Tag Archives: Bill Snyder

Pick It And Stick It: It’s A Trap!

Hey it’s another week of college football and it’s that time of the week for me to stick my finger where my mouth is and preview the weekend’s onslaught of college football rebellion. For me this week, it’s all about trap games. I’m looking at it from the guise of my Purple Yeti colored pride (Kansas State for the uninitiated) and there’s a chance a trap could be sprung. The rest of the weekend is somewhat ho-hum with a couple of primo matchups and that’s about it. We also get what I believe is the opening of conference play between Kansas and TCU. Let’s kick on the hyperdrive.

So I mentioned that Kansas State may be rolling into a trap game. First off, what’s a trap game? Usually it’s with an opponent that you are supposed to beat but certain circumstances make it ripe for an upset. Kansas State’s trap scenario is two-fold. First off, Kansas State plays North Texas whose head coach is Dan McCartney. Yup the same McCartney that was Iowa State’s head coach and actually beat the Snyder led Cats twice in his run. Second, the following week’s game for Kansas State is in Norman against Oklahoma. Could there be a situation where Kansas State overlooks North Texas while getting ready for Oklahoma?

The short answer is yes. Kansas State already had their trap type scenario play out in the first week of the season (and you could really look at last year too) with a way too close game against an FCS opponent. I think Bill Snyder likes to run these games as a sort of pre-season type match up. You get vanilla things that help get some real game time experience for some young players. You’ll more than likely see this again against North Texas, but it should be enough to top North Texas. McCartney does not have the kind of talent he had at Iowa State. Bill Snyder (who was an assistant at North Texas for a short time) already has his whole team bought into his system and his system demands discipline at a cosmic rate. Kansas State should win this one pretty easily but I would not be surprised if it will be close for most of the game.

The game starts late and I will miss because of a Passion Pit show (hopefully the football gods will forgive me), but I will be able to watch a couple of games before hand. The most interesting one for me, will be the opening Big 12 game of the year and the opening Big 12 game for TCU when TCU heads to Lawrence. Pretty much everyone is giving TCU the game this week. I’m going to do that too. There’s alot of things I’m looking for, however. How will Kansas State alum and TCU head coach Gary Patterson handle the first game for TCU? Will Casey Pachall keep his astronomic QB passer rating up? Will Charlie Weiss have his kids bounce back from an embarrassing loss last week? Will the Kansas players give up in the 2nd quarter? Will the stadium be empty at halftime? All interesting questions and I think we know the answer to all of them.

So the rest of the slate is pretty limp. I’ll miss out on the evening games because of concert, which is a shame because it’s got USC at Stanford as well as Notre Dame at Michigan State and Florida at Tennessee, the only Top 25 match ups of the week. So let’s pick it right now and hopefully I won’t have to stick it. I’m going with Stanford in the upset because of the media hype around USC as well as their poor performance in a win on the road to Syracuse. Pac 12 needs to come down a bit. Michigan State is the Big 10’s only hope and we’ll see them beat my 2nd favorite team in Notre Dame because the Fighting Irish will be too busy celebrating the ACC move and they struggled pretty hard against Purdue. Finally I have Tennessee over Florida because it’s time for that program to come back. All home picks, I know.

I can’t wait for this weekend of games. There’s a special treat coming up too. I’m going to try this new-fangled live blogging thing that just came out from WordPress. What will be in there? I have no clue. Probably pics and snarky remarks that will end up on the Twitter feed at @kccgd. But hey, it will be fun and you should join me. I’ll have one screen on TCU at Kansas and will channel surf the rest. Who knows? There may be some cartoons or infomercials popping up in the live blog. Tune in and find out!

Dart Board Predictions 2012: Just Make Sure You Don’t Touch Anybody

Yup it’s time I wing them again.  I don’t like making things ultra official and professional (note the website) and I will follow that same lack of format for another Pick It and Stick It Special.  It’s Dart Board Predictions time!  I don’t keep track so if you want to hit me up on the Twitterz (twitter.com/kccgd) or email ([email protected]) and let me know just how smart or dumb I am.  So with that out of the way, let’s sharpen up the darts and start tossing.  Get out of the way.

