By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings without mistletoe:
• Amazing how good players are without playing a down of college football.
• Translation: Tis the season for recruiting superlatives baked into signings.
• Those narratives bear additional importance, though.
• There’s no better time to shine than in your first season.
• If you do, you might move on to a seemingly better program. Or if you don’t, you might move on anyway.
• The immediacy of the transfer portal leads to immediate opportunities. Or sometimes, an immediate end to playing football.
• It can be a crap shoot with high stakes but the number of participants continues to soar.
• I notice high school standouts who sign with major-college programs out of state and wonder if they might return to play closer to home.
• Then I slap myself. I should want them to kick butt and be a beacon for their hometowns.
• Coming off its Big 12 title, Kansas State’s rise looks to continue if you believe in recruiting grades.
• I prefer to believe in player development.
• Is K-State still a developmental program?
• Few teams in the country collect stars (recruiting or real) like Alabama, which faces K-State in the Sugar Bowl.
• The Wildcats have often struggled in bowl matchups against teams filled with high-rated talent.
• Chris Klieman, however, provides K-State a fighter’s chance based on success against top 10 opponents.
• Still, if Bama brings its best, and it sounds like it will, the matchup favors the Crimson Tide.
• If the Cats win, who would be the bowl MVP?
• Howard? Deuce? King Felix? Adrian Martinez in a cameo role?
• Would Klieman get a chewing gum endorsement?
• Or a hefty raise in addition to his contractual bonuses?
• I’ll stay off Bourbon Street, but I have bourbon at home.
• The Sugar Bowl falls on New Year’s Eve, so the outcome might not matter in terms of what gets poured.
• A morning lead-in to the two CFP seminal games is cool, yet odd for what is often a prime-time event in New Orleans.
• Will they serve Folger’s Crystals at Arnaud’s with breakfast?
• 1983 TV commercials for $200, Alex.
• K-State would have been seeded ninth against Tennessee if a 12-team playoff happened this year.
• The winner would take on top-seeded Georgia.
• One advantage to a larger playoff field is it permits more access.
• Not counting on the quarterfinal or semifinal rounds to be roundly competitive, however.
• CFP picks: Michigan over TCU and Georgia over Ohio State. Sorry about the chalk dust.
• Michigan to win it all.
• High of 52 predicted Wednesday in Memphis.
• Conditions could be a lot worse for Kansas at the Liberty Bowl against Arkansas.
• I’ll be in Arkansas that day. Assuming I brush up on the language, I’ll provide a report.
• Interested to see what KU makes of the month-long preparation.
• Always enjoy watching Jalon Daniels.
• Defense and special teams will be agenda items to reiterate in Lance Leipold’s third season.
• Five biggest disappointments of the NFL season:
• 1) The AFC West. That plot to overthrow the ruler sure fizzled.
• 2) Amazon. Too many broadcasters, led by Grumpy (Al Michaels) and Sleepy (Kirk Herbstreit).
• 3) DBs’ inability to catch. I know, they play defense for a reason but man, make the grab.
• 4) Replay reviews. Limit to 90 seconds. OK, 2 minutes if you must. If nothing gets resolved, play on.
• 5) QB protection/sack legalities. What constitutes a penalty? Inconsistency reigns.
• Oh, I didn’t cite referees. Either in general or by Carl Cheffers … oops, by name.
• Far too many objectionable calls are especially glaring with wagering available at the touch of a screen.
• Anyone consistently betting against the Chiefs over the course of 17 games?
• They stand 4-9-1 (.308, 31st) against the spread, which is often too generous in KC’s favor.
• And that’s with Patrick Mahomes putting up MVP numbers.
• Getting a bit late in the season for KC to correct defensive flaws. Or, for that matter, tendencies leading to turnovers and penalties.
• Who had Tommy Townsend leading the Chiefs in holding infractions?
• For some reason, I have a Washington State hoodie in my wardrobe.
• Something to do once in Pullman, I suppose.
• Been wearing it to celebrate a remarkable entertainer, Mike Leach.
• We marveled at schemes he devised, responses he provided and the two shits he didn’t give about his detractors.
• Conference play is finally approaching in college hoops.
• Based on its ongoing surge and having the best coach, KU will claim the Big 12.
• High-level parity will generate surprises.
• Jerome Tang and K-State will pull off some of those, but I’m not predicting an NCAA bid.
• My Christmas wish: Stay safe and warm.
