SE: K-State Football Brings Winning Attitude to Bowl Events

The scenes from the Texas Bowl’s annual DePelchin Scavenger Hunt (for video, click here) were bizarre at times, yet comical simultaneously.

One moment had Glenn Williams, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive lineman for K-State, climbing up a netted indoor jungle gym while children a quarter his size, at most, laughed and maneuvered around the redshirt freshman.

Elsewhere, another young child was dragging senior receiver Deante Burton by one finger to the team’s next activity; freshman defensive back Da’Marrio Jackson-Smith was carrying one of his “teammates” like a football; and starting right tackle Dalton Risner was handing out lab coats and telling his group, “All right, let’s go make a molecule.”

The event, which paired Wildcats up with children and families from the DePelchin Children’s Center — the Texas Bowl’s charitable beneficiary that is the leading center for foster care and adoption services — was less of a competition and more of an injection of fun into a week of preparation for K-State’s battle with Texas A&M on Wednesday.

“It’s great. We get to play with them, and when we were young, it meant the world to us, so to give a part of us to them, it’s phenomenal,” senior linebacker Charmeachealle Moore said. “It gets our mind off practice a little bit and allows us to have fun, so it was great.”

“They loved us. It’s always a kid’s dream to see college football players. I used to be that kid, so now that I’m the college football player, it’s pretty cool,” sophomore defensive back D.J. Reed added. “Kids won’t forget this. I remember when I was, like, seven years old, I went to my first college game and I saw Reggie Bush and I never forgot that moment, so these are moments they will cherish forever.”

The Children’s Museum of Houston offered a perfect place for Wildcats to interact with the DePelchin families and children, as it was loaded with hands-on, innovative learning centers.

“I’ve never been to a place like this before,” Moore said. “This is awesome. When you can mix fun and education, that’s the perfect way to go.”

There was rock climbing and snowmaking, air pressure rockets and electric circuit centers, face painting and car making, and much, much more.

Groups varied on their favorite activity, but K-State’s players shared a common appreciation for the opportunity as a whole.

“It’s always good to give back,” Reed said. “Playing with the kids, it’s very important, especially after Christmas.”

“I have a lot of siblings and younger brothers, so it’s really special to hang out with the kids, make them smile and have a good time,” K-State center Reid Najvar, a native of the Houston area, added. “I love hanging out with my younger brothers, so it was good to share that with other kids.”

The Wildcats did more than share time with their group, too. In Moore’s case, he passed along one of K-State head coach Bill Snyder’s 16 Goals for Success.

“I told them to never give up,” Moore recalled saying to one of the boys in his group, referencing goal No. 10 on Snyder’s list. “I told him a couple more things, but I just told him to keep on going, push through it and you can get to your goals.”

K-State Takes Rodeo Bowl Crown (for video, click here)

Matt Seiwert’s heart was pounding as if the K-State defensive tackle was on the football field, waiting for the opposing team to hike the football.

Only Seiwert was far from a football field. He was close to his teammates, however. The Conway Springs, Kansas, native was at George Ranch Historical Park south of Houston, Texas, and despite some rusty roping skills, he helped K-State claim victory in the Texas Bowl’s annual Rodeo Bowl competition.

“My heart was beating just like when we’re out there playing on the football field and all the fans are out there watching us,” said Seiwert, whose roping team consisted of Tanner Wood, Konnor Cook and Jayd Kirby. “I haven’t roped in a long time, but I got lucky and got it done.”

The Wildcats won the seven-event challenge, 5-2, over Texas A&M, creating constant excitement among the K-State sideline that broke out in regular chants during their road to victory.

“I loved their enthusiasm, I thought that was good, and they were competitive,” K-State head coach Bill Snyder said. “The young guys that got out and did those things were really into it. It was enjoyable to watch.”

Historically, the Rodeo Bowl winner has fared well in the actual football game. Rodeo Bowl officials said seven of the last eight winners of the cowboy-themed competition came out on top in the Texas Bowl.

“I hope it’s a sign,” Wood said, “and I’m looking forward to going out and playing Texas A&M.”

K-State opened the rodeo competition with a victory in the calf-penning event, with Glenn Williams, Evan Curl, Jason Lierz, Kaeson Risner and Nick Lenners doing the work.

After cruising to a win in the roping competition, the Wildcats’ barrel man racing team of Kade True, Wesley Burris and D.J. Render dropped a tight race to Texas A&M’s trio.

The Wildcats won the next two events to secure the overall competition, however.

Blake Lynch, a 5-foot-5 freshman kicker out of Goddard, Kansas, led K-State to victory in the calf ribbon pull, with Walter Neil, Jr., Logan Stoddard and Wykeen Gill also helping out.

“That was awesome that he was able to get that, win that event and just run as fast as he could,” Wood said of Lynch, who was picked up by his teammates after his event win. “I hoped that he could do it and it was awesome when he did.”

To seal the deal, K-State pulled out a win in the “Horse Race” competition, which consisted of a back-and-forth relay in a horse costume. K-State’s team of AJ Parker, David Tullis, Justin Hughes, Cameron Morgan and Brock Monty completed a comeback two times, winning the second race after a redo was forced because of a costume malfunction from Texas A&M.

“It was just fun to get both teams out here,” Seiwert said. “It was kind of a changeup from practice and meetings all week.”

K-State’s only other loss came in the goat-milking event, with Aidan Murray, Osvelt Joseph, Jordan Noil and Tom Killilea dropping a tight battle to the Aggies. The Wildcats closed the competition with a win in hay bale stacking, with Devin Anctil, Mike McCoy, Dylan Couch, Kaelin Key, Mitch Copeland, Blake Richmeier, Bronson Massie and Logan O’Dea throwing the bales to victory.

“It shows how country our Kansas boys really are,” Seiwert said of the night. “It’s kind of for bragging rights, because they’re an ag school and we’re an ag school.”

K-State Pep Rally Information for Texas Bowl

The annual K-State Pep Rally highlights Tuesday’s events. The pep rally is free, and gates to BBVA Compass Stadium (home to the Houston Dynamo MLS team) open at 1 p.m. The football team, coaches, band, cheerleaders, university dignitaries and Willie Wildcat will participate.

The stadium is located downtown near Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center and is within walking distance of several public parking garages and lots. Parking will be available in lots B & C on the north side of the stadium for $5 (cash only). Transportation to and from the pep rally is included in the Alumni Association's travel packages.

Will call tickets for the bowl game will be available to pick up at the pep rally.

For more information, visit the K-State Alumni Association website.

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: K-State Football Brings Winning Attitude to Bowl Events

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