Excitement is Palpable for Catbacker Tour
May 02, 2023 | Sports Extra, Athletics
By: D. Scott Fritchen
The Boot Hill Museum on West Wild Earp Boulevard is an American historical museum located in Dodge City, Kansas, and features over 20,000 artifacts, including the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Don Goodnight was instrumental in keeping the cattle trails alive.
All trails will lead to Dodge City when the Kansas State Catbacker Tour descends upon the historic frontier cow town on May 18, giving residents an opportunity to listen to K-State men's basketball head coach Jerome Tang for the first time and visit with the K-State student-athletes who helped to make this academic year one of the best in recent memory.
"We're extremely excited," says Tara Burkhart, who heads the Dodge City Catbackers. "Football's success over the last two seasons and basketball's successful season has reinvigorated the already faithful fan base out here.
"We're excited to hear updates from the coaches and student-athlete."
Over at Skoch Park, adjacent to the city swimming pool and across the street from the community building, purple will visit Nemaha County Catbackers in Seneca over the lunch hour on May 25. The event will feature local food trucks.
"There's a lot of buzz coming off the seasons that we had in football and basketball," says Adam Niehues, leader of Nemaha County Catbackers. "The tour didn't come through here last year. We're excited. We're advertising it locally. Hoping for a nice day."
One of the biggest stops for the Catbackers Tour remains Scott City, where Stuart Doornbos expects upwards of 300 attendees. Famous for its unique cuisine, the event is always a big hit.
"People are excited to meet Coach Tang," Doornbos says. "Football is one thing and then you have basketball, and who knew what we'd do this year. It's been fun."
It seems excitement is near an all-time high after K-State was one of two FBS schools to have a football team that participated in a New Year's Six bowl game and advance to the Sweet 16 in men's basketball.
That excitement is felt among K-State coaches, who are preparing for the Catbackers tour, as well.
"It's fun to see what all our sports are doing," K-State football head coach Chris Klieman says. "Exciting times right now for all of us. It's fun to get out and thank all those people along the Catbackers trail for their support."
Adds Tang: "I can't wait to get out and see my people again. Last year was such a blast, getting out and meeting everyone for the first time. It gave me my first taste of what the crowds at Bramlage would be like.
"It'll be great to celebrate our Big 12 football championship and our run to the Elite Eight with our passionate K-State fans across the state."
It's expected that between 10 and 15 student-athletes will be featured on the trip as well, including a possibility of a couple of All-Americans and some All-Big 12 selections.
The Catbackers tour will kick off on May 17 with stops in Salina, Great Bend and Scott City before moving to Liberal, Garden City and Dodge City on May 18 and then on to Colby and Hays on May 19. Tang and other coaches and student-athletes will be in attendance during the western Kansas swing. It's expected that men's basketball assistant coach Jareem Dowling and football offensive coordinator Collin Klein will speak to gatherings.
Klieman and other assistant coaches and student-athletes will be part of the second swing of tours, beginning with Manhattan on May 22. Following stops in Hutchinson and Wichita on May 23, the tour will head to Chanute, Emporia and Kansas City on May 24 and end in Seneca and Topeka on May 25.
Klieman will be joined by men's basketball associate head coach Ulric Maligi, assistant coach Rodney Perry, and chief of staff Marco Bourne at some of the destinations. Student-athletes will speak as well.
The tour stops will have a fan-friendly atmosphere and feature mini-pep rallies, photo opportunities and meet and greets with the guests. Willie Wildcat and members of the cheer team will also be in attendance.
Each stop will feature auction items, including exclusive signed pictures and canvases of memorable K-State moments.
This will mark the 21st season that K-State Voice of the Wildcats Wyatt Thompson has been involved with K-State Catbackers.
"The excitement is off the charts," he says. "It's going to be as exciting as it's ever been. We've had a lot of good years out there for Catbackers. They're always going to show up and support. That's what who they are and what they are.
"There's a lot of people who've done it for a long, long time. They're excited that we're coming out there. I so appreciate the Catbackers clubs and what they do because it's a lot of hard work putting on these events. This will be one of the best years we've ever had."
