The Kansas St. Wildcat Argument
Leave a commentOctober 31, 2012 by ryanoudoak
This is part 3 out of a 5 part submission examining the BCS race this week. Check back throughout the week and click on the links below for past submissions.
Monday’s Submission:
Tuesday’s Submission:
Wednesday’s Submission:
The Kansas St. Wildcat Argument
Kansas St. started the season as the 21st ranked team in the nation, according to the Coaches Poll. They have been one of the best stories in College Football for the second year in a row. Bill Snyder is in the fourth year of his second stint as Head Coach of the Wildcats after directing the most remarkable turnaround in College Football history in his first stop as Head Coach in Manhattan. Kansas St. was arguably the most awful College Football program in history before Snyder took over the program in the 1980s and he has compiled a 167-81-1 record in his 21st total year there. Last year, Kansas St. went 10-3 with losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma St. (whom many thought should have played for the National Title last year) in Conference and a loss to Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. Remember many also felt that Arkansas may have been the third best team in the country last year, as they only lost to LSU and Alabama in their own Conference. In Snyder’s absence, from 2006-2008, the Wildcats only managed a record of 19-20 and missed out on the post-season in two of the three years under Ron Prince. It took Snyder two years to build the team back up to compete on a National level and the Wildcats have their best team and best chance to play for a National Title since 1998. Although Kansas St. has only won 1 Conference Title under Snyder, his tenure as coach has coincided with their Big XII competitors winning 6 National Titles (Colorado 1, Nebraska 3, Oklahoma 1, Texas 1) while playing for another 2.
This year so far, Kansas St.’s offense has been 9 points behind Oregon’s, on average, scoring more than 44 points per game and winning by an average of 24 points per game. They have done this against a more difficult schedule than Oregon to this point of the season, although their closest game outside of their win against Oklahoma was a 27-21 victory over Iowa St. on the road. The Wildcats have been more challenged this year against a more challenging schedule overall. In contrast to Oregon, most of Kansas St.’s heavy lifting is in their rearview mirror as the toughest game left on their slate is a season ending game at home against Texas. That game against Texas becomes less daunting as the weeks go on, but the Longhorns are still a very talented team and their seniors and Head Coach Mack Brown would relish the opportunity to score a big victory in the last week of the season and end Coach Snyder’s chance at a National Title.
Thursday’s Submission:
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Argument
Friday’s Submission:
Who Will Play Alabama?
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