The Sportsman Trophy, also known as the Silver Football, will once again be on the line when the Junction City Blue Jays and Manhattan Indians meet.  The two teams kick off Friday night at 7 p.m. at Al Simpler Stadium in Junction City.

The history of the trophy dates back to 1949, with Junction City winning the last two meetings by the scores of 34-33 and 16-10.

Blue Jay coach Randall Zimmerman said his team has responded well in practice this week. “I mean we’ve had our down moments as well in practice, but for the most part its’ been up and the kids have done a nice job.”

Zimmerman knows his team will have to play a near perfect game to win against the 5-0 Indians. He feels his team has that in them. “We do. We showed signs of that at Topeka Seaman but it just needs to be consistent, and finish and put a whole game together.”

Junction City will go into Friday night’s game 4-1, while Manhattan is undefeated. The game can be heard on  The Talk of JC, KJCK AM, and online at kjck.com.

 

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Montell Cozart was named the starter in the spring to settle the most important position at Kansas. Now, five games into the season, interim head coach Clint Bowen has exactly what helped to get Charlie Weis fired: problems at quarterback.

It’s not set in stone as to who is going to get the nod Saturday when Kansas returns home to face No. 16 Oklahoma State. Cozart has been getting equals practice reps with Michael Cummings and T.J. Millweard, both of whom played last week at West Virginia.

The Jayhawks (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) lost 33-14 to the Mountaineers in Bowen’s first game as interim coach. Oklahoma State (4-1, 2-0) has won four straight games.

 

Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber and his coaching staff will host the inaugural Hoop Scoop for Women clinic on Saturday ( Oct. 11 ) from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Basketball Training Facility.

The clinic will give those attending an exclusive look at the ins-and-outs of the men’s basketball program and provide interaction with members of the coaching staff.

You will be able to participate in on-court drills led by the coaching staff, develop a scouting report, listen to presentations by the athletic training and strength and conditioning staffs, tour the Basketball Training Facility, have lunch in the West Stadium Center, there will be an invitation to watch basketball practice.

The cost is $50 per person with all the proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs. Cancer.

In addition to the clinic, attendees can bid on a number of silent auction items ranging from courtside seats for the Texas Southern game on Dec. 28 to Loge Box tickets for the Georgia game on New Year’s Eve.

The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 10. Reservations are limited to the first  100 women.  It is recommended that all participants dress casually with athletic shirts, shorts, and sneakers.

You can register by contacting Stephanie Weiter at the American Cancer Society. The telephone number is ( 785 ) 273-4662 and the email is stephanie.weiter@cancer.org.

The Saint Xavier Rams volleyball team lost two matches on Tuesday.

They fell to Veritas Christian 25-7, 25-8, and to Center Place Restoration by scores of 25-12, 25-9.

The Kansas State University football team is 4-1 going into this weekends bye week, and the defense is rising to the top of the rankings nationally for the top rushing defense.

Bill Snyder said Tuesday during his weekly press conference that he does feel that the defense has been consistent through the first five games of the season.

“That’s what we hope for,” said Snyder. “They’re easy to work with because they work hard on the practice field, they’re committed to their preparation and they are committed to trying to improve day in and day out. They are a good group of young guys.”

Currently the Wildcats are at the top of the Big 12 rankings for rushing defense and senior linebacker Jonathan Truman explained that the defense does take pride in that.

“Obviously the total defense is very important to us, but obviously the points on the board is what matters so we need to stop that. But a huge focus that we have is to stop the run. We take some pride in that and we just have to continue to get better each week,” said Truman.

K-State is off this week and will spend the extra time preparing for their match-up with the 9th ranked Oklahoma Sooners next Saturday, October 18th. That game is scheduled for an 11 a.m. kickoff from Norman, Oklahoma.

K-State Weekly Football Press Conference
October 7, 2014

Head Coach Bill Snyder
On his experiences over the years…
“Well, you do not have enough time for all the things that I have learned. If you pay attention, you learn an awful lot. I cannot tell you how much. Part of it is choosing the right people to embrace in your life, making family important, being who you are and working at whatever you do. There are multiple things that you learn by having good people in your life. I have learned something every day from good people.”

On birthday plans this evening…
“I will be right here doing what we always do, evaluating film after our practice, practice tape, and Oklahoma tape. Same old thing.”

On the defense’s day-to-day improvements…
“I think it has been somewhat consistent, and that is what we hope for. They are easy to work with because they work hard on the practice field, dedicated to their preparation and are committed to improve day in and day out. They are a good group of young guys.”