The Boot Hill Museum on West Wild Earp Boulevard is an American historical museum located in Dodge City, Kansas, and features over 20,000 artifacts, including the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Don Goodnight was instrumental in keeping the cattle trails alive.
All trails will lead to Dodge City when the Kansas State Catbacker Tour descends upon the historic frontier cow town on May 18, giving residents an opportunity to listen to K-State men's basketball head coach Jerome Tang for the first time and visit with the K-State student-athletes who helped to make this academic year one of the best in recent memory.
"We're extremely excited," says Tara Burkhart, who heads the Dodge City Catbackers. "Football's success over the last two seasons and basketball's successful season has reinvigorated the already faithful fan base out here.
"We're excited to hear updates from the coaches and student-athlete."
Over at Skoch Park, adjacent to the city swimming pool and across the street from the community building, purple will visit Nemaha County Catbackers in Seneca over the lunch hour on May 25. The event will feature local food trucks.
"There's a lot of buzz coming off the seasons that we had in football and basketball," says Adam Niehues, leader of Nemaha County Catbackers. "The tour didn't come through here last year. We're excited. We're advertising it locally. Hoping for a nice day."
One of the biggest stops for the Catbackers Tour remains Scott City, where Stuart Doornbos expects upwards of 300 attendees. Famous for its unique cuisine, the event is always a big hit.
"People are excited to meet Coach Tang," Doornbos says. "Football is one thing and then you have basketball, and who knew what we'd do this year. It's been fun."
It seems excitement is near an all-time high after K-State was one of two FBS schools to have a football team that participated in a New Year's Six bowl game and advance to the Sweet 16 in men's basketball.
That excitement is felt among K-State coaches, who are preparing for the Catbackers tour, as well.
"It's fun to see what all our sports are doing," K-State football head coach Chris Klieman says. "Exciting times right now for all of us. It's fun to get out and thank all those people along the Catbackers trail for their support."
Adds Tang: "I can't wait to get out and see my people again. Last year was such a blast, getting out and meeting everyone for the first time. It gave me my first taste of what the crowds at Bramlage would be like.
"It'll be great to celebrate our Big 12 football championship and our run to the Elite Eight with our passionate K-State fans across the state."
It's expected that between 10 and 15 student-athletes will be featured on the trip as well, including a possibility of a couple of All-Americans and some All-Big 12 selections.
The Catbackers tour will kick off on May 17 with stops in Salina, Great Bend and Scott City before moving to Liberal, Garden City and Dodge City on May 18 and then on to Colby and Hays on May 19. Tang and other coaches and student-athletes will be in attendance during the western Kansas swing. It's expected that men's basketball assistant coach Jareem Dowling and football offensive coordinator Collin Klein will speak to gatherings.
Klieman and other assistant coaches and student-athletes will be part of the second swing of tours, beginning with Manhattan on May 22. Following stops in Hutchinson and Wichita on May 23, the tour will head to Chanute, Emporia and Kansas City on May 24 and end in Seneca and Topeka on May 25.
Klieman will be joined by men's basketball associate head coach Ulric Maligi, assistant coach Rodney Perry, and chief of staff Marco Bourne at some of the destinations. Student-athletes will speak as well.
The tour stops will have a fan-friendly atmosphere and feature mini-pep rallies, photo opportunities and meet and greets with the guests. Willie Wildcat and members of the cheer team will also be in attendance.
Each stop will feature auction items, including exclusive signed pictures and canvases of memorable K-State moments.
This will mark the 21st season that K-State Voice of the Wildcats Wyatt Thompson has been involved with K-State Catbackers.
"The excitement is off the charts," he says. "It's going to be as exciting as it's ever been. We've had a lot of good years out there for Catbackers. They're always going to show up and support. That's what who they are and what they are.
"There's a lot of people who've done it for a long, long time. They're excited that we're coming out there. I so appreciate the Catbackers clubs and what they do because it's a lot of hard work putting on these events. This will be one of the best years we've ever had."
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