Cats Chiefs and Things to be Thankful For....by MP

Happy Thanksgiving, basketball season, football playoff/bowl season, and best time of the year for sports season!

I have to start out talkin to you Cat fans out there. Pretty exciting start of the year!! The K-State hoop squad at week start was the #4 team in the country. They had beaten the likes of Va Tech and Presbyterian and entered the CBE Classic held at Sprint Center against Gonzaga. They looked good to me and much like last year, very tough on the boards and on the defensive end of the floor. They had their way with the Zags which pointed them toward a matchup with the #1 ranked Dukies. Wow #1 vs. #4 national TV and a bigtime matchup! Please keep in mind everyone, I am a 'Hawks fan but do not hate K-State. I actually detest Duke and was rooting against the Devils big time. Bottom line on the deal folks....it was never close and the Devils beat the Cats by 14 and may as well been 30. My assessment is unless the Cats get a lot tougher mentally, cut down on turnovers and bad shots and improve free throw shooting dramatically, they will not contend in the league or at the Big Dance. 11-23 from the stripe with 21 TO's is not the way you want to play against a team the caliber of Duke. Also, I am sorry to report that Jacob Pullen is overhyped and overrated. I know he averaged 24 in the tourney last year, but I see him as a good 2 guard, maybe 2nd team All Big 12?

Thanksgiving is a great time to remind ourselves to be thankful for the resurgence of the Kansas City Chiefs. A tough loss at Denver followed by a nice win at home against Arizona since I blogged you last!! I got a kick out of the boys on 810 radio on the way home from the Arizona game Sunday. Now Matt Cassel is a prolific QB because he has 18 TD's and 4 INT's and threw for over 400 with a 116 passer rating against the Donkey's?? I am very excited for the turnaround of the Chiefs, but if anyone thinks Matt Cassel is going to lead us anywhere big.....they are nuts! Look at the big timers today...Rivers, Rogers, Brees, Manning and Brady all make plays! They make big plays with their arms or by using their noggin. Phillip Rivers has had a different cast of WR's each game and it does not matter. All we hear about Cassel is that our receivers are slow or cannot get open or this or that. The game against Denver is a great example...early in the game we need a 3rd down and he is not even close. Denver gets up 35-0, DB's stay off the wide outs 10 yards and yeah, they let Cassel have the check downs that turned into big yards for the game. No one is saying Cassel is Rivers, but they are getting similar money! It is irritating to me because I can easily see that Cassel is a detriment to our success not a strength. He is a serviceable QB who manages the game, nothing more.

Anyway enough of that...it has been tough losing to Oakland and Denver back to back when the Raiders and Donks are not that great. It was a beautiful day this past Sunday at Arrowhead I was sure thankful to be there to see them rebound against the visiting Cards! The Chiefs while managing zero big plays and statistically being identical to Arizona, won 31-13. We still have a leg up on the division at 6-4. We head to Seattle this week and sorry all, I do not see us coming out with a win. Seattle and Denver are the 2 toughest places to play in the NFL and you caught the Denver game right? If we beat Oakland at home, Tennessee is doable at home with no QB, and maybe Denver at home or St. Louis on the road and that gets us to 9 wins baby! Definitely something to be proud of and thankful for!

A couple of other quick thoughts....Congrats Josh Hamilton AL MVP!! Bo Pelini....nice job...if you get those boosters upset with you for hammerin the only QB you have had there in 15 years and you will be looking for work elsewhere! Hoops wise Kentucky has a lot of talent but are very young. As this is written they are down 20 to a surprising UCONN team led by Kemba Walker who is a tough customer! The Jayhawks get Josh Selby back!! Even Dickie V is talking up KU with him at the PG! Speaking of Dickie V, I have always liked him....but year over year it becomes harder. He openly roots for Duke and it grates on me tremendously! Speaking of Dukies....Jay Bilas said something the other night and I thought it was great, as this too is another great frustration of mine. Speaking of the block/charge rule....which is butchered by every official in the game....Bilas said something to the effect of...it would be great to see it called if the guy gets knocked down, not if the guy falls down. How true and how many non calls would that make and what would happen if the Blue Devils quit getting all of those flops! Remember one of the great stats of all time...Duke one year made more free throws than their collective opponents attempted! Mind boggling! Happy Thanksgiving everyone and VC is right.....we need to appreciate all we have and those we love. I love my wife, son and family and am THANKFUL everyday!!! Thank you for reading everyone!!!

Top 10 Reasons VC is Thankful!

Move over Letterman, I got the Top 10 List today!

That's right, CBS. I know you've been waiting for this so the heck with shooting any more bull. Let's get right to it!

Van Cleave's Top 10 Reasons why I'm Thankful in 2010!

10. Basketball. Except for maybe Tobacco Road, there may not be a better spot for some great college basketball than the I-70 Corridor that includes Manhattan, Lawrence and Columbia. All three teams are in the top 15, all three figure to secure spots in the NCAA Tournament and could make a deep run in the tourney.

How cool would that be if the Wildcats, Jayhawks and Tigers end up in a three-way tie for the Big XII championship! It's doubtful, but possible, since each has four games against the other two. I say the regular-season champ goes 12-4, that's right four losses! That's why a tri-championship is possible.

9. I'm not a referee! Yep, I'm thankful I don't don the zebra outfits except one day a year when I help ref a 4-5-6 grade boys tournament for our Masonic Lodge fund-raiser each February. The pressures these men and women have of the up-tempo style that is prevalent in basketball or the spread formation in football that leads to a lot of passes...I have a greater respect for them.

8. Social networking. Holy Toledo, just what did we do 10 years ago to communicate? Heck, 5 years ago? But I hafta tell ya, this txt thing is pretty awesome. idk bout u, but i kinda like it! ttyl! haha lol

7. ESPN! I'm sitting here in a quiet house on Thanksgiving Eve, my family is not here, I have an NBA game on TV and I'm flipping it back and forth between the pro and college game that's offered on the ESPN family of networks. Now if we can just put a muzzle on Vitale we'd have it made!

