Cats, 'Canes matchup in '11,'12
Mark Janssen Sports Editor
5/3/2006 2:19:45 PM
Wildcats versus Hurricanes?
It's going to happen twice as Kansas State Senior Associate Athletics Director Jim Epps has confirmed that Kansas State and Miami of Florida will play in a home-and-home football series in 2011 and 2012.
The game will be played at the Orange Bowl on Sept. 24, 2011, and at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 8, 2012.
"It's an agreement in principle at this point, but we'll be putting the contract together in the next week," Epps said.
Miami of Florida, which KSU has never played before, won't be the only "name" school that the Wildcats will be playing in the years to come as Epps said he's been in conversation with top-half programs from the SEC, ACC, Pac-10 and Big 10 Conferences.
"Ron (Prince) wants to have one marquee game on the schedule every year," Epps said. "That could also include teams from the Mountain West Conference and Conference USA. He's been very open-minded about playing the best schools out there."
In each case, Epps said Kansas State is only considering a home-and-home contract.
What Epps has found in contacting a higher caliber opponent than in the past is that schools are scheduling games six to eight years in advance.
"Some of these schools are already booked into the early-teens," Epps said. "Trying to find an opponent from major conferences for only two years down the road is not easy. You have to get them when you can."
Future KSU Games
2007 — San Jose, Sept. 8; at Fresno State, Sept. 22
2008 — Louisiana-Lafayette, Aug. 30; Fresno State, Sept. 9
2011 — at Miami of Florida, Sept. 24
2012 — Miami of Florida, Sept. 8
