Manhattan — Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said he didn't know how it would feel not to prepare for a bowl game at season's end.
That goes for most of his players as well.
"It's going to be weird. The last time to see Darren (Sproles) suit up in purple," offensive tackle Jeromey Clary said. "There's a lot of emotion that goes into it."
Sproles is just one of 22 seniors who will play their final game in KSU Stadium today when the Wildcats take on Iowa State. It's also the first time a senior class will have a home send-off since 1989. Kansas State hasn't won its final game when played at home since 1984.
"Some people say we aren't playing for anything," senior cornerback David Rose said. "Right now, I'm playing for my own pride and the pride of this program."
It's been a roller coaster for seniors who entered the program as freshmen. There have been plenty of lows, including a 6-6 season in 2001 that snapped a string of eight straight winning seasons. But there have also been plenty of highs, including the program's first Big 12 Conference title last year.
"I hope we showed the true meaning of heart, no matter what people say about us," defensive tackle Jermaine Berry said. "What we go through shows the true character of us."
Pride is why Berry and Rose said they would prepare for their final home game just as they have so many games before.
"I remember when I came in and senior day came, and I was like, 'Man, that seems so far away for me,"' Rose said. "Now it's here and it came fast. This whole week, I'm going to enjoy it all, because this could be the last time I play football and play in this type of atmosphere."
Coach Bill Snyder said he hadn't looked past Iowa State. He hasn't begun to think about offseason conditioning or recruiting, although he acknowledged the program can get a head start on both without a bowl game.
Perhaps the reason he hasn't started thinking about the offseason, though, is he doesn't know where to begin. It's been 12 years since Kansas State's season ended before Christmas.
"I'll reflect back when the time comes," he said. "I don't think it's fair to the seniors to look ahead. They've been instrumental in so very many positive things."
Snyder said Kansas State will miss out on between 15 and 18 practices it would normally have in a bowl season. In the past, during many of those practices, Snyder has focused on young players.
This year, that preparation for next season ends today.
"We're still trying as hard as we can to correct some issues," Snyder said. "We want to let our season go out on a positive note and establish a bit of a foundation for the upcoming season."
While many seniors want to go out with a win, they also want to start next year's team off with a win.
"We want to start the underclassmen out right," center Mike Johnson said. "We want to have fun with our fans one last time and leave here on a positive note."
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.