6. Bill Snyder. Say what you want about the 71-year-old man who orchestrated the Miracle in Manhattan Part 1 and Part 2 is a work in progress. The man can coach. He can come up with some of the dangdest gameplans, just ask Texas coach Mack Brown this year. The Wildcats are going bowling, probably the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium, but a bowl nonetheless.

5. Gary Pinkel. Some Mizzou fans were ready to run him out of Columbia after Tiger losses to Nebraska and Texas Tech. I'm sorry, MU can go 10-2 with a Border War Showdown win Saturday over Kansas. Win your bowl game, Cotton or Holiday, and that's 11 wins MU fans. That would be more than KU and K-State combined.

4. The Big XII will remain intact. It appeared back in May KU, K-State and Mizzou were being forced off the abandoned ship. Commissioner Dan Beebe didn't allow that to happen and we will proceed with 10 teams. Not sure what it'll be called, I like Big X, but 10 teams remained united.

3. Hail to the Chiefs! Isn't it nice to pick up a newspaper, flip to the sports section, check out the NFL standings and see who's atop the AFC West...the Kansas City Chiefs! I saw a game at Arrowhead back in September with Patterson. The loudness that day against the 49ers reminded me of the Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith-led teams in the 90s.

2. Thanks to you, our readers. Matt and I love sharing our passion which is writing about sports and putting it into words that the true sports fan can relate to. I've said it many times, Matt's forte is at the professional level, mine college and high schools. His strong suit, editorializing and going deep in discussion about the game. Me? I love getting into people's minds and thrive on the human interest side.

And the No. 1 reason why I'm thankful...I'm sure Patterson will agree. It's our wives and family. You seldom hear about them, they are the Lights, Camera, Action that keep us focused. Matt has Kim and 3-year-old boy Luke, who is a spittin image of his old man. Kim keeps Matt at bay, thanks Kim! I've tried all these years but it took a strong-willed woman to step in and take charge. Same thing in our household where Denise has to put up with a lot of 5 a.m. wake-up calls. Throw in 8-year-old triplet girls in Hannah, Hope and Addison the score is always 4-1 in our household.

Yep, we are thankful. My motto here is Celebrating Life Through Sports. Without a great wife and family, that's not possible. Thanks Denise, thanks Kim! You're the best!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

VC Makes a Willis Reed Like Return to the Blog!

Patterson has threatened to cut my pay in half if I didn't get an article so Boss Man, this Blog's for you!

I've been on the road a lot lately promoting our student loan/scholarship program that I am glad to be a part of at the Kansas Masonic Foundation. I've met many wonderful counselors who in 2010 do not wear the same counseling hats they did 30 years ago when I was a teen. Due to budget cuts and teen pressures, counselors typically don't even have time to fill their coffee cups once they walk in the school doors.

Imagine showing up at Yates Center High School like I did a few years ago. It's a Monday morning, around 9, when I stop to visit with the counselor. I'm told she won't be available because over the weekend a senior boy committed suicide because his girlfriend broke up with him. She was now counseling young people along with area counselors that were called in from Eureka, Iola and Burlington.

Or at Northern Heights recently. Northern Heights, the first Kansas high school to consolidate over 40 years ago, is located near Emporia. A couple of months ago, three teens were driving near Americus when their truck rolled after swerving to miss an oncoming vehicle. Three precious young lives were lost. The counselor there told me two days later it was the worst day of his professional life.

One day this past week I visited seven high schools in the Manhattan area. Two counselors I never got to meet that day because they were busy dealing with crisis situations in their school.

These people bring passion to their jobs. One example is Angelo at Shawnee Mission Northwest. I was at a financial aid night there this past week. About 150 people were there. When he started the program by introducing the main speaker and me, the enthusiasm spilled out of his mouth. Dickie Vitale I'm not, but Angelo's energy immediately connected inside my body and my Vitalism was ready to explode by the time I got the microphone.

Sometimes counselors grieve for their own brothers and sisters. Dan Roberts, a man I called a friend as he was counselor at Chase County and Hartford high schools, was killed one year go when he had a heart attack while driving south of Emporia.

Thank you counselors for all you do! Without you, young people would not be able to play sports, march in the band and enjoy all the extracurricular activities that are offered to young people. Good stuff as we Celebrate Life Through Sports!

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As I predicted on this site back in August, the K-State Wildcats may be going bowling in New York next month.

The Kansas City Star reported this week the Pinstripe Bowl would love to have the Wildcats playing in their Dec. 30 game at Yankee Stadium.

K-State, 6-4 heading into Saturday's game at Colorado, is already bowl-eligible. It will be K-State's first bowl game since 2006. Only Baylor has had a longer drought of no bowl games among Big XII teams.

Pinstripe Bowl Executive Director Mark Holtzman made it clear who was being targeted the most.

"If it was today, it would be Kansas State," Holtzman told The Star. "And we would be thrilled by it."

Of the eight bowl games affiliated with the Big XII, the Pinstripe Bowl picks seventh. Of the seven conference teams that are now bowl eligible, K-State has the fewest number of wins.

It was reported Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Iowa State and Texas are also on the Pinstripe's radar. However, only A&M is currently bowl-eligible. A&M has Nebraska and Texas left; Iowa State closes out with Missouri and Texas ends up with Central Florida and A&M. K-State fans, you need to root for Mizzou to beat Iowa State but probably more importantly, A&M to beat Texas.

I think K-State will play in one of two bowls: Pinstripe or Holiday. K-State's other game left is at North Texas on Nov. 27. If K-State wins both games, an 8-4 record should land them in San Diego at the Holiday Bowl. The Holiday Bowl loves the Wildcats. OK, they love the 10,000 fans that will travel as well!

