Congratulations to Joshua Lindsey of Salina, the Week 17 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!

Joshua, who scored 15 of 15 points, wins four&nbsp;tickets to the Nitro Monster Trucks Saturday at Tony's Pizza Events Center.

Although the season is underway, you still have time to win!

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!

Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662062091203.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to Joshua Lindsey of Salina, the Week 17 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!Joshua, who scored 15 of 15 points, wins four&nbsp;tickets to the Nitro Monster Trucks Saturday at Tony's Pizza Events Center.Although the season is underway, you still have time to win!<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

Gridiron Glory: Congratulations Joshua Lindsey!

MANHATTAN, Kan.—Kansas State junior running back Deuce Vaughn has officially entered the 2023 NFL Draft in an announcement he released via Twitter.

"First and foremost I want to thank God for blessing me with the ability to play this game and the platform to inspire,"&nbsp;Vaughn said. "Kansas State University is a special place and I am honored to have represented the Powercat over the past three years."

"To all of my teammates over the years, y'all are my brothers and have impacted my life in a way that i will never forget. I am not the person I am today without y'all. We have a bond that can never be broken and relationships that will last a lifetime.

"To my coaches and support staff, you believed in an undersized kid coming out of high school and for that I am forever grateful. Not only have I learned so much about this game but also what it means to be a man. i am blessed to have been a part of a culture that will win championships for years to come.

"To the best fans in the country, I can't thank you enough for the support throughout my journey here at K-State. The love y'all give to not only myself but this program does not go unnoticed. The impact you all have had on my life is hard to put into words, all I can say is I am so thankful.

"With that being said after much thought and consideration, I have decided to forego my senior season and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. I am excited to embark on this next chapter of my career and chase my life long dream."

Vaughn leaves Kansas State with 3604 career rushing yards, 34 rushing touchdowns, 1280 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658248339751.jpeg" alt="KSU fball Vaughn to declare for 2023 NFL Draft" />
 <figcaption>KSU fball Vaughn to declare for 2023 NFL Draft</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan.—Kansas State junior running back Deuce Vaughn has officially entered the 2023 NFL Draft in an announcement he released via Twitter."First and foremost I want to thank God for blessing me with the ability to play this game and the platform to inspire,"&nbsp;Vaughn said. "Kansas State University is a special place and I am honored to have represented the Powercat over the past three years.""To all of my teammates over the years, y'all are my brothers and have impacted my life in a way that i will never forget. I am not the person I am today without y'all. We have a bond that can never be broken and relationships that will last a lifetime."To my coaches and support staff, you believed in an undersized kid coming out of high school and for that I am forever grateful. Not only have I learned so much about this game but also what it means to be a man. i am blessed to have been a part of a culture that will win championships for years to come."To the best fans in the country, I can't thank you enough for the support throughout my journey here at K-State. The love y'all give to not only myself but this program does not go unnoticed. The impact you all have had on my life is hard to put into words, all I can say is I am so thankful."With that being said after much thought and consideration, I have decided to forego my senior season and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. I am excited to embark on this next chapter of my career and chase my life long dream."Vaughn leaves Kansas State with 3604 career rushing yards, 34 rushing touchdowns, 1280 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

🏈 FB: Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn declares for 2023 NFL Draft

The Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors has announced the East and West teams for the 2023 Kansas Shrine Bowl. 

These players have been invited to participate in the 50th&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl Presented by Mammoth to be played at Lewis Field Stadium, Fort Hays State University in Hays at 7 p.m. on July 15.&nbsp;

The 2023 head coaches, as selected by votes from the 2022 coaching staff, trainers, managers, and camp directors are Blue Valley Northwest’s Clint Rider for the East and Hays High’s Tony Crough for the West.

Players are selected each year by a combination of media votes and selections from the Kansas Shrine Bowl Coaching Staff. Players must be nominated by their high school coach or athletic director. The players selected to the 2023 Kansas Shrine Bowl join the just over 3,000 players who have participated in the annual event since 1974.

&nbsp;“This is an incredibly impressive group of young men,” said B.J. Harris, executive director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. “These players and coaches now have a wonderful opportunity ahead of them, one that is sure to have a lasting impact on their life.”

“There’s a lot of good players out there and we feel like we were able to get some of the best in the state,” said West Head Coach Tony Crough. “We’re confident we have the guys that will represent the West really well.”

“These guys have been unbelievable players for their teams, and I know it&nbsp;means so much for them to be able to play in this game,” said East Head Coach Clint Rider. “We’re excited about the East Squad and the opportunity we have to compete in July.”

The Assistant coaches for the East team are&nbsp;Lorne Clark (6A – Olathe Northwest), Josh Lattimer (5A – Pittsburg), Weston Moody (4A – Wamego), Bill Arnold (3A – Hayden Catholic), Michael Glatczak (2A – Nemaha Central) and Kyle Schenk (1A – St. Marys).

Assistant coaches for the West team are Joe Schartz (6A – Manhattan), Mark Sandbo (5A – Salina Central), Jace Pavlovich (4A – McPherson), Marc Henry (3A – Clay Center), Tanner Hageman (2A – Kingman), and Matt Biehler (1A – Conway Springs).&nbsp;&nbsp;

Following are the rosters for the East and West teams.

Kansas Shrine BowlThe Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors has announced the East and West teams for the 2023 Kansas Shrine Bowl. These players have been invited to participate in the 50th&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl Presented by Mammoth to be played at Lewis Field Stadium, Fort Hays State University in Hays at 7 p.m. on July 15.&nbsp;The 2023 head coaches, as selected by votes from the 2022 coaching staff, trainers, managers, and camp directors are Blue Valley Northwest’s Clint Rider for the East and Hays High’s Tony Crough for the West.Players are selected each year by a combination of media votes and selections from the Kansas Shrine Bowl Coaching Staff. Players must be nominated by their high school coach or athletic director. The players selected to the 2023 Kansas Shrine Bowl join the just over 3,000 players who have participated in the annual event since 1974.&nbsp;“This is an incredibly impressive group of young men,” said B.J. Harris, executive director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. “These players and coaches now have a wonderful opportunity ahead of them, one that is sure to have a lasting impact on their life.”“There’s a lot of good players out there and we feel like we were able to get some of the best in the state,” said West Head Coach Tony Crough. “We’re confident we have the guys that will represent the West really well.”“These guys have been unbelievable players for their teams, and I know it&nbsp;means so much for them to be able to play in this game,” said East Head Coach Clint Rider. “We’re excited about the East Squad and the opportunity we have to compete in July.”The Assistant coaches for the East team are&nbsp;Lorne Clark (6A – Olathe Northwest), Josh Lattimer (5A – Pittsburg), Weston Moody (4A – Wamego), Bill Arnold (3A – Hayden Catholic), Michael Glatczak (2A – Nemaha Central) and Kyle Schenk (1A – St. Marys).Assistant coaches for the West team are Joe Schartz (6A – Manhattan), Mark Sandbo (5A – Salina Central), Jace Pavlovich (4A – McPherson), Marc Henry (3A – Clay Center), Tanner Hageman (2A – Kingman), and Matt Biehler (1A – Conway Springs).&nbsp;&nbsp;Following are the rosters for the East and West teams.<figure>
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Kansas Shrine Bowl announces 2023 teams

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS — Bryce Young passed for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a game that other top NFL prospects might have skipped, and No. 5 Alabama responded to an early two-score deficit with 35 straight points to defeat 11th-ranked Kansas State 45-20 in the Sugar Bowl on Saturday.

