Manhattan ? Maybe Kansas State’s marching band should forgo its traditional “Wabash Cannonball” for something more fitting, such as “So long, it’s been good to know you.”

At Bill Snyder Family Stadium tonight, the dying hours of a 99-year relationship will start running out.

Among other things for Kansas State (4-0), the nationally televised game is a chance to jump high into the rankings and give running back Daniel Thomas’ Heisman hopes a boost. For seventh-ranked and Big Ten-bound Nebraska (4-0), it’s the first leg in a not-so-fond farewell tour of Big 12 schools the Huskers are leaving behind.

Expecting a huge crowd, Kansas State warned fans to arrive early.

Maybe Nebraska needs a warning, too.

More than 50,000 resentful Kansans will occupy those seats, most of them fully aware that Nebraska’s decision to defect to the Big Ten came close to dealing their school a horrible setback.

So now, with a collision of unbeaten teams and a running back averaging 157 yards per game, Kansas State would love to boot the haughty Huskers out the door of the Big 12 with a big loss to remember them by.

“They’re good fans, but they’re also very classy people,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “I would think they are going to treat our football team the right way.”

Snyder admits he didn’t want to see the Huskers go.

“I’m disappointed and saddened by Nebraska not being in the conference. There’s just so much history there, so much tradition,” he said.