If K-State splits its final two games or loses both, the Big Apple will welcome the Little Apple with open arms.

Andy Williams is right. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

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Lastly, my tip of my Wildcat hat to Tex Winter, who earlier this week was honored at halftime of the KSU-Virginia Tech game. Winter, who coached the Wildcats to great success in Ahearn Fieldhouse, went on to coach at Marquette, Washington, Northwestern and Long Beach State before assisting Phil Jackson's nine NBA championships.

Tex will be inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.

"Here's the thing about Tex that's so good," Bob Knight, the analyst for the ESPN broadcast that day, told The Topeka Capital-Journal. "There's nobody I met I liked any better than Tex, or I thought cared more about the game of basketball like he did.

"Tex really, really likes the game of basketball. That was great to see, and I appreciated that from the time I first knew him until today. And then on top of that, Tex as an oustanding basketball coach."

Tex, now 88, lives with his wife Nancy in Manhattan with their son, Brian. Tex suffered a stroke last year which makes it difficult for him to speak.

Congratulations, Tex! It's about time!

To that, I say thank you for reading. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! .

Randomness by MP!!!!

Wow! What a year in the NFL so far....and college too for that matter. Our Chiefs took a tough loss at the dreaded Raiders last week and now gear up to go to Mile High this week.

Last week was a bad situation. I thought we would be Oakland, who I still believe we are better than, instead we lose and lose valuable ground as the Raiders and Chargers pick up wins. Yes SD is pulling their Zenyatta move....dead last to another surging finish. The Chiefs could have beaten the Raiders, had a lot of confidence heading into Denver...then back home to face a weak Arizona team. Now I am concerned about a problem coming in Denver, then who knows what with AZ.

Outside of a lot of penalties and poor QB play, the Chiefs are still playing well. I am still juiced for the coming years. Expect a pretty detailed write up coming on the heels of the Donkeys game.

Around the NFL, lots of strange things afoot for certain. Dallas done, and Phillips gone. It seems to be a year with a lot of parity and anyone able to win on a given Sunday. It will be a great finish for sure.

College football is interesting too. The Cam Newton deal is dominating the press. The QB from Auburn who has helped the Tigers to a 10-0 record is mixed up with allegations of getting money to attend the school. Pretty convoluted stuff I guess it could have been a previous school. Who knows? Is anyone really surprised? It is the SEC and I would imagine everyone is doing it. The interesting thing to me is that he is the prohibitive favorite to win the Heisman. Will he get votes if folks expect a Reggie Bush deal?

The other story in the collegiate ranks is that Boise and TCU are going to play for the National Championship. Is that interesting? Are these the best two teams? Uhh speaking of the SEC....TCU and Boise would in the basement in either side of the league. I wish that system could get fixed!! Maybe Oregon gets to the game....I cannot figure Auburn is able to beat Georgia, 'Bama, then win the Conference title game. Too tall of an order.

You know what will save the day? Basketball season baby! The time has come and I am ready to roll! Go Jayhawks....FREE Josh Selby!!

Congrats to the SF Giants...horrific showing by the Rangers and boring series. Great move by the Royals sending DeJesus for nothing....another genius front office move! NBA wise the Heat are not looking great. LeBron was complaining about playing too many minutes last night! Hmmmm would Jordan or Magic want less minutes?? Trouble!!

Thanks for reading everyone! Expect a lot more stuff coming soon....I think VC broke some fingers in a farming accident....that is the only reason I can figure for him being on hiatus like he has been! Go Chiefs....Go 'Hawks!! And thanks for checking this out!!!

Playoffs? Playoffs! Yes, Playoff Talk Brewing in K.C. By CP3

The glory of victory is bliss. It’s a surreal time for Kansas City Chiefs fans after a decisive win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday in Arrowhead Stadium. I love Sunday afternoons when you’re looking for a win and Monday mornings when you’ve found one. Yes, this is a similar quote from Coach Jones in the move Radio, but it’s right on the money. This type of pathology inspires cautious playoff talk from football fans in the “The City of Fountains.”

A fountain of hope is flowing in K.C after matching last season’s 4 win record in only week 7 of the 2010 effort. It’s tough to deny the natural urge to talk about the Chiefs bright future and possible postseason berth behind a much better than expected start to the season. Joy, hope, and over confidence are the best ingredients for a recipe of disappointment. Our quest today will distinguish between a surreal 4-2 record and the reality of the remaining 2010 schedule.

First things first, when any team goes from worst to first, the fan base is going to experience a shock to the system. In 2009 the Kansas City Chiefs defense had more holes than the Iraqi Navy and the offense wasn’t much better. It would seem almost inconceivable to have the #1 rushing attack in the NFL averaging 176 ypg, a phenomenal Offensive Line, and a 9th ranked Defense following last season. However unbelievable, all of the above are true. And, to add insult to injury, the Chiefs are ranked 12th over all just ahead of last year’s Super Bowl Cinderellas, the New Orleans Saints ranked 13th. WHAT??? OUCH!!!

The Chiefs displayed a sundry of offensive weaponry on Sunday in Arrowhead stadium. DMC, that’s Dexter McCluster, not to be confused with the rap group Run DMC, was showing off his ADIDAS early in the game. This kid has wicked speed and fears no man. Ole Miss did a great job developing Mr. McCluster. As Charlie Weis works him into a system containing a plethora of talent, it’s going to be an honor and privilege to watch this guy work. Thomas Jones launched his first 100 plus rushing game in a Chief uniform. Along with Jamaal Charles and Jackie Battle, Kansas City rounded out the game with 236 yards rushing and 3 rushing T.D’s. It is a true joy to watch these running backs do their thing while madman Weissy is upstairs scratching his belly and hatching his next brilliant offensive scheme. If Charlie Weis keeps calling games like the last one, we’ll be moving on up like “The Jefferson’s.”

