K-State Q&A: Fans at football games, Kaosi Ezeagu’s basketball impact and more
The Iowa State Cyclones were among the initial group of schools that announced salary reductions for their coaches earlier this spring. They also led the way when it came to announcing plans for reduced attendance at football games, revealing plans earlier this week to lower capacity to 30,000 at Jack Trice Stadium next season.
I’m not sure why they jumped to those conclusions before most of their peers. But, hey, Iowa State can finally say it finished first in something other than gobbling up tickets to middle-tier bowl games and loving the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.
It seems way too early to aim for that many people at a college football game.
A few hundred strangers came together for a pool party last weekend at Lake of the Ozarks, and the world lost its mind. And yet, an institution of higher education thinks it’s time to jam 30,000 people into a football stadium?
I hope everything is under control by the time September rolls around. I hope college football begins on time. I hope fans are allowed to watch the games live.
But I also hope we err on the side of caution. A crowd of 30,000 is half capacity for Jack Trice Stadium. Is it possible to maintain social distance with so many people in a small space? If you’re going to allow that many people in your stadium, an argument could be made that you might as well try for full capacity, because neither option is really all that safe.
Ohio State has kicked around the idea of limiting capacity at its storied stadium to 25%. Kansas has discussed models for 33%. Those percentages seem more reasonable to me. Then again, even that might be too high. Remember, no other sporting league in the world is currently playing games in front of fans.
I hope government officials and disease-control experts ultimately decide how many fans are allowed in college stadiums come September instead of athletic directors.
Whatever ends up happening, ticket distribution will be a headache for every team this fall. Iowa State is only planning on letting season-ticket holders into its games. What about students? What about luxury boxes and club suites, where social distancing will be more difficult indoors?
Another question: Will fans accustomed to sitting in prime seats be willing to sit in the nose bleeds to meet safety protocol?
I’m glad I won’t have to answer those questions in a few months. I’m surprised some are announcing plans now.
And with that ... it’s time for another K-State Q&A. Thanks, as always, for providing them.
There are many different points of view to consider here.
Earlier this week, I wrote about what might happen if KU or K-State has to cancel some nonconference football games , and it’s possible certain cancellations could cost both schools millions in cancellation fees.
From a monetary perspective, it would be best for K-State to play Buffalo and drop Vanderbilt and North Dakota from its nonconference schedule, but let’s ignore that aspect of the debate because it’s possible that cancellation fees will be forgiven if games are canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Here is the argument for playing JUST the following games:
North Dakota: Do you remember what Kansas State did against Nicholls last season? Chris Klieman is good at a lot of things, but he might be best at pummeling FCS opponents. Add in the fact that this particular opponent is one of North Dakota State’s rivals, and, well, you know the Wildcats are going to roll to a huge victory. This is the perfect warm-up game for Big 12 action.
Buffalo: The Bulls should provide a better test than North Dakota, but not such a good test that the Wildcats will be at serious risk of a loss. And the game is scheduled for Sept. 5. So if this game remains as scheduled, that means football will start on time.
Vanderbilt: Scrubbing this game would be a bummer for any K-State fan who remembers the Wildcats’ unfortunate trip to Nashville a few years ago. That was a bad loss for a team that ended up being pretty good. This is K-State’s shot at revenge. It would be difficult to reschedule the game until at least 2025, when K-State next has an opening on its schedule. The Commodores aren’t expected to be very good next season, so they could provide another warm-up test for the Wildcats. K-State could also claim a SEC victory here.
My vote is for Vanderbilt, even if the other two games might help the Wildcats more in the long run. That game would bring much more exposure and meaning than North Dakota and Buffalo.
Collin Klein would teach a class on how to be a gentleman. The former K-State quarterback and current assistant coach knows a thing or two about good manners, and he was home-schooled by his parents. He can start tomorrow, if he takes the job.
Wyatt Thompson can teach a class on public speaking. That guy can entertain any room.
Terence Newman will teach a class on longevity. He was in the NFL for 15 years as a cornerback.
Check the expiration date on all the food in your pantry and all the beverages in your fridge. Seems like you may have digested something that has gone bad.
Well, I’ve got a $100 gift card to Texas Roadhouse just waiting to be used, so I will probably wind up there.
