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Jake Trotter, OU reporter
Wildcats on the decline lately
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Thanks to Bill Snyder and the Stoops Brothers, Kansas State rose out of college football’s abyss in the 1990s and competed with the nation’s elite.
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But in the last five years, K-State has been on the decline. With a 1-2 Big 12 start this season, the Wildcats are in danger of falling even further.
Here’s why:
Off-the-field issues
First, projected starting running back Leon Patton was dismissed after being charged with child abuse for allegedly shaking a 2-month-old boy.
Then safety Gary Chandler, last year’s Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year, was suspended indefinitely after he was arrested.
Off-the-field issues can derail team chemistry, especially when it involves a team’s best players.
Poor pass defense
Granted, defending the pass in the Big 12 isn’t easy. But allowing 419 passing yards to Texas A&M’s second-string quarterback is downright embarrassing.
K-State is No. 93 in pass defense and faces the nation’s No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 pass offenses in its next three games.
JUCO recruiting
Snyder continuously benefited from a steady stream of junior-college talent.
But in his most recent class, Ron Prince signed 19 JUCO players, believed to be the highest number ever by a BCS school. Finding productive JUCOs is nice.
But relying solely on them is a risky proposition and a precarious long-term solution.
Kansas and Missouri
Over the last three years, KU and Mizzou have emerged as the dominant programs in the North. Nebraska won’t stay down forever, either. Ditto for Colorado.
Where does that leave K-State?
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