After driving 1,300 miles through Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, I have one question: What’s so great about the Great Plains?
The scenery was as interesting as thumbing through a ZIP code directory. However, the football programs provided some interesting notes that fell out of my computer bag over the weekend:
• Nebraska football fanaticism reached a new high, even surpassing capacity crowds that supported Bill Callahan. I was on campus on Fan Day. An estimated 7,500 showed up for autographs. The line for coach Bo Pelini stretched up and back the length of the football field and ended at the opposite 25-yard line.
One fan left Alma, Neb., 187 miles away, at 1:30 a.m. to get in line. It was 100 degrees.
• I misguidedly judge coaches on whether I’d play for them. When I first interviewed Kansas State coach Ron Prince three years ago, I was ready to sign. Obviously, I’m not a player.
Word in Manhattan, Kan., was Prince used an NFL mentality on college players and coaches. It backfired. Six assistants wound up leaving, and the Wildcats still haven’t given the full allotment of 85 scholarships.
• Speaking of Kansas State, one look at Bill Snyder’s face and it’s clear he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. The Wildcats are a long ways off. He must rebuild the worst defense in school history (think about that for a minute), the quarterback is unproven and his best receiver is 5-feet-7.
• I’m picking Iowa State to get out of the cellar. Growing up in Oregon where the run ‘n’ shoot was born, I saw what that attack did for teams with inferior talent. Iowa State’s new spread is the run ‘n’ shoot’s more balanced, advanced descendant.
Unlike Kansas State, Iowa State has a veteran offense and will score. And how can you bet against new offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who made Rice football matter?
• How cool are Kansas’ new facilities? One set of end-zone grandstands has been turned into recliner seats with personal wait service and a portable cover in case of rain.
• Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is no fan of tweeting. (Is that really a verb?) With the opener against Illinois and quarterback Juice Williams approaching, Tigers linebacker Sean Weatherspoon tweeted fans with “50 days until I squeeze the pulp out of Juice.” Hello, bulletin board.