  • I for some reason kept picking Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden to kick the bucket on the field.  I was wrong on both shots (but there’s a chance with Bobby still).  This year I will predict that NO ONE will die on the field.  Practice field doesn’t count.  I know about the sickle cell.
  • After capping off the offseason with a newly announced college football playoffs, college presidents will realize the folly of their way and go back the BCS system.  The robots will be replaced by committee members.
  • Brent Musburger starts to fade as he delves into dementia not unlike Keith Jackson 10 years ago.  The only difference, he will still shill and sound super excited.
  • Hey I picked a Big 12 Champion, so who will that champion play?  Pretty easy, it’s BCS bowl bound for Oklahoma against Virginia Tech because Frank Beamer.
  • So that means that the Hokies will win the ACC again and I’m not sure anyone will really care.
  • With the WAC shutting down, you’ll see other lower tier conferences going away.  I’m looking at you Sun Belt.
  • Charlie Weiss will get so frustrated at Kansas, that his front butt will lash out and strike a player.  Unlike his almost twin in old head coach Mark Mangino, no one will seem to care about it.  Poor blowhard Weiss.
  • The Big East will be renamed to The Big after they finish this year announcing new members Hawaii and Japan.
  • Texas A&M and Missouri do okay in the SEC this year.  After they get done cleaning up the table when the big boys are done.
  • Mike Leech trades his sword in for a bow and arrow and starts pegging apples at Washington State.  This somehow inspires Wazzu to double their wins to 2.
  • USC will walk into the Pac 12 as the favorite and will more than likely walk out the winner.  Oregon lost so much except those tasty uniforms.
  • But Matt Barkley will not win the Heisman Trophy.  The consolation?  The next contestant on The Bachelor.
  • Who will win the Heisman?  It’s a quarterback sport anymore so I think it will be someone from the that position.  I see Geno Smith nailing with Collin Klein coming in second.  Such a homer pick.
  • Speaking of Kansas State, Bill Snyder will live through the year and see a bowl win finally.  Maybe in the Beef O’Bradys Bowl.
  • Craig James will spew out some nonsense and get accepted to the Green Party’s ticket for president alongside Rosanne Barr.
  • I really do think this may be Michigan’s year for a Big 10 title. Unfortunately as soon as they step on that stage, they will instantly be overhyped and lose out in the Rose Bowl.
  • About 100 more players will be suspended due to mysterious ‘team rules’ epidemic going around.
  • I will not win Pick It and Stick It again this year.  I’m hedging my bet right now and will be saying ‘Called It!’ in December.
  • USC will face LSU and win in the BCS National Championship Game.  Only because USC did me so well in EA Sports NCAA College Football and LSU just doesn’t have it, much to the chagrin of everything SEC.
  • Finally, super predictor Phil Steele will rip off most of my predictions from this column and discredit everything else he did in 2012.

Kansas State Football Preview 2012: Always The Underdog

Another year of Kansas State football is upon us and there’s some weird mixed feelings going on.   Maybe not in Manhattan, but certainly down here in Austin and in this Purple Yeti’s abode.  You see, part of me wants to believe that Kansas State will improve upon its amazing record from last year, but another wants to believe in the negative hype the so called sports media jams down my throat.  Is everyone writing off Kansas State too easily, or will reality hit hard for the little Wildcats from the Little Apple? Continue reading Kansas State Football Preview 2012: Always The Underdog

A Better Big 12 For 2012

Ah yeah, the Big 12 is back baby!  Oh well, it didn’t really go anywhere.  Compared to last year, this offseason was a walk in the park.  Why is that?  Well, we have some new faces in the mix and some old faces hit the road.  I think truly for the first time in the last 3 years, there is some stability here.  That makes me happy.  What makes me happier is the new season so let’s see how this conference shakes out. Continue reading A Better Big 12 For 2012

Purple Yeti Roar 13: I Hate To Break It To Ya

Ahahah ho man.  I couldn’t resist that pun for Alabama’s BCS Championship trophy breakage this week.  There were other things going on as well.  Among the other stories that broke (ba doom ching): Kansas and all it’s Domer Glory, the Cy-Hawk Trophy is back to being cool, Barry Sanders (I said Foster HA) comes back from my childhood, Tyler Lockett practices full speed for Kansas State, an Auburn fan gets punched, and Oliver Luck wants it big.  Let’s shuffle through the damage. Continue reading Purple Yeti Roar 13: I Hate To Break It To Ya

Purple Yeti Roar 12: Get Your Motor Running

Let’s head out on the highway and talk a little bit of the ole college football.  This week I talk about the Bobby Petrino saga, Iowa’s nepotism, Ricky Williams stoned bronzer, and some Kansas shenanigans.  Oh, I also pitch hard for some Bill Snyder Family Stadium ornaments. Continue reading Purple Yeti Roar 12: Get Your Motor Running

