2021 football schedule released

I’m back. That is all.

Football

The formal schedule for the 2021 Big 12 football season has been released. In news that will surprise no one, Kansas State will begin Big 12 play on the road. Again. Whether the Wildcats are being uniquely slighted in this regard is a question worth asking. But hey, not everything should be doom and gloom, which is why the current players had some fun with the schedule announcement:

Speaking of current players, junior Ben Adler joined Luke Thompson and JT VanGilder on the latest episode of Bring on the PodCats. Ben is a particularly engaging guest and this episode definitely deserves your attention.

Basketball

The less said about Kansas State basketball the better. Nevertheless, both teams are in action this Saturday. First up, the men’s team is on the road against Oklahoma State, with tip-off scheduled for 11 AM. If you want to watch the carnage live, the game will be on ESPNU.

The women take the court at home in the 125th edition of the Sunflower Showdown. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 PM. The Jayhawks are only marginally better than the Wildcats, so this might be Kansas State’s best shot to finally win a Big 12 game this season.

Tennis

Kansas State opens its 2021 home campaign with a series against Drake that begins this afternoon, followed by a matchup with Denver on Saturday. The Wildcats are currently 0-2 on the season, but being at home might be just the boost these players need.

Track and Field

The track teams will split up to head to two different meets this weekend. The jumpers, throwers, and sprinters will be in Lubbock for the Texas Tech Shootout, with action beginning today at 3 PM. Meanwhile, the distance runners will be at the Iowa State Classic with competition beginning on Saturday.

Here’s some food for thought as you head into the weekend. On Twitter, there was some discussion whether Kansas State should consider doing away with non-revenue sports like track and field, given limited resources. I understand the argument overall, but this is the one sport where the Wildcats routinely field world-class athletes and it would be short-sighted to cut track in favor of, say, better facilities for soccer.

Kansas State already fields only the minimum number of teams required to meet NCAA regulations. Should track go away (and this is an entirely theoretical discussion, because nobody has actually floated cutting the program), what sport should the Wildcats replace it with?

Finally, I know that many of us are dealing with unusually cold and icy conditions, so everyone stay warm. This too shall pass.