Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Going Bowling with the Wildcats

Happy New Year!

I hope it's the greatest for you and your family. The holidays were so much fun!

Always associated with the holidays for our family are the college football bowl games. Being married to a sportswriter for many years, we have enjoyed family outings since the boys were young attending Kansas State football games. We heard our share of complaining on Saturdays during football season because we had to be in Manhattan and they were going to miss the best birthday party a kid would ever be lucky enough to be asked to!

It was a funny thing when I got the call this week our three excited sons and a cousin had purchased the best tickets in Cowboy stadium (second row behind the K-State bench) for the Wildcats trip on January 6 to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Tx., you never would have known the boys that grew up with the game following their team because of dads work could still enjoy a passion shared by the family. It's also fun to see them share that passion together!

The years have gone by, two of them picked Kstate as there alma mater. (That's ok Seth WSU has served you well.) But when K-State is playing they are all on the same side with purple being the most sought after present they would unwrap this Christmas!

I will be watching the game from home this year, their dad will be working. I will enjoy all the stories with texts and calls from the stadium. I will be listening on Thursday at 4 pm when the pep rally starts in Texas Rangers Stadium.

We did talk about the past bowl games when we were together over the holidays. Most of them were attended by at least one person in the family. Here is a recap, I thought you might like to read and remember also.



Kansas State Bowl Games - A few memories


Dec. 11, 1982 -- Independence Bowl, Shreveport, La. Wisconsin 14-3 K-State. Quarterback was Darrell Dickey, son of head coach Jim Dickey. Worst weather ever. Rain, cold, wind, chill temperature below zero.

Dec. 29, 1993 -- Weiser Lock Copper Bowl, Tucson, Arizona; Coach Bill Snyder, KSU 52-17 Wyoming; first bowl game since 1982. The enthusiasm at Arizona Stadiuim was unmatched because everyone knew this was the start of something special. No one could believe how many K-State fans showed up. It was called a sea of purple by Copper Bowl officials. Many people drove to Arizona. It was the first of 11 consecutive bowl appearances. Freshman Kevin Lockett played for four consecutive bowl teams at K-State. Chad May was quarterback.

Dec. 25, 1994 -- Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl ; Boston College 12-7 Kansas State). Chad May was quarterback. K-State's defense played well that day. Lowest score in a bowl game by coach Snyder.

Dec. 29, 1995 -- Plymouth Holiday Bowl, San Diego; KSU 54-21 Colorado State. Backup quarterback and Offensive MVP Brian Kavanagh threw for a Holiday Bowl record four touchdown passes after starter Matt Miller was hurt. Defensive MVP Mario Smith intercepted two passes.

(1996 season) Jan. 1, 1997 -- Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl, Dallas; BYU 19-14 KSU; huge crowd at Dallas featured an estimated 45,000 K-State fans on the Wildcats first-ever New Year's Day bowl. Senior Kevin Lockett scored a touchdown in his record-setting fourth bowl game. Quarterback was Brian Kavanagh. The best part was the pep rally held in the ampi-theatre on the Texas state fairgrounds, what a great time that was! Went to the Cotton Bowl dance on Dec. 30 at a local hotel and New Years Eve in Texas!

Dec. 31, 1997 -- Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Tempe, Arizona; KSU 35-18 Syracuse; QB Michael Bishop outduels Donovan McNabb now of the Philadelphia Eagles. Offensive Bowl MVP Bishop threw four touchdown passes and Darnell McDonald scored a record three touchdown passes. No. 50 Travis Ochs ***(this was my favorite player I wore #50 jersey and still have it!) was Defensive MVP.

Dec. 29, 1998 -- Builder's Square Alamo Bowl, San Antonio; Purdue 37-34 KSU; biggest heartbreaking bowl of all-time. K-State was ranked third entering game and would've finished No. 3. Purdue QB Drew Brees (now New Orleans Saints) outduels Michael Bishop. Brees threw the winning touchdown pass with 30 seconds left. Bishop threw for three touchdowns, but was intercepted four times.
K-State was one play away from the national championship game against Tennesee, but lost to Texas A&M in the Big 12 title game in St. Louis. Lots of tears from our 7 year old in the RCA dome that night. It was the night I said I was never taking them to another game because it just hurts to much to see the tears! ( He's now a 21 year old Kstate Senior) and loves his Kstate football!

Dec. 29, 1999 -- Culligan Holiday Bowl, San Diego; KSU 24-20 Washington. Offensive MVP Jonathan Beasley (now a K-State coach) scored three rushing touchdowns.

(2000 season) Jan. 1 2001 -- Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl; KSU 35-21 Tennessee. K-State's best-ever bowl victory over a SEC team. Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer won the 1998 national title. He called K-State one of the best teams Tennessee had played all year. Overnight ice and snow made for hazardous New Year's Eve driving and snow on the field at gametime, perfect for K-State.
Offensive MVP Jonathan Beasley passed for two touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown. Defensive MVP Chris Johnson had two sacks.

Dec. 28, 2001 -- Insight.com Bowl, Phoenix, Ariz. Syracuse 26-3 Kansas State. Marc Dunn was K-State quarterback.

Dec. 27, 2002 -- Pacific Life Holiday Bowl; Kansas State 34-27 Arizona State. Ell Roberson was K-State quarterback and Offensive MVP. Roberson had three rushing touchdowns. Darren Sproles scored a touchdown.

(2003 season) Jan. 2, 2004 -- Tostitos Fiesta Bowl; Ohio State 35, Kansas State 28; This was Snyder's 11th consecutive bowl game. Quarterback Ell Roberson threw for 294 yards. It was K-State's first BCS bowl appearance. During the pep rally fans found out QB Roberson had gotten in a little trouble.

Dec. 28, 2006 -- Texas Bowl, Houston; Rutgers 37-10 Kansas State; Ron Prince was head coach. Quarterback was Josh Freeman, now with the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Dec. 30, 2010 -- Pinstripe Bowl, New York Yankee Stadium. Syracuse 36-34 Kansas State. Adrian Hilburn scored a touchdown with 1:14 left, but was flagged 15 yards for a celebration penalty for saluting his father, who served in the military. The penalty forced the 2-point play to the 17-yard line. Quarterback was Carson Coffman.

It great thinking about the past and looking forward to Friday night when they tangle with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Hope you get to enjoy the game.

In the mean time my job is working on catchy poster phrases that will get the guys exposure on national TV from the second row during the game!!

Go Cats!