Wednesday conundrums while Bill Snyder and the K-State football team try to figure out the secret to knocking off the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla.
• I’ve heard of some pretty incredible winning streaks, but the Sooners haven’t lost at home in 27 straight contests, dating back to an upset loss to TCU on Sept. 3, 2005.
• That’s a long time. Snyder was still in his first tenure as head coach and Wildcat Nation hadn’t even heard of Ron Prince yet. Oh, how times have changed.
• I’d have to imagine the key to upending Bob Stoops and Co. starts with getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Through seven games, Oklahoma hasn’t given up a single point in the opening period. If that’s not the epitome of dominance, then I don’t know what is.
• When Snyder jokingly said in yesterday’s press conference that K-State was petitioning the NCAA to let the Wildcats start the game in the second quarter, I got a little worried. Call me crazy, but knowing Snyder is concerned never leaves me feeling too hot.
• Concerned or not, the Wildcat head coach will head into Memorial Stadium with a team that’s made some borderline ridiculous improvements over the last couple weeks. Ten sacks and nine takeaways in two games wouldn’t have been possible for this team at the beginning of the season.
• Frankly, if I hadn’t watched it with my own eyes, I still wouldn’t have believed it. Then again, stranger things have happened. Nebraska turned the ball over eight times last week — four of those inside the opponent’s five-yard line — and lost at home. To Iowa State. I’m sure you get the point.
• Jeffrey Fitzgerald seems to be peaking at just the right time. Raise your hand if you’d like to see him get into the backfield and knock Landry Jones right out of his moustache.
• Speaking of Iowa State, Paul Rhoads would get my vote for Big 12 Coach of the Year if the season ended today. The Cyclones are just six points away from being undefeated in conference play and one win from bowl eligibility. This is hardly the same team that went 0-8 in the league and 2-10 overall a year ago.
• I can’t remember the last time K-State and Iowa State led the Big 12 North after seven weeks. Frankly, I don’t think it’s ever happened. Who would have thought Farmageddon could potentially serve as the division tiebreaker?
• Pardon me for looking ahead, but it looks like the first division team to get to 5-3 in conference play will be playing Texas in Dallas on Dec. 5, and the Wildcats seem to have the easiest road. Besides, it would be pretty fun to watch Colt McCoy run for his life against a team he’s never beaten.
-Justin Nutter is a senior in print journalism. Please send comments to sports@spub.ksu.edu.
