It's On. AU vs KSU On Thursday Night!

[Mike]

Auburn's road back to the national championship game to finish the job next season already was a challenge.

It got a little more challenging Monday.

As if playing away from home at Kansas State, at Georgia and at Alabama wasn't tough enough, it's now official that the K-State game will be played on Thursday night Sept. 18.

Why? Because ESPN said so.

Why does the date matter? Because Thursday nights on the road are where top-10 teams go to die.

Ask Oregon. The No. 3 Ducks were undefeated when they flew into Stanford last season for a Thursday night made-for-TV matchup. They left with their wings and their national title hopes clipped.

Stanford also is in touch with that emotion. Two years ago, the No. 8 Cardinal took an early exit from the national title hunt when they lost on a Thursday night at Washington.

There's something about a weeknight game on the road on ESPN that jazzes up the home crowd and the home underdog. At least one top-10 team has lost on the road on a Thursday or Friday night for at least the last five straight seasons.

Kansas State's already pumping up its people. AD John Currie sent out a letter Monday explaining to his fan base why the school agreed to move the Auburn game from its original Saturday date to a Thursday.

"Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be the focus of the college football world that evening, and the chance to host the reigning SEC Champion on ESPN's Thursday night platform in what will be one of the best non-conference matchups in the country next season is a terrific and unique opportunity for K-State," Currie wrote.

He went into even greater detail.

"First, playing on Thursday (occasionally) as one of only a couple of games nationally provides enormously more exposure for K-State and Manhattan in general rather than being one of several dozen games on Saturday. Schools very similar to K-State, like Virginia Tech and Clemson, have dramatically enhanced their programs' (and school) national brand position over the last 20 years by playing Thursday night games at home almost every year.

"As we enter the College Football Playoff era, strength of schedule will be more important than ever, while our returning stars like Tyler Lockett and Ryan Mueller will have a great chance to earn more national credibility on a wider stage."

In other words, Auburn better be ready because the Tigers, who should be undefeated and ranked in the top 5 when they travel to Manhattan, will be walking into a trap.

Give Jay Jacobs and Gus Malzahn credit for taking on the challenge of playing a true road game, rather than one of those neutral-site classics that have become so popular and lucrative, as the return for Kansas State's visit to Auburn in 2007.

Auburn barely survived to win that game 23-13, and Kansas State is a far better program now since the return of the esteemed Bill Snyder as head coach. Fortunately for Auburn, the Tigers have upgraded themselves.

Fun fact: Since Snyder came back to coach the Wildcats in 2009, their record is remarkably similar to Auburn's. Over the last five years, Auburn is 45-21 overall to K-State's 42-22. K-State is 27-16 in the Big 12 to Auburn's 24-18 SEC record.

Auburn has hit the higher notes, with two SEC championships and one BCS title in that span to one Big 12 title for Kansas State, but this trip promises to be the toughest road test for the Tigers outside the SEC in years.

Not to mention, does anyone remember what happened the last time Auburn played a Thursday night non-conference road game? Tommy Tuberville would prefer to forget. His last Auburn team led West Virginia 17-3 before getting run over 34-17 in 2008.

It's a new day at Auburn, but Thursday hasn't changed. Even for a top-10 football team, it's still a dangerous night.

[/quote]

 

[Mike]

From the KSU website:

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State finalized its 2014 football schedule today, announcing a seven-game home slate highlighted by a prime time Thursday night battle with Auburn on September 18 and home conference matchups with Big 12 foes Texas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and KU.

The Wildcats' 12-game schedule includes six teams which were bowl-eligible in 2013, with four of those visiting Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 2014.

"We are excited about our seven-game home schedule for 2014," said Athletics Director John Currie. "Following our record-setting attendance this past season, our fans will have a 2014 slate that ranks among the best in school history including our historic matchup with Auburn as well as conference games against Texas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and KU."

The 2014 slate will get underway on August 30 against Stephen F. Austin as the Cats play four of their first five games at home to open the season.

Following the season opener against the Lumberjacks, K-State will open up Big 12 Conference play in week two with a road trip to Iowa State before enjoying its first bye week of the season leading up to the game with Auburn, the 2013 BCS National Championship runner-up.