Purple Yeti Roar 03: I Hardy Knew Ye

We are full swing into the offseason.  Signing day is coming up and that’s the only exciting thing going on in college football right now.  Granted, there was a Pro Bowl Sunday and we _do_ have the Super Bowl this weekend but that’s the NFL.  We are here for college football.  So, with that in mind, the latest Roar talks about bad rap videos, recruiting drama, and Ed Hardy douchery.  Yes, it is that slow.  Here we go:

Continue reading Purple Yeti Roar 03: I Hardy Knew Ye

Crib Sheet: A Change Is Gonna Come, Oh Yes It Is

Ah yes, the college football season is officially over.  Time to rest up a bit, kick back, and reflect on what was great and what was terrible for the 2011-2012 college football season.  Go ahead, I’ll still be here. ….(time passes)…. OKAY.  So now that we’ve all mused about gridiron, let’s get down to brass tacks.  There’s winds of change a blowing and they will twirl the leaves around this here blog.  What’s going to happen?  Tune in next week.  We still have some Crib Sheet action to go over so let’s go right ahead and knock it out:

Continue reading Crib Sheet: A Change Is Gonna Come, Oh Yes It Is

Crib Sheet: Christmas Balls Will Be Ringing

Yes! Christmas vacation starts today for me!  I remember back in the day how Christmas vacation lasted way longer than just a week, but I’ll take what I can get.  Back in the day I used only a couple of crib sheets and you’ll be seeing one today.  The news is not as light as I would like but I’m forging on.  Bowl season and the holiday season is upon us so it’s time to celebrate!  On with the crib sheet!

Continue reading Crib Sheet: Christmas Balls Will Be Ringing

Crib Sheet: The Chips Have Fallen Into the Bowls

The teams have been announced that cards played out on the table.  The big hand is lame this year but the side bets are sexier.  That’s right the regular season is over and now we are flipping over to bowl season.  There were some snubs as usual, but the Big 12 lineup of bowls still looks pretty strong.  The Cotton Bowl is right up there with the BCS bowls in terms of interesting match ups.  Kansas State vs Arkansas, or Big 12 vs SEC, like it should be.  Call your bets and flop on over to this week’s Crib Sheet.

Continue reading Crib Sheet: The Chips Have Fallen Into the Bowls

Stadiumspottings Works In Austin’s DKR Stadium, Too

Oh to be the Kansas State fan I was last weekend.  I had friends in town, good times down on 6th street, and a Wildcat style game that I bore witness to at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.  The tailgating experience was a unique one as most of the tents sprinkled up and down the streets near the capital building.  The fans were mostly welcoming and I enjoyed the cordiality and and concert of celebrating college football.  Most importantly, however, I enjoyed the victory Kansas State had over the Texas Longhorns.  Is a Cotton Bowl at play?

Continue reading Stadiumspottings Works In Austin’s DKR Stadium, Too

Cuatros Makes It Count

It has been a long time since I’ve seen some rain.  I would’ve never thought that it would take this long living down here in Texas to see a downpour.  What’s even more incredible is that this here downpour came in the middle of a barspot that featured an outside patio for most of the bar!  That’s right, Cuatros was the place to be last Saturday and I had the opportunity to watch some football both inside and outside.  So, yes, I got a little wet but it was totally worth it for the great time that I had there.

Continue reading Cuatros Makes It Count

Crib Sheet: Here We Go Again On Our Own, Maybe

Once we thought we were safe, but anybody who knew their history and knew about the psyche of Missouri understood it was not over.  And with that, Missouri last night gave chancellor Brady Deaton the power to pursue other conferences.  They could be like Oklahoma and stay or they could be like Texas A&M and go.  Time will tell.  Although, they were first on the block last year so I’m pretty sure they are out the door.  Nevermind the fact that Tier 1 and Tier 2 rights are officially equal in the Big 12, provided everyone commits to the league.  Yup, so expect some announcements early next week about conference affiliation so they don’t bother with the actual games being played on the field.  In the meantime, check out this week’s Crib Sheet:

Continue reading Crib Sheet: Here We Go Again On Our Own, Maybe

Backspin Threw Me Off

I lucked out again with Kansas State not playing at the same time Texas was.  They were actually playing Baylor and on ABC.  The nationally televised match up and the fact that it was not going against Texas led me to think that a remote sports bar south of the city should have that game on.  So Saturday I found myself at the Backspin Texas Sports Bar & Grill.  I’m glad that I picked that place for the game.  Did the tiny nature and remote location lead to a great time?

