The Locker Room Show: This weekend's college football
9:28 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2008
They say that Saturday kicks off the real football season for KU and K-State. Big 12 play kicks off tomorrow and, of course, the non-conference play is important but winning league titles were goals for both the Hawks and Cats. Their quest for Kansas City starts tomorrow. Kansas is coming off a bye week and is focused on their Big 12 campaign. The 16th-ranked Jayhawks open up league play for the fourth straight season away from Memorial Stadium. KU has won four of its last five road games, but if Hawks fans are history buffs, they may want to think about this. The Hawks are only 2-8 in their last 10 conference openers. But Kansas has won four out of the last five against Iowa State.
"The first practice, you know it's a conference game this week. You know there's a little bit more quickness going around on the field. Guys know you're playing for keeps now, playing for a chance at a conference championship, a Big 12 North title and everything's on the line," junior quarterback Todd Reesing said.
"Any game, you know it's a must win. Iowa State may make a big opening statement, going on the road, open conference games," senior linebacker James Holt said.
The Hawks and Cyclones will kick things off at 11:30 from Ames, Iowa.
To KU's neighbors to the west, Kansas State opens up their Big 12 play with a doozy as the Cats welcome seventh ranked Texas Tech to Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Last week, KSU gave up more than 500 yards of total offense against Louisiana Lafayette. And this week, they face a team that racks up over 575 yards of total yards per game and that's good enough for third most in the country. The Red Raiders are also the ninth best scoring team in the nation. The Wildcats have their work cut of for them against such a high-powered offense.
"This is a team that does a terrific job of a lot of combination patterns that put a particular defender in conflict, and he is obviously is not the same defender that was last week on the defensive line and that kind of thing, close to the ball," head coach Ron Prince said.
The Cats and the Red Raiders will kick things off from the Bill at 2:30 and that game can be seen right here on 49 ABC.
To the Division two level now, Washburn is coming off a huge rebound victory last weekend against Missouri Western. The Ichabods sealed the 21-17 victory with a Zach Watkins interception as time expired. The Griffions were on the three yard line with one play to go and the Ichabods stepped up and were able to stop a two game slide. Now the Bods are two and one in conference play and the Woo knows that they have win out to have a chance at post season play.
"You lose or you die. That's the motto we've been running around with since last week and I think it's gonna be the motto until the end of the season. You can't lose one so that there is enough motivation to intensify practice," senior running back Brandon Walker said.
"We feel like our backs are against the wall, so every week is the most important game and we put last week behind us and we're tying to come out this week and just perform on Saturday," sophomore wide receiver Lloyd Bias said.
Washburn and Missouri Southern will kick things off from Joplin tomorrow at 2:00.
To Washburn's arch rival, Emporia State is trying to bounce back after a 19-18 loss to Mo Southern. This week, ESU travels to Warrensburg, Missouri to take on Central Missouri. Kick off between the Mules and Hornets is set for 1:30.
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