Tempe, Ariz. ? Approximately 73,000 sets of eyes were on Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson as he trotted onto the field as the Wildcats’ starter Friday night against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Some people cheered. Some booed, even some K-State fans. But everyone inside Sun Devil Stadium had a reaction to Roberson’s appearance as the starter.

The Fiesta Bowl, at least from K-State’s perspective, became less about winning and losing and more about morality and leadership from the second Roberson was accused of sexual assault by a female acquaintance early Thursday morning.

Paradise Valley, Ariz., Police Lt. Ron Warner said he didn’t think the case would be prosecuted.

But the issue concerning Roberson’s playing status in Friday’s game, won by Ohio State, 35-28, is not about the allegation made by the woman. It’s about how Roberson’s selfish and irresponsible conduct put his team in harm’s way just 39 hours before the Wildcats were to meet Ohio State.

He told police he was with the woman at 3:30 a.m., 41/2 hours after the team’s curfew.

Which begs several questions: What is K-State’s curfew policy? Was Roberson within its bounds by simply being inside the hotel?

K-State coach Bill Snyder should have suspended Roberson for the Fiesta Bowl and turned the reins over to backups Dylan Meier or Jeff Schwinn. Perhaps the Wildcats would have rallied around one of them.

At the very least, Roberson should have been on the sidelines for an offensive series or two, just to acknowledge that something was amiss.

By starting Roberson, Snyder contradicted his long-held belief that discipline is an important foundation of life.

He raises suspicions that his desire to win football games is stronger than his dedication to leadership.

Snyder always has claimed that his love for coaching was based in his desire to help young people prepare for adult life. But what lesson has he passed along by allowing Roberson to wreak such havoc without consequence?

Roberson had a sub-par game, completing 20 of 51 passes for 294 yards. He ran for two touchdowns, but Kansas State could not overcome a 21-0 second-quarter deficit, and Roberson only had 32 yards on the ground.

Roberson did heat up late, when the Wildcats went almost exclusively to their passing game in a frantic effort to rally. The game wasn’t over until Roberson’s last-second pass into the end zone fell incomplete, after which he was accompanied off the field by three security guards. Bizarre.

K-State arrived in the desert more than a week ago full of vim and vigor after easily dispatching No. 1 Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Dec. 6.

It was a confident, fun bunch right up to Thursday, after which the Wildcats went into hiding.

The speculation concerning Roberson’s status for the Fiesta Bowl didn’t end until a few minutes before kickoff, when Snyder told ABC sideline reporter Sam Ryan that Roberson wouldn’t just play, he would start.

Snyder’s decision will be applauded by many, who believe he can do no wrong and that Roberson’s indiscretions were not worthy of a more severe punishment. Others, and I suspect most, would have been more in favor of Roberson sitting out at least a few plays.

If Roberson’s behavior wasn’t punishable, what is?