Open Mike: The Winning Attitude

I’ve thought about this post for about a week1. Not enough that I’m about to write some Pulitzer prize winning mildly read blog post, but with the streak K-State is on this year, maybe we can go ahead and take one of those home too2.

3 teams. 83 wins. 3 trophies. 1 attitude.

K-State vs ku football 2012You saw it in the football team. A team that took far too close scores into halftime against teams that no one even knew had a football program, like Missouri State and kU3, and then blasted them in the 2nd half. You saw a team leader that no one even bothered to set expectations for make a run all the way to the Heisman ceremony. You saw a team that kept hearing how they did ok beating Oklahoma, but the real test would be West Virginia. Then Oklahoma State. Then TCU. Then Texas4. Even when it felt like there was nothing left to play for, this team came out with a swagger and celebrated a Big 12 title after being picked 6th in the conference.

NCAA Basketball: South Dakota at Kansas StateYou saw it in the basketball team. A team that struggled to find an identity, or even an offense, until they took care of the unwinnable game against Florida on a decidedly purple neutral floor. You watched as K-State hung with a tough Oklahoma State team in the first conference game, only to see a senior leader dominate the 2nd half and set the season on the right track. You saw them continue to win all the games they should with poise we haven’t seen on a K-State court since the days of Hartman or Kruger.  You not only saw that last second shot drop in Waco, but you watched on DVR over and over and over and over…  You saw an attitude take them all the way to the final game of the Big 12 tournament… and oh yeah… cut down the nets for a Big 12 title after being picked 5th in the conference5.

K-State baseballYou might not have started watching right away, but as the season went on you started to realize there was something special going on at the diamond, too.  Flirting with #1 in the country in batting average, and hanging out at the top of the Big 12 standings got everyone to start taking notice6. Then came the sweep at kU including a come from behind 9-6 win with the Cats scoring 9 straight runs. By the time a wild pitch scored the Big 12 championship winning run everyone was watching. And it got even bigger, hosting and sweeping the first home regional ever in Manhattan. Not bad for a team picked to finish 7th in the conference.

Whether or not this was the best year in K-State sports history isn’t even up for debate any longer7. Add in a tourney appearance for women’s volleyball and respectable run in the WNIT by the women’s basketball team, and we only add to the legend. We may never see a year quite like this again, but the end of this year isn’t the end for any of these teams. The future is bright for K-State. 2012-13 is just part of the journey, not the destination.

Notes:
  1. I was really hoping for the about to start the College World Series version, but the year wrap up version will have to do. []
  2. Like John Currie winning AD of the Year. We just keep winning []
  3. Cheap shot or just honest? []
  4. Yes, I know I skipped one there. But that wasn’t even really supposed to be much of a test. Dammit. []
  5. Sensing a theme? []
  6. Some sooner than others. Remember halfway through conference play when we realized that the OU series may be the one that decided it? []
  7. There was a lot of talk comparing it to 2003, but the thing that makes this not even close is recognizing that the teams that didn’t win in ’03 weren’t even close. The ones that didn’t in ’12-13 still had good years. []
K-State fans, we salute you!
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Wildcat Formation: A Year to Remember.

Kansas State Big 12 ChampionsI stepped on campus as a student at Kansas State in the fall of 2002. That year the football team led by Terence Newman, Ell Roberson, Darren Sproles, Terry Pierce and Josh Buhl to name a few, went 10-2 and capped off their season with a win over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. My sophomore year we won the Big 12 by upsetting No. 1 Oklahoma in Kansas City and I was lucky enough to be in attendance. Then K-State sports hit a bit of a dry spell.

The 2004-2005 seasons were lack-luster at best. Bill Snyder retired and we all wondered what was going to happen to the program that rose up out of nowhere. Ron Prince smooth-talked his way into the coach’s headset. He brought us Josh Freeman and a few “bold and daring” victories over Texas, but also let the program slip below Sunflower Showdown rival Kansas.

Basketball wasn’t able to pick up the slack until Bob Huggins re-energized the sleeping giant we put to sleep in the mid-nineties. Michael Beasley, Bill Walker and a freshman by the name of Jacob Pullen lead us to our first NCAA tournament berth and upset victory of OJ Mayo’s USC Trojans.

Then Ron Prince and Bob Krause rode off into the sunset hand-in-hand and order more than restored itself. Bill Snyder comes back from retirement to calm the water and leads the team to three consecutive bowl games and a Big 12 title this season. John Currie was hired and hit the ground running.

Frank Martin headed east for a new job and Currie replaces him with Bruce Weber. In Weber’s first year, Kansas State wins its first conference title in 33 years.

Brad Hill, who was hired during Snyder’s first tenure doesn’t want to be out-done and wins the first conference title in baseball since 1933. If that wasn’t good enough, Kansas State hosted its first Regional in the College World Series and sweeps it advancing to the Super Regional.

The 2012-2013 athletic year was definitely the year of the Wildcat in the Big 12. For only the second time in Big 12 history and the fourth time in BCS history a single school won their conference’s football, men’s basketball and baseball titles.

The architect of this athletic department, the man who has built a basketball training facility, updated the baseball stadium, added a rowing training complex and is in the midst of finishing the new crown jewel of Manhattan, Kansas was also recognized for his efforts. John Currie was just named the National Athletic Director of the Year.

It all stems from the Kansas State family’s unwillingness to give up. Not one of the three Big 12 championship teams were voted into the top 5 in any of the Big 12 pre-season polls. This family doesn’t do what is expected of them, they go beyond expectations. The never-say-die attitude that these teams possessed really went beyond the playing surface and into the lives of the entire K-State Family.

We even coined a new catch-phrase with all of our success. Without three Big 12 trophies, “3MAW” wouldn’t be at thing. Now it’s a new battle cry. In less than 80 days the Big 12 champions turn into the defending Big 12 champions. The hunters become the hunted and this family will once again band together to protect what they have earned.

Have a great summer. I will see you at the next family reunion.

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The Point After: The Future Is Bright

“Historic year for Kansas State baseball. Hopefully, this isn’t the last time we’re in this position. I don’t plan on it.”
-Brad Hill

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Gameday Open Thread: Oregon State – Super Regional Game 3

K-State vs OSU NCAA Tournament

 

It’s gameday!

 

The Bat Cats are never out of it. All season long they’ve had dramatic come from behind wins. Last night is behind us now, and the series is tied. No one else may expect K-State in Omaha, but we believe. 1 game. Do it.

 

If you see anything at the game or have any comments you want to add to this week’s show, call 601.885.EMAW or email us at TheSalute@CollegeSportsVision.com or leave your comments below.

 

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Gameday Open Thread: Oregon State – Super Regional Game 2

Kansas State vs Oregon State NCAA Baseball

It’s gameday!

Last night K-State had a come from behind win, pouring on the offense in the 10th inning. Keep it close again, get to the bullpen, and unleash the bats late. 1 win, either today or tomorrow, and Kansas State is heading to Omaha for the College World Series.

If you see anything at the game or have any comments you want to add to this week’s show, call 601.885.EMAW or email us at TheSalute@CollegeSportsVision.com or leave your comments below.

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