What the hell is Kitchen's problem.

[Sandstone Outcropping]

I didn't agree with the article.  I think the general theme he's hitting on, basketball isn't supported with the fervor that it was a few years ago, which is partially true, is based on a foundation of two points:

1) It's really hard to have sustained success in football and men's basketball for a prolonged period of time when you have a relatively small fan base (i.e. there are finite resources; you must split them somehow, and one side will most likely get screwed).  He mentions this.  However, I think every school makes this decision when it hits that crossroads.  And, honestly, the majority of schools pick football.  It's not unique.

2) Frank Martin is a successful coach.  I mean, for God's sakes, he's up there with Tex Winter in terms of wins during a certain time frame.  However, and I use this analogy a lot, we like the sausage (the season in retrospect), but we hate seeing how it's made (individual losses, strange lineup decisions, crazy motivational tactics, etc.).  He doesn't directly mention this.

I don't think the fans disconnect with Frank as much as they've embraced football (regardless of LHC LHC Bill Snyder).  The amount of damage that was done to the basketball program when Wefald went full throttle football in the 90's is still being corrected.  It was absolutely necessary for the university, long-term, but it did long-term harm to the basketball program.  That, combined with the dominance Kansas asserted over us for twenty years (while we did the same in football, for the most part) established a new identity for an entire generation.  And that generation now has the money.

I do agree that Frank Martin is a brand.  He transcends his program because of his personality.  What most KSU fans don't recognize is that these good players that he's recruiting are coming here for Frank and not Kansas State, for the most part.  We are relevant because Frank is a known and desired commodity.  ESPN wants to show highlights of him.  Jim Rome wants to talk about him.

I think Curtis is correct in the sense that there is going to be a tug-of-war between football and basketball in the coming years.  I think he's incorrect that it's about Frank.  I think it's because we only have so much love/money/time to go around.

Amazing analysis. Thanks Pan.

[Underdog Wildcat]

Ethical compass my ass.

It was a game during the break and the AD was selling tickets for $50 a seat.

If you want to blame anybody for the perceived lackluster atmosphere, look at the AD. Give the damn things away if you have to, just get it filled.

The lower rungs of Sec 18 were just as angered up as I've ever seen them(with a few exceptions of course).

[massofcatfan]

I'm curious, is the following statement accurate? I didn't think so.*

And, sometimes, even in a nationally prominent Baylor/K-State game’s biggest moments, the loudest cheer of this night, by far, goes to the football coach seated in the crowd just as it always does.

*(whatever "sometimes the loudest cheer goes to the football coach just as it always does" is supposed to mean)

[kougar24]

Panjandrum isn't dumb.

[Underdog Wildcat]

I'm curious, is the following statement accurate? I didn't think so.*

And, sometimes, even in a nationally prominent Baylor/K-State game’s biggest moments, the loudest cheer of this night, by far, goes to the football coach seated in the crowd just as it always does.

*(whatever "sometimes the loudest cheer goes to the football coach just as it always does" is supposed to mean)

It's BS, Sprads' trey to take lead in 2nd, and later Angel's trey to take lead were the loudest, IMO. Roars.

[michigancat]

did not read, but any story that has a few Posnaski-esque "dot dot dot" lines is big-time in my book. Well done, Curtis Kitchen.

[Kat Kid]

chum.  I say f this place.  I'm bequething PP/NN to _FAN and Powercat Posse.

Let's gagksu again and humiliate this tuck den.

[_33]

chum1 hates lebron. 

[Dugout DickStone]

I refuse to read a Kitchen article unless there are at least 2 rhetorical questions.  Someone tell me if I can click on that....

[chum1]

Let's gagksu again and humiliate this tuck den.

"goEMAW dumbass thread of the day"   

[chum1]

chum1 hates lebron. 

"goEMAW dumbass video of the day"   

[ChiComCat]

I do think we need to get more angried up.  Harder to do with success

[Trim]

I do think we need to get more angried up.  Harder to do with success

The next weeknight game is at 8 p.m.  Extra hour of anger juice.

[Cartierfor3]

I'm not entirely sure who Curtis Kitchen is. 

[CNS]

Frank just needs to hang on a few years until Bill's gone.  Then Sean will run us back into the ground and the tucks will embrace Frank fully.

[kso_FAN]

Frank Martin is the K-State brand I like the most at this point.

#frankite4life

[Cartierfor3]

Frank Martin is the K-State brand I like the most at this point.

#frankite4life

+1

[wabash909]

I do think we need to get more angried up.  Harder to do with success

The next weeknight game is at 8 p.m.  Extra hour of anger juice.

As long as there is R-A-B there will be anger.

[MakeItRain]

Frank Martin is the K-State brand I like the most at this point.

#frankite4life

[Gooch]

I do think we need to get more angried up.  Harder to do with success

The next weeknight game is at 8 p.m.  Extra hour of anger juice.

As long as there is R-A-B there will be anger.

_fan can we get a "Angriest fans in America fueled by R-A-B" shirt please.

[Trim]

I do think we need to get more angried up.  Harder to do with success

The next weeknight game is at 8 p.m.  Extra hour of anger juice.

As long as there is R-A-B there will be anger.

[EMAWzified]

[quoted]id not read, but any story that has a few Posnaski-esque "dot dot dot"[/quote]

Celine not Posnaski.

[ednksu]

I didn't agree with the article.  I think the general theme he's hitting on, basketball isn't supported with the fervor that it was a few years ago, which is partially true, is based on a foundation of two points:

1) It's really hard to have sustained success in football and men's basketball for a prolonged period of time when you have a relatively small fan base (i.e. there are finite resources; you must split them somehow, and one side will most likely get screwed).  He mentions this.  However, I think every school makes this decision when it hits that crossroads.  And, honestly, the majority of schools pick football.  It's not unique.

2) Frank Martin is a successful coach.  I mean, for God's sakes, he's up there with Tex Winter in terms of wins during a certain time frame.  However, and I use this analogy a lot, we like the sausage (the season in retrospect), but we hate seeing how it's made (individual losses, strange lineup decisions, crazy motivational tactics, etc.).  He doesn't directly mention this.

I don't think the fans disconnect with Frank as much as they've embraced football (regardless of LHC Bill Snyder).  The amount of damage that was done to the basketball program when Wefald went full throttle football in the 90's is still being corrected.  It was absolutely necessary for the university, long-term, but it did long-term harm to the basketball program.  That, combined with the dominance Kansas asserted over us for twenty years (while we did the same in football, for the most part) established a new identity for an entire generation.  And that generation now has the money.

I do agree that Frank Martin is a brand.  He transcends his program because of his personality.  What most KSU fans don't recognize is that these good players that he's recruiting are coming here for Frank and not Kansas State, for the most part.  We are relevant because Frank is a known and desired commodity.  ESPN wants to show highlights of him.  Jim Rome wants to talk about him.

I think Curtis is correct in the sense that there is going to be a tug-of-war between football and basketball in the coming years.  I think he's incorrect that it's about Frank.  I think it's because we only have so much love/money/time to go around.

Good post.  To dovetail about the brand coach v. brand school look at some of the bluest of blue bloods fighting that battle. Kentucky was running coaches out to get a brand coach to rehab their brand school, coach Cal obviously. 

I wonder how much the enthusiasm has dropped for Frank not because of his fault but because he came in so high with the amazing recruiting class of MB and essentially BW.  That first year and really second year was an incredibly tough act to follow.

[wabash909]

Anger.

[MakeItRain]

Anger.