of the eventual 14 division champions.
The All Guys
Kansas State boasts four players on the All-Big 12 Conference preseason team, including three members on offense alone. Offensive lineman Nick Leckey, running back Darren Sproles and tight end Thomas Hill were selected on offense, with defensive end Andrew Shull being tapped on the defensive side of the ball. K-State's four selections are the third most in the league and trail only Oklahoma and Texas, which each have five.
Poll watching
Kansas State held steady in both polls this week, maintaining its No. 5 spot in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll as well as its No. 7 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 following its workman-like win over California. One of three Big 12 teams ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll to open the season, K-State's No. 5 preseason ranking was the highest ever for the Wildcats, who have appeared in the top 25 of six preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Polls since joining the Big 12 in 1996, but never higher than the No. 6 ranking the Cats earned prior to the 1998 season. In the AP Top 25, K-State's No. 7 preseason ranking is the highest debut for the Wildcats since opening at No. 6 in 1998.
More poll talk
Kansas State opened the 2003 season ranked No. 7 in the preseason Associated top 25 and No. 5 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.
K-State's preseason ranking marks the seventh time in the last eight years that the Wildcats have debuted in the top 25 of both polls. It is also the third time in the last six years that the Cats have been ranked in the top 10 of each poll, as Kansas State was ranked in the preseason top 10 in 1998 and 2000.
The Wildcats' 2003 preseason rankings are among the highest in school history. Kansas State's initial ranking of No. 5 is its highest debut ever in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. Prior to 2003, K-State's highest preseason ranking by the coaches was No. 6 in 1998. In the AP Top 25, K-State has been ranked higher in the preseason just once when the Cats debuted at No. 6 in 1998.
The only time in the last eight years the Wildcats have not been ranked in either preseason poll occurred last season. Ironically, Kansas State finished 2002 by equaling its highest final ranking in the coaches' poll in school history - No. 6. K-State also finished up ranked No. 6 in both 1995 and 1999.
Good Omen
A preseason top-10 ranking for Kansas State has portended good new for the Wildcats in recent years. In 1998, K-State debuted at No. 6 in both polls before going on to finish the season with an 11-2 record, a No. 10 ranking in the AP Top 25 and a No. 9 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. In 2000, the Wildcats put together an 11-3 campaign, finishing the year ranked No. 9 by the AP and No. 8 by the coaches after debuting at No. 8 in the AP Top 25 and No. 9 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Gunning for hardware
Several Wildcats have made appearances on preseason national award watch lists. On the lines, Nick Leckey is a member of the Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy and Rimington watch lists, while Andrew Shull has been tapped for the Ted Hendricks Award slate. Among the skill players, Ell Roberson has been added to the Davey O'Brien watch list, while Darren Sproles is among those selected to the Doak Walker Award panel. Most recently, Josh Buhl was added to the Butkus Award watch list. The Butkus Award is annually presented to the nation's top linebacker. Last year, cornerback Terence Newman won the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back.
Ministers of defense
Kansas State has developed one of the nation's top defensive traditions under head coach Bill Snyder and that continued during 2002 as the Wildcats finished first in the nation in scoring defense (11.8 ppg), allowed the fewest touchdowns in the nation with 19 each (Ohio State also yielded just 19) and finished second in the country in total defense (249.0 ypg). The Cats were especially stingy on the ground, giving up the nation's second fewest yards per game --69.5. Kansas State's total defense figure placed it in the top five in that category for the sixth straight season, making K-State the only team in the nation to accomplish that feat.
More Defense
Kansas State recorded three shutouts during the 2002 campaign, giving the Wildcats a conference leading 11 since the start of the Big 12.
Since Bill Snyder's arrival in the Little Apple, K-State has posted 18 shutouts, including at least one in each of the last nine seasons.
Bill Snyder-coached K-State teams have held opponents to less than 200 total yards 31 times, including five in 2002.
Only Kansas State, Alabama, Notre Dame and Troy State held four opponents under 200 yards in Division I-A.
Arizona State gained only 17 yards rushing in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl and was the sixth Wildcat opponent to be held to less than 50 net yards rushing last season.
K-State allowed just 69.5 yards per game on the ground in 2002, second in the nation behind TCU. The Cats held their last eight foes to a net 340 yards rushing combined (42.5 ypg).
Prior to 2002, the school record for rushing defense in a season was 96.5 ypg. The 2002 season marked the third straight season K-State re-set this record (previously 98.3 - 1988, lowered to 98.2 in 2000, to 96.5 in 2001 and now to 69.5 in 2002).
Stop, Thief
Kansas State continues to be tough on opposing quarterbacks
With James McGill's pick against Cal, K-State has now had at least one interception in 52 of the last 58 games and in 62 of the last 68 outings (including bowls).
