What might we see in Manhattan?
Published: 10/6/2006 9:11 AM
Last Modified: 10/6/2006 9:11 AM
Jimmie Tramel, Matt Doyle and I are doing a same-day round trip. A Saturday morning drive to Manhattan, Ka., and a Saturday night return.
Among the carry-on items will be energy drinks, candy bars and new CDs (Bob Seger's latest is surprisingly good and Audioslave's latest is predictably great).
We know the drive will be pleasant. What we don't know is what we might see at Bill Snyder Family Stadium – site of the Oklahoma State-Kansas State football game.
The Wildcats may have a bad football team, but there's nothing easy about playing at Manhattan. Since the start of the 1990 season, the Wildcats are 90-17-1.
The Cowboys are favored on Saturday, but OSU's record in conference openers has not been good – 11-24-1 in the Big Eight, 3-7 in the Big 12.
If the Cowboys defense can regain its balance after the 509-yard gut shot it absorbed in Houston, the Cowboys should prevail on Saturday by a score of 31-17. The OSU offense has playmakers. K-State's offense is dysfunctional and now is quarterbacked by a first-year freshman who has thrown four interceptions and no TD passes.
But if OSU's defense fails again and this wobbly K-State crew escapes with a victory, it's going to be an ugly autumn for the Cowboys.
At this point in the season, a 70-yard sprint by OSU's Dantrell Savage ranks as the Big 12's longest run from scrimmage. OSU also has the league's longest field goal (a 53-yarder by Jason Ricks) and longest interception return (a 73-yarder by Orie Lemon). The Bobby Reid-to-Adarius Bowman 75-yard touchdown at Houston ranks as the league's second-longest pass play.
In 16 quarters of play, not one opponent's possession has begun on the OSU end of the field. That's a testament to the Cowboys' special-teams play (Matt Fodge's booming punts, coupled with excellent coverage downfield).
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
