Five years ago, you would have never seen this game on Kansas State’s nonconference schedule, let alone to open the Big 12 and college football season.
Coach Bill Snyder is beginning his second season in his second stint as head of the Wildcats football program. The man credited with turning around a program once called the worst in college football, Snyder was openly criticized the first time around for scheduling so-called cupcake games in the early-going of the season with the idea of building confidence in his team heading into the much tougher Big Eight and then Big 12 grind.
Next season, the Wildcats begin a home-and-away two-game series with the University of Miami, long recognized as one of the elite programs in college football. So the tide is obviously changing in Manhattan. But on Saturday, the focus of the Wildcats and all of the Big 12 will be on Kansas State’s season-opening game in Manhattan against the UCLA Bruins of the Pac-10 Conference.
The Bruins are coached by former UCLA quarterback and former Colorado Buffaloes coach Rick Neuheisel, who is in his first year leading the Bruins. UCLA finished eighth in the Pac 10 a year ago with a record of 3-6, 7-6 overall, but ended the season on a roll, winning four of its last five games, including a victory over Temple in the Eagle Bowl in Washington, D.C.
One of the Bruins seven overall victories a season ago was a 23-9 win over Kansas State in the third game of the season, played in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
K-State is catching the Bruins at a good time. Definitely in a rebuilding mode and picked to finish in the back end of the Pac 10 again this season, the Bruins are hoping that Neuheisal can guide the football program back among the top tier in the conference and back on the national stage.
The Wildcats return 10 starters from a year ago (5 on both offense and defensive), but they will miss the offensive production of small and speedy wide-receiver Brandon Banks, one of the most explosive return men in all of college football last season. Don’t be mislead by this, though. Kansas State still has plenty of firepower on offense, featuring senior running back Daniel Thomas, an All-America candidate, who led the Big 12 in rushing last year, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 1,265 total yards.
Snyder has decided to go with senior Carson Coffman at quarterback to open the season. Coffman was 2-2 as a starter last season, sharing the quarterback duties with the departed Grant Gregory. Coffman will have a tandem of talented but young receivers to get the ball to, but the heavy lifting will no doubt go to Thomas to test the Bruin defense and set up play action tosses as well as free up receivers down field.
Kansas State’s greatest vulnerability defensively appears to be at the linebacker position, where the Wildcats have the least amount of proven, game experience. With injuries, departures and suspensions seriously depleting the UCLA offensive line, Kansas State should have an advantage in the trenches when the Bruins have the ball.
While the Wildcats may have some concerns at linebacker, they appear well set in the secondary, led by junior strong safety Tysyn Hartman, who was fourth on the team in tackles last season and picked off five passes. Junior free safety Emmanuel Lamur is another physical player at the back end of the defense. He led the Wildcats in tackles and hauled in three interceptions himself.
"Winning a game like (this) sets the tone for the whole season," said former K-State player Thomas Hill in an interview with Kellis Robinett, who covers Kansas State for The Kansas City Star.
"Win, lose or draw, it tests you and let's you know where you are," he said. Hill played on the Wildcat team that beat California in the 2003 season-opener and went on to upset Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game.
In a week in which most all of the Big 12 teams have what can only be described as cakewalk openers, Kansas State has a chance to make a strong statement for the conference against a nationally recognized and respected opponent. The Wildcats can also set the tone for four other Big 12/Pac-10 matchups, including one later the same day when Oklahoma State hosts Washington State.
In the coming weeks, California will play host to Colorado, which will be joining the Pac- 10 Conference in the 2012 season, nationally ranked Nebraska will travel to the far Northwest to tangle with the Washington Huskies, and these same Bruins get a second chance against a Big 12 opponent three weeks from now when they get to test one of the Big 12’s and the country’s best in the Texas Longhorns.
Getting back to Saturday’s contest between Kansas State and UCLA, the oddsmakers favor the Wildcats by less than a field goal. Frankly, I don’t see the game being quite that close.
Big 12 Sports Examiner’s pick
Kansas State 27, UCLA 21
5 things to watch for in K-State-UCLA game
• UCLA starting QB Kevin Prince has been injured most of the preseason and may not play against K-State on Saturday. Prince threw for more than 2,000 yards last season.
• Kai Forbath, the UCLA kicker, who won the Lou Groza Award a season ago and kicked four field goals in last year’s win over Kansas State, has been nursing a leg injury. His status is uncertain for Saturday’s game.
• K-State has won 21 consecutive home openers at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan.
• Last season, K-State QB Carson Coffman threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Will the senior signal caller who was benched a year ago live up to coach Snyder’s faith in him and limit mistakes against an aggressive UCLA defense?
• K-State defensive front should be able to overpower UCLA’s weakened and inexperienced offensive line, but will it?
For more information:
Big 12 Conference official website
Related Big 12 news coverage/commentary
Kansas State University athletics website
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