Will the Cats bounce back against Baylor?

Due to possible staff miscommunication, the Friday Slate is late. Shut up.

Football

Kansas State plays Baylor tomorrow. The Wildcats are looking for redemption not just against the Bears but also to get rid of the bad taste left by last week’s loss at Oklahoma State (Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle).

The need of the hour is immediate improvement on offense. There is nothing secret about what Kansas State wants to do on offense: run the ball about 60% of the time, control the clock, and hold the ball for long periods of time (Kelly Thompson, K-State Maven (Sports Illustrated)).

None of these offensive virtues were in evidence against the Pokes, and considering that Baylor is sometimes called the poor man’s Oklahoma State, this could be a bad sign (Hayden Barber, Eagle).

Were you caught off guard by the John Holcombe transfer annoucement? Well, so was Collin Klein, but he took in stride, noting that he understood Holcombe’s reasons and wished him well. He also took the time to compliment Nick Ast and predicted Ast would be ready if/when called on (Robinett, Eagle).

Also blindsided by the news was offensive coordinator Courtney Messigham. The departure of Holcombe has an impact on quarterback depth, but unlike most years in Manhattan, the players behind Skylar Thompson are capable if not exactly battle-tested (Ryan Black, Manhattan Mercury).

Finally, a profile of linebacker Elijah Sullivan who can not only flat out play but is also a student of the game and will not let anyone tell you otherwise.

Soccer

Kansas State played really well. Kansas State scored two goals. Kansas State still lost 3-2 to Oklahoma in overtime.

The Wildcats actually led early in the game when Laramie Hall shot the ball past the Sooners’ keeper in the 20th minute, and then again in the second half when a Brookelynn Entz penalty kick gave Kansas State a 2-1 lead. It was all Oklahoma after that, however.

Up next, Kansas State plays #25 Oklahoma on Sunday.

Volleyball

The football team won’t be the only squad in action against Baylor. The VolleyCats will play its first ranked opponent of the season, #1 Baylor, in Waco tomorrow. This will be the first time Kansas State has played a top-ranked team since taking on Texas in 2013.

Miscellany

Happy birthday to Thane Baker who was born on this day way back in 1931 in Elkhart, Kansas. If you don’t know who Baker is you should turn in your EMAW card forthwith, he’s only Kansas State’s most-decorated Olympic athlete, winning three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze) at the 1952 games in Melbourne and another silver medal in Helsinki in 1956 in the 100m sprint.