Thursday, October 8, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
K-State leaves home sweet home for where the Buffaloes roam
The Associated Press
MANHATTAN, Kan. — No. 5 Kansas State is finally leaving home and picking on somebody its own size.
Unbeaten in four home games against teams that combined to go 12-33 last season and smarting from criticism of a cream puff non-conference schedule, the Wildcats will be
at No. 14 Colorado Saturday. They
even born.
"I'm looking forward to it," said quarterback Michael Bishop. "It's an opportunity for us to go away and make a statement."
"I know they'll be ready to play, and I know we'll be ready to play," said Kansas State linebacker Jeff Kelly. "I feel if we come out and play ball and do everything right and execute well, it'll be a great game."
The Wildcats need a victory against the unbeaten Buffs to quiet critics who have been reluctant to elevate them beyond the preseason
position they were accorded for returning 22 starters from last year's11-1campaign.
Blowout victories against Indiana State, Northern Illinois and Northeast Louisiana hardly moved them in the poll.
Neither, to their chagrin, did a 48-7 romp over Texas on Sept. 19. When second ranked Florida lost that day, the Wildecats hoped to inch closer to the No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers who'll visit Manhattan on Nov. 14 in what's shaping up as the biggest game in Kansas State's 103-year football history.
But a week after being passed in the poll by UCLA despite a 73-7 win against Northern Illinois, the Wildcats were leapfrogged again, this time by Tennessee, and remained stuck at No.5.
"We felt like Texas was going to be a big test, but it wasn't really that much of a test. Colorado's going to be tough," said defensive end Joe Bob Clements. "We don't know how it's going to turn out, but it's definitely going to be a test for us."
Until last year, Colorado and Nebraska had been the only conference teams the Wildcats were unable to beat since Bill Snyder arrived in 1989 and wrought his
"Manhattan Miracle," turning the perennial saddacks into contenders. But a 37-20 victory gave them their first win against the Buffs since 1984.
"They're going to come in read," said running back Eric Hickson. "I think it really bothers them that last year we beat them."
Aiding the Wildeats will be the much-anticipated debut of running back Frank Murphy. After sitting out four games for accepting money from athletic boosters to buy a used car, the highly sought junior-college transfer who dazzled coaches in the spring with his 4.21-second speed in the 40 will finally hear his number called.
"He's excited. He's just ready to get out and play. He talks about how he's going to make big plays for us." Bishop said. "All I can tell him is, 'Hey, it's your opportunity Saturday. Don't talk about it, come out and show it.'"
Kansas State can offer all sorts of statistical arguments for the credibility it craves. Of the 12 major team statistical categories compiled by the NCAA, the Wildcats rank No. 1 in eight - scoring offense and defense, turnover ratio, pass efficiency and total defense, kickoff and punt returns and net punting.
Prairie View A&M OK'd to play
The Associated Press
Game suspension temporarily lifted
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Prairie View A&M's suspension is suspended.
That means Prairie View will have a homecoming football game this weekend after all. The Panthers will play
Conference commissioner Rudy Washington "agreed to place the suspension in abeyance until further review," according to a release.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference reversed its course Tuesday, only a day after closing down the entire Prairie View athletic department for the school's defiance regarding earlier sanctions against its marching band.
Alcorn State in the first home game since they snapped the NCAA-record 80-game losing streak on Sept. 26. The band will be allowed to participate.
"It's great news for our students and alumni here at Prairie View," said Larry Raab, the
The league statement said the conference's Council of Presidents unanimously upheld Washington's decision to suspend Prairie View athletics. But Washington decided to lift the suspension for now.
school's vice president of operations.
"Placing the matter in abeyance means that although the commissioner's ruling was unanimously approved... the immediate imposition of sanctions against the university
has been delayed until the review process has been completed," the release said.
The whole mess stemmed from a Sept. 19 halftime brawl between the marching bands of Southern and Prairie View. Several band members were injured, and both schools incurred damage to uniforms and instruments. Each school blamed the other.
As part of the reprise, Prairie View agreed to withdraw its refusal to play Southern in any athletic events.
The conference immediately suspended both schools' bands for two football games. Prairie View's band sat out the Sept. 26 game at Langston — the school's first football victory since 1989.
But the band returned for a game against Grambling last week, sparking the league's anger.
928 Mass.
Downtown
Don't Let the Flu Bug You!
The Etc. Shop
&
Hispanic American Leadership Organization
Invite you to come and dance to the beats of Latin house, merengue, samba, and grooves that make you move!!!
Thursday October 8,1998 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
$3 - 21 & up
$5 - under 21
Hispanic Heritage Month 1998
We carry officially licensed KU gifts & clothing, and are the official bookstores of the University of Kansas!
Kansas Union, Level 2,864-4640 Burge Union, Level 2,864-5697
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO PLAY INTRAMURAL FLOOR HOCKEY & VOLLEYBALL!!!
We are currently taking late sign-ups. Seasons begins Monday, October 19.
2-Person Golf Scramble closes Wed, 10/7
Other sports currently open:
Bowling closes Wed, 10/7
For more information contact Recreation Services at 864-3546.20S Robinson. Student Senate
Racquetball Singles closes Wed, 10/7