While a number of pro-bound college stars sat out bowl games that were not part of the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide and Wildcats had their best prospects on the field and making a number of memorable plays — from Young's pivotal passes, to Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn's 88-yard touchdown run to interceptions by Alabama's Jordan Battle and Brian Branch.

Young was substituted out during a series in the fourth quarter, raising his right hand to Alabama fans who loudly rose to their feet as the former Heisman Trophy winner trotted to the sideline.

Jermaine Burton caught three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown for Alabama (11-2). Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 142 yards from scrimmage — 76 rushing and 66 receiving. Young's other touchdowns went to Isaiah Bond (6 yards), Cameron Latu (1 yard), Ja'Corey Brooks (32 yards) and Kobe Prentice (47 yards). Jase McClelland added a 17-yard scoring run.

Kansas State (10-4) entered its first Sugar Bowl on a four-game winning streak and was riding high after knocking off No. 3 TCU — a CFP team — in the Big 12 title game.

While Battle's leaping interception of Will Howard ended K-State's opening drive on the Alabama 21, the Wildcats scored the Sugar Bowl's first 10 points, surging in front on Ty Zentner's 41-yard field goal and Vaughn's long run.

Alabama was on the brink of punting a third time when Young, on third and 10, stepped up in a collapsing pocket and flicked a short pass to Gibbs, who was cutting across the middle and turned up field for a 60-yard gain. Young stepped up similarly to avoid pressure on his touchdown pass to Bond shortly after.

Young threw over the top to Burton for 47 yards to setup his 1-yard scoring pass Latu that put Alabama in front for good.

Late in the first half, Kansas State drove to the Alabama 2 — converting two fourth-downs along the way — only to fail on fourth-and-goal when Howard threw out of the reach of tight end Ben Sinnott, who was breaking open after Will Anderson fell while trying to cover him.

Young needed just 51 seconds to produce another touchdown, completing passes of 12, 28 and 22 yards before hitting Burton from 12 yards out to make it 21-10 at halftime.

Kansas State paid for taking another risk when its onside kick to open the second half was recovered by Alabama, which scored shortly after on Young's 32-yard strike to Ja'Corey Brooks in the corner of the end zone.

Kansas State: The missed chance from the Alabama 2, the failed onside kick and a minus-2 turnover differential would have been tough to overcome in any game, never mind against the first team left out of the CFP. Howard finished 18-of-35 passing for 210 yards. Vaughn rushed for 133 yards on 22 carries. Jordan Schippers had a late 1-yard TD run.

Alabama: After saying all week that they were treating the Sugar Bowl like a championship game, the Crimson Tide backed it up. The narrative coming in was that Alabama doesn't get up for low-stakes bowl games, having lost by two touchdowns each in its previous two Sugar Bowl appearances that were not part of the BCS or CFP. Alabama has now won 10 Sugar Bowls in 17 appearances.

Kansas State: Opens its 2023 campaign at home against Southeast Missouri on Sept. 2.

Alabama: Hosts Middle Tennessee on Sept. 2 to begin its 2023 season.

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports WriterNEW ORLEANS — Bryce Young passed for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a game that other top NFL prospects might have skipped, and No. 5 Alabama responded to an early two-score deficit with 35 straight points to defeat 11th-ranked Kansas State 45-20 in the Sugar Bowl on Saturday.While a number of pro-bound college stars sat out bowl games that were not part of the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide and Wildcats had their best prospects on the field and making a number of memorable plays — from Young's pivotal passes, to Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn's 88-yard touchdown run to interceptions by Alabama's Jordan Battle and Brian Branch.Young was substituted out during a series in the fourth quarter, raising his right hand to Alabama fans who loudly rose to their feet as the former Heisman Trophy winner trotted to the sideline.Jermaine Burton caught three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown for Alabama (11-2). Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 142 yards from scrimmage — 76 rushing and 66 receiving. Young's other touchdowns went to Isaiah Bond (6 yards), Cameron Latu (1 yard), Ja'Corey Brooks (32 yards) and Kobe Prentice (47 yards). Jase McClelland added a 17-yard scoring run.Kansas State (10-4) entered its first Sugar Bowl on a four-game winning streak and was riding high after knocking off No. 3 TCU — a CFP team — in the Big 12 title game.While Battle's leaping interception of Will Howard ended K-State's opening drive on the Alabama 21, the Wildcats scored the Sugar Bowl's first 10 points, surging in front on Ty Zentner's 41-yard field goal and Vaughn's long run.Alabama was on the brink of punting a third time when Young, on third and 10, stepped up in a collapsing pocket and flicked a short pass to Gibbs, who was cutting across the middle and turned up field for a 60-yard gain. Young stepped up similarly to avoid pressure on his touchdown pass to Bond shortly after.Young threw over the top to Burton for 47 yards to setup his 1-yard scoring pass Latu that put Alabama in front for good.Late in the first half, Kansas State drove to the Alabama 2 — converting two fourth-downs along the way — only to fail on fourth-and-goal when Howard threw out of the reach of tight end Ben Sinnott, who was breaking open after Will Anderson fell while trying to cover him.That missed chance proved costly.Young needed just 51 seconds to produce another touchdown, completing passes of 12, 28 and 22 yards before hitting Burton from 12 yards out to make it 21-10 at halftime.Kansas State paid for taking another risk when its onside kick to open the second half was recovered by Alabama, which scored shortly after on Young's 32-yard strike to Ja'Corey Brooks in the corner of the end zone.THE TAKEAWAYKansas State: The missed chance from the Alabama 2, the failed onside kick and a minus-2 turnover differential would have been tough to overcome in any game, never mind against the first team left out of the CFP. Howard finished 18-of-35 passing for 210 yards. Vaughn rushed for 133 yards on 22 carries. Jordan Schippers had a late 1-yard TD run.Alabama: After saying all week that they were treating the Sugar Bowl like a championship game, the Crimson Tide backed it up. The narrative coming in was that Alabama doesn't get up for low-stakes bowl games, having lost by two touchdowns each in its previous two Sugar Bowl appearances that were not part of the BCS or CFP. Alabama has now won 10 Sugar Bowls in 17 appearances.UP NEXTKansas State: Opens its 2023 campaign at home against Southeast Missouri on Sept. 2.Alabama: Hosts Middle Tennessee on Sept. 2 to begin its 2023 season.