Manhattan and Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be the focus of the college football world on Thursday, September 18, as the Cats and Tigers meet in an ESPN nationally-televised game. The Thursday night matchup, one of the most-watched games in the country each week, will be the first in Manhattan since the 2010 Nebraska game and the fourth overall at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

"The chance to host a program like Auburn on ESPN's Thursday night telecast in what will be one of the best non-conference matchups in the country next year is a terrific and unique opportunity for K-State," Currie added.

 

[Sandhusker]

You'll be OK - it's K. St. We owned them for 40 years.

 

[loomixguy]

You'll be OK - it's K. St. We owned them for 99 years.

FIXED!!

 

[Mike]

edit

 

[Mike]

You'll be OK - it's K. St. We owned them for 40 years.

I doubt that ancient history will be a subject on the minds of the coaches, recruits, fans, & "The College Football World" while watching this game.

When KSU handily dominated Michigan, a cornerstone of the mighty Big 10, they placed themselves in a relevant position in "The College Football World"? ESPN seems to think so.

Manhattan and Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be the focus of the college football world on Thursday, September 18, as the Cats and Tigers meet in an ESPN nationally-televised game.

 

[jigs]

as a biased person, I think it will be a good game. I will be there to watch it in person... look for me on TV, I will be wearing purple.

the joy I get from husker fans dissing KSU keeps me warm on these cold winter days...nothing better than a pouty husker fan watching their team drop off the map of college football, while they have to see teams they used to dominate rise up and become a threat .....

poor little nubbers.... face it, your time at the bottom has just begun, and playing in the rust belt will only keep you there....

Huck the Fuskers, GO STATE!!!

 

[loomixguy]

The ONLY reason it will be the "focus of the college football world" that day is because its more than likely the ONLY game being played that day.

Guess I'm an Auburn fan that day....that's where my focus will be.

 

[loomixguy]

as a biased person, I think it will be a good game. I will be there to watch it in person... look for me on TV, I will be wearing purple.

the joy I get from husker fans dissing KSU keeps me warm on these cold winter days...nothing better than a pouty husker fan watching their team drop off the map of college football, while they have to see teams they used to dominate rise up and become a threat .....

poor little nubbers.... face it, your time at the bottom has just begun, and playing in the rust belt will only keep you there....

Huck the Fuskers, GO STATE!!!

Did you hear the Huskers plucked Christian Gaylord, a 4 star recruit and Kansas boy away from Snyder's clutches and a bunch of other schools?

There are still plenty of good HS athletes who WANT to play at Nebraska....I don't think Jigs is gonna like what is fixing to happen in Lincoln in the next couple of years....

The walk on program is really being pushed this spring, too. We played Giltner in BB the other night. They have a real good football program...anyway, my boy ( a junior) guarded a senior all night and just dominated the older kid. He was slow and had no moves, but the word is the kid was invited to walk on next fall. I knew a lot of players back in the day, and unless this kid has something that couldn't be seen on the court I don't see him making it. Not big enough, strong enough, or fast enough.

 

[Mike]

The ONLY reason it will be the "focus of the college football world" that day is because its more than likely the ONLY game being played that day.

That's just ONE of the reasons ESPN/ABC fought so hard to schedule it. No competition except for maybe an NFL game.

But you & I both know that's not the ONLY reason. "TV Viewer Ratings" are the name of the game. ESPN/ABC might be many things, but they are not stupid. The SEC averaged about 4,000,000 viewers in each of their 2013 games. Substantially higher than other the conferences (even though the Big 10 population is more than double that of the SEC), and now KSU will benefit.

http://www.goodbullhunting.com/2013/12/17/5216550/college-football-tv-ratings-2013-regular-season-final-sec

 

[jigs]

as a biased person, I think it will be a good game. I will be there to watch it in person... look for me on TV, I will be wearing purple.

the joy I get from husker fans dissing KSU keeps me warm on these cold winter days...nothing better than a pouty husker fan watching their team drop off the map of college football, while they have to see teams they used to dominate rise up and become a threat .....

poor little nubbers.... face it, your time at the bottom has just begun, and playing in the rust belt will only keep you there....

Huck the Fuskers, GO STATE!!!

Did you hear the Huskers plucked Christian Gaylord, a 4 star recruit and Kansas boy away from Snyder's clutches and a bunch of other schools?

There are still plenty of good HS athletes who WANT to play at Nebraska....I don't think Jigs is gonna like what is fixing to happen in Lincoln in the next couple of years....

