The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[Cajun1997]

OL Chad Bordelon, shoulder (out for season)
CB Jerrell Carter, hip (questionable)
CB Terryl Fenton, back (doubtful)
DE Tony Hills, ankle (probable)
TE Lawrence Johnson, ankle (probable)
DE Eugene Kwarteng, chest (probable)
FS Lamar Morgan, knee (out)
LB Mark Risher, shoulder (probable)


Updated Depth Chart
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[TuffGuy84]

Yea guys, we only got 10 predictions thus far, I know there are more people with predictions than that :-P

Tuffguy

[Turbine]

Hey I'm in, and I plan to win

[NewsCopy]

Kansas State reborn under Snyder

LAFAYETTE — Bill Snyder took over a struggling Kansas State football program in 1989, and his Wildcats have never before been 1-1.

There was 1989’s shakedown cruise, when KSU started out 0-3 and finished 1-10, but since then the Wildcats have opened 2-0, 3-0, 3-0, 5-0, 4-0, 6-0, 4-0, 3-0, 11-0, 9-0, 6-0, 2-0, 4-0 and 4-0.

Obviously, Snyder is used to getting a quick start, often against the game’s less-monied programs.

The 4-0 start in 1994 began with a 34-6 thrashing of UL Lafayette, for example.

So this year, when KSU struggled while defeating Division 1-AA member Western Kentucky 27-13 in its opener and followed that with a 45-21 home loss to Fresno State last weekend, it was a shock to the system.

“There’s not a whole lot to say, or maybe there’s an awful lot to say,” Snyder said. “We were certainly well-embarrassed by a good team.

“We were out-coached, and fundamentally we were not a very good football team. The important thing is how the team responds, how the program responds.”

A top 15 team before the game, Kansas State fell out of the Top 25 in both polls, banished to the land of “also receiving votes.”

Snyder’s Wildcats host UL’s Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday in their third straight home game, but he’s more concerned with the shocking demolition of his own squad than this week’s visitors.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana has yielded 481 rushing yards in two games

MANHATTAN - Kansas State right tackle Jeromey Clary happens to be of the opinion that the Wildcats' offensive line wasn't flat-out horrible in losing to Fresno State.

Don't bother wondering if he's disappointed in his unit's performance, though.

"I don't think you even have to ask," Clary said. "We have a Heisman Trophy (contender at) running back, and he only had 37 yards. Nothing else needs to be said."

The rushing yards Darren Sproles will put up Saturday could have everyone reaching for the record books. That's because K-State will be facing Louisiana-Lafayette, which has allowed 481 rushing yards in its two games.

After giving up 177 yards to Northwestern State, an NCAA Division I-AA team, the Ragin' Cajuns were steamrolled for 304 yards on 43 carries by Louisiana Tech on Saturday. UL-Lafayette ranks 106th nationally in rushing defense.

"Tech's offensive line was full of seniors and graduate students, and we just couldn't match that," Cajuns defensive coordinator Brent Pry said. "We play some true freshmen and a bunch of young kids up front. We were mismatched a lot."

The matchups don't look much better this week. K-State's offensive line has three returning starters, while UL will counter with a front seven that includes four sophomores. And one of those sophomores, linebacker Tre' Green, didn't play football last season for academic reasons.

Of the three seniors in the front seven, two are junior-college transfers in only their second seasons at ULL.

The rest of the story

BY JEFFREY PARSON

The Wichita Eagle

[NewsCopy]

Snyder shuffles lineup
Loss to Fresno State leads to numerous changes

MANHATTAN, Kan. — In an effort to address a bushel of problems following last Saturday's 24-point loss to Fresno State, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder jumbled the depth chart.

He wasn't doing it just for the fun of it, either.

“Any changes that took place are there for a reason. The reasons could be varied,” said Snyder, who added that the depth chart can change daily, depending on practices or games. “But the commonality is someone either performed better than someone else or someone didn't perform well enough, and it's time to give someone who has been closing the gap, so to speak, the opportunity to see if they can take over the spot.”

Punter Tim Reyer — he of the 24-yard kick in his first and only attempt as a collegian — was among more than 10 players who were either promoted or demoted on the depth chart as the Wildcats, 1-1, prepare for a 1:10 p.m. kickoff Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette, 0-2, at KSU Stadium.

Reyer, by the way, was promoted.

A true freshman from nearby Wamego, Kan., Reyer unseated Jesse Martinez after Martinez struggled. Martinez averaged 31.7 yards in seven attempts against Fresno State. Although Reyer never kicked again after his early third-quarter appearance, he has replaced Martinez, who had punts of 17 and 30 yards in the second half. That just won't cut it in Snyder's world.

Was Reyer prepared for the opportunity he got Saturday? He admitted to being in awe.

“I came from a really small school (Rock Creek High School, enrollment approximately 175) so you can't really prepare for being out there in front of all those people,” said Reyer, admitting he was surprised he overtook Martinez on the depth chart.

The rest of the story

By HOWARD RICHMAN
The Kansas City Star

[Cajun1997]

Originally posted by Turbine
I plan to win

I would not mind if you did win,

[DaddyCajun]

Win after me dog!!!!!!

DaddyCajun!!!

[ChanceEncounter]

I already made my yard picks I should have read this first. Who is taking Chad Bordelon's place, was he the starter? I assume Justin Ernest unless Chad was a backup.

[NewsCopy]

Hockey no option for ULL freshman

LOUISIANA La. -- Jesse Newman says he's the best ice skater on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette football team.

But that doesn't mean that hockey is his favorite sport.

Newman, a starting freshman offensive tackle, is one Canadian who doesn't visit the penalty box when he becomes too aggressive.

Although Newman grew up in British Columbia, he said he's always preferred football over hockey, which is considered Canada's national sport.

"I just never really wanted to play hockey. I did once when I was 7, but that was so long ago, I really don't remember what position I played," he said.

His preference for football also created a problem, since few Canadian high schools have football teams.

The closest Newman got to playing football was participating two years on a rugby team.

Then during his final year in high school, Newman moved in with his grandmother in Tsawwassen to play on a high school football team. The high school Newman attended used American football rules.

After graduating, he spent three seasons in the 22-and-under Canadian Junior Football League, similar to Canada's junior hockey leagues, which produce professional players in the sport.

Junior football is played according to Canadian Football League rules, which includes having three downs instead of four, Newman said.

"Since you only have three chances to make a first down, there's a lot of passing, so pass blocking is something that I did well when I got (to ULL)," he said.

Newman knew nothing about ULL until he began packaging his skills on a highlight tape which he mailed to about 40 different American colleges.

"I was on the Internet and I came across (ULL), so I checked them out and I saw that they didn't have a lot of offensive linemen coming back," he said. "To me, that meant I had a better chance of moving up the chain than with some other teams."

The rest of the story

By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate

[RaginRash]

Big67 is huge!

[ATXCajun]

It looked like the problem with Levier against La Tech was his inability to pick up the blitz on pass plays. That will change as he gets a better grip on things. For now, I would use him only in certain situations so that Jerry doesn't get killed.