The Wildcats have had 29 interceptions in their last 19 games, a string dating back to 2001 that includes the Insight.com Bowl. K-State has grabbed 15 opposing passes in its last nine games alone.
Overall, the Cats have had 73 takeaways in the last 32 games, including 24 in the last eight games of 2002 (14 interceptions/10 fumbles).
Quarterback Keeper
Kansas State's offense is directed by senior signal-caller Ell Roberson, who is among the early, early candidates for the 2003 Heisman Trophy. One of the nation's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks, Roberson proved to be a leathal weapon vs. California in the season opener, rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts, while completing 9 of 18 passes for 205 yards and a career-best three touchdowns.
Roberson's 145-yard rushing effort was the fourth-best ever by a K-State quarterback and the seventh time he has topped 100 yards on the ground during his career.
Roberson's seven 100-yard rushing games leads all quarterbacks at K-State and ranks sixth among all players.
Roberson's TD run against Cal was the 26th of his career, placing him fourth in touchdown scored at Kansas State and second overall in career rushing touchdowns.
Nothing new for Ell
Ell Roberson's performance vs. Cal was nothing new for the senior quarterback. Below are a few of Roberson's exploits from the 2002 season:
Roberson set a Kansas State single-game rushing record against Nebraska, amassing 228 yards on 29 carries and scoring three touchdowns.
Roberson set single-play, single-game and single-season records for rushing yards by a K-State quarterback with the performance vs. the Huskers... His 91-yard touchdown with 2:27 left in the first quarter vs. Nebraska was the longest on record by a Wildcat QB, and the longest by any Wildcat since Gerald Hackney went a school-record 96 yards against Kansas in 1948.
With 1,032 yards in 2002, Roberson exceeded the 643 he had in 2001 and surpassed the single-season record for rushing yards by a QB of 748 by Michael Bishop in 1998.
Roberson reached the 1,000-yard mark in the fourth quarter of the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl win over Arizona State, finishing the year as the seventh Wildcat to top 1,000 yards.
Roberson notched his third three-TD game in a four-game stretch against Arizona State, scoring on runs of 32, 3 and 1 yard. Against Nebraska, he had touchdown runs of 1, 91 and 25 yards, and found the end zone on rushes of 4, 4 and 1 yard at Kansas. Despite not scoring against Missouri, Roberson had 11 rushing touchdowns in the Wildcats' final five games.
Roberson's 100-yard game against the Huskers was his second in 2002 and the sixth of his career. The six are the most in a career by a Wildcat QB, surpassing Michael Bishop's four in 1997 and 1998.
Roberson owns six of the top nine rushing games ever by a Wildcat QB.
Ell Roberson averaged 86.0 rushing yards per game in 2002, ranking 54th nationally, but fourth among quarterbacks.
Against Colorado, Roberson passed the 1,000-yard mark in career rushing yards, becoming only the 20th Wildcat and the second K-State QB to hit that mark.
Roberson's 1,843 career rushing yards rank eighth on Kansas State's career list. He is the top rushing QB in Wildcat history, passing Michael Bishop, who concluded his career with 1,314.
Roberson was 44th in the NCAA in individual total offense, averaging 217.7 yards per game after totaling 315 at Missouri (244 passing, 71 rushing) and 278 vs. Arizona State.
With 4,397 total offense yards, Roberson became just the eighth Wildcat past the 4,000-yard mark in school history. He ranks seventh on K-State's career total offense list.
Ell Roberson's final pass efficiency rating of 136.5 would have ranked 20th in the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the national list. He finished five attempts below the 15 per game required.
More with Roberson
With the three rushing and one passing TD against Arizona State, Roberson jumped from 51st to 34th on the NCAA's 2002 list of points responsible for, which combines points scored by rushing and passing, as well as two-point conversions. Only Josh Harris of Bowling Green (134 points) and Chance Harridge of Air Force (132) were QBs with more individual points scored than Roberson, who finished 31st in the nation in individual scoring with 98.
Sproles Roles into 2003
Junior running back Darren Sproles picked up right where he left off in 2002, gaining a career high 175 yards on 22 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown run, against California in the season opener. In fact, Sproles looked in mid-season form on the Wildcats' first offensive play of the game, busting up the right sideline for 53 yards.
Sproles Past 100, Again
Darren Sproles became K-State's all-time leader in career 100-yard rushing games with his 175 vs. Cal in the BCA Classic. It was the 11th-time in his two-plus year K-State career that the junior has eclipsed the 100-yard mark, including each of the last 10 games.
Rolling with Sproles
Darren Sproles' 2002 campaign was filled with one highlight after another, as he gained 1,465 yards on the ground during to become the Wildcats' all-time single-season rushing leader. Below are a few of Sproles' 2002 accomplishments:
Sproles ended the regular season with 1,465 yards, eclipsing the mark of 1,263 set during 2001 by Josh Scobey for tops on K-State's single-season list.
