Life of a K-State Fan

Couple of issues to sum up what it is to be a K-State Fan:

Shots taken from the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City.  K-State loses to Syracuse, 36-34.

OK, let me explain the picture.  K-State and Syracuse were locked into a scoring-frenzy game, touchdown after touchdown.  With K-State trailing 36-28 late in the 4th quarter, Carson Coffman throws a pass to Adrian Hilburn, who breaks at least one tackle and dashes up the sideline for a touchdown with 1:13 left.  He runs through the endzone, drops the ball, and salutes the crowd - a large K-State contingent in that particular area.  It has been CONFIRMED that the referee in that particular area yelled "Wrong move, buddy!" and throws a flag for excessive celebration.  For a salute to the crowd.

Of course Syracuse opts to have the penalty enforced on the PAT since we had to go for two - so we lined up for a 2-pt conversion try from the 18 yard line.  And, of course, K-State didn't convert.

Now let me state that K-State did not lose because of this call.  Our defense is downright reprehensible - Syracuse offense SUCKS, and we gave up nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns.  That's why we lost.

However, the call was equally reprehensible, as it does NOT meet the definition of "excessive celebration", and had been more than outdone on several occasions throughout the game by Syracuse, including the picture above.  For crying out loud - one of the Orange was INJURED celebrating a play by himself.  The call WAS unfairly made, and denied us a shot at a legitimate two-point try.

It should be noted, later at the K-State v. North Florida basketball game, Wally Judge made a layup and was knocked to the ground; he got up, and saluted the crowd, in 'tribute' to Adrian Hilburn.

TEAM.

Oh, and no 'excessive celebration' call.

Pre-season All-American Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly - the two seniors - busted for "impermissible benefits" at the local Manhattan Dillards store.  Jake got $100 in discounted clothing, and had to sit out three games.

Pullen follows up his suspension and "lack of leadership" charge with 24 points on 9-11 shooting (4-6 3pts), adding three rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes.

This one is a completely different story, but once again, hinges on ridiculousness if the right context is used.


Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly, the two seniors on the K-State basketball team, were punished for receiving "impermissible benefits".  The reason - Pullen received $100 and Kelly $450 worth of clothing discounts at the Dillards store in Manhattan.  Christmas presents, who knows.  Pullen receives a three-game suspension, and Kelly a six-game benching.


Yeah, they broke the rule, and deserved to be punished.


Here's where it gets ridiculous, and the moral compass of the NCAA is completely askew.  The monetary value limits for "impermissible benefits" - $100 to $300 draws a suspension for 10% of your teams games, $300 to $600 draws 20%, and above $600 draws 30%.  With no cap.  So you could take a new laptop for $700, and sit nine games.  Or you could have a booster take your entire family on vacation, give you a winter home in Vail, buy you a brand new Escalade (or whatever they're driving these days), fully restock your wardrobe, and throw another $10k in cash in on it, and you're still only sitting nine games (see:  Josh Selby, KU freshman point guard).


Even more bemoaning is the difference between a "handout" and something that is morally wrong and criminally prosecutable.  LaceDarius Dunn, from Baylor sat out three games FOR BEATING HIS GIRLFRIEND.  Yes, the same three games that Pullen got for $100 of clothes.

What do we learn from this?  The NCAA's street-value of domestic battery - $100.

Furthermore, the NCAA NEVER HARDLY EVER punishes players for DUI/DWI, substantial traffic tickets, and the like.  Now explain to me something - how is giving a couple bucks in clothes to a guy that isn't allowed to have a summer job such a heinous crime?  I can't even say "Hell, I'LL pay for it," because that in turn would be me giving Jake "impermissible benefits".


Ridiculous and hypocritical, to say the least.