Program Profile: Kansas State

Since 1896 (Big 12)
Colors: Royal Purple
Mascot: Wildcats

In nearly a century of play, the Jayhawks had won only three hundred games. Things turned around with a vengeance in 1991. Since then they’ve appeared in eleven consecutive bowls, had six top-ten finishes, and even passed through a season unscathed. This century hasn’t been quite so kind, but you can’t sneeze at them yet.

In 1969 the music building burned down and they lost all the sheet music there, except the Wabash Cannonball, which was in the band director’s briefcase. So that Saturday they played nothing but the Wabash Cannonball. “Every man a Wildcat” used to be a popular slogan, but the feminists killed it in the ‘70’s, so they’re stuck with more generic slogans like, “Purple Pride”. They play Kansas in the “Sunflower Showdown”. Apparently they also have a “Harley Day” every season in which people can ride motorcycles around the field. Classy. And if you, like Kevin Federline, feel like the full name is too much, shorten it to K-State.

The origin of the symbols isnt' half as exciting as Harley Day. A coach just picked Willie the Wildcat and a special committee picked Royal Purple. Exciting, huh?