On when buckling down on life came a priority…
“When I left high school and went to the University of Missouri in Columbia, I was not a loose cannon by any means. I was not smart enough for that. Probably my major turning point for me was when I left the University of Missouri since I was not doing well in the classroom and I went back to my hometown, St. Joseph. That is when Norris Patterson, the longtime Athletic Director and football coach at William Jewell, came to see me and would like to take me and told me a list of things that I needed to do. Most of the list was directed towards academics, but there were some other things as well. That did have an impact on me, but like I have said so many times, there are so many defining moments for me. My mother was a true guiding light in my life and she was there forever for me. In the good things that I have learned, I have learned from her.”

On Coach Norris Patterson mentoring and guiding him…
“There are a lot of people who have had a very positive impact on my life. Besides from my mother, prior to Norris Patterson, before I even got to college and that time of my life. It was in my first year of college and it was time to grow up. There are all kinds of people whether they have been in this profession or have some other involvement in my life.”

On K-State’s running backs…
“We had really done a nice job maintaining possession of the ball on turnovers until we had one turnover in the (Texas Tech) ballgame. That is an up and down situation, but overall, they did very well up to that one turnover. I appreciate that about them. They play hard, and they are good at trying to get the extra yardage after contact. They have been doing a nice job to get where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to, in other words, discipline. They have an understanding of what their role and involvement is and systematically executing where they are supposed to be. I think there are a lot of areas that can be improved upon. Certainly, we need to improve our pass protection and overall everything we need to work on. I like to see some breakaway opportunities for them, which is not always in their hands. More often than not, they are going to be dependent on blockers whether or not that is going to be the line or receivers.”

On the benefits of an off week…
“Like I have said so many times, let’s talk after the Oklahoma game; we will see if it benefits us or not. I think there are numerous things that are viable. Certainly, you have an opportunity to get rested a little bit and recover from nicks and bruises and have a longer period of time for preparation. There are a lot of things that you could say that could be a benefit to having an open week. There are also probably an equal number of things that could be said on the other side of the argument as well. The biggest question is, do you lose the continuity of the routine, day in and day out preparation that goes in and getting back-to-back games on the field where there is a similarity of Saturday games? We will see.”

Senior Quarterback Jake Waters
On being coached by the oldest active coach in the FBS…
“That is something I have not really thought about. It is definitely special to see. It is his birthday today, but you would never expect that based on how he acts and how he goes about his day. It is cool to be coached by someone that has been through everything that you might think of and has coached so many great players. For him to coach us and give all of his time to us is a unique place.”

On his play in the Texas Tech game…
“I did alright. I made some good throws, but again I made some mistakes that I want back. I had a couple throws that I could have made and a couple reads that could have been better. I could have done a lot of things better.”

On the offense putting things together…
“I think so, for the most part it is getting better. We had the hiccup on the goal line and not finishing it in the red zone. I think we have done a better job of that lately. Last game, I think we did a good job except like one field goal or something like that. I think we are getting better slowly, and we are getting better every single day.”

Senior Linebacker Jonathan Truman
On the safeties’ improvement this year…
“Yes, for sure. We have been challenged with a few of the early games with run offenses. They have proved that they can come down and make hits and make big stops for us. Obviously we have been challenged in the past through the air, and they have done a great job. It just shows how they prepare. They prepare well and play well on Saturdays.”

On if he thinks that Danzel McDaniel is ultra-aggressive…
“You cannot ask much more from a guy on defense to be such a sure tackler like he is. Being at the position he is, at cornerback, he is very physical with wide receivers. Not a lot of receivers are used to that. He is very physical and when we need to make a tackle, he is always there.”

Redshirt Freshman Punter Nick Walsh
On his reaction to playing at Iowa State…
“Going into the Iowa State game, I was preparing like I was going to be the starter. I feel like if I had not, then it would have been a mess. I went in there preparing like I was going to be playing no matter what. It ended up working out, but at the same time it is still competitive and we are still competing on a daily basis. Mitch (Lochbihler) and I just go out there and have fun and push each other. So, that is going to make us better and make the team better.”

On his consistency…
“Obviously I had a short punt the last game, and I am kind of glad that happened because I fired back with a 43-yarder that hung up and was fair caught. I was happy to see that I could just relax under those kinds of situations and come back with a positive punt.”

On achieving hang time…
“It is something that Coach always says I need to do more of. My hang times have all been around 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 (seconds), whereas, in practice I have hit some 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 and those punts are going to be fair caught all day long. They are not going out there 60 yards, 45 usually is tops. I need to work on consistency with hang time right now. That is a big thing, and obviously distance. Like I said last game, I kind of got the drop inside which turned the ball over and that is just not going to go down the field as far as I want it to.”