Young throws for 5 TDs, Alabama tops K-State in Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Alabama coach Nick Saban gave his players a history lesson after they learned they'd been left out of the College Football Playoff and would instead meet Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.

The last two times the Crimson Tide played in New Orleans on the heels of similar disappointments, it didn't go well.

“That was kind of the first thing that coach Saban discussed” when bowl practices commenced earlier this month, Alabama offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. said. “The attitude of this team has been completely opposite of the attitude that he explained that those teams had."

The 2008 Crimson Tide was favored against Utah in the Sugar Bowl that season, but lost by two touchdowns. The 2013 squad was favored in the Sugar Bowl, too, but lost — again, by two touchdowns — to Oklahoma.

This time, No. 5 Alabama (10-2) heads into Saturday's game favored by 6 1/2 points over No. 11 and Big 12 champion Kansas State (10-3), according to&nbsp;<a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/">Fanduel Sportsbook</a>.

“We’ve been really focused. We’ve been doing extra lifts, extra sprints after practice, extra film, just treating this game like it’s our championship,” Ekiyor said. “I’m really excited to see how we perform because I know we put a lot into it.”

The Wildcats have expressed similar sentiments heading into the first game ever played between the programs.

“Growing up, I always looked at Alabama as the best program in college football history,” Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah said. “So, it’s a dream come true and an honor the play them.”

Kansas State lost three of its first nine games, but arrived in New Orleans on a four-game winning streak — including a dramatic overtime victory over No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 title game — that has put the Wildcats in position to make this season among the most memorable in program history.

“Not many people expected Kansas State to be in this position this year,” Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said. “We have a number of kids that are going to have opportunities to play at the next level, but we haven’t had a kid on our football team that’s had an opportunity to play in the Sugar Bowl, and to play in a New Year’s Six game. That’s really special.”

Alabama has played in the national title game or CFP semifinal in all but three of the past 14 seasons. So Saban has to guard against let-downs when his team enters bowl season outside the national title picture.

“It’s more challenging when that’s sort of a goal for what the players work for all year long and came up short,” Saban said. “But I think that our players have had the right disposition and the right mindset."

While many non-playoff bowl games that have seen high-profile NFL draft prospects opt out,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-kansas-state-wildcats-alabama-crimson-tide-99ec6d8ef5bd5f8f8e940ad9a2a15bf7">the best players for Alabama and Kansas State were expected to suit up for the Sugar Bowl</a>.

Quarterback Bryce Young, a 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and first 'Bama QB to pass for 3,000-plus yards in consecutive seasons, is among those planning to play, along with Crimson Tide All-America edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn and Wildcats defensive end Anudike-Uzomah.

“The best thing you can do to create value for your future is to play really well against really good teams,” Saban said. “I’m very pleased that they chose to do this.”

Saban said that when players say they're opting out to prepare for the draft, they really mean the NFL Combine.

“A lot of things you do at the combine are irrelevant to what you do playing football,” Saban asserted, citing seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, "who didn’t run fast at the combine, didn’t jump high, didn’t bench press a lot, didn’t do all of the things that they measure ... but he can play quarterback."

Klieman said Kansas State's top players “weren’t going to let their teammates down, and it was never even a conversation that we even had to have. I never asked anybody, ‘Are you going to play in this game?’”

Kansas State season-opening starting QB Adrian Martinez is ready to return from a Nov. 12 injury, but Will Howard is slated to remain in his recent role as starter.

Kansas State is 5-1 in games when Howard has had to step in. Howard has gone 4-0 as a starter, including in the Big 12 title game against TCU. K-State went 1-1 when Howard came off the bench.

“Will Howard is ready for this stage,” Klieman said, but also indicated that there would be a package of plays for Martinez.

“Both of those two quarterbacks have helped us win that (conference) championship,” Klieman said. “They’ve become really, really good friends, and excited to see both of those guys on this big stage.”

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Alabama coach Nick Saban gave his players a history lesson after they learned they'd been left out of the College Football Playoff and would instead meet Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.The last two times the Crimson Tide played in New Orleans on the heels of similar disappointments, it didn't go well.“That was kind of the first thing that coach Saban discussed” when bowl practices commenced earlier this month, Alabama offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. said. “The attitude of this team has been completely opposite of the attitude that he explained that those teams had."The 2008 Crimson Tide was favored against Utah in the Sugar Bowl that season, but lost by two touchdowns. The 2013 squad was favored in the Sugar Bowl, too, but lost — again, by two touchdowns — to Oklahoma.This time, No. 5 Alabama (10-2) heads into Saturday's game favored by 6 1/2 points over No. 11 and Big 12 champion Kansas State (10-3), according to&nbsp;<a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/">Fanduel Sportsbook</a>.“We’ve been really focused. We’ve been doing extra lifts, extra sprints after practice, extra film, just treating this game like it’s our championship,” Ekiyor said. “I’m really excited to see how we perform because I know we put a lot into it.”The Wildcats have expressed similar sentiments heading into the first game ever played between the programs.“Growing up, I always looked at Alabama as the best program in college football history,” Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah said. “So, it’s a dream come true and an honor the play them.”MENTAL GAMESKansas State lost three of its first nine games, but arrived in New Orleans on a four-game winning streak — including a dramatic overtime victory over No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 title game — that has put the Wildcats in position to make this season among the most memorable in program history.“Not many people expected Kansas State to be in this position this year,” Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said. “We have a number of kids that are going to have opportunities to play at the next level, but we haven’t had a kid on our football team that’s had an opportunity to play in the Sugar Bowl, and to play in a New Year’s Six game. That’s really special.”Alabama has played in the national title game or CFP semifinal in all but three of the past 14 seasons. So Saban has to guard against let-downs when his team enters bowl season outside the national title picture.“It’s more challenging when that’s sort of a goal for what the players work for all year long and came up short,” Saban said. “But I think that our players have had the right disposition and the right mindset."STAR POWERWhile many non-playoff bowl games that have seen high-profile NFL draft prospects opt out,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-kansas-state-wildcats-alabama-crimson-tide-99ec6d8ef5bd5f8f8e940ad9a2a15bf7">the best players for Alabama and Kansas State were expected to suit up for the Sugar Bowl</a>.Quarterback Bryce Young, a 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and first 'Bama QB to pass for 3,000-plus yards in consecutive seasons, is among those planning to play, along with Crimson Tide All-America edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn and Wildcats defensive end Anudike-Uzomah.“The best thing you can do to create value for your future is to play really well against really good teams,” Saban said. “I’m very pleased that they chose to do this.”Saban said that when players say they're opting out to prepare for the draft, they really mean the NFL Combine.“A lot of things you do at the combine are irrelevant to what you do playing football,” Saban asserted, citing seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, "who didn’t run fast at the combine, didn’t jump high, didn’t bench press a lot, didn’t do all of the things that they measure ... but he can play quarterback."Klieman said Kansas State's top players “weren’t going to let their teammates down, and it was never even a conversation that we even had to have. I never asked anybody, ‘Are you going to play in this game?’”QB OPTIONSKansas State season-opening starting QB Adrian Martinez is ready to return from a Nov. 12 injury, but Will Howard is slated to remain in his recent role as starter.Kansas State is 5-1 in games when Howard has had to step in. Howard has gone 4-0 as a starter, including in the Big 12 title game against TCU. K-State went 1-1 when Howard came off the bench.“Will Howard is ready for this stage,” Klieman said, but also indicated that there would be a package of plays for Martinez.“Both of those two quarterbacks have helped us win that (conference) championship,” Klieman said. “They’ve become really, really good friends, and excited to see both of those guys on this big stage.”

