It is an interesting time to be a Kansas State fan.
Yes, I said it. I am going on record as being a fan of the purple and white.
But seriously, this is some uncharted territory for the Wildcat faithful.
On one hand, we’ve got a football team led by a young, energetic, passionate coaching staff that appears to have this year’s team, with its 5-4 record overall, on the verge of being bowl eligible for the first time since that magical 2003 season.
In case you forgot, 2003 was the year that the Wildcats beat the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship game. It’s been slim pickings since then for Kansas State football.
Nevertheless, football has dominated the Kansas State sports landscape for the last 17 or so years thanks to Bill Snyder, and it hasn’t even been close when compared with the other sports on campus.
But on the other hand, ready and waiting to smack us all in the face, is the start of the basketball season and the opening of the Bob Huggins era at Kansas State.
Yes, Bob Huggins — the guy with the eighth-best career winning percentage (.740) among active coaches and 15 trips to the NCAA Tournament — is coaching in the Little Apple.
What’s a Wildcat fan to do?
This is a serious area of unknowns us Kansas State fans are diving into.
Is it possible that Kansas State could be a football school and a basketball school?
No, couldn’t be. Right?
Wrong.
I have met Kansas State football coach Ron Prince. I’ve sat down and interviewed him one-on-one. We’ve discussed topics ranging from football to psychology to World War II. He and I have even swapped our favorite books, seeing as how we both love to read.
I also have watched his teams this season from my seat inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and I believe Prince is the right man to succeed Snyder. I believe that what Prince is doing at Kansas State is right, and he will have the Wildcats back to their championship days of just a few years ago.
He has made some rookie coaching decisions this year that have made me scratch my head — or worse — but he’s doing things his way, and it’s what the Kansas State football program needs.
And then there’s Huggins.
Kansas State basketball instantly became a national factor the second Huggins agreed to the job, and love him or hate him, he will have the Wildcats winning — a lot.
Already there are reports that the Wildcats defeated No. 17 Marquette in a closed scrimmage this past week. They could be just rumors, but Marquette coach Tim Creen was mighty complimentary of the Kansas State basketball team following the closed-doors skirmish.
Huggins already has a commitment from the 2007 No. 1-ranked high school player in the country in forward Michael Beasley, according to Rivals.com. Bill Walker, the No. 6-ranked recruit for this year’s class, is already rumored to be on the Kansas State campus and could play as early as December if he enrolls on time.
All this has led to a level of excitement that has never seen its equal when talking about Kansas State men’s basketball, even when the Wildcats were good in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
I mean, Saturday’s exhibition matchup against Washburn is sold out. That is unheard of at Kansas State, at least since I have been attending games.
It all adds up to it being a highly exciting — and a little nerve-racking — time to be a Wildcat.
After all, a lot is expected of Prince and Huggins, and Kansas State fans are yearning for big things from both coaches’ programs.
But can Kansas State be a football school and a basketball school?
I believe it already is.
For more sports commentary from Michael and Gazette sports reporter Jesse Newell, listen to the Emporia Sports Buzz at www.emporiagazette.com.