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| Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, left, talks with Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, center, and quarterback Sam Bradford, right, before the game on Saturday in Norman, Okla. Associated Press. |
The Wildcats have shown bounce-back ability already this season — none more evident than when K-State defeated Texas A&M by 40 points, a week after Texas Tech embarrassed the Cats, 66-14.
K-State is coming off a good showing, but yet a still a 12-point loss to the No. 20-ranked Sooners, Snyder doesn't want to hear talk of moral victories or being satisfied.
"They ought to be upset and disappointed that they lost a ball game against no matter who it is," Snyder said Saturday night. "That was a great football team down here at Oklahoma, but you ought to be disappointed you lost because that is what the competitive nature is all about. We will find out over the weekend and on Monday. If indeed that is the case, then I think they will recommit themselves and try to continue to get better.
Still, Snyder has some doubt as he tries to navigate this season's Wildcats through the uncharted waters of having something to play for in Week 10 — still sitting in first place in the North division.
"This is the first time I have been around them and I still don't know how they respond," he said. "I mean, the Texas Tech loss, you go down and get beat 1,000 to nothing and then you turn around and the next week and beat a pretty good Texas A&M team and everything goes right for a couple quarters and a few minutes. So, I don't know in all honestly."
Unlike K-State's 20-6 win over Colorado 10 days ago, Snyder found positives in the Wildcats' loss to the Sooners — a little bit of improvement and a lot of fight.
"A loss is a loss. I think the fact that the youngsters did come back and made the effort and got back in the ball game is a positive...," Snyder said. "And in some form or fashion, we did get a little bit better today in some areas, but not collectively. But Oklahoma had a lot to do with that."
Special player of the week
For the third time this season, K-State kick returner Brandon Banks has been named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after his stellar performance against OU, the conference announced Monday.
Banks had a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD against the Sooners, his fourth score on returns this season.
Getting a vote
A loss never looked so good as K-State picked up a single vote in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, tying with Troy and Temple for what would be a ranking of No. 40.
Upon further review
Banks' 351 all-purpose yards against OU tied a K-State single-game record... the 84,021 in attendance at Memorial Stadium was the largest crowd the Wildcats have played in front of all season... K-State is the first team to score a rushing touchdown against OU this season and the Cats had three... the 30 points KSU scored were the most given up by OU this season and tied for the second-most points scored on OU in the last 54 games... the Sooners have outscored their opponents 79-0 in the first quarter this season, including a 21-0 start vs. the Cats on Saturday. KSU was the last team to score a touchdown on OU in the first quarter, dating back to last season in Manhattan.
Sunflower Showdown set
Saturday's Sunflower Showdown between K-State and Kansas will be at 11:30 a.m. and air on VERSUS, available on most cable and satellite providers.
Looking at the Jayhawks
Kansas is coming off its third straight loss, this one at Texas Tech where the Red Raiders defeated the Jayhawks 42-21.
The Jayhawks are now 5-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12, sitting in fourth place in the North division after losing three straight games to Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
Despite benching quarterback Todd Reesing in the fourth quarter against Tech, KU coach Mark Mangino said on Monday that Reesing will start Saturday against K-State.