K-State meets Alabama in the Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In an age of opt outs in college football, the best NFL prospects for Alabama and Kansas State are opting in at the Sugar Bowl.

Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. have high-first-round draft grades and could have minimized exposure to injury by sitting out Saturday's game in the Superdome.

For Kansas State, standout players including running back Deuce Vaughn and defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah are risking their draft stock as well.

They say they have weighed the competing factors carefully and the benefits of playing won out.

“I love this program,” Young said. "I see how hard we work as a group, how much we pour into this and how much this means to us — how much it means to me. And it was easy.

“As a leader, I feel like it was important to me to make sure that we finish this year,” Young added. “With there being no opt-outs on both of the teams, I think that speaks to both of the programs.”

This season, as much as any other, opt-outs have been a common theme across games not tied into the four-team College Football Playoff, which this year are the Fiesta and Peach bowls.

Tennessee will be missin top receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman and linebacker Jeremy Banks in Friday night's Orange Bowl against Clemson, which will be without top defensive end Myles Murphy.

Kentucky will play the Music City Bowl without quarterback Will Levis and running back Chris Rodriguez. Texas was without 1,580-yard rusher Bijan Robinson in Thursday night's Alamo Bowl against Washington. LSU will play the Citrus Bowl without edge rusher BJ Ojulari and receiver Kayshon Boutte.

All of those players have turned their attention to NFL draft preparations rather than exposing themselves to injury in one final college game.

Anudike-Uzomah said he and Vaughn never considered missing the Sugar Bowl, arguably the highest-profile postseason game for Kansas State in a decade.

“We worked so hard for this team, why would we just leave it, honestly? Just go finish it,” Anudike-Uzomah said. "It took us three years really to do this, me and Deuce. And it’s just been a dream come true.

“Growing up, I always looked at Alabama as the best program in college football history. So, it’s a dream come true and an honor the play them, honestly,” Anudike-Uzomah added. “I’m not going to lie; I never thought I would be in the Sugar Bowl.”

Anderson, along with fellow pro prospects on Alabama’s defense such as linebacker Henry To’oto’o and safety Jordan Battle, essentially said they would have felt like hypocrites had they opted out.

All season they had preached the importance of living up the “Alabama standard.” So, shortly after beating Auburn, seniors and other draft-eligible leaders made a pact that they would go out together in a bowl game.

“If you want to go out the right way and you want to be legendary, you want people to remember you by doing something good, this is how you do it,” Anderson said. He said he felt he was showing younger Alabama players “the right thing to do.”

In other words, the college team that, year-after-year, fields as many NFL caliber players as any is fostering an anti-opt-out culture. It's made an impression on younger Alabama players like sophomore defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Anderson's decision to play “made me feel even more confident about the guy that I already thought he was,” McKinstry said. “I feel like I'll make the same decision” should he end up facing a similar choice.

Young has not yet declared for the next NFL draft but is widely expected to do so. He was watching the Sugar Bowl a year ago when Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral was helped off of the field after injuring his ankle.

After finishing seventh in voting for the 2021 Heisman Trophy, which Young won that season, Corral was largely seen as a second-round NFL prospect. Carolina selected him 94th overall, at the end of the third round.

“Everything that happens happens for a reason," said Young, emphasizing that his faith in God also influenced his decision to play. "I know what happened (to Corral). I understand what happened. But again, I walk by faith.”

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In an age of opt outs in college football, the best NFL prospects for Alabama and Kansas State are opting in at the Sugar Bowl.Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. have high-first-round draft grades and could have minimized exposure to injury by sitting out Saturday's game in the Superdome.For Kansas State, standout players including running back Deuce Vaughn and defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah are risking their draft stock as well.They say they have weighed the competing factors carefully and the benefits of playing won out.“I love this program,” Young said. "I see how hard we work as a group, how much we pour into this and how much this means to us — how much it means to me. And it was easy.“As a leader, I feel like it was important to me to make sure that we finish this year,” Young added. “With there being no opt-outs on both of the teams, I think that speaks to both of the programs.”This season, as much as any other, opt-outs have been a common theme across games not tied into the four-team College Football Playoff, which this year are the Fiesta and Peach bowls.Tennessee will be missin top receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman and linebacker Jeremy Banks in Friday night's Orange Bowl against Clemson, which will be without top defensive end Myles Murphy.Kentucky will play the Music City Bowl without quarterback Will Levis and running back Chris Rodriguez. Texas was without 1,580-yard rusher Bijan Robinson in Thursday night's Alamo Bowl against Washington. LSU will play the Citrus Bowl without edge rusher BJ Ojulari and receiver Kayshon Boutte.All of those players have turned their attention to NFL draft preparations rather than exposing themselves to injury in one final college game.Anudike-Uzomah said he and Vaughn never considered missing the Sugar Bowl, arguably the highest-profile postseason game for Kansas State in a decade.“We worked so hard for this team, why would we just leave it, honestly? Just go finish it,” Anudike-Uzomah said. "It took us three years really to do this, me and Deuce. And it’s just been a dream come true.“Growing up, I always looked at Alabama as the best program in college football history. So, it’s a dream come true and an honor the play them, honestly,” Anudike-Uzomah added. “I’m not going to lie; I never thought I would be in the Sugar Bowl.”Anderson, along with fellow pro prospects on Alabama’s defense such as linebacker Henry To’oto’o and safety Jordan Battle, essentially said they would have felt like hypocrites had they opted out.All season they had preached the importance of living up the “Alabama standard.” So, shortly after beating Auburn, seniors and other draft-eligible leaders made a pact that they would go out together in a bowl game.“If you want to go out the right way and you want to be legendary, you want people to remember you by doing something good, this is how you do it,” Anderson said. He said he felt he was showing younger Alabama players “the right thing to do.”In other words, the college team that, year-after-year, fields as many NFL caliber players as any is fostering an anti-opt-out culture. It's made an impression on younger Alabama players like sophomore defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry.Anderson's decision to play “made me feel even more confident about the guy that I already thought he was,” McKinstry said. “I feel like I'll make the same decision” should he end up facing a similar choice.Young has not yet declared for the next NFL draft but is widely expected to do so. He was watching the Sugar Bowl a year ago when Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral was helped off of the field after injuring his ankle.After finishing seventh in voting for the 2021 Heisman Trophy, which Young won that season, Corral was largely seen as a second-round NFL prospect. Carolina selected him 94th overall, at the end of the third round.“Everything that happens happens for a reason," said Young, emphasizing that his faith in God also influenced his decision to play. "I know what happened (to Corral). I understand what happened. But again, I walk by faith.”

