Elijah Lee is doing well at training camp

Previously...

We’re just 34 days from kickoff! You know what that means? It means #34 running back Alex Barnes, a player who needs little introduction to the Kansas State faithful.

Yesterday’s Slate featured Trent Tanking, David Beaty talking about Kansas State’s culture, and Bill Snyder talking about permanent changes to football in view of increasing knowledge and concern about CTE.

Today’s Slate is mostly about Kansas State people who have moved on from Manhattan.

Football

After more than a year away from the coaching ranks, Jerry Kill—most recently of the athletic department at Kansas State—will be on the sidelines again this fall. He’s now the offensive coordinator at Rutgers, where former Ohio State assistant Chris Ash is in the middle of a major rebuild. Epilepsy forced Kill out of coaching in 2015, but he’s now managing his lifestyle and his condition better and has been seizure-free for more than a year.

Elijah Lee is turning heads and winning praise at training camp for the Minnesota Vikings. In particular, Lee has impressed with his ability to shed blocks to hit the running back at or behind the line of scrimmage and seems to be the only one sussing out screen plays and not getting fooled by misdirection.

Golf

Kansas State assistant Cullen Carstens is moving on. He’ll be the new head coach at North Alabama, where he will help the team transition from Division II to Division I in 2018. In Manhattan, Carstens was part of a coaching staff that produced two of the top four team stroke averages in school history.

Rowing

Fifteen Kansas State student-athletes including six rowers are currently on a service trip to Nicaragua as part of the Cats Across Continents program. The athletes are helping the Las Camarcas de la Laguna de Apoyo community build a multi-purpose athletic court from scratch.

In addition to enjoying a trip abroad, the group is welcoming a shift in perspective as they learn about a new culture and the difficulties athletes face in the developing world.

Track and Field

Not only did Kansas State’s athletes have a great year on the track and in the field, but also in the classroom. Kansas State’s men’s and women’s track teams both received academic excellence recognition from the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Kansas State was one of only four Big 12 schools to earn the honor for both squads.

Fourteen Wildcats were named individually for USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, including Miles Bearden, Mitchell Dixon, Simone Fassina, Brett Neelly, Zack Supple, Morgan Coffman, Kayla Doll, Helene Ingvaldsen, Ranae McKenzie, Shanae McKenzie, Wurrie Njadoe, Konstantina Romaiou, Lauren Tabert, and Morgan Wedekind.

In addition, ten Wildcat track athletes earned their degrees this spring, including Brady Grunder, Kyle Smith, and Akela Jones.

Volleyball

The 2017 season is just around the corner, and single match tickets go on sale tomorrow. Ticket are only $5 with advanced purchase, so be there! The first match is an exhibition against Creighton on August 18, and admission is free.