Editor’s note:ÌýThis story marked the kickoff of the Star’s Summer “Big 12 Blitz†series, where we introduced U of A fans to the on- and off-field need-to-know details surrounding each member of the 16-team Big 12 Conference. Up first wasÌýKansas State University, located inÌýManhattan, Kansas.
The Star'sÌýBig 12 BlitzÌýis presented byÌý.
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It’s not common for two teams both with “Wildcats†as their mascots to share the same conference. But now, as Big 12 foes, whenever Kansas State and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ face see other in any sport, referring to either team as the Cats could get confusing.
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Just don’t ask either Wildcat contingent to concede the “WC†hand sign that’s become popular in both ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and Manhattan, Kansas, over the last decade or so.
When Kansas State mascot Willie the Wildcat and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ mascot Wilbur Wildcat were asked at Big 12 football Media Days in Las Vegas about which school can claim credit to creating the “WC†hand sign, both mascots pointed at themselves and claimed the symbol.
"I absolutely mean this in a sincere way, I have no idea who was first, but I do like it," Kansas State radio play-by-play broadcaster who's entering his 23rd season as the voice behind KSU sports, recently told the Star. "If you guys use it, we use it, I'm good with that."
Tim Fitzgerald has covered KSU sports for decades and currently is the for as publisher of . Fitzgerald said, "I've read that ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ started using a year before (Kansas State), but I didn't even know ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ did it. Nobody seemed to know ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ did it, until this all came up. I don't even know where it came from."
The world may never know who started the “WC†hand sign, but both Kansas State and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will coexist with the same mascot and fan engagement prop. Both will most certainly come to a head when the first matchup between ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and KSU commences in Manhattan in September on the football field (though matching up Big 12 foes, its a nonconference game on paper since it was scheduled before ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ left the Pac-12).
Besides the mascot and hand sign, UA and KSU have their own traditions and differences. Here's what you need to know about Kansas State through the words of Fitzgerald and Thompson.:Ìý
How would you describe the culture and Kansas State fan base in Manhattan?
Thompson: "I think over the course over the next few years, you guys will realize that this is not a ton different than some of the other experiences that you'll have in the Big 12, whether it be in Ames, Iowa or in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Lubbock is a little bit bigger than those towns, but this is very much a college town, university setting.ÌýIt's a town of about 60,000-65,000. They love their Cats here. They always have, always will. They're an extremely passionate fan base, and I think that's great.
"We may not have the biggest and shiniest facilities in America, but I do think we rival anybody in terms of just quality facilities in everything from baseball to rowing to football. And I think they're proud of that here, and they should be. You'll love the game-day atmosphere with football here.
"It's a pretty special place to visit. I know there's a lot of debate going on what are the hardest places to play in college football. Try this one on, see what you think. Now, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s really good. They may come in here and win. I don't know that, but I think you'll be impressed."
Is it safe to say former longtime football coach Bill Snyder had the most impact out of any coach in Kansas State history, almost similar to Lute Olson with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ basketball?
Thompson:Ìý"100% true. By the way, I'll put that into perspective for you, too. K-State, as I mentioned, had been to one bowl game in its history before Snyder showed up here. They were actually ranked No. 1 in (1998) going into the Big 12 championship game, and lost a heartbreaking overtime game to (Texas A&M) over in St Louis. That's a remarkable thing when you think about what K-State was football-wise at that time, and then from basically '89 to '98, to get to number one, was an incredible climb. People here will never, ever forget that. I think that was probably coach Snyder's best team.
"But I appreciate the Lute Olson stuff too, because, we've had a lot of really, really fine coaches here in basketball. Those people are so revered. Some people are diehard K-State fans that didn't even see Tex Winter coach a game here as an example, or Jack Gardner, or even maybe Jack Hartman.
"Jack Hartman was an incredible coach here. Lon Kruger was here four years and went to four straight (NCAA Tournaments). So it's always been a basketball state, generally speaking. And the guys down the river in Lawrence are pretty good, too. Wichita State's pretty good. So over the course of many, many years, it's been a really good basketball state."
Fitzgerald: "I'm not fully up to speed on the history of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ basketball, but Bill Snyder didn't just take over a bad program, he took over the worst program. Every time Kansas State had flirted with success throughout its entire history, going back to the late 19th century, if a coach was good enough, they got rid of him or lost him. So every time they had an opportunity, they turned away from it. And really, Bill Snyder coming to Kansas State with the university president at the time, Jon Wefald, was the first time K-State said, 'Hell yeah, we're in.' And it worked. They got the donors that stepped up and the right coach who literally worked a miracle. I mean, it was a mess. It was beyond bad, the facilities, the support, the players.
"I mean, it was bad, and it took him five years to get to a bowl game. I don't know if coaches get that anymore, but he was building something that was sustainable, and in a different era when you had to do it through recruiting. So it took a while."
Can you tell us about the traditions like EMAW (Every Man A Wildcat) and Wabash Cannonball?
Fitzgerald: "Every man a Wildcat. We're a little vague on where that came from. A lot of it came out of the 1960s. Purple pride was something that was around for a while.
"The Wildcat is not as full-bodied as your Wildcat. It's supposed to be half-man, half-Wildcat, so it's a Wildcat head and a human body, which is kind of odd to think about. So you can be critical of that."Ìý
Thompson: "(Wabash Cannonball) isÌýa really cool thing, and they've been doing it for many years.
"But think about a couple of 1,000 students in the student section of basketball at Bramlage (Coliseum), and they start playing that, and one (student) goes forward as one goes back, and then they just keep going back and forth with that. It's really cool to see. If you haven't ever seen it, some people may look at it as corny. I don't know that, but it's just been a tradition here since I can remember."
What would you tell fans of former Pac-12 schools who have never been to Kansas State? Where should they eat in Manhattan?
Fitzgerald:Ìý"Well, first of all, I would tell them to come, because this is a very fun college town. I've heard fans from another Pac-12 schools that joined complaining about the backwater towns of Manhattan and Ames and and Stillwater. I'm like, 'Those are called college towns, and they're an absolute blast of go visit.' And you tend to get really good football atmospheres and basketball out of it.
"But one of the unique things about Manhattan is it has a second downtown called Aggieville, which is right off the corner of campus, and it's essentially a bar district for the students. There's some stores and restaurants down there, but it's where the students go together, and it's directly off the southeast corner of campus, and so a lot of students can just walk to it. But that's the epicenter of student life, along with the campus."
Is Aggieville connected to Kansas State's agricultural prowess?Ìý
Thompson: "Before this was Kansas State University, it was Kansas State Agricultural College, and that was many, many, many years ago. But that you'll find out as we go forward here, that K-State is known for a lot of things, but one thing that has been constant forever is is the Ag side of that.
"This is an agriculture state. We've got a grain-science program here, as an example, that's as good as any. We've got a vet school here that is as good as most, probably Top 10 still nationally.
"But I think when you get right down to it, agriculture is the biggest part of this state, and K-State. I think that's why there's so much popularity with the university, from the Ag standpoint, that those stick out always and always will."
Big 12 Blitz: Star columnist Greg Hansen on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ almost stealing Kansas State's basketball coach — a move that likely would have meant no Lute Olson in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports