SE: New-and-Improved Catbacker Tour Continues to Connect K-State Fans with Wildcat Coaches, Student-Athletes
May 15, 2017 | General, Sports Extra
K-State's annual Catbacker Tour, already a uniquely grassroots approach designed to connect with Wildcat fans all over the state of Kansas, will include a new-and-improved feel in this year's edition.
When K-State's coaches, student-athletes and staff arrive at one of the tour's 23 stops, they will be hard to miss. This year, the Wildcats will roll into town in a K-State themed bus.
Upon arrival, K-State will bring the excitement of a K-State game day to each community, with inflatables and tailgate games available for Wildcat fans of all ages. All children in attendance will receive a 2017 Catbacker T-shirt, in addition to the opportunity to interact with their favorite K-State coaches, student-athletes and Willie Wildcat.
"At the end of last year, we sat down to review the summer and all the aspects that went into the Catbacker Tour. One thing we noticed across all clubs was the shrinking number of youth who attended our events," K-State Assistant Director of Development Matt Giller said. "After the meeting adjourned, it was our goal for 2017 to find a way to have events that attracted all K-State fans, bringing the excitement of a game day in Manhattan to each of these communities.
"At our annual Catbacker President's meeting in January, we challenged each of our volunteers to find new and creative ways to improve attendance and appease to the youth in each of their clubs."
Even more, this year's tour will include the exclusive "Taste of K-State" ticket package available only at each stop. This package is your all-in K-State ticketing experience. For just $75, the package includes a football mini helmet and one general admission ticket to each of the following: football vs. Iowa State (11/25), men's basketball (any game minus KU), women's basketball, volleyball, soccer, and baseball. A Wildcat 4 Pack of the 'Taste of K-State' ticket package is also available for only $250.
Exclusive K-State items will be auctioned off on the tour as well, helping providing funds for K-State scholarships. These items include a white camouflage football helmet signed by head coach Bill Snyder, honorary coach packages for men's and women's basketball games and a signed print of Snyder being carried off the field after his 200th career victory, along with many others.
"The funds raised throughout the state go directly back to the student-athletes for scholarships and other expenses, all culminating in our goal of providing a world-class student-athlete experience," Giller said. "At the end of the day, we hope to raise some money, have some fun and attract the next generation of K-Staters. All of this would not be possible without our great volunteers all throughout the state"
Mike Clark, former K-State baseball coach and current director of development, has been part of the tour for 30 years. He said its evolution to this year's fun-and-engaging format, meant to offer affordable family fun, is a shift from years past, but the core of what makes the tour so important remains the same.
"This is unique in Division I athletics. Nobody goes to a town the size of Colby or Seneca or Marysville. Nobody does it," Clark said. "It's just the way K-State does things. It's us saying thank you."
More specifically, it is K-State's way of thanking its fans for traveling from across the state to sell out 33-straight football games or, Clark said, showing up for "a Tuesday night basketball game in February when you know you're not going to get home until midnight or later."
The tour, a joint partnership with the K-State Alumni Association and the athletics department, is also made possible by the help of more than 150 volunteers. It starts on Monday at Dodge City, making consecutive stops at Garden City, Scott City, Colby and Hays in the next four days. The K-State themed bus won't stop for long, as the tour travels all over the state before finishing up in Manhattan on June 16.
"To me, it's just K-State," Clark said. "This is the reason we have 33 sellouts. This is the reason that we have such a close-knit family. It's like a little mini reunion every time we go out there."
For more information, visit the Catbacker Clubs home page.
2017 Catbacker Tour Schedule
May 15 — Dodge City
May 16 — Garden City
May 17 — Scott City
May 18 — Colby
May 19 — Hays
May 22 — Great Bend
May 23 — Wellington
May 23 — Wichita
May 24 — Winfield
May 24 — Parsons
May 25 — Emporia
May 25 — Lawrence
May 31 — KC (Northland)
June 1 — Atchison
June 1 — Kansas City
June 2 — Seneca
June 5 — Belleville
June 5 — Beloit
June 6 — Hutchinson
June 7 — Salina
June 8 — Topeka
June 9 — Marysville
June 16 — Manhattan
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