Sproles set eight other K-State records during 2002, including the single-season mark for most all-purpose yards with 1,800. The old record of 1,648 was set by Henry Hawthorne in 1970.
Sproles ended the year with a streak of nine consecutive 100-yard games and 10 for the season.
Josh Scobey had seven 100-yard games in 2002, while Isaac Jackson had six straight 100-yard games in 1973. Jackson and Sproles are the only Wildcats ever to string together more than three 100-yard games.
More Sproles
During 2002 Darren Sproles became the fastest Wildcat ever to reach 1,000 yards, hitting the mark on his 159th carry of the 2002 season.
Sproles averaged 124.9 yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry during conference play, gaining 999 yards.
Sproles finished the 2002 season ranked 19th in the nation in rushing. On the list of NCAA rushers, Sproles' 6.18 per-carry average ranked fourth among players with at least 200 attempts. The only players with 200 carries ranked ahead of Sproles in yards per carry were Heisman Trophy candidates Larry Johnson of Penn State (7.70), Quentin Griffin of Oklahoma (6.56) and Willis McGahee of Miami, Fla. (6.22).
Sproles' per-carry average was nearly a full yard better than the school record of 5.34 set by Eric Hickson in 1998.
Sproles ranked 29th nationally in all-purpose yards and T34th in scoring.
Sproles' scored 104 points during 2002, becoming just the fifth Wildcat to top 100 points in a single season.
Dynamic Duo
Kansas State's terrific twosome of quarterback Ell Roberson and Darren Sproles both topped 100 yards rushing vs. Cal, finishing with 145 and 175 yards, respectively. It marked just the ninth time in K-State history that the Wildcats have had two 100-yard rushers in the same game, but the third time Roberson and Sproles have been the culprits. Overall, Roberson has been a part of over half of the double 100-yard rushing games in school history, taking part in five, including two with former K-Stater and current Arizona Cardinal, Josh Scobey.
Catching on
James Terry came to K-State as a highly-touted junior college transfer and lived up to expectations, hauling in 28 receptions for 561 yards. He appears to be even better 2003 after hauling in four receptions for a career-high 116 yards and a touchdown vs. California. And his numbers could have been even better had a 35-yard TD catch not been call back due to a holding penalty during the third quarter. Here's a quick look back Terry's accomplishments:
Terry finished as Kansas State's second-leading pass catcher with 28 receptions for 561 yards
He led Kansas State with five catches for 90 yards in the Holiday Bowl victory over Arizona State. Coupled with his four catches for 95 yards at Missouri, he went 9-for-185 in the final two games of 2002. Adding in the Cal game, Terry is 13-for-301 over his last three games.
Terry has had at least one catch in each of the last eight games in which he played, with eight of his catches coming in back-to-back games against Oklahoma State and Texas last season.
Iron Man
Center Nick Leckey has been a stalwart on the offensive line for Kansas State. The senior, who enters the Troy State game with 26 straight starts (28 career) dating back to the 2001 season opener, has been tapped as a preseason All-American by Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and Playboy. A consensus first team All-Big 12 selection in 2002, Leckey was also named to the conference's 2003 preseason All-Big 12 team.
Sack Machine
With an inexperienced defensive line beside him, senior defensive end Andrew Shull is sure to face plenty of double teams during the early part of 2003. K-State's most productive defensive lineman a year ago, Shull finished seventh on Kansas State's single-season list in quarterback sacks with 10.0, a figure that ranked second in the Big 12. He also had at least a half-sack in five of 2002's last six games.
Buck stops with Buhl
Josh Buhl had one of the most productive defensive seasons in Kansas State history from his outside linebacker slot during 2002 and has carried the momentum into 2003, closing out the Cal game with 13 tackles (seven solo) after coaches' film evaluation. With his team-leading 135 tackles during 2002, the most at K-State since Kirby Hocutt had 135 in 1993, Buhl finished T11th on the Wildcats' single-season stop chart. Overall, Buhl led or tied for the team lead in tackles in a game in eight of the Wildcats' 13 games in 2002. He also had seven double-figure games on the season. Buhl may have been at his best at Colorado, getting credit for 17 tackles, the most by a Wildcat last season.
First Timers
A number of Wildcats made their first career starts in last week's season opener vs. California. The list includes eight first-time starters:
Offense
Antoine Polite, Wide Receiver
Ryan Lilja, Guard
Jeromey Clary, Tackle
Jon Doty, Tackle
Brian Casey, Tight End
Defense
Jermaine Berry, Tackle
Matt Butler, Linebacker
Louis Lavender, Cornerback