Matt Cassel, Matt Cassel, Matt Cassel. How can you dog a man that manages the game and is showing progress. The Chiefs starting QB turned in another solid report card. He went 13/18 for 193 yards 2TD and no Interceptions. When you have a running game as explosive as such, all you HAVE to do is manage the game. D Bowe and T Moe are Cassel’s favorite targets. Bowe seemed to be on the same page as the rest of the offense Sunday hitting for 2 TDs. However, #81 Tony Moeaki leads the Chiefs in receptions and is threatening all of Tony G’s rookie season records. We all know Tony Gonzalez is a stand up guy, a future Hall of Famer, and will retire his jersey in Arrowhead with full honors. He would be happy for T Moe regardless of any Tight End record breaking this year. Right Gonzo???

Derrick Johnson flew in to save the day with a pick 6 in the second half. It was looking pretty grim when the zebra’s called another game changing passing interference call against Brandon Carr who was clearly being hooked on the play. “It’s legal to call Offensive Passing Interference in Chiefs games,” I guess the Ref’s didn’t get the memo. Eric Berry chimed in with a nice interception as well. Tamba Hali has 5.5 sacks on the season and is ranked 13th in that category. This guy is a Beast!!! My hat is off to Romeo Crennel. He has galvanized this defense into one cohesive block of iron in less than one season. Numbers never lie. The Chiefs are ranked 9th in overall defense. This tells the tale of hard work on behalf of Scott Pioli, Todd Haley, Romeo Crennel, and the Kansas City Chief Defense.

Now for the Million Dollar question, are the Playoffs possible? All cylinders were firing for the Chiefs in their four wins this season. Against the Colts, the Chiefs defense had their ears pinned back and had the tachometer in the red. Against the Texans, the Chiefs offense had their pedal to the metal. Both games resulted in a loss but were on the road and were very close. The Special Teams have played well in all six outings. With this said, Ray Charles could see the glaring key to victory. If the Chiefs want to a taste of the Postseason this year, their offense and defense must both play well on game day. Although the Chiefs supposedly have the 2nd easiest schedule in the league, the road to the playoffs is no cake walk.

The AFC West has to be one of the weakest divisions in the NFL this year. However, you can never count out the San Diego Chargers. These guys have been the Chiefs nemesis for years and love to make late comebacks. The Bolts are the proud owners of a 2-5 record, 0-2 in the Division, and are missing key players on both sides of the ball. It will be a great day in Chiefs Nation when these guys are mathematically eliminated from the postseason. The most likely team to stand in the way of a Chiefs playoff berth this year could be the Oakland Raiders? After ringing the alarm last week and hanging 59 points on the Broncos, Oakland may be this season’s #1 playoff foe. The Raiders are sitting on a 3-4 record and 2-0 in the division. Some say they had the best draft in the league. Therefore, their best football may remain to be seen. I’m sure Darren McFadden has a few things to say about that. These guys are serious. Opposing team’s fans DO GET SHANKED in the Black Hole. Take a peek at Oakland’s schedule. If the Raiders win a lion’s share of games over Seattle, Pittsburgh, Miami, San Diego, and Indy it’s going to be tight. Week 17 in Arrowhead could be the deciding factor on which AFC team goes to the dance. Remember you heard it here first.

Being weary of the other AFC teams is only natural. However, focusing on each game will get the Chiefs to the promise land. The Buffalo Bills are not to be taken lightly. The winless Bills are due. They have given Miami, New England, and Baltimore a run for their money this year. Ray Lewis is thanking his lucky stars that field goal clanked the wrong way last week. The positive side to next week’s game is that it is in Arrowhead. The Chiefs are 8 point favorites but the Bills are changing their defensive scheme to stop the Kansas City running attack.

The next four games are crucial for Kansas City. Facing Denver and Oakland on the road will be vital to winning the division. If we can escape the Black Hole and Invesco Field with wins, the Chiefs could be looking at their first playoff berth since 2006.

I’m biased. However, my crystal ball says the Chiefs win the AFC West this year.

Playoffs? Playoffs? Yes, Playoffs! Playoff talked has brewed and filled to the brim.

Chiefs Impressive Against Jags by MP!!!

Another impressive home win for the Chiefs Sunday at Arrowhead against the Jacksonville Jags!

Arrowhead was at a fever pitch for a 42-20 dismantling of the Jags. The win showcased huge plays on offense and defense for the now 4-2 Chiefs, who next lineup against the Buffalo Bills on Halloween in the friendly confines.

The Jags had to trot out a 3rd stringer at QB, fresh off a tractor, in Todd Bouman. I know what you are thinking, not that impressive of a victory. Objectively, Bouman played well. He went for 222 and 2 TD's to go with 2 INT's. Not until the 3rd Quarter did he go south and the game was still very much up for grabs. Late in the 3rd with Bouman deep in his own end he overlooked Derrick Johnson who snatched a bad ball out of the air and ran it in from 15 yards. That made it 28-20 Chiefs, and they would go on to stretch it out from there. Bouman had another pick late when rook Eric Berry ran it back to the Jags 11.

The Chiefs continue to impress with their game planning and play calling. The Jags were off balance all day trying to figure out the Chiefs. Charlie Weis called a great game mixing in a lot of Dexter McCluster early along with Jamaal Charles on the edge with Thomas Jones, who went for 125 on 20 carries, between the tackles. Jones was awesome with 125 on 20 carries including a 70 yard scamper in the first half. Kansas City racked up 236 on the ground today and yes the Chiefs are still the top ground attack in the NFL! Weis called our man Dwyane "hands of stone" Bowe's number on the first drive of the 2nd half and he broke free for a 53 yard TD. Bowe capped his day with a nice, fully extended grab in the zone for a 6 yard TD in the 4th quarter.

