Random quick hits post-Manhattan

untcampbell · September 16, 2012

Canales had one of his best games in a while...lots of misdirection and deception.
Discipline on this team is an asset...complete departure from the last number of years. Penalties greatly reduced.
Taking the clock down to 3 seconds every down really shortened the game. It gives you the best chance to stay "close" against a better team on the road.
It is an absolute joy to play in a sold out house on the road, and it be quieter than a NT home game in November....in the rain.
I expect to be treated in three ways by the fan base when we are on the road (examples below): LSU: spit on, hated ULL: like you are a Thanksgiving guest at your long-lost cousin...you leave well-fed, and with friends you never knew you had. KSU: mostly indifference until about 30 minutes before game time....walking around the tailgate area, most just ignored us or wondered why we weren't wearing purple. Later we got into some good conversations...some fans knew we may play in the NIT.
Truly a great college game day in Manhattan...College Station-lite, which is a good thing to me. Similar atmosphere, but about 60% the size. Great fans, salt of the earth. Students in their seats an hour before game time.
Almost everyone in the stadium wore purple. One lady apparently didn't get the memo...she wore a pink KState shirt.
Pregame: Read the preamble to, I believe, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, then the Pledge of Allegiance, then the National Anthem...real salt of the earth folks in Kansas.
If I was born in Kansas, I would probably be a better fit at KState vs. KU.
Very subdued crowd filing out of Snyder Family Stadium, but my favorite comment from one of their fans: "You guys would definitely beat Miami."
During the THREE hour post-game show, they had excellent post-game analysis, intelligent fan phone calls, insightful PLAYER interviews, i.e. describing particular plays, and their roles in said plays, etc. Snyder's post-game presser went about 15 minutes, and was sponsored by AT&T.
Both coach and players recognized Dan McCarney as a great coach, who had his team better prepared than KState. Some discussion that they probably overlooked NT and took this game for granted, but overall you heard lots of credit for the NT game plan, coaches and players.
I have heard a number of references to the face mask on the DT sack, but did anyone see if Brelon face masked the tackler during the first half. KState fan was not happy, but I didn't see it.
KState replays EVERY play, even when controversial. Everyone in the end zone turns around to see the "Official review" replays, and reacts accordingly. Why don't we show controversial plays on our replays?
On the reviewed TD pass, KState fans yelled loudly expecting the overturn after the first angle showed the catch, but one replay faced the WR, and has been discussed elsewhere, the WR appeared to initially grab the ball up high, then brought it down to control the ball. I thought the initial "catch" wasn't controlled until he brought it down, and by then was out of bounds. Fan response appeared to question the catch at that point. They showed three angles on the catch during the review. They showed the one I described once and the other two angles, from further away, twice. Finally, the WR slapped the ball after the catch in disgust, I thought acknowledging he didn't catch the ball, but he may have done it in response to the incomplete call.
On the QB TD review, I thought he reached out and hit his lineman's helmet, preventing the ball from crossing the line. KState had already sent out their FG unit before the Review was called.
I think the KState fan base would be much more devastated by a loss to NT in hoops.
This is the furthest into the game I can remember playing a ranked opponent, and thinking "we still have a chance at this."
Even if you think you have a chance at beating a highly-ranked opponent on the road, it isn't likely to happen when you have the number of special teams breakdowns we did.
Playing as far off their receivers creates space that their athleticism at WR exposed after the catch. Jamming their receivers, disrupting routs, might have been the better strategy, had we been able to get within a zip code of their QB.
I can only remember two of DT's three in completes: one he wisely threw away and Delgado's drop on a catchable, though high, ball. Brelon caught one at his feet that no one would have been surprised had the dropped it.
We stayed in Wichita last night, 2.5 hours from Manhattan. The Wichita newspaper gave the equivalent of a little more than one full page of the sports section to the KState game...saying something with competition from KU and KC Chief game day coverage.
I received texts from friends in KC, Atlanta, Fayetteville AR, Philadelphia and Washington DC, during and after the game, noting our strong performance in the game. I rarely get texts during SBC games, regardless of outcome.
I met one NT dad in the tailgate section, by chance. Word from his son is that the players believe in their coaches, and that he feels the team will continue to show improvement this season and beyond. Always nice to hear player perspective.
A realtor I spoke to in my parking my area told me about the total turnaround that Manhattan has experienced in the Snyder era. It used to be a sleepy little town, he described, but the "investment" the school has made in winning football has increased the desire to live in Manhattan. Property rates have gone up, the quality of housing has improved. More people means more choice in restaurants, better city services, more students, etc. The value of being isolated cannot be overstated...I have always wished Denton was another 50 miles further from DFW.
When I first heard Coach MacCarney throw out the "we expect to win these games, we hate to lose" mantra, I thought it was coach speak. It is refreshing to know he believes it and his players do also. It makes a huge difference, and it is the first time I can remember hearing it from one of our coaches since, maybe, Corky (?).

GMG

Mean Green Matt · September 16, 2012

When we were in Manhattan 4 years ago, the people were hospitable to us from the very beginning, very friendly as well. They were the best fan base I've ever come in contact with on the road.

GreenGuy123 · September 17, 2012

Yeah, KSU fans are some of the nicest/respectable that I have come across.

UNT Mean Green · September 17, 2012

Excellent comments! Wish we could set up a longtime series with Kansas State.

Greenrex · September 17, 2012

Thanks for the info untcampbell. I watched the game at home in Atlanta GA. What a grand feeling I had about this team! I have been following NT since first enrolling there in 1962 and I feel such a change coming over our beloved school...I surely do wish I could go to a game!

Harry · September 17, 2012

Really good stuff untcampbell!! Thanks for posting this.

KRAM1 · September 17, 2012

HOF Worthy, untcampbell! Great stuff...well said!

Travis Scott · September 17, 2012

Awesome post, thanks!

adman · September 17, 2012

KState replays EVERY play, even when controversial. Everyone in the end zone turns around to see the "Official review" replays, and reacts accordingly. Why don't we show controversial plays on our replays?

Isn't there an NCAA rule that says you can't show a replay if it is under review?

Marty · September 17, 2012

Great post!

greenminer · September 17, 2012

Isn't there an NCAA rule that says you can't show a replay if it is under review?

yes.

GoddardCat · September 17, 2012

Isn't there an NCAA rule that says you can't show a replay if it is under review?

The rule was changed this year to allow up to three replays and they can be shown during the review. Each conference decides if they want to do it and the Big XII decided to allow the three replays

Thanks for the nice comments about K-State, Manhattan and the people. The one common theme from visitors is always how friendly and down to earth the K-State family is. Glad you all agree. It's the reason this Kansas City native decided to go to K-State over KU and it's the best decision I ever made.

Great effort by your team. Great game plan and execution too. Good luck the rest of they season.

GRN-WHT · September 17, 2012

The rule was changed this year to allow up to three replays and they can be shown during the review. Each conference decides if they want to do it and the Big XII decided to allow the three replays

In fact, the SEC requires that the TV broadcast be shown in the stadium during official replays so the fans can see all the same angles the replay official gets. Much like what the NFL started this season.

Edited September 17, 2012 by GRN-WHT