K-State Q&A: What are the odds QB Will Howard spends two more seasons with Wildcats?
It’s time for another K-State Q&A.
Rather than start off this week’s mailbag with an elaborate introduction or thoughts on the unbearable heatwave that has descended upon us, let’s just dive right into your questions about the Wildcats.
Thanks, as always, for providing them.
You may have answered your own question there at the end.
I wonder how many people actually realize he still has one year of college eligibility remaining after this season. Will Howard’s career arc has been odd, to say the least. He has already played three years of college football. He has appeared in 22 games for the Wildcats and made 15 starts. K-State reluctantly had to burn his redshirt in each of the past two seasons.
Under normal circumstances, this would be his final year. He is listed as a senior on the K-State roster. But he was a freshman when COVID struck, so he still has two more years to go now that he is the team’s bigger, faster and smarter starting quarterback.
Beyond that, I also wonder if fans have decided to just enjoy the ride with certain players. Now that the transfer portal is so prevalent and leaving early for the NFL Draft is more popular than ever, there’s no telling when anyone is going to switch teams or turn pro. We might as well just appreciate K-State football players no matter how long they decide to wear purple.
It is a good question, though.
If Howard has an incredible year and becomes the third K-State quarterback in history to throw for 3,000 yards in a season he might decide to turn pro. Or he could have a mediocre season and decide to come back. Or he could pull a Cooper Beebe and come back after he has a fabulous season.
My guess is he will be back for another year. But absolutely nothing is given.
The only problem with him coming back is that fans will be clamoring for Avery Johnson to play next season no matter how many other quarterbacks are in front of him on the depth chart.
Heck, some want to see Johnson this year as a change-of-pace option alongside Howard.
Best-case scenario: Howard plays well this year and decides to come back. Then Chris Klieman has to figure out how to keep multiple quarterbacks happy in 2024. That might not be an easy thing to do, but it would be a good problem to have.
Punter: Jack Blumer.
Kicker: Chris Tennant.
I suppose there is some question about kicker. Chris Klieman has mentioned that freshman Leyton Simmering has looked good in preseason practices. It’s possible he could put enough pressure on Tennant to get a shot during games. But Tennant should get the first opportunity.
He has a powerful leg, and hopefully is ready to bounce back after getting demoted in favor of Ty Zentner last season.
Gene Taylor has made it clear that K-State won’t begin selling beer throughout the football stadium until that is what the majority of the fan base wants.
For some reason, fans have made it clear to him that they would rather leave the stadium and drink beer at their tailgates than buy beer at concession stands.
Taylor is a good AD and K-State fans are the best ... But they’re both wrong on this one.
The Wildcats are missing out on lots of money by not selling beer on fall Saturdays. They are also making the games less enjoyable for fans who want to enjoy a $12 Coors Light in the second quarter.
Allowing everyone in the stadium to leave at halftime is just bad business. Have I mentioned how empty the place feels at the start of third quarters?
I don’t understand the resistance. Every pro team sells beer at their stadiums. Most college teams do, too. K-State sells beer at basketball games, for crying out loud.
Football games shouldn’t be off limits.
But I digress.
When it comes to the new basketball court, let me say I was underwhelmed with the design. K-State basketball is on the rise. Lavender is the hottest color in Manhattan. Why not take a chance with a bold new design?
I do like the nice, simple makeover better than the old design. The two different colors of wood had to go! Still, my reaction to the new court was very much “meh.”
The white three-point lines could be a problem. I would have gone with purple.
Maybe it was because Oklahoma and Texas hadn’t finalized their exit plans yet, but I am still disappointed with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark for not flashing a “Horns Down” when he was shown on the video board during a K-State/Texas basketball game last season at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcat hand signal was fine, and all, but the “Horns Down” would have been oh so much better. Maybe that is why the Longhorns won that day.
In any case, the gloves are off now that the Longhorns and Sooners are on their way out of the conference.
Yormark told a group of Texas Tech supporters that he will be in Austin when the Red Raiders play at Texas later this year ... and they better take care of business.
You don’t usually hear that kind of talk from a commissioner, but I don’t think he did anything all that controversial. Is anyone surprised that Yormark wants one of his founding members to beat a team that is abandoning the conference?
I’m not really sure why Texas fans are complaining about it.
Now, had he said, “We will assign crooked referees to the game and do everything in our power to make sure Texas loses” then of course they would have reason to be upset. But his rooting interests should be well known.
And yes, I think everyone in the conference is hoping the returning 12 members score multiple wins against the departing members.
Unfortunately, Texas is a big favorite to win the conference and Oklahoma somehow got the easiest Big 12 schedule of all time. I find it hard to believe that they will both miss out on the championship game.
E-MAIL QUESTION: Let’s say I invited you to my tailgate before the SEMO game. What beers are you drinking? - Andrew B.
Unless my editors read this and say otherwise, I’m probably only allowed to drink O’Douls on game day.
But let’s say I took the day off and attended your tailgate as a football fan. In that scenario, I would want something nice and easy to drink in the September heat. So let’s make it a Lager from KC Bier or Free State.
My tastes will change every few weeks, though. Once the weather starts to cool down, I would much rather have an Octoberfest. Just about any brand will do. Those things are like pizza. Even when they’re bad, they’re still good.
Once we get close to Halloween I’m all about pumpkin beer.
When it starts to get cold I want dark beer or bourbon.
So plan accordingly! Just kidding. Honestly, I wouldn’t be too picky. If you had a case of Michelob Ultra I would probably help you drink it.