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PART ONE - MANHATTAN, KANSAS |
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Friday
(24/10/03) 2 hours West from KC is a little college town called Manhattan AKA the Little Apple! |
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It's home to Kansas State University, and like every good college town it has great bars! In the little part of town called Aggieville you can find no shortage of watering holes. The highlight had to be Rusty's Last Chance Saloon that appears to have expanded into about 6 different premises! |
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Our local guides for the evening were Scott, Jeremy and Sam who made sure we were looked after. Scott was the assistant equipment manager for the Claymores in 2003. |
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The Cheddarheads had been to Manhattan before we still had some Kansas virgins with us. But H and Viv quickly fell under the spell of Purple Power! |
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Saturday
(25/10/03) |
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Scott displays his specially constructed K-State cheesehead. No word yet if it will be mandatory equipment issue for the Claymores players in 2004! |
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The best surprise of all was being presented with a bit of the Wagner Turf field! KSU had installed a new Astrofield surface this season and had sold off the old surface in the off-season. |
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Among the pre-game antics was a radio interview Preston did with the local station, explaining why we were KSU fans and why KU sucked. Little did we know but everybody in Manhattan must listen to this station as for the rest of the day hundreds of folk would approach us because of it! |
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And no pre-game warm-up is complete without a little vodka jelly. Despite the reserved look on Shuggie's face this homemade dessert went down real well. Like we said, the radio interview won us a few friends! |
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Inside Wagner Field, which was filled to 51,614 on this day. One of the great things about college games, as opposed to pro games, is that everybody is in their seat well before kickoff to watch first the band come on, and then cheer the home team on the field. None of this getting to your seat in the 2nd quarter and leaving in the 3rd to beat traffic. |
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KSU had pounded on Kansas University10 straight games coming into this contest, including a 64-0 whipping in Lawrence last year. However KU were off to a good start this year (5-2) and looking to end their losing streak. However their decision to dance on the Wildcat in the centre of field at the end of their warm-ups would come back to haunt them ... |
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After the Wildcats had to punt it only took them 2 plays to get the ball back. KU QB Bill Whittemore scrambled to his right but was clobbered by LB Ted Sims and the ball was jumped on by S Rashard Washington (#2). However KSU fumbled it away 2 plays later but then forced the Jayhawks to punt. |
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The Wildcats themselves had to punt on their next possession, but an interception by CB Randy Jordan gave them the ball back at the KU 32. From there, KSU senior QB Ell Roberson finally got the Kats rolling with a 23 yard pass to WR Antoine Polite. But 4 plays later they were faced with a 4th and Goal from the KU 1 yard line ... |
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Roberson then faked out the KU defense (and the cameraman briefly), by bootlegging around right end for a 1 yard TD run! KSU 7 KU 0 |
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The game turning play occurred on KU's next possession. After finally getting their 1st 1st down, the Jayhawks marched down the field. But on 3rd and goal from the KSU 3, QB Whittemore could only gain 2 yards up the middle. In the process however he injured his shoulder and did not return. |
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KU then settled for a 18 yard FG from Johnny Beck. KSU 7 KU 3 |
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New KU QB Brian Luke botched his 1st hand-off, giving KSU the ball at the Jayhawks 20. Next play Roberson hit WR Davin Dennis (#15) for the TD. (And yes #5 James Terry has the thinnest legs we've ever seen on a football player). KSU 14 KU 3 |
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KU yanked QB Luke after his one play, and put in 3rd stringer QB John Nielsen (#12). While Nielsen proved he could hand-off, he could do little else going 8 of 12 for just 33 yards and 2 sacks the final 3 quarters.
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The rout was on! Junior RB Darren Sproles started to find his stride on the Kats next drive ending it with a 7 yard TD burst. On the drive he also became KSU's all-time leading rusher breaking Eric Hickson's record (2,537). KSU 21 KU 3 |
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After KU had to punt yet again on their next drive, Sproles then showed his versatility by taking the punt 63 yards to paydirt right in front of the Jayhawks mascot. Nice one! KSU 28 KU 3 |
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The 2nd half was more of the same. KU did manage to get a 51 yard FG from Beck to open the 3rd Q but never threatened again. KSU marched 80 yards in 9 plays culminating in a 1 yard TD run by FB Victor Mann who is in that pile somewhere!. KSU 35 KU 6 |
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Roberson finished KSU's next drive off with a 1 yard TD stretch. He would finish with 103 yards and 2 TD's on the ground. KSU 42 KU 6 |
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Can there be anything worse than kicking your ass kicked in the 4th quarter, and having to stand right in front of the KSU marching band who is blasting out every tune they can manage? Great stuff! |
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Remember we told you about the magic #26? Well #26 was the number ex KSU star Dyshod Carter wore for the Claymores this year. The Claymores season was famously ended in Week 10 when Galaxy head coach Doug Graber failed to get his superior team to beat Berlin, allowing the Fire to sneak into the World Bowl. Out of the controversy a chicken called Graber was born. Little did we know we'd run into another purple wearing Douglas Graber! (Real name John but the photo suggests otherwise). |
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It was official. When it comes to football, KU STILL SUCK! FINAL
SCORE MVP: KSU RB Darren Sproles. Had 98 yards rushing and a TD plus the big punt return. Became KSU's all-time leading rusher as well on the day. |
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After the game we took in the sights and smells of the KSU locker room. Just in case you were wondering that is not Ell Roberson in a kilt. |
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With the Jayhawks massacre under our belts we sadly had to say good-bye to Manhattan and to Kansas. We made the 2 hour trip back through to KC, just in time to watch the Yankees lose the World Series. Does it get any better than this? |
