K-State's Joe Kassanavoid mystery solved By: Curtis Kitchen, 810whb.com senior writerKANSAS CITY, Kan. ? The mystery of Joe Kassanavoid has been solved.Through a brief online conversation, the redshirt freshman made official what many rumored for months: he is no longer part of the K-State program.“I’m going to pursue baseball back in Missouri,” Kassanavoid wrote, adding that sports will not be his only focus. “I’m back in Missouri with my daughter taking care of her! I’m enrolling in school next semester.”In a text message on Tuesday afternoon, K-State said it had “nothing on our end on either issue currently,” referring to both Kassanavoid’s status and a report that co-defensive coordinator Vic Koenning is leaving for Illinois.Kassanavoid said that he will transfer to Park university, in Parkville, Mo. ? the same institution where his sister, Jasmine, is a freshman on the volleyball and basketball teams.The Lawton, Mo.-native’s decision to leave Manhattan wraps up a turbulent beginning to his collegiate career. After waffling between a choice to pursue baseball or football, the tall flamethrower, considered a Major League Baseball pitching prospect, signed with K-State as a quarterback ? a move hailed as a small coup for former coach Ron Prince’s staff.Stuck behind future NFL QB Josh Freeman and Carson Coffman, however, Kassanavoid redshirted during the 2008 season with fellow freshman Collin Klein. After Bill Snyder replaced Prince following that year, the coach mentioned Kassanavoid in the spring as part of a competitive quarterback group vying for at least a backup role prior to the ‘09 season.On Aug. 20, however, he was arrested on misdemeanor domestic battery charges stemming from an incident at his apartment. Any and all team disciplinary measures were handled internally.The incident a month behind him, Kassanavoid found three minutes as third-string quarterback to close out the Tennessee Tech game. But, unable to move past Coffman or transfer starter Grant Gregory, the 6’5”, 239-lb. Kassanavoid asked for a switch and was moved to defensive end in an effort to get his size and athleticism on the field.His play was encouraging to most as he contributed immediately, forcing a crucial fourth-quarter fumble the next week against Iowa State in the Wildcats’ 24-23 win at Arrowhead Stadium.But as excitement from his ISU performance grew, Kassanavoid himself faded ? first in terms of playing time, then from the K-State sidelines. After collecting four tackles and a fumble recovery against Texas A&M, Kassanavoid earned just one assisted tackle in limited time against Colorado and Oklahoma.His name did not appear in participation reports after Norman, and his unexpected physical absence at the end of the year opened the door to speculation that he was no longer a part of the Wildcats program.That answer is now known, and the 20-year old, referencing the position change and his daughter, said the decision to leave Manhattan wasn’t as hard as some may have believed.“Sorta,” Kassanavoid wrote. “I mean it would have been tougher if I was playing quarterback and shining like high school. But I really missed my daughter and I have missed out on a lot.“I wanted to see her grow and being three hours away from her just killed me and my family. So, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. I am happy with my decision because my baby girl makes me happy.”
Can we pick up someone else, or is the scholarship used for the entire year (counting against the 85) Tate's wasted one? TIA
damned squirrels...crapting everywhere. rawr
I never was a fan of his. Good riddance IMO.
