woulda, coulda, shoulda....
Despite all of the injuries and not having a good quarterback, the CATS found a way to become bowl elgible.
Unfortunately, the CATS faced one of the hottest teams in the SEC in a bowl game. Arkansas was probably the 3rd best team in the SEC at the end of the regular season. Put it this way, Arkansas would have creamed Florida at the end of the regular season (the gators finished the SEC season 7 & 1 and played in the SEC title game).
3 games that could have went differently:
K-State loss by 2 points to Okie State on a late FG.
The Pokes got the phathom first down call (chains were moved) right before half that led to a TD.
Oh yeah, K-State played most of the game with a WR at QB (Cook did a great job).
This game probably hurts the most, because of the BS chain gang... I remember a reporter asked Snyder if he has someone that watches those things, Snyder replied something to the effect that we don't because you feel those things will be done right... how fricking hard is it (not quite the same as someone watching replays to see about challenging a call).
K-State was tied with TCU late in the 4th quarter (after giving up a big lead... in-part because of a dumb INT by Hubener to begin the 2nd half).
The biggest mistake of the year by the coaching staff (IMO) was taking the FG to tie TCU late in the 4th quarter instead of going for it on 4th & short. Had K-State converted the first down, the CATS could have possibly went on to score a game winning TD with virtually no time left...or at worst kicked a FG as the clock ran down to send the game to OT.
Had a couple of plays went differently, K-State could have pulled off a big upset victory over Baylor.
Shelley came so very close to knocking the ball away on a 4th & 1 play that Baylor converted, which set-up a Baylor TD. But the CATS shot themselves in the foot... Hubener threw a dumb INT and also fumbled deep in Baylor territory (fumbled on Baylor's 22 yard line and threw the INT after K-State had moved the ball on the ground from their own 17 to the 41 yard line on 4 running plays).
Despite giving up two costly turnovers and two deep TD passes (Morgan Burns on a crossing route and Prewitt missed his over the top safety help), yet, the CATS still had a small chance with the ball and 50 seconds, but too little too late.
In summary, those are three pretty good teams that K-State could have beaten had things went just a little differently. On the flip side, K-State was extremely fortunate to beat Iowa State.
Put it this way, had Ertz & Barnett stayed healthy and had good seasons, K-State wins 8 or more games, no doubt about it. As it was, K-State started a WR at QB in their bowl game...you just have to chuckle.
GO STATE !
Despite all of the injuries and not having a good quarterback, the CATS found a way to become bowl elgible.
Unfortunately, the CATS faced one of the hottest teams in the SEC in a bowl game. Arkansas was probably the 3rd best team in the SEC at the end of the regular season. Put it this way, Arkansas would have creamed Florida at the end of the regular season (the gators finished the SEC season 7 & 1 and played in the SEC title game).
3 games that could have went differently:
K-State loss by 2 points to Okie State on a late FG.
The Pokes got the phathom first down call (chains were moved) right before half that led to a TD.
Oh yeah, K-State played most of the game with a WR at QB (Cook did a great job).
This game probably hurts the most, because of the BS chain gang... I remember a reporter asked Snyder if he has someone that watches those things, Snyder replied something to the effect that we don't because you feel those things will be done right... how fricking hard is it (not quite the same as someone watching replays to see about challenging a call).
K-State was tied with TCU late in the 4th quarter (after giving up a big lead... in-part because of a dumb INT by Hubener to begin the 2nd half).
The biggest mistake of the year by the coaching staff (IMO) was taking the FG to tie TCU late in the 4th quarter instead of going for it on 4th & short. Had K-State converted the first down, the CATS could have possibly went on to score a game winning TD with virtually no time left...or at worst kicked a FG as the clock ran down to send the game to OT.
Had a couple of plays went differently, K-State could have pulled off a big upset victory over Baylor.
Shelley came so very close to knocking the ball away on a 4th & 1 play that Baylor converted, which set-up a Baylor TD. But the CATS shot themselves in the foot... Hubener threw a dumb INT and also fumbled deep in Baylor territory (fumbled on Baylor's 22 yard line and threw the INT after K-State had moved the ball on the ground from their own 17 to the 41 yard line on 4 running plays).
Despite giving up two costly turnovers and two deep TD passes (Morgan Burns on a crossing route and Prewitt missed his over the top safety help), yet, the CATS still had a small chance with the ball and 50 seconds, but too little too late.
In summary, those are three pretty good teams that K-State could have beaten had things went just a little differently. On the flip side, K-State was extremely fortunate to beat Iowa State.
Put it this way, had Ertz & Barnett stayed healthy and had good seasons, K-State wins 8 or more games, no doubt about it. As it was, K-State started a WR at QB in their bowl game...you just have to chuckle.
GO STATE !
