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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1998)
Steve Hebert/ Kansas State Collegian KSU’S MICHAEL BISHOP pushes off University of Kansas strong safety Michael Allen during the fourth quarter at KU’s Memorial Stadium. Bishop gained 95 yards rushing and two touch downs and 225 yards passing, including one touchdown. Bishop propels Cats to elite status KSU Coach Snyder says decision to play transfer key to teams success in 1998 By David Wilson Senior staff water MANHATTAN, Kan. - It was sometime late in the sum mer of 1997 when Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder realized he'd have a good team in 1998. The key ingredient was a junior college transfer quarter back named Michael Bishop. “We made a decision whether or not we’d redshirt Michael Bishop or not." Snyder said. “That was probably the defining factor - not necessarily for a national champi onship, but that we had a chance to be a pretty' good football team this year.’’ So far, so good. The second-ranked Wildcats enter Saturday's matchup with No. 11 Nebraska with an undefeated season on the line. KSU hasn't defeated the Comhuskers since 1968. Even Bishop - a guy who doesn’t really know how to lose at the collegiate level - failed m his first attempt to beat the Huskers. As a starter at Blinn (Texas) Community College and in two seasons at Kansas State, Bishop is 44-1 as q ctartm* “This guy hates to lose.” KSU senior kicker Martin Gramatica said. “It makes everybody feel the same.” But Bishop's one loss, receiver Darnell McDonald said, was a turning point for the 6-foot-1,205-pound signal caller. Bishop, who completed eight of 24 passes against NU last Oct. 4, called his teammates “quitters” following the 56 26 loss. “After that game, he realized he needed to step up and be our leader,” McDonald said. Snyder, on the other hand, felt it would be best to keep Bishop away from the media after the loss. A similar restraint was placed by Snyder after an incident prior to this season's Colorado game. Bishop relayed a quote to the media from running back Frank Murphy, who was returning from a suspension. Evidently, Snyder didn't approve. But being kept from the press hasn't kept Bishop, a Heisman Trophy candidate, from leading Kansas State emo tionally this season on and off the field. "I feel if he is pumped up and ready to win, we all should be,” McDonald said. “It makes us play a lot better.” This season, Bishop ranks sixth in the nation in pass effi ciency with 164.3 rating points, while leading an offense that averages 477 total yards per game. He has completed 113 of208 passes, and thrown just one interception and tossed 18 touchdowns. “He can not only pass the ball. He can also beat you with the run,” NU linebacker Jay Foreman said. “He's definitely a great player. He's the kind of guy the team thnves on. Obviously, you have to con tain him if you’re going to try to stop their offense.” Kansas State notes: ■ While KSU Coach Bill Snyder emphasizes controlling emotion among his football players, emotion is what Wildcat kicker Martin Gramatica thrives on - sometimes to excess. Gramatica, who booted a 65-yard field goal earlier this season - the longest in NCAA history without a tee, missed a 25-yard attempt against Baylor last week. The senior is now 15 of 21 for the season after making 19 of 20 last year. “1 know I can kick,” said Gramatica, who celebrates after every successful boot. “I just can't get too excited. “When I miss, 1 try to forget about it right away. I don’t let it affect my next kick.” Though he said he is excited for his last chance to defeat Nebraska, the Argentina native said he won’t let himself - or his teammates - get too pumped for Saturday’s game. “You could get too excited to play Nebraska, but we have a lot of seniors that know how to stay focused,” Gramatica said. “1 think the best thing 1 can do is just stay relaxed.” ■ Saturday will mark the last time 25 Kansas State seniors will play a game at Wagner Field. The semors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony that will take approximate ly 4/2 minutes, Snyder said. “I’m a man, and I’m sure I’ll shed a few tears,” said Jeremy Martin, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound offensive lineman. “But as far as team objectives, you can’t let emotions overrun a game.” I Football Starters * TV ABC Nebraska starters ~ ^ 4 o i290am 90 3 KRNU Offense Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. QB 7 Eric Crouch 6-0 200 LR 57 Chad Kelsay 6-3 250 IB 38 Dan Alexander 6-0 250 NT 99 Jason Wiltz 6-4 310 FB 45 Joel Makovicka 5-11 240 DT 91 Loran Kaiser 6-5 280 WB 5 Shevin Wiggins 5-11 200 RR 84 Mike Rucker 6-6 260 SE 6 Kenny Cheatham 6-4 210 SLB 37 Tony Ortiz 6-0 215 TE 88 Sheldon Jackson 6-4 245 MLB 44 Jay Foreman 6-1 240 LT 69 Adam Julch 6-5 315 WLB 27 Eric Johnson 6-1 205 LG 63 James Sherman 6-2 295 LCB 16 Erwin Swiney 6-0 185 C 59 JoshHeskew 6-3 290 FS 19 Clint Finley 5-11 200 RG 55 Russ Hochstein 6-3 280 ROV 21 Mike Brown 5-10 205 RT 65 Jason Schwab 6-1 300 RCB 22 Ralph Brown 5-9 180 PK 35 Kris Brown 5-10 205 P 23 Bill Lafleur 5-11 200 Kansas Si starters Offense Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. WR 22 Aaron Lockett 5-7 155 DE 46 Joe Bob Clements 6-3 245 LT 76 Ryan Young 6-6 330 DT 56 Andrae Rowe 6-0 290 LG 73 Brien Hanley 6-2 325 DT 77 Damion McIntosh 6-4 290 C 58 Randall Cummins 6-3 285 DE 49 Darren Howard 6-4 270 RG 78 Jeremy Martin 6- 4 305 LB 50 Travis Ochs 6-3 225 RT 65 Thomas Barnett 6-5 300 LB 8 Jeff Kelly 6-0 245 TE 86 Justin Swift 6-3 250 LB 42 Mark Simoneau 6-0 230 QB 7 Michael Bishop 6-1 205 FS 1 Lamar Chapman 6-0 180 RB 24 Eric Hickson 5-8 200 CB 17 Gerald Neasman 5-9 180 FB 30 Brian Goolsby 6-2 250 SS 40 Jarrod Cooper 6-1 205 TE 86 Justin Swift 6-3 250 CB 35 Dyshod Carter 5-10 175 Jon Frank/DN