Ryan Lacker

Assistant Director / Athletics Communications

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The expectations that accompanied Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer were largely unfair, and anybody in the Kansas City Royals front office would probably be willing to admit it.

Moustakas was the second overall pick in the 2007 first-year player draft. Hosmer went third overall the following year. Together, the third baseman and first baseman were general manager Dayton Moore’s cornerstones in his plan to build a contender.

Perhaps now, they are finally living up to those expectations.

Moustakas hit the go-ahead home run in the 11th inning in Game 1 of their AL Division Series against the Angels. Hosmer hit a two-run shot in the 11th inning the next night. And in the clincher on Sunday night, both of them went deep in an 8-3 victory.

 

Irving, Texas – The Big 12 Conference announced today the lineup for its second national “State of College Athletics” Forum to further examine the issues facing college athletics. The Forum, which will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Oct.21, continues the discussion that began at the inaugural Forum hosted by the Big 12 in New York City in August.

 

The October Forum will feature a panel of respected authorities from intercollegiate athletics, university leadership and sports journalism representing a diverse range of opinions and perspectives on the future of college athletics. The panel will address two topics: “Where Does the Money Go – The Business of College Athletics” and “Are Student Athletes Employees?” The 13-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and writer Jimmy Roberts, who moderated the first Forum, will also moderate the event in Washington, D.C.

 

“We developed the ‘State of College Athletics’ Forum series as a way to bring together some of the brightest minds in intercollegiate athletics to have open, productive dialogue about the broad range of issues facing college athletics today and beyond,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “Our goal with these Forums is not to assemble a group of people who all share the same points of view. Rather, it is to have experts representing all sides of the debate sit down and have an unfettered discussion about the many complex aspects of this issue. We believe an unrestricted exchange of ideas – made possible by the Big 12 Forums – is the best way to fully understand the issue and determine the way forward.”

 

Broadcaster and Forum moderator Jimmy Roberts added, “While the conversation at the first Forum was tremendously insightful, it is important to continue the discussion. The issues facing college athletics are not going to disappear, and these events provide a venue to ensure all aspects of the topic are examined closely by some of the most important opinion leaders and policymakers associated with college sports.”

 

Additional details of the Oct. 21 event include (all times Eastern):

 

11:45 a.m.      Lunch and keynote address by Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby

 

3:00 p.m.        Forum I begins with a 90-minute panel discussion entitled,

“Where Does the Money Go – The Business of College Athletics”

 

4:30 p.m.        Break

 

4:45 p.m.        Forum II continues with an additional 90-minute panel discussion entitled,

“Are Student Athletes Employees?”

 

6:15 p.m. –      Reception available for event attendees and panelists

7:30 p.m.        (Note:   On-site locations will be provided for one-on-one interviews with panelists)

 

In addition to Bowlsby and Roberts, other members of the panels will include:  USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz; the USOC’s Scott Blackmun; USA Today’s Christine Brennan; TCU Athletic Director Chris Del Conte; ESPN’s Len Elmore; Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis; Former Congressman Tom McMillen; The New York Times’ Joe Nocera; Former Arizona State University Athletic Director Lisa Love; Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel; and University of Kansas Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger.  Brief biographical information about each panelist confirmed as of Oct. 7 is provided below.

Release from Rob Carolla, Director of Communications

ALCS GAME ONE SCHEDULED FOR 8:07 p.m. (ET) FIRST PITCH ON FRIDAY
Royals-Orioles at Camden Yards Will Be Friday Prime Time Game on TBS;

ALCS Game Two Slated for 4:07 p.m. (ET) on Saturday,
Followed by NLCS Game One on FOX at 8:07 p.m. (ET)

Game One of the 2014 American League Championship Series between the host Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals has been scheduled for an 8:07 p.m. (ET) first pitch on Friday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Major League Baseball announced today.

Saturday’s ALCS Game Two is set for a 4:07 p.m. (ET) start at Camden Yards. The National League Championship Series will open on FOX on Saturday, when Game One will be slated for an 8:07 p.m. (ET)/5:07 p.m. (PT) start, regardless of venue.

TBS will telecast the entire 2014 ALCS, in which the Orioles are seeking their first American League pennant since 1983 and the Royals are in pursuit of their first AL crown since 1985. In addition to ALCS coverage on TBS, FOX Sports and FOX Sports 1 will combine to air all NLCS games. ESPN Radio will provide live national coverage of all 2014 MLB Postseason games.

Ensuing start times for all LCS games will be announced when they are available, pending the results of the NL Division Series.

The Saint Xavier Middle School volleyball team picked up wins in two matches Monday induals versus Flint Hills Christian.

The Rams defeated Flint Hills 25-15, 15-25, 16-14 in the first match, and 25-16, 25-22 in the second match.