Happy College Football Friday, everyone. It’s mid-October and we’re right in the thick of college football season. If TCU football was a race horse, the Kansas State game marks the back stretch – much done, but still a long way to go. The key is to stay ahead of the pack, not miss-step and get trapped along the rail.

TCU is No. 6 in the nation with a stout running game and an offense that’s No. 1 in the nation in third down conversions. Photo by Glen E. Ellman

I remember getting up on Friday mornings back in the 1970s. I was a kid anxious to see the sports section of The Dallas Morning News. On Fridays, the News ran college football predictions and they also ran the Associate Press’ bottom 10 poll. Ever-present on that list at the time were TCU and Kansas State, joined by Northwestern, Iowa State, Miami (FL) and Rice. Tomorrow’s game in Manhattan, Kansas reflects how things have changed. TCU is No. 6 in the nation with a stout running game and an offense that’s No. 1 in the nation in third down conversions. The team faces a battered but dangerous Kansas State squad that’s always tough at home, where only standing-room-only tickets remain for Saturday’s brunch with the Wildcats.

One of the things that makes K-State so dangerous is head coach Bill Snyder. He’s saved Kansas State football TWICE, bringing the program back from the dead each time. His teams take on his personality – quiet, hard-working and tough. Coach Snyder was treated in the off-season for throat cancer and he and the program have not missed a beat. When we heard of Coach Snyder’s battle, we were all pulling for him. The impact that he’s had on Kansas State and the walk-on-driven program that he’s master-minded since 1989 (except for the five years he was “retired”) is immeasurable. He rebuilt the program, commissioned the Power Cat logo that K-State uses, drove the effort to modernize and rebuild KSU’s stadium that now carries his family’s name. He’s made Kansas State football what it is. Sounds like another guy we know. Hint: he offices at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Coach Snyder and Coach Gary Patterson will square off in what might be called “The Respect Bowl.” Coach Snyder has nothing but great things to say about Coach P. He appreciates Patterson’s approach and emphasis on defense and details. Patterson respects everything about Snyder and what he’s done for the program that Patterson played in during the early ’80s. Combined, they bring 359 wins into Saturday’s 11 a.m. kickoff. Pretty amazing all the parallels you can draw with these coaches and programs, even right down to the color.

Kansas State’s big news on offense this week wasn’t good: quarterback Jesse Ertz would miss the game with an injury. That’s a tough blow for a Kansas State offense that has struggled at times, especially through the air. The Wildcats’ best wideout is walk-on Dalton Schoen, who had a big game at Texas last week with five catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. With Ertz out, redshirt sophomore Alex Delton gets the call. Delton is a speedster from Hays, Kansas who played a good bit of the second half and overtime last week at Texas. While KSU will still try to throw at times, count on a steady diet of that vaunted Kansas State running game featuring the quarterback lead draw, zone read plays and draw plays feeding running backs Alex Barnes and Justin Silmon (who is closing in on 1,000 career rushing yards). Watch out for fullback Winston Dimel, especially inside the 15 yard line. Last year Dimel was the designated scorer for KSU with 12 touchdowns on 30 carries.

On defense, Kansas State plays a base 4-3 scheme that utilizes a nickel back to create a look very similar to TCU’s 4-2-5. The defensive line features two big tackles led by No. 60 Will Geary and very active defensive end Tanner Wood. Wood is a fifth-year senior who will be playing in his 45^th game. The linebackers are sound with No. 46 Jayd Kirby coming off 11 tackles last week against Texas. The secondary is very good and extremely dangerous. Its members can run and Kansas State depends on the them in coverage and to support run defense, especially. They can fly. They’re led by junior No. 21 Kendall Adams, who played in high school at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Fort Worth.

The kicking game is sound with kicker Matt McCrane being one of the best in the Big 12. He has a range of 55 yards. Punter Nick Walsh has a big leg as well. Kansas State has always been good in the return game and this year DJ Reed (who also plays corner back in that secondary I mentioned) fills the bill. He returned a 62-yard punt for a touchdown on his first career attempt earlier this year.

A fast start will be the key for TCU. The team will want to play from ahead against Kansas State, especially in Manhattan where they have 50,000 fans in its corner. The Horned Frogs should utilize the running game to control the game and the clock. Kansas State wants to play keep-away and last year against the Frogs, they did. The Frogs’ offense never got out of the blocks to develop rhythm and TCU’s final six drives all ended in punts (including five three and outs).

Get ready for a physical, old-fashioned battle. Both of these teams want to run it. The weather (rain and 74 degrees) may make the running games even more prevalent.

Did You Know?

• TCU and Kansas State are tied at 5-5 in this series? The two teams first played in 1922, then didn’t play again until 1983. The Frogs and Wildcats played every year from 1983-1986.
• Bill Snyder Family Stadium opened in 1968 as KSU Stadium and its original capacity was 35,000.
• Former Kansas State defensive back Jim Colbert went on to have a great career as a professional golfer on the PGA Tour and won numerous tournaments, including the 1983 Colonial National Invitational Golf Tournament (now the Dean & DeLuca Invitational).

Brian Estridge, Landry Burdine and I are on the air on the TCU Sports Network at 10 a.m. from Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Join us for brunch in Manhattan! (Sort of like Breakfast at Tiffany’s.)

Kick ‘Em High