Without real conference realignment to talk about this year, SB Nation is going to create its own realignment scenarios. This post has the rules and objectives for this exercise, and your feedback is welcome in the comments.

The idea is not to improve existing conferences through minor tweaks. For example, we're not going to just close KU and turn it into a pig farm and leave everything else untouched, even though pretty much everyone outside of Lawrence agrees that would be the best idea. We're also not taking geography and time zones into account, so the conference commissioners could draft North Carolina with one pick and USC with the next.

Read on for a detailed explanation of the game and how it will unfold over the next several weeks. Who knows when, or if, K-State will be picked, so my opportunity for meaningful input may be limited. However, think about these questions in case K-State is drafted by someone: What do you value in an athletics program? In a conference? Who would you draft? Who would you like to see paired with K-State?

Continue reading this post »

OK, everybody, I'm so super serial about this. We're actually doing this t-shirt thing this time. Like, SB Nation has a group that helps us out with this and everything. And we're two t-shirts in arrears to the readers -- Sean T and Anon_the_Younger -- so it's high time we do this. The other moderators and I have already decided on two of the designs, so we're putting the remaining shirt designs to a vote.

Go vote in the poll. The top choice after 48 hours will be the third option.

Edit

I forgot to post the two designs we already decided on. They are listed below.

"Completely ignoring major sports for decades at a time"

"BOTC: Fighting nepotism one coach at a time"

Let freedom ring, K-State fans.  And let it ring with smiley-face fireworks and BOTC's boy, Lee Greenwood, as your soundtrack.

With apologies for bumping Panjandrum's excellent column on why the Big East may be the way to go for a bunch of school in the Great Plains, I've been meaning to post information on this party for the better part of a week.  SB Nation is hosting meet-ups across the nation for those who read and write the various SB Nation blogs.  For those BOTC fans in the Kansas City area, see below for the information, and I hope you can make it on short notice.  I will be there for sure, and there's a chance that EMAW may make it was well.  Pan will be home playing daddy, and BracketCat unfortunately lives in a far-flung region and has not been seen or heard from in weeks.  Apparently, he, like, actually works or something.

What: SB Nation Meet-Up

Where: 75th Street Brewery, 520 W. 75th Street, Kansas City, MO

When: Monday, June 14, 2010, 5-7 p.m.

RSVP: Here

Sorry I've been rather sparse recently. My hometown got smacked by a tornado Monday and it's been slightly crazy here ever since.

As a manner of apology, here's a quick wrap-up of some stuff that happened this weekend in K-State land:

K-State rallies for 5-4 win at KU: Kansas State handed Kansas starter T.J. Walz his first home loss since 2008, and in so doing, finally figured out how to win on the road. Way to go, Bat Cats — sweep the dirty birds!

Wiggins family funds endowed scholarship: That's awesome. Wish I had that kind of money to donate to my alma mater... And God bless George Wiggins for his service and his sacrifice.

Wildcat student-athletes earn degrees: What a great picture. That's what it's all about, folks. How can you not feel delighted for those two young men...?

K-State Sports Extra | Colon's big day: ...especially after reading this article? Go do great things, Big Lu.

Yeah, we're running behind.  Click the jump to get started on the discussion.

Kansas State Wildcats (1-0) AT Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (1-0)

Battle in the Bayou
Cajun Field - Lafayette, La.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 - 6 PM CST

ESPN360

K-State looks to bounce back from a disappointing season opener by going down to the Bayou to face the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette. It should be hot, humid, and the linemen will most likely reek of swamp ass.

At the time I write this, K-State is a seven point favorite. However, the general sentiment amongst talking heads and message boarders is that the game could be much closer than that, or even (gulp) a loss for the Wildcats.

Hang out here at BOTC for the game and enjoy talking amongst each other in this thread.  Also, drop periodic, easy to read score updates because I'll be at a good friend's wedding and unable to partake in excitement.

What: NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament, Houston Regional
Where: Houston, Texas | Reckling Park (5,368)
Who: K-State (43-16-1) vs. Rice (41-16)
When: May 31, 2009 | 6:00 p.m.
Media: 1350 KMAN | CBS College Sports All-Access

Depending on who wins the Rice/Xavier game (it looks like it will be Rice at this point), KSU will play them tonight at 6 PM for the right to advance to the Super Regional.  If they lose that game, they will play the same team again on Monday.

Let's hope the Bat Cats seal the deal tonight and continue on with their greatest season in history.