The defense was led again by Derrick Johnson who has to be playing as well as anyone in the NFL on that side of the ball. Tamba Hali got after it all day as usual and Glenn Dorsey and Shaun Smith were tough up front. Brandon Carr played well with Brandon Flowers and Berry had some nice plays too. Just like last week, the Chiefs were victim to 2 horrific P.I. calls. One on Carr and on one Berry. Why is that so hard to call and why if there is any contact do the officials to immediately target the defensive player?

Watching the game I found myself thinking again of where we have been and where we are going. How far have we come in a very short period of time? Amazing! I also thought a lot about how much our drafts are finally paying off. Check this: 2005 was DJ,'06 was Tamba,'07 Bowe,'08 was Flowers and Carr, Dorsey and Charles and Branden Albert. Then this year with McCluster, Arenas and Berry. A couple more nice drafts, a couple savvy pick-ups and I think we have a chance at the promised land!!

The glaring stuff I see is the need for Matt Cassel to improve at QB. We could use some players on the O-Line and the biggest thing I see that would help would be a speedy, sure handed wide receiver!

All that said, in a very short time I am forgetting how bad it has been. This Chiefs team shows glimpses of the Vermeil offenses mixed with the Special Teams and D that Marty had. Balance people! I know our schedule is weak. I also know this year may not be much more than 9-7 or 8-8...but the future baby! The future is bright!

Around the horn: Congrats to the Texas Rangers beating the hated Yankees! I will be rooting for them in the Series. I like Josh Hamilton a lot, and 4 dingers and .350 is nice, but my MVP.....Cliff Lee baby! He is a gamer and clutch guys like him do not come around very often!! Congrats to the MU Tigers!! I called them beating the overrated Sooners!! Next: the overrated Huskers....and I am a KU fan! How bad is it that Nebraska loses to Texas...and the Horns lose the next week to Iowa State? Uhhh TROUBLE!! Should be a great finish this year in college football. Almost NBA time....who do ya have? Great stuff...thanks everyone for checking us out!!!

VC Says: This may be Snyder's best coaching job yet!

Take a look. No I said take a look, not a glance, at these Kansas State Wildcats. This is something truly special that's developing.

Bill Snyder orchestrated the Miracle in Manhattan in his first go-round at K-State.

This may, I said may, just trump what he did in Act I.

This is nowhere close to being the K-State team of 2003 that shocked the college football world when it bested top-ranked Oklahoma 35-7 at Arrowhead Stadium for the Big XII Championship. OK, there may be one similarity. Darren Sproles vs. Daniel Thomas but that's about it.

The Wildcats are 5-1 entering Saturday's game at Baylor. Baylor may throttle K-State like it did Kansas a couple of weeks ago. I don't think so. Oh trust me, I think Baylor will probably win. Robert Griffin is very good and K-State has proven any running quarterback is going to have a field day against the Wildcats.

But Snyder doesn't get blown out. He might get pushed around, like Nebraska did earlier in a 48-13 beating in Manhattan.

I had no idea what to expect when KU-KSU met eight days ago in Lawrence. I truly believed - and I'm on record with Steve and Scott who were with me - that the first team to 15 points that night would win. I was right, K-State was the first team to score 15 points. I just didn't think they would add 44 points on to that total.

This team is not 5-1 material, folks. This team should be 4-2 or even 3-3. With Daniel Thomas, this probably is a 4-2 team at worst. This team should be thinking two more wins means a bowl game somewhere, you know one of those "dot-com" type games.

Before the season, I was on record on this very blog saying K-State would finish 7-5 and could end up at the New York Bowl or whatever that game is called that will be at Yankee Stadium. When the dust settles, this could still be a 7-5 team. I mean, let's think about this, Carson Coffman is not the Snyder-type signal-caller that excels in this system. And K-State's defense can't stop anything up the gut.

And yet here it is October 22 when I'm writing this and K-State is 5-1.

Remember Jack Hartman and how he took average ballplayers and athletes that nobody wanted and made them great athletes? Ed Nealy, a Bonner Springs native, quickly comes to mind as a Hartman protege. Hartman could take those average players and mold them into the athletes that made K-State great. And buddy do I remember Nealy calmly stepping to the free-throw line in Allen Fieldhouse and swishing two free throws to beat KU!

Yea baby!

That's exactly what Snyder is doing. This may, folks, be Snyder's best coaching job yet. He's still coaching a lot of Ron Prince's players. While Prince had Texas' number, he went 0-9 against the three most important games on K-State's schedule: Mizzou, Kansas and Nebraska. While Snyder has already lost to Nebraska and a road game looms at Mizzou, Snyder got the best of KU last week. It's a team Snyder knows is important to K-State fans.

Stan Weber, color analyst on the K-State Radio Network and a good friend of mine for 20 years, shared this on a Kansas City radio station recently. Two years ago, Snyder was in the booth next to Stan the day K-State played KU at Lawrence. Snyder was in the midst of his retirement but was in the visiting team's suite designated for the athletic director and their staff. KU pummeled K-State that day. At the end of the game, Stan said he looked over at Snyder. Snyder had been taking notes throughout the game and he left that day hurt.

A few days later, Prince was fired. Not long after that, K-State announced that Snyder was making his return. Stan Weber said Snyder's return actually began that day KU beat K-State. Snyder was back, taking notes, just like old times.

Beating KU is nice. Trust me, it's great, but folks there will be an even bigger game that will go in K-State's favor this year. Perhaps the Cats beat UT in Manhattan. Possibly they beat Mizzou, doubtful, but possible.