 

Somehow I managed to get rockstar parking for the Backspin.  When I pulled in, I had a nice view of the patio and a side way look to the joint.  I heard online that it was a small place, but I was hoping it would be wider that what it turned out to be.  Walking inside I instantly felt cramped.  It was room for maybe 3 tables across and a ginormous sports bar.  Okay that’s fine.  Both outside and inside had some sweet looking HD televisions with a huge one in the main dining area.

As for the rest of the Backspin, it filled out as nicely as it could with its real estate.  I was surprised to see a Golden Tee game there and alleviated any worries I had about their effort.  Not only that, but they also had some BuzzTime Trivia, which gave me a chance to try out their app on my new Android based cellphone.  All that internet juice was handled promptly by their free wireless internet.  Connection issues were not a problem mainly because the place is so small.

The service there wasn’t so great.  I got a primo spot in front of the huge big screen for the Kansas State vs Baylor game, but had the chance to watch the end of the exciting Texas A&M vs Arkansas game.  It was about two minutes to go and they somehow accidentally changed the channel.  It was so harried that a patron got up and started jacking with the Direct TV remote.  Seriously, if you have a sports bar, you need to have workers who know how to operate the televisions.  Also, the audio was out of sync for the end of that A&M game.  That, the waitresses were pretty hot and they did a great job of making sure my beers were full.

For this week’s beer pairing, by the way, I had an unexpected mix of food and drink.  I was hoping to get their Reuben but I had to try their Tzatziki dip and fried pickles appetizer.  I’m happy I went that way.  To wash down the lot, I chose some New Castle.  Not only was it on special for $3 but the brown ale helped with the crispness of the fried pickles and the strange combination of yogurt and spices for the Tzatziki dip.  I’ve never had Tzatziki before but it is a nice cool down appetizer to noms on with pita bread.

Now on the to the games.  Non Big 12 wise I caught that big showdown of Wisconsin vs Nebraska as well as the Alabama vs Florida game going on at the same time.  First off, Alabama looks legit and first year Florida head coach Will Muschamp has a little bit more work to do, including keeping his starting quarterback healthy.  Big 10 wise, Nebraska got a great welcome to the conference with a whooping handed to them from the Badgers.  Nebraska isn’t a complete team but it didn’t help them that Wisconsin had the free agent quarterback wonder that is Russell Wilson.

Big 12 wise, I watched a whole heckuva lot of football.  While I was sweating away at the gym, I got watch Kansas go up early on Texas Tech.  Little did I know that the Red Raiders would come back to win on the road in Lawrence.  Both teams are in trouble against Kansas State, more on that later.  So I mentioned Texas A&M and Arkansas.  All I can say that it was awesome to see the Aggies choke again.  They have never won a game against the SEC and will hopefully be competitive against Vanderbilt when they take off next year.  Wow they have no heart.

The big game of the day for me was watching Kansas State host Baylor for their first big test of the year.  Robert Griffin III is the mega stud quarterback for Baylor and he continued putting up great numbers.  The combination between him and Kendall Wright torched the Wildcat defense all day long.  But Kansas State was resilient.  I don’t know how they keep close in these games, but they do.  Everyone will put it on Bill Snyder 2.0 and deservedly so.  Collin Klein kept consistent on the offensive side of the ball and linebacker Arthur Brown broke out and delivered the game saving interception.  These Wildcats are now ranked and they have real good shot of going to a bowl thanks to Texas Tech and Kansas.

So that was my day at the Backspin.  That place is super tiny but for where it is located, I can make some concessions.  It’s by no means perfect.  When you can’t figure out televisions on gameday, you go down big in my book.  The food was decent and I like the beer specials.  If I had an important game that I absolutely had to watch, I wouldn’t do it at the Backspin.  If I wanted to sneak away from the city and hide out in a decent sports bar, the Backspin is where I’ll head.

Crib Sheet: Conference Armageddon Again

You know, I was hoping the big news of the week would be the start of the college football season.  The only thing that could overshadow it was Texas A&M leaving the Big 12.  Welp they announced their intention to do so.  Now that it’s official, the Big 12 must look to expand, which is more than what they did last year.  Everyone is saying that BYU is the most likely candidate, and they are being very careful with their words .  Even though they have been talking with the Big 12.  Will it happen?  Who knows, but there will be a boatload of speculation in the meantime.  Well and Oklahoma is looking to take the lead in blowing up the league.  Let’s hit up the Crib Sheet while we wait: Continue reading Crib Sheet: Conference Armageddon Again