Top prospects will play in the Sugar Bowl

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — KJ Jefferson passed to Rashod Dubinion for a 2-point conversion in the third overtime and Arkansas held off a furious second-half rally by Kansas for a 55-53 win the Liberty Bowl. The Jayhawks had rallied from 25 points down in the second half to force overtime, but a failed on a 2-point conversion pass from Jason Bean to Lawrence Arnold ended a four-and-a-half hour bowl marathon. Jefferson passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and two more scores to lead the Razorbacks. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels passed for 544 yards and five touchdowns. He set Liberty Bowl records for passing yards, touchdown passes, completions (37) and total TDs scored (6).

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — KJ Jefferson passed to Rashod Dubinion for a 2-point conversion in the third overtime and Arkansas held off a furious second-half rally by Kansas for a 55-53 win the Liberty Bowl. The Jayhawks had rallied from 25 points down in the second half to force overtime, but a failed on a 2-point conversion pass from Jason Bean to Lawrence Arnold ended a four-and-a-half hour bowl marathon. Jefferson passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and two more scores to lead the Razorbacks. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels passed for 544 yards and five touchdowns. He set Liberty Bowl records for passing yards, touchdown passes, completions (37) and total TDs scored (6).

Jayhawks fall in triple overtime in the Liberty Bowl

Congratulations to Kevin Sander of Salina, the Week 16 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!

Kevin, who scored 14 of 16 points, wins $100.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662062091203.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to Kevin Sander of Salina, the Week 16 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!Kevin, who scored 14 of 16 points, wins $100.Although the season is underway, you still have time to win!<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

Gridiron Glory: Congratulations Kevin Sander!

MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;Jason Mansfield, who has been a part of seven NCAA Final Fours and one national championship during stints at Stanford and Washington, has been named the ninth head volleyball coach at Kansas State, Athletics Director Gene Taylor announced today. Mansfield, who has spent the past five seasons at Washington, will be formally introduced at a press conference next week. More details will be announced soon. “We are very excited to welcome Jason and his family to Manhattan and the Wildcat Volleyball family,” Taylor said. “The search for our new head coach drew significant interest from all over the country, and we feel Jason is the perfect fit to lead us. His championship pedigree, emphasis on team culture and building relationships – both inside a program and on the recruiting circuit – are what set him apart from other candidates. I know he is excited to get started, and I cannot wait for our student-athletes and all of Wildcat Nation to meet him.” One of the most experienced and accomplished assistant coaches in the country, Mansfield has mentored a total of 25 individual players that have earned 65 All-America honors during his 20 years of coaching and has coached five athletes that have gone on to compete in the Olympic Games for Team USA.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;Jason Mansfield, who has been a part of seven NCAA Final Fours and one national championship during stints at Stanford and Washington, has been named the ninth head volleyball coach at Kansas State, Athletics Director Gene Taylor announced today. Mansfield, who has spent the past five seasons at Washington, will be formally introduced at a press conference next week. More details will be announced soon. “We are very excited to welcome Jason and his family to Manhattan and the Wildcat Volleyball family,” Taylor said. “The search for our new head coach drew significant interest from all over the country, and we feel Jason is the perfect fit to lead us. His championship pedigree, emphasis on team culture and building relationships – both inside a program and on the recruiting circuit – are what set him apart from other candidates. I know he is excited to get started, and I cannot wait for our student-athletes and all of Wildcat Nation to meet him.” One of the most experienced and accomplished assistant coaches in the country, Mansfield has mentored a total of 25 individual players that have earned 65 All-America honors during his 20 years of coaching and has coached five athletes that have gone on to compete in the Olympic Games for Team USA.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jason Mansfield Named Head Volleyball Coach at KSU

A winning record is on the line in a rare showdown between neighbors Kansas and Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl at 4:30 p.m. CST Wednesday.. 

This is the first bowl game for Kansas since 2008, when the Jayhawks routed Minnesota in the Insight Bowl in Arizona. This is just the Jayhawks’ 13th bowl game ever and second time playing in the Liberty Bowl. Arkansas is playing its second straight bowl under coach Sam Pittman and 44th in program history. The Razorbacks are familiar with the Liberty Bowl, having played in it six times. The last was in 2016 in a rout of Kansas State.

A winning record is on the line in a rare showdown between neighbors Kansas and Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl at 4:30 p.m. CST Wednesday.. This is the first bowl game for Kansas since 2008, when the Jayhawks routed Minnesota in the Insight Bowl in Arizona. This is just the Jayhawks’ 13th bowl game ever and second time playing in the Liberty Bowl. Arkansas is playing its second straight bowl under coach Sam Pittman and 44th in program history. The Razorbacks are familiar with the Liberty Bowl, having played in it six times. The last was in 2016 in a rout of Kansas State.

KU plays Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday with two games left in the season.

Owner and CEO Greg Penner said he'll lead the search for a new coach with assistance from GM George Paton, in whom he expressed confidence while announcing&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1607432324152426496?s=20&amp;t=ptRR7Kbi9InGOMA4jA3oYw">Hackett's dismissal</a>.

Firing Hackett with two games left in a lost season allows Penner to begin his search for a replacement immediately.

