K-State Slate: 8.5.14 - Wildcats report to camp, Fan Appreciation Day set

Curtis Kitchen offered up his thoughts on ESPN's top 100 list, GTCat investigated the Big 12's best little guys, and BracketCat hit #26 with Kendall Adams.

It's 25 days till kickoff, but we can now officially say it's football season: the Wildcats reported to camp yesterday. Kelly McHugh reports.

You'll want to drop by the Bill two weeks early. Fan Appreciation Day has been set for Saturday, August 16 at 5pm, where you can watch the final hour of practice, hear from Bill Snyder and the team captains, and then get down on the field for autographs.

Powercat Exchange is no more. K-State has entered into a partnership with Vivid Seats to handle secondary market ticket sales.

Bobby Nightengale at the Lawrence Journal-World reports on junior lineman Amani Bledsoe, currently ranked as the #2 prospect in Kansas by 247. Bledsoe recently picked up an offer from K-State to go along with offers from Kansas, Oklahoma State, and North Carolina State; he's also drawn interest from Alabama, Notre Dame, and Florida State. Whether K-State wins this battle or not, it could become a very interesting one to watch.

Tommy Keeler at the Northern Virginia Daily previews the James Madison Dukes. Why do you care? Because that's where former Wildcat defensive lineman Xavier Gates has landed.

Bruce Weber and Jeff Mittie met with the Topeka Catbackers yesterday, and Ken Corbitt was there.

For the eleventh time during Suzie Fritz's tenure, and the fourth year in a row, the Wildcats have earned the AVCA's Team Academic Award. (Of course, 676 teams earned the honor this year, 134 of which are Division I women's teams, so let's not go raising banners; this is one of those things where it's an embarrassment and an outrage if you don't win it.)

We missed this last week: On a must less cynical note, Kelly McHugh continues introducing us to the incoming class with a profile of Bishop Miege setter, Kansas 4-A Player of the Year, and Under Armor first-team All-American Kali Eaken. Keep an eye on Eaken -- although it won't be difficult. She's going to be a popular, and if you watch the included video you'll see why.

Yet another news article informing us of a golf signing. This time, it's Stuart London of the Doylestown (Pa.) Intelligencer reporting that New Hope-Solebury golfer Roland Massimino gave his verbal to Grant Robbins yesterday, choosing the Wildcats over Villanova among others. And yes, you recognize that name: his grandfather is the legendary former Villanova and UNLV basketball coach -- and current coach at NAIA Northwood (FL) -- Rollie Massimino. I always loved that guy, and I'm pretty excited that he's now indirectly associated with K-State.

My stepdad used to work security at Camptown Greyhound Park in Frontenac before it closed down. Downstream Casino Resort has applied to reopen the facility as a casino without any racing.