But when it comes time to spend my own money, a few local restaurants will have a fierce competition for my reservation. The candidates would include Taco Lucha, Coco Bolo’s, So Long Saloon, Little Apple Brewery, Bourbon & Baker and Taphouse.
I would be happy with all of them.
On my birthday earlier this month I ordered takeout tacos and bean dip from Taco Lucha and also picked up red sangria from Coco Bolo’s while I was out. That was a heavenly combination. If there is a way I could combine those two things while actually dining in one of the restaurants I would definitely do that again.
I would absolutely love it if BoJack Horseman sponsored a bowl game. As much as I love the idea of Cheez-It purchasing the naming rights for every single postseason game on the college football calendar, we could use some diversity.
You provided some excellent suggestions, but I have a few more:
- The Honeydew is a Garbage Fruit Bowl
- The Elefante Bowl
- The Troops are Jerks Bowl
- The You are Secretariat Bowl
- The Sarah Lynn Memorial Bowl
- The Running is Terrible Bowl
The bowl game would be played in Wichita so he could be close to Hollyhock’s family.
1. K-State plays a home football game: I have little doubt that teams will return to the gridiron next season. Will fans be allowed to watch? That’s the bigger question.
2. A guest answers my Q&A: There’s really no reason why this can’t be listed first, other than me selfishly enjoying answering your questions so dang much.
3. Iowa State football gets nine wins: Matt Campbell hasn’t won more than eight games in any season with the Cyclones, but I think that will change relatively soon.
4. KU football wins a Big 12 road game: It’s bound to happen at some point, and the Jayhawks were really close to winning at Texas and Iowa State last season.
5. Robinetts get a new family member: Four kids and no pets is our limit, but I might break down and get a fish or some other low-maintenance pet at some point.
6. Whataburger franchise in Kansas: Sadly, I don’t see this happening.
When it comes to names, I only have two requirements.
1. Simple to spell. My wife and I have both spent our entire lives telling other people how to spell our names when our friends with names like Jeff and Tiffany are living on easy street.
2. Not mainstream. There are already enough Kevins and Emilys in the world.
Those guidelines led us to the names Carson, Oliver, Lincoln and Baker.
Some used to ask if I named my oldest son after former K-State quarterback Carson Coffman. The answer is no, but I suppose he would qualify under your criteria.
A few other awesome K-State names I can recall off the of my head: Taco Wallace, Blake Slaughter, Goodnews Kpeogel, Cornelius Ruff IV, Wally Judge, Michael Bishop and Jordy Nelson.
Bishop as a first name could be cool. Alas, I doubt my wife would sign off on that one. In fact, you’re probably better off asking her this question.
Kansas State forward Kaosi Ezeagu winning a NCAA waiver that will allow him to play every game for the Wildcats next season wasn’t unexpected.
Does that make sense?
I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was expected, because it wasn’t. Ezeagu had several reasons for immediate eligibility in his corner, such as not playing a single game last season for UTEP before transferring to K-State. But he didn’t announce his transfer plans before the season started, and he didn’t enroll at K-State until January.
There was some doubt. I felt like there was a 70% chance he would be able to play immediately. But there are plenty of times when you get a 70% chance of rain and the weather turns out sunny.
This is good news for the Wildcats, who will gladly add Ezeagu to their front court whenever their next game is played.
Does your projected starting lineup change at all now that Kaosi Ezeagu has been cleared to play immediately next season for the Weber Cats? - Andrew B. via e-mail.
His availability definitely changes my opening-day starting lineup for the Wildcats.
When it looked like Ezeagu, a 6-foot-10 transfer from UTEP, might have to wait until January to suit up for K-State, I had no idea what Bruce Weber would do for Game 1 against Central Arkansas, or most of the following nonconference games.
Would he go small? Would he try Montavious Murphy and Antonio Gordon down low? Would he give newcomers Seryee Lewis or Carlton Linguard a starting look?
Well, things probably become simpler now. I imagine Ezeagu will start for the Wildcats at the five and serve as their rim protector until he develops a more versatile offensive skill-set.
As of now, my projected starting lineup looks like this: Nijel Pack, Mike McGuirl, DaJuan Gordon, Montavious Murphy and Kaosi Ezeagu.