The Broncos scheduled a news conference for Tuesday, when they're expected to name their interim head coach for games at Kansas City next weekend and at home against the Chargers in Week 18.

The Walton-Penner group purchased the Broncos for $4.65 billion last summer, a global record for a professional sports franchise, and Rob Walton said after the league’s approval that he aimed to make the Broncos perennial championship contenders again.

On Sunday, the Broncos (4-11) were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-los-angeles-rams-sean-mcvay-nfl-sports-996b45d21f8886479127cf5af82199b6">blown out by the equally downtrodden Los Angeles Rams 51-14</a>&nbsp;when Russell Wilson threw three interceptions and was sacked six times. The game featured a sideline spat between backup QB Brett Rypien and guard Dalton Risner, and pass rusher Randy Gregory threw a punch at a Rams player after the game.

In a statement Monday, Penner thanked Hackett for his dedication but said that “following extensive conversations with George and our ownership group, we determined a new direction would ultimately be in the best interest of the Broncos. This change was made now out of respect for everyone involved and allows us to immediately begin the search for a new head coach.”

Penner said that “moving forward, we will carefully evaluate every aspect of our football operations and make whatever changes are necessary to restore this franchise’s winning tradition.”

Hackett replaced Vic Fangio last January but hasn’t been able to build an offense suitable to Wilson, who recently turned 34.

Hackett is the third NFL head coach fired during the 2022 season. The Carolina Panthers replaced Matt Rhule with interim head coach Steve Wilks and the Indianapolis Colts fired Frank Reich and replaced him with coaching novice Jeff Saturday.

Many fans thought the Broncos hired Hackett away from the Green Bay Packers, where he was offensive coordinator, to help them land quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Rodgers decided to re-up with the Packers and the Broncos instead traded for Wilson, who was seen as still in his prime.

Wilson, however, has had an awful first season in Denver after the Broncos sent four premium draft picks and three players to Seattle for the nine-time Pro Bowler. Wilson has 12 touchdown passes with nine interceptions and 49 sacks in 13 starts and has been unable to snap out of a season-long funk.

He is 3-10 as Denver's starter and has missed games with a pulled hamstring and a concussion.

He routinely has ignored open receivers underneath to try for deep throws and he has shown a noticeable dip in his ability to escape from pass rushers this season.

The Broncos have missed the playoffs seven straight seasons and extended their string of losing records to six.

They will try to snap a 14-game losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and beat Patrick Mahomes for the first time in 11 tries.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday with two games left in the season.Owner and CEO Greg Penner said he'll lead the search for a new coach with assistance from GM George Paton, in whom he expressed confidence while announcing&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1607432324152426496?s=20&amp;t=ptRR7Kbi9InGOMA4jA3oYw">Hackett's dismissal</a>.Firing Hackett with two games left in a lost season allows Penner to begin his search for a replacement immediately.The Broncos scheduled a news conference for Tuesday, when they're expected to name their interim head coach for games at Kansas City next weekend and at home against the Chargers in Week 18.The Walton-Penner group purchased the Broncos for $4.65 billion last summer, a global record for a professional sports franchise, and Rob Walton said after the league’s approval that he aimed to make the Broncos perennial championship contenders again.On Sunday, the Broncos (4-11) were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-los-angeles-rams-sean-mcvay-nfl-sports-996b45d21f8886479127cf5af82199b6">blown out by the equally downtrodden Los Angeles Rams 51-14</a>&nbsp;when Russell Wilson threw three interceptions and was sacked six times. The game featured a sideline spat between backup QB Brett Rypien and guard Dalton Risner, and pass rusher Randy Gregory threw a punch at a Rams player after the game.In a statement Monday, Penner thanked Hackett for his dedication but said that “following extensive conversations with George and our ownership group, we determined a new direction would ultimately be in the best interest of the Broncos. This change was made now out of respect for everyone involved and allows us to immediately begin the search for a new head coach.”Penner said that “moving forward, we will carefully evaluate every aspect of our football operations and make whatever changes are necessary to restore this franchise’s winning tradition.”Hackett replaced Vic Fangio last January but hasn’t been able to build an offense suitable to Wilson, who recently turned 34.Hackett is the third NFL head coach fired during the 2022 season. The Carolina Panthers replaced Matt Rhule with interim head coach Steve Wilks and the Indianapolis Colts fired Frank Reich and replaced him with coaching novice Jeff Saturday.Many fans thought the Broncos hired Hackett away from the Green Bay Packers, where he was offensive coordinator, to help them land quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Rodgers decided to re-up with the Packers and the Broncos instead traded for Wilson, who was seen as still in his prime.Wilson, however, has had an awful first season in Denver after the Broncos sent four premium draft picks and three players to Seattle for the nine-time Pro Bowler. Wilson has 12 touchdown passes with nine interceptions and 49 sacks in 13 starts and has been unable to snap out of a season-long funk.He is 3-10 as Denver's starter and has missed games with a pulled hamstring and a concussion.He routinely has ignored open receivers underneath to try for deep throws and he has shown a noticeable dip in his ability to escape from pass rushers this season.The Broncos have missed the playoffs seven straight seasons and extended their string of losing records to six.They will try to snap a 14-game losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and beat Patrick Mahomes for the first time in 11 tries.

🏈 Broncos fire rookie head coach Hackett after 4-11 start

TV: ESPN (<a href="https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/225245fa-40ac-4a87-912d-ab016e965663" target="_blank">watch</a>)

TEAM NOTES WILDCATS HEADED TO ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL

• Fresh off a 31-28 victory over No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Big 12 Championship, Kansas State received its 24th bowl berth all time and third under head coach Chris Klieman as the ninth-ranked Wildcats will face No. 5 Alabama in the 89th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on Saturday, December 31.

• Of K-State’s 24 total bowl appearances all-time, 22 of those have come in the last 30 seasons.

• The Wildcats hold a 10-13 record in bowl games and are looking to win their fourth bowl game in their last five appearances. It would be the first time in school history the Wildcats won four bowls in five tries.

• This will mark the eighth different state in which K-State has traveled to bowl games. The most frequent are Arizona (4-Copper/Insight/Buffalo Wild Wings/Cactus, 3-Fiesta) and Texas (3-Cotton, 3-Texas, 2-Alamo).

• Kansas State is looking to turn around its fortune in the Pelican State as the Wildcats are 0-4 all-time in games played in the state of Louisiana.

• Included in that stretch is a 0-1 mark in New Orleans having lost at Tulane, 20-16, in 1988 inside the Superdome.

• K-State’s last game in the state of Louisiana came in 2009 when it lost to Louisiana, 17-15, on a last-minute field goal in Lafayette.