I'm still going to say 7-5 for this team. I think 8-4 is realistic if they can beat Baylor this weekend. Beat Baylor and Oklahoma State in back-to-back weeks and suddenly 9-3 is within reach, but I'm going to be conservative. Afterall, it is an Election Year! haha

Nice job, coach Snyder! This is your best job yet! I hope you're rewarded with a decent bowl. Eight wins will get him some votes for Coach of the Year at least in the Big XII! Nine wins will begin to earn him votes at the national award.

And don't even begin to think about Retirement Part II. You've got a grandson on the K-State team now. He needs your attention!

EMAW!

Simmer Down! CHIEFS Future is Magnificent. By CP3

The below is from my main man Chris Phillips....a burgeoning star in the world of writing and a renowned Chiefs Fan.....mp.

“That play call on 3rd and 2 was horrible. Tony Moeaki over the middle is a low percentage play. It should have been a run play to Jamaal Charles!” This was the buzz from Chiefs Fans Monday morning after the Kansas City loss against the Houston Texans 31 – 35. “The Zebras stole the game! That was the worst call ever! That was a 37 yard swing. We really won yesterday.” More quotes from the Water Cooler Crowd.

I have to admit, I was thinking the same thing. As a matter of fact, I was so mad I didn’t even want to talk about it at all! However, it’s easy to get dragged in to a discussion when you feel like you got robbed. Misery loves company and there was more than enough to go around for Chiefs Fans that day.

Everybody knew that the Colts and Texans games were going to be tough. When you dissect the Chiefs schedule at the beginning of the season if these two games don’t jump off the page, then you’re delusional. These games were on the road and both opponents have a high powered offense. Peyton Manning has been a menace to society for years. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and Arian Foster have lit up the fantasy world this season. What hurts is the way the Chiefs lost both outings. Let’s take a step back and a quick look at these games before we start pointing fingers.

Kansas City’s Defense played lights out against the Colts. How long has it been since you saw the Colts in a field goal battle? When had Peyton Manning not thrown for a touchdown at home against the Kansas City Defense? How long has it been since Kansas City has had a stifling defense? The truth is they had Peyton’s number that game and Tamba Hali played like a Champ. Manning was visibly shaken all through the first half. It looked like a miracle was about to take place in Indy. The K.C. offense sputtered and it just didn’t happen. Here’s the thing. When you have a chance like that to beat the Colts, you have to take advantage. Yes, Matt Cassel didn’t win the game but he didn’t lose it either. It takes time to progress and evolve with a new and under-developed team.

Kansas City’s Offense played phenomenal against the Texans. Matt Cassel threw for 200 plus yard, 3 TD’s, no interceptions, and had a passer rating of 122.9. This was clearly the best game Cassel has had in a Chiefs uniform. This type of performance is why he got paid the big cheese cake. The offense was balanced with 200 plus yards of rushing to compliment the passing game. However, this game will probably be remembered by the bone chilling play call on 3rd and 2 to seal the game. As well as the P.I. call against Brandon Flowers. I think Flowers, Haley, and every other Chiefs Fan was going to spontaneously combust after that mishap. Even Tony Dungy chimed in to air his dismay about the penalty. You know it’s got to be bad if Mr. Cool, Calm, and Collective has a comment to make against the Zebras. Oh, and let’s not forget, Tamba Hali. He was held more than a newborn baby in Reliant Stadium Sunday. Of course no holding calls all day against the hometown heroes. Here’s the thing. K.C has to find a way to lock the game down when they’re up 10 points with 6:30 left in the 4th quarter. This brings me to the point.

The Chiefs would have gained serious respect around the league if they could have split these two games, much less win both of them. And, they could have! The fact of the matter is we lost both games, or did we? Our record is 3-2, yep we lost both games. But just look at what have we gained this season? We know our Defense can play on the level against any team in the league. We know our offense can shoot it out against any team in the league. Our Special Teams has turned in a great report card for the first 5 games of the season. We are atop a Division that honestly, is pretty weak. A 9-7 record will make the playoffs in the AFC West.

Now, let’s think back to the beginning of the season. It’s Monday Night, September 13, 2010. The Kansas City Chiefs are playing the San Diego Chargers in the new Arrowhead Stadium (New Body, Same Soul.) Chris Berman and Michael Irvin are calling the Bolts to go to the Super Bowl. Many experts have the Chiefs season sewn up 5-11 at best. The Rain starts to pour the beginning of the 2nd quarter and J. Charles breaks a heart stopping run that will never be forgotten. I get chills just thinking about, it even now. Every rain soaked Chiefs fan in that stadium witnessed a “Magical Monday Night” performance. A multitude of phenomenal things have happened for the Chiefs since that moment. It’s easy to get caught up in the emotional roller coaster of these first five games.

Chiefs Nation; take a step back, look at the big picture, and be thankful. Up or down, victory or defeat, fair or unjust, we should be proud. The fact of the matter is we all need to simmer down. The future is magnificent.

Chiefs fight the Texans and Officials! by MP

“Everybody thought it was pass interference. The ref made the call though. We can’t take it back now. The ref already made the call, so that is what we have to go with.” Brandon Flowers, Chiefs DB on the call that changed the game and led to a 35-31 Houston victory at Reliant Stadium Sunday.

Flowers is right. We can't do anything about it now, but what a tough loss after another well played game on the road. Now the Chiefs look to get right at home against Jacksonville and Buffalo the next two Sundays.

Sitting at 3-2 the season is still full of bright spots to me. I have been very pleased with the gun-slinging style of coaching from Todd Haley and the play calling from Charlie Weiss and defensive efforts directed by Romeo Crennel.

Haley started the same way today as he did at Indy. A long drive, 4th down deep in the Red Zone and makes a quick call to go for it. Today they get it and set the pace, only relinquishing the lead with 35 seconds left in the game on the Andre Johnson winning TD play. Flowers gets the phantom PI call that truthfully should have been offensive interference setting up the Texans late in the game.

