<blockquote><p align=justify><b> K-State freshmen could soon be initiated </b>
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State's struggling offense had just left the field with a turnover during Saturday's loss to Fresno State when John Hafferty elbowed Gerard Spexarth, a fellow first-year freshman and offensive lineman.
"Dude," he told him, "we're going in."
That didn't actually happen, but it probably will this Saturday against Louisiana. And that's not just a blowout scenario coming into play, either.
The Wildcats would like to use Hafferty at left guard, Spexarth at left tackle and perhaps even Ryan Schmidt, another first-year freshman, at center because their future could be coming soon.
There aren't many starting positions safe anymore, and K-State coach Bill Snyder has already made numerous changes to the depth chart.
"It's it's time to give players who have been closing the gap an opportunity," Snyder said.
That certainly includes the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Hafferty. He's still behind Malcolm Wooldridge right now, but he spent some time in Monday night's practice working with the starting offensive line. It's almost certain he'll play against the Ragin' Cajuns.
"If I do get the opportunity, it would be my dream coming true to do that," said Hafferty, whose father was a starting center for K-State in the late 1970s. "It would mean more to me than you could ever know."
<center><p><a href="http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/sports/colleges/9664695.htm">The rest of the story</a>
Jeffrey Parson covers K-State and the Big 12.
Reach him at 268-6398 or jparson@wichitaeagle.com. <!--
The 6-7 Spexarth, who played at Andale High, understands Saturday might be his day, too. He's been surprised by his progress, even considering the team's shortage of veteran offensive linemen.
"I'm pretty nervous," he said. "But I'll be ready."
Another first-year freshman might be taking snaps behind those young offensive linemen. Allan Evridge spent most of Saturday as K-State's backup to Allen Webb. If starting quarterback Dylan Meier's health continues to be a concern, Evridge probably will play.
That would cost him the opportunity to redshirt, though.
"From an emotional side, you want to see the field," Evridge said. "But from the logical side, you see the benefit of having five years. It's a trade-off either way. So whatever they need me to do, I'll do."
Ragin' pain -- Like K-State, Louisiana-Lafayette is trying to recover this week.
The Cajuns lost 24-20 Saturday at rival Louisiana Tech when time expired with UL-Lafayette at Tech's 7-yard line. The Cajuns were desperate for revenge after the visiting Bulldogs won 34-3 last season.
"I mean, they basically just kicked the (stuff) out of us last year," ULL defensive coordinator Brent Pry said. "So to end up eight yards or a few seconds short like that, it was tough for our kids. It hurt."
Sad songs instead -- When Kansas State football was aired on KFH, 1330-AM, the past two seasons, coverage started long before the game.
KFH aired "Powercat Gameday," a two-hour show that begins four hours before kickoff. Produced in Manhattan, the show is hosted by Matt Walters of KMAN, 1350-AM, and Tim Fitzgerald, publisher of Powercat Illustrated. It was popular listening among area K-State fans making the drive to Manhattan for a game.
But KFTI, 1070-AM, Wichita's new Mid America Sports Network affiliate, has no plans to pick up "Powercat Gameday."
As with all Mid America affiliates, KFTI is required to air the network's pregame and postgame shows in their entirety. That block of programming starts two hours before kickoff and often runs two hours after the game is over.
"So it's an eight-hour commitment as it is," KFTI operations manager Beverlee Brannigan said. "Expanding two more hours would result in some contractual issues, and our challenge is just making sure we get all our regular clients in."
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