• Kansas State and Alabama will meet for the first time ever on the gridiron in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

• It will be just the sixth time the Wildcats have faced a team from the state Alabama, going 1-4 in the previous five games.

• The Wildcats defeated Troy at home in 2003, while they are 0-4 all-time against Auburn. The Tigers are the last team from the state of Alabama the Wildcats have faced, which came in a 20-14 setback at home in 2014.

• K-State will be playing its 139th game all-time against current members of the SEC, but 107 of those meetings were against either Missouri or Texas A&amp;M as Big Eight/12 foes.

• It marks the second-straight season the Wildcats will face an SEC team in bowl play and the fourth in the Wildcats’ last six bowl games. K-State has won each of its last two bowl meetings with SEC teams, defeating LSU in last year’s Texas Bowl (42-20) and Texas A&amp;M in the 2016 Texas Bowl (33-28).

• Under head coach Chris Klieman, Kansas State is 3-0 against SEC opponents. The Wildcats won at Mississippi State, 31-24, in 2019, defeated LSU in last year’s Texas Bowl, and took down Missouri, 40-12, earlier this season.

• In an era of college football where over 80 teams play in bowl games each year, K-State is one of just 19 Power 5 schools to advance to a bowl in 11 of the last 13 years.

• The Wildcats are one of four Big 12 teams to accomplish the feat, joining Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

• Since 1993, Kansas State has advanced to 23 bowl games, which is tied for 16th nationally and fourth in the Big 12.

• Kansas State earned its third Big 12 title with a 31-28 overtime victory over No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on December 3.

• The victory was the second for the Wildcats in a conference championship game as they took down No. 1 Oklahoma, 35-7, in 2003.

• Kansas State earned its first conference title since finishing with an 8-1 record in 2012 as there was no conference championship game conducted that year.

• It was the fourth ever conference title for the Wildcats, who also won the Big Six in 1934 with a 5-0 record.

Associate Athletics Director for Communications

Date: Saturday, December 31, 2022Kickoff: 11 a.m.Location: New Orleans, La.Stadium: Caesars Superdome (68,500)Series: First MeetingTV: ESPN (<a href="https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/225245fa-40ac-4a87-912d-ab016e965663" target="_blank">watch</a>)TEAM NOTES WILDCATS HEADED TO ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL• Fresh off a 31-28 victory over No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Big 12 Championship, Kansas State received its 24th bowl berth all time and third under head coach Chris Klieman as the ninth-ranked Wildcats will face No. 5 Alabama in the 89th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on Saturday, December 31.• Of K-State’s 24 total bowl appearances all-time, 22 of those have come in the last 30 seasons.• The Wildcats hold a 10-13 record in bowl games and are looking to win their fourth bowl game in their last five appearances. It would be the first time in school history the Wildcats won four bowls in five tries.• This will mark the eighth different state in which K-State has traveled to bowl games. The most frequent are Arizona (4-Copper/Insight/Buffalo Wild Wings/Cactus, 3-Fiesta) and Texas (3-Cotton, 3-Texas, 2-Alamo). K-STATE IN LOUISIANA• Kansas State is looking to turn around its fortune in the Pelican State as the Wildcats are 0-4 all-time in games played in the state of Louisiana.• Included in that stretch is a 0-1 mark in New Orleans having lost at Tulane, 20-16, in 1988 inside the Superdome.• K-State’s last game in the state of Louisiana came in 2009 when it lost to Louisiana, 17-15, on a last-minute field goal in Lafayette. CATS AND CRIMSON TIDE• Kansas State and Alabama will meet for the first time ever on the gridiron in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.• It will be just the sixth time the Wildcats have faced a team from the state Alabama, going 1-4 in the previous five games.• The Wildcats defeated Troy at home in 2003, while they are 0-4 all-time against Auburn. The Tigers are the last team from the state of Alabama the Wildcats have faced, which came in a 20-14 setback at home in 2014. K-STATE AND THE SEC• K-State will be playing its 139th game all-time against current members of the SEC, but 107 of those meetings were against either Missouri or Texas A&amp;M as Big Eight/12 foes.• It marks the second-straight season the Wildcats will face an SEC team in bowl play and the fourth in the Wildcats’ last six bowl games. K-State has won each of its last two bowl meetings with SEC teams, defeating LSU in last year’s Texas Bowl (42-20) and Texas A&amp;M in the 2016 Texas Bowl (33-28).• Under head coach Chris Klieman, Kansas State is 3-0 against SEC opponents. The Wildcats won at Mississippi State, 31-24, in 2019, defeated LSU in last year’s Texas Bowl, and took down Missouri, 40-12, earlier this season. BOWLING AGAIN• In an era of college football where over 80 teams play in bowl games each year, K-State is one of just 19 Power 5 schools to advance to a bowl in 11 of the last 13 years.• The Wildcats are one of four Big 12 teams to accomplish the feat, joining Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.• Since 1993, Kansas State has advanced to 23 bowl games, which is tied for 16th nationally and fourth in the Big 12.BIG 12 CHAMPS• Kansas State earned its third Big 12 title with a 31-28 overtime victory over No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on December 3.• The victory was the second for the Wildcats in a conference championship game as they took down No. 1 Oklahoma, 35-7, in 2003.• Kansas State earned its first conference title since finishing with an 8-1 record in 2012 as there was no conference championship game conducted that year.• It was the fourth ever conference title for the Wildcats, who also won the Big Six in 1934 with a 5-0 record.RYAN LACKEYAssociate Athletics Director for Communications

89th Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl will send Kansas State against Alabama

<a></a><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2022/12/21/2023_Early_Signing_Day_Release.pdf" target="_blank">Signing Day Bios</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/2023-24" target="_blank">Signing Day Roster</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22136&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">WATCH: Signing Day Recap</a>

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;announced the signing of 26 prospects during the early 2023 signing period on Wednesday.

Thus far, K-State’s Class of 2023 is comprised of 23 high school student-athletes and three community-college transfers. The class includes 15 players on defense and 11 on offense. There are six defensive backs, five linebackers, four wide receivers, three defensive ends, three offensive linemen and two tight ends, while there is one defensive tackle, one quarterback and one running back.

The 26 prospects signed are the most by the Wildcats during the early signing period since it was established for the Class of 2018. The previous high was 23 during the 2020 period.

Kansas State cast a wide net in the 2023 early signing period as 13 states are represented. It is the most states from one signing class since at least 1997. The state of Kansas leads in terms of most from one state with six, while there are three apiece from Florida and Missouri, two from the states of Arizona, Texas, Alabama and Iowa. Additionally, there is one prospect apiece from the states of Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota and Oklahoma.