Some teams would be crushed, but I think the Chiefs are fine. I think they know they played very well the last two weeks and are happy to be going home with a 3-2 record. Jamaal Charles continues to impress, Thomas Jones is a hammer between the tackles, and Matt Cassel is managing the game. Roberto Duran Dwyane Bowe even made some catches today....MAS than last week! The defense is playing great, most notably LB Derrick Johnson and Flowers in the defensive backfield. Was anyone else confused on why Brandon Carr checked Andre Johnson so much today? Why not 24??

All things said I like the Chiefs and how things are shaking out. San Diego, Oakland and Denver lose again!! So no real damage done. I like the way they are hitting on D, reminds me of the early 90's when NO ONE wanted to come to Arrowhead against that outfit! They had Peyton Manning guessing last week and held the high-powered Colts to 4 fg's and a weak TD.

Jacksonville will be tough next week but I like our chances. So far I like looking back at what we have done, but what I really like...and not just talking the rest of the year, but the future, is what is yet to come!!!

Around the horn....

I hope the Rangers do a job on the Yankees. Is there a more hated franchise than them? Maybe the Cowboys?? Nice 1 and 4 start Dallas, I would flush Wade Phillips tomorrow if it were me. Speaking of flushing...can someone flush Turner Gill please? Ummmm if you had Kansas and 51 points against the Cats, YOU LOST! How do you not get off the bus against K-State? Let's see a few other hated franchises deserve a shot or two...Oakland Raiders, see ya....you are done. Denver Donkeys....done too...nice coach there in Denver! College football is crazy this year. I guess we have Boise against TCU to look forward to in the title game....great system BCS!! Nebraska....nice loss to a weak Texas team. Florida loses to Miss St? What is going on?? 'Bama loses to South Carolina?? It's been a crazy year... great stuff. Fall is here folks...my favorite season and that means great football and HOOP SEASON!! I got to check the Heat against the Thunder at Sprint Center last week....look out for both of those teams this year!! Quick Poker Shout Out...look out for one of my faves...Michael "the Grinder" Mizrachi...he is in the November final 9 of the Main Event!!! OOH YEAH!!! Thanks for reading everyone!!!

VC Looks Back at 1970 WSU Plane Crash

VC looks back at 1970 WSU plane crash

It was Friday, October 2, 1970. Two twin engine propliners took off from Denver's Stapleton Airport headed for Logan, Utah. They carried coaches, players and Wichita State University officials.

One plane safely touched down later. But at 1:14 p.m. Mountain time, a Martin 4-0-4 aircraft flown by Golden Eagle Aviation crashed eight miles west of Silver Plume, Colo. Shortly before the crash, several witnesses described seeing a plane fly unusually low towards the Continental Divide. Some witnesses located on higher mountainside locations like Loveland Pass reported seeing the plane flying below them. The overloaded aircraft, nearing Loveland Pass as it flew up Clear Creek Valley, became trapped in a box canyon and was unable to climb above the mountain ridges surrounding it on three sides.

The National Transportation and Safety Board report stated a belief that many on board survived the initial impact, based on the testimony of survivors and rescuers. The load of fuel on board did not explode immediately, allowing survivors to escape the wreckage, but the passenger cabin would eventually be consumed by an explosion before those still alive and trapped inside could escape.

Twenty-nine passengers as well as the Captain and Flight Attendant were killed. Two of the initial 11 survivors later died of their injuries.

The October 3 game between WSU and Utah State was cancelled. The Utah State football team held a memorial service at the stadium where the game was to be played and placed a wreath at midfield. WSU officials and family survivors were flown to Denver on a plane made available by the State of Kansas. Classes were cancelled Monday, October 5, and a memorial service was held that evening at Cessna Stadium.

The remaining WSU team was given permission by the NCAA and Missouri Valley Conference to allow freshmen to fill out the squad. The Shockers decided to continue the 1970 season which was later designated the "Second Season."

That Second Season began three weeks later in a game at Arkansas. The Razorbacks won 62-0, but most people in the stands that day knew that wasn't the most important lesson learned that day. Those listening to the game on radio back in south central Kansas cried as 18-year-old young men had brought football back to south central Kansas. Kansans were proud of their Shockers no matter what the scoreboard said.

One man who survived the crash was Rick Stephens, who still calls Wichita home. Minutes before impact, Stephens walked toward the cockpit and questioned the pilots why the plane was flying so low. Before he could return to his seat, the plane's wings began clipping trees. The 22-year-old Stephens was thrown a safe distance from the cabin.

When rescuers carried him down the mountain to safety, Stephens had broken several bones. Rehabilitation followed. He recovered fully, but he never played football again.

"We should all be in awe of the miraculousness of our own existence," Stephens told The Kansas City Star earlier this year.

Now 62 and a grandfather, the retired high school educator embarked this spring on his fourth Wichita-to-Winnipeg bike ride. The 1,009-mile, 10-day journey has been the most challenging adventure of his life.

That's amazing, considering what happened 40 years ago.

The Shockers did away with football after the 1986 season. All that's left now is a monument on the WSU campus honoring those who perished as well as a 30,000-seat white elephant (Cessna Stadium) that occasionally hosts a junior college or high school game. There is also a roadside memorial plaque listing the names of the victims on I-70, about one mile east of the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado.

Sadly, it wasn't the only plane crash that year that took the lives of young athletes. Less than one month after the October 2 accident, 75 players, coaches and staff of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team died in a crash of Southern Airways Flight 932 near Ceredo, W.Va.

Lions, Tigers, Elephants and Chiefs???? by MP

Exciting, imaginative, fun, risky, opportunistic and electrifying. These are all adjectives not heard much around Arrowhead Stadium over the past 10 years unless you were talking about the visitors. Not anymore! These are all actual comments heard during the Chiefs 31-10 drilling of the road favorites, the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

It's been awhile since the circus has come to Kansas City, but Coach Todd Haley and OC Charlie Weiss could have been mistaken for Barnum and Bailey because they brought it back to Arrowhead!

