The evening didn’t go as planned at Cowboys Stadium on Friday, but it didn’t spoil the highly successful years, plus didn’t dampen a fun Friday morning at the Gaylord Texan as Kansas State hosted a Golden Cats luncheon for approximately 50 or 60 former players.
One of those back was a former No. 7 who is full of appreciation for today’s No. 7, Collin Klein.
“He’s a big kid who runs the ball hard,” said Michael Bishop of 1997-98 fame. “He’s like me in when he has the ball in his hands, his intention is to get the ball in the end zone. He has that no quit attitude and has the ability to make the play when it needs to be made.”
Russ Stange finished his career in 1988, or one year before the arrival of Coach Bill Snyder, but he continues to wear the purple with pride.
“He (Snyder) did it again. He’s just amazing. It makes me speechless, and that’s hard to do,” quipped the former offensive lineman. “It just shows that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Also back was defensive back Jerametrius Butler, who left K-State after his junior season and was a fifth round draft choice of the St. Louis Rams.
“It was a good decision because that first year (2000) I went to the Super Bowl and not many players can say that,” said Butler, who had a seven-year career, but is now retired and living in the Dallas area.
And, Frank Hernandez who made “The Catch” to defeat North Texas with 0:00 showing on the clock that ended the Wildcats’ horrendous losing streak in 1989 returned to greet old friends.
Flashing a smile, Hernandez, who now lives in Houston, said, “There have been a whole lot of great catches since then, but that’s a pleasant memory I’ll be taking to my grave, for sure.”
Former All-American Terence Newman spoke briefly at Thursday’s pep rally and called the K-State 2011 season “totally awesome.”
Then the Salina, Kan., native re-thanked Snyder for “… taking a young boy and transforming me into the man I am today. The success I’ve had came from the direction that came from him, and I’m thankful for that.”
More than on the field, the cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys said, “… but in life. He teaches you the importance of being disciplined and understanding everyone in life has rules and regulations. He really cares about his players as individuals, and not just about football.”
Of his own personal career at K-State, arriving as an unheralded Kansas prepster and turning into a first-round draft choice in 2003, and of this present Wildcat season, Newman said, “It just goes to show that hard work pays off. I use that as motivation every day. When you’re not afraid to work hard, the sky is the limit as long as you go out and put the work in.”
BIG-TIME CROWD: While the majority of bowl games are played in front of empty seats, anything but that was the truth Friday at Cowboys Stadium. It was a ruckus BCS championship-type gathering of 80,956 with the crowd split maybe slightly favoring the Hogs.
STONESTREET IN THE HOUSE: K-State graduate Eric Stonestreet of “Modern Family” fame was in Cowboys Stadium to cheer on his alma mater. While attending Kansas State University and studying to be a prison administrator, a friend dared Eric to audition for the play “Prelude to a Kiss.” As fate would have it, Eric was cast in the play (in the smallest role) and was, as they say, bitten by the bug. Today the Kansas City native says, “I’m just a guy from Kansas who is fortunate enough to have opportunities to be on TV.”
PRIDE OF WILDCATLAND: K-State’s marching band, cheer squad and Classy Cats performed 25 minutes prior to kickoff and again at halftime. The group numbered 424 strong.
WEATHER MAN … AS IF IT MATTERED: Shortly before kickoff, the video board posted the weather conditions: 48-degrees in Manhattan, 55-degrees in Fayetteville, 70-degrees in Arlington and 72-degrees in the indoor Cowboys Stadium.
K-State receives a $1 million participation subsidy from the Big 12 for trip expenses, plus a one-way air travel allowance that pushes the figure to around $1.4 million.
In addition, K-State is allowed to keep revenues from ticket sales of roughly 3,000 tickets.
The final payout comes from the Big 12 Conference which includes an equal one-10th share of all Big 12 bowl game revenues throughout the conference.
PRICEY CONCESSIONS: Dining at Cowboys Stadium puts a dent in the pocket book. Options included a “Healthy Choices” counter of fruit cups, apples and bananas, or, multiply unhealthy choices that weren’t marked as such. A Kobe BBQ Burger was $13.50, a tub of popcorn $10.00, a $9 ultimate nacho.
Well, it’s been quite a week, but I need to get this writing off to the post office, or wherever it goes after I hit the ‘send’ button.
Hope to see some of you in Bramlage this afternoon.
Mark
P.S. Again, in case you missed it, the team plane will arrive in Manhattan around mid-afternoon, but without the majority of the players who left Dallas for their respective homes prior to the start of the second semester later in the month.