The walk on program is really being pushed this spring, too. We played Giltner in BB the other night. They have a real good football program...anyway, my boy ( a junior) guarded a senior all night and just dominated the older kid. He was slow and had no moves, but the word is the kid was invited to walk on next fall. I knew a lot of players back in the day, and unless this kid has something that couldn't be seen on the court I don't see him making it. Not big enough, strong enough, or fast enough.

long time between now and signing day.... and the utter failure that is NU football will show him the sad state your program is in...fighting for 3rd in the weak half of the conference.....

 

[Mike]

as a biased person, I think it will be a good game. I will be there to watch it in person... look for me on TV, I will be wearing purple.

the joy I get from husker fans dissing KSU keeps me warm on these cold winter days...nothing better than a pouty husker fan watching their team drop off the map of college football, while they have to see teams they used to dominate rise up and become a threat .....

poor little nubbers.... face it, your time at the bottom has just begun, and playing in the rust belt will only keep you there....

Huck the Fuskers, GO STATE!!!

Did you hear the Huskers plucked Christian Gaylord, a 4 star recruit and Kansas boy away from Snyder's clutches and a bunch of other schools?

There are still plenty of good HS athletes who WANT to play at Nebraska....I don't think Jigs is gonna like what is fixing to happen in Lincoln in the next couple of years....

The walk on program is really being pushed this spring, too. We played Giltner in BB the other night. They have a real good football program...anyway, my boy ( a junior) guarded a senior all night and just dominated the older kid. He was slow and had no moves, but the word is the kid was invited to walk on next fall. I knew a lot of players back in the day, and unless this kid has something that couldn't be seen on the court I don't see him making it. Not big enough, strong enough, or fast enough.

long time between now and signing day.... and the utter failure that is NU football will show him the sad state your program is in...fighting for 3rd in the weak half of the conference.....

Gaylord won't be signing with Nebraska or anyone else this year.

 

[pknoeber]

The walk on program is really being pushed this spring, too. We played Giltner in BB the other night. They have a real good football program...anyway, my boy ( a junior) guarded a senior all night and just dominated the older kid. He was slow and had no moves, but the word is the kid was invited to walk on next fall. I knew a lot of players back in the day, and unless this kid has something that couldn't be seen on the court I don't see him making it. Not big enough, strong enough, or fast enough.

OK, so even assuming your son is an exceptional athlete, how does that say anything good about NU's state of the program? You just said that a poor athlete (relative to your son) will be walking on at NU... Generally, even the walk-ons have to be invited by the program to walk on. Soooooo, using some deductive reasoning, that says to me that NU's program is down a ways, as they're inviting poor athletes to walk on. Or maybe your son is a 5 star and should have dominated the guy who is a 2 star? Generally the walk ons were guys who were dominant in their school, but they were at such a small school that it was tough to project them to the next level b/c they didn't ever face any other top-tier talent. IDK either kids, but let's be honest, the B1G and the XII are both playing catch up to the SEC and at this point the PAC. Gap is much narrower, but SEC has much more top-tier talent (look at the NFL numbers) and PAC is a much deeper conference than both right now

 

[loomixguy]

I saw today the kid did sign up to walk on @ Nebraska. I didn't see him play football do I can't comment on his ability there. What I saw was the kid play basketball....and I wasn't impressed. Probably the kid is playing BB because he was expected to, not because he excells at it so much. Like I said, I don't think he's big enough, strong enough, or fast enough. As a walk on, the financial burden of school is his, and NU has nothing to lose if he doesn't make it. It's up to him to produce. He has a chance. I hope he proves me wrong.

On a side note, I have been approached by officials from 3 other high schools wanting my son to transfer there and play sports for them. That ain't happening.

 

[jigs]

the kid might be a monster in football, and a joke at bouncy ball..... a lot of kids are, but they are in small schools and play bouncy ball and do track just to keep in shape.... judging the kids football skills on a basketball court is unfair.

 

[loomixguy]

I never judged his football skills, you nitwit. I simply passed on what I SAW on.the court that night, along with spending a fair amount of time back in the day with the likes of Jarvis Redwine, IM Hipp, Rod "Too Strong" Horn, Dan Rice, and Junior Miller, and a host of second & third stringers.

Only a Libtard or a Mild Cat fan could twist my post into saying I was being unfair to the kid.

 

[jigs]

did not mean to imply you did...just pointing out to others that small town America we don't have "programs" in high school, and the kid was probably just out for roundball as a conditioning measure.... relax a bit man....go read your Willa Cather book and calm down.