Whether it was naked bootlegs, Wildcat formations, end arounds pitched back to split out QB's, gutsy calls on 4th down, SportsCenter highlight catches, or on-side kicks, the Chiefs threw everything short of the kitchen sink at the Niners and it was awesome!

Haley set the tone early in the first half, going for it on 4th and 1 at about mid-field. That alone was a far cry from the normal conservative Chiefs gameplan, and to top that off Haley then cat and moused San Fran by showing they were going for it, then showing punt, then bringing back the offense. The move got the Niners to call timeout and ultimately the Chiefs got a first down igniting the crowd and establishing the early advantage. That was the beginning of an exciting day and one that the Chiefs would test the mechanics of the scoreboards in Arrowhead.

All 3 phases of the game were highlights and when can you remember the last time that was the case with the Chiefs? Offensively they racked up a whopping 457 yards! Dexter McCluster was unreal again with a special 31 yard TD reception from Cassel in the first half. Rookie TE Tony Moeaki was Tony Gonzalez-esque and Jamaal Charles was ultra effective again with 97 yards on 12 carries. Warhorse Thomas Jones ground out 95 yards on 19 tries.

Special Teams were highlighted by a big return from McCluster, another fearless day of returns from Javier Arenas, and great tackling all day.

LB Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson and Brandon Flowers led the new and improved Chiefs defense to 4 sacks and one INT with solid play all day. “I credit the defensive line. With them stopping the run, that allowed us to rush the quarterback. The offense played tremendous on that side of the ball by scoring a lot of points and making them throw the ball. Credit those guys for allowing me to rush this week.” Hali said.

Scoring shook out like this for the Chiefs: It started with McCluster and the 31 yard screen play in the 2nd quarter. After a Ryan Succop 32 yard FG, the Chiefs took a 10-7 lead to halftime. The second half scoring for the Chiefs began with a play you may see in a sand-lot game. Cassel was split out left at WR, McCluster in motion, comes down the line gets the handoff and pitches to Cassel who hits a wide open D Bowe down the left sideline for 45 yards and a touch. Moeaki struck next on the one handed, circus job late in the 3rd. Thomas Jones capped the scoring and put the game on ice for the Chiefs with a 3 yard run mid 4th quarter.

"It was exciting," rookie tight end Tony Moeaki said. "Matt just threw a really great ball and put it in a great spot. I just tried to make the catch."

Anyone who thinks the 49ers were a cupcake win are crazy. They gave the Saints all they wanted last week on MNF and came to town hungry for a win. The Chiefs now 3-0, the first time since 2003, get to take a week off and get ready for 2 tough games on the road in Indianapolis and the Houston Texans.

Around the ole horn.....it was great to see the game with VC! We tailgated and enjoyed a fantastic day at Arrowhead. I am lucky to have the friends I do and as always I appreciate you reading our blog!!!!

A "Beauuuuuutiful" day for Chiefs! by VC

Simply put, it was a Beauuuuuutiful day!

On a day when the Chiefs honored 62-year broadcaster Bill Grigsby, who made a living with his "beauuuuuutiful" descriptions on the air, the Chiefs were every bit a Super Bowl contender with their 31-10 pasting of the San Francisco 49ers.

Prior to kickoff, Grigs and his family were flanked on the Arrowhead Stadium turf with Mitch Holthus and Len Dawson, whom Grigs teamed with for the final years of his radio career. Now in a wheelchair and battling throat cancer, Grigs could be seen smiling as the team paid tribute to the man who called the Super Bowl IV victory over Minnesota. I had goosebumps when Grigs' voice was calling that January 1970 game over the PA while the video portion was centered on Hank Stram, whose "come on boys" and "that's the way boys" could be heard while the ole coach was smiling with his rolled up program in hand.

Nice!

Wow!

Awesome!

I'm sure Grigs' smile never left as the Chiefs began their dismantling of the 49ers, who entered the game as 2 1/2-point favorites. KC jumped out to a 7-0 lead before San Francisco cut the margin to 7-3. But the defense clamped down and pitched a shutout the rest of the way before the Niners scored a meaningless touchdown late in the game.

Standing in Section 111, Row 6, Seat 16 I turned to ole buddy Matt Patterson when the Chiefs lined up to punt near the end of the first quarter. "I'm going for it," I told Patterson. "Are you?"

"Nope, field position baby," Patterson countered with his as-usual conservative approach.

"Not me," I said as the Chiefs faced fourth-and-short from near midfield. "I'm goin for it."

The Chiefs lined up to punt then all of a sudden switched their punting team with their offensive unit. San Francisco, obviously confused, quickly called timeout.

"HA, told you," I said.

The Chiefs brought their punt team back on the field during the TV timeout. "I'm still going for it," I told Matt.

Then the Chiefs did it again. Once again, they hustled the offensive unit back on the field as the play clock was nearing 15 seconds. They got the first down on a short running play which kept the ball out of the 49ers' hands.

"You were right, VC," said Patterson after giving me a fist-five. "Good call."

The Chiefs rolled up 457 yards of total offense, including 250 yards passing and three touchdowns from QB Matt Cassel, who was 16-for-27 on the day. That included a one-handed grab from tight end Tony Moeaki in the back of the end zone that put the Chiefs up 24-3 late in the third quarter.

"It was a great day for the Chiefs," linebacker Derrick Johnson told The Topeka Capital-Journal. "Each win, we're getting more and more confident."

Now 3-0, the Chiefs enjoy their bye week while preparing for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 10.

But this day belonged to the Chiefs. My Ole Pottnuh Tex, Grigs' nickname dubbed by Dawson, had to be smiling after this one. Because it was a Beauuuuuuutiful Day at Arrowhead!