One of the Sunflower State products is quarterback&nbsp;Avery Johnson, who is the consensus top player in the state of Kansas by every major recruiting service.

With the signing of&nbsp;Jack Fabris, the Wildcats have signed a player from the state of Georgia each of the last 10 years and have inked a total of 23 signees from the Peach State.

Of the 26 signees on Wednesday, 13 are expected to enroll at K-State for the 2023 spring semester. The list includes:&nbsp;Jayce Brown,&nbsp;Andre Davis,&nbsp;Collin Dunn,&nbsp;Wesley Fair,&nbsp;Avery Johnson,&nbsp;Terry Kirksey Jr.,&nbsp;Will Lee III,&nbsp;Chiddi Obiazor,&nbsp;Austin Romaine,&nbsp;Kameron Sallis,&nbsp;Trey Spivey,&nbsp;Rex Van Wyhe, and&nbsp;Wesley Watson.

Kansas State will look to add more prospects to the Class of 2023 during the regular signing period, which opens on Wednesday, February 1.

<a></a><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2022/12/21/2023_Early_Signing_Day_Release.pdf" target="_blank">Signing Day Bios</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/2023-24" target="_blank">Signing Day Roster</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22136&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">WATCH: Signing Day Recap</a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;announced the signing of 26 prospects during the early 2023 signing period on Wednesday.Thus far, K-State’s Class of 2023 is comprised of 23 high school student-athletes and three community-college transfers. The class includes 15 players on defense and 11 on offense. There are six defensive backs, five linebackers, four wide receivers, three defensive ends, three offensive linemen and two tight ends, while there is one defensive tackle, one quarterback and one running back.The 26 prospects signed are the most by the Wildcats during the early signing period since it was established for the Class of 2018. The previous high was 23 during the 2020 period.Kansas State cast a wide net in the 2023 early signing period as 13 states are represented. It is the most states from one signing class since at least 1997. The state of Kansas leads in terms of most from one state with six, while there are three apiece from Florida and Missouri, two from the states of Arizona, Texas, Alabama and Iowa. Additionally, there is one prospect apiece from the states of Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota and Oklahoma.One of the Sunflower State products is quarterback&nbsp;Avery Johnson, who is the consensus top player in the state of Kansas by every major recruiting service.With the signing of&nbsp;Jack Fabris, the Wildcats have signed a player from the state of Georgia each of the last 10 years and have inked a total of 23 signees from the Peach State.Of the 26 signees on Wednesday, 13 are expected to enroll at K-State for the 2023 spring semester. The list includes:&nbsp;Jayce Brown,&nbsp;Andre Davis,&nbsp;Collin Dunn,&nbsp;Wesley Fair,&nbsp;Avery Johnson,&nbsp;Terry Kirksey Jr.,&nbsp;Will Lee III,&nbsp;Chiddi Obiazor,&nbsp;Austin Romaine,&nbsp;Kameron Sallis,&nbsp;Trey Spivey,&nbsp;Rex Van Wyhe, and&nbsp;Wesley Watson.Kansas State will look to add more prospects to the Class of 2023 during the regular signing period, which opens on Wednesday, February 1.RYAN LACKEYAssociate Athletics Director for Communications

K-State Signs 26 During 2023 Early Period

Chase County, Neb. 42, Northern Heights 29

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=Andale 39, Garden Plain 28Andover Central 48, Salina Central 30Arapahoe, Neb. 50, Northern Valley 29Atchison 66, Horton 16Atchison County 66, Horton 16Augusta 46, Wichita Collegiate 10Axtell 38, Lyndon 34Baldwin 67, Tonganoxie 29Blue Valley 82, Linn 51Bluestem 40, Douglass 21Bucklin 60, Pawnee Heights 27Canton-Galva 54, Wakefield 38Centralia 47, Wetmore 14Chase County, Neb. 42, Northern Heights 29Clay Center 52, Concordia 27Clifton-Clyde 62, Troy 61Colby 47, Russell 17Derby 44, Maize South 35Fort Benton, Mont. 50, Olathe North 38Galena 59, Baxter Springs 24Goddard-Eisenhower 50, Newton 16Goessel 60, Peabody-Burns 5Golden Plains 39, St. Francis 27Goodland 62, Scott City 38Greeley County 52, Brewster 25Heritage Christian 47, KC Christian 31Hillsboro 52, Council Grove 13, OTHutchinson 59, Wichita Campus 14KC Piper 46, Basehor-Linwood 41Kiowa County 49, Meade 22Lawrence 62, Excelsior Springs, Mo. 26Liberal 53, Hugoton 44Little River 55, Herington 23Macksville 70, Cunningham 24Perry-Lecompton 45, Royal Valley 36Quinter 64, Hill City 26Remington 54, Chaparral 30Reno County 35, Central Christian 18Riley County 49, Beloit 21South Gray 60, Sublette 28Trego 54, Dighton 37Wellington 57, Winfield 15

Girls basketball results

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=Andale 40, Garden Plain 22Andover 70, Salina Central 32Andover Central 70, Salina Central 32Baldwin 62, Tonganoxie 35Beloit 53, Riley County 28Bishop Miege 52, Grandview, Mo. 42Blue Valley 82, Linn 51Caldwell 50, Norwich 42Centralia 65, Wetmore 34Chase County 67, Northern Heights 49Clifton-Clyde 55, Troy 44Colby 60, Russell 44Concordia 53, Clay Center, Neb. 47Council Grove 52, Hillsboro 51Douglass 50, Bluestem 30Galena 64, Baxter Springs 51Goddard-Eisenhower 60, Newton 40Golden Plains 47, St. Francis 26Goodland 41, Scott City 33Greeley County 87, Triplains-Brewster 24Hesston 54, Wichita Sunrise 39Hill City 67, Quinter 46Hugoton 75, Liberal 38Hutchinson 67, Wichita Campus 34KC Piper 46, Basehor-Linwood 41Little River 64, Herington 24Lyndon 49, Axtell 44Macksville 57, Cunningham 51Maize 54, Salina South 45Maize South 61, Derby 54Metro Academy 57, Spring Hill 54Minneola 57, South Central 53Northern Valley 66, Arapahoe, Neb. 45Olathe Northwest 57, SM East 50Pawnee Heights 79, Bucklin 68Perry-Lecompton 60, Royal Valley 43Remington 56, Chaparral 39South Gray 77, Sublette 58Wellington 62, Winfield 56

Boys basketball results

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Franco Harris, the Hall of Fame running back whose heads-up thinking authored “The Immaculate Reception,” considered the most iconic play in NFL history, has died. He was 72.

Harris' son Dok told The Associated Press his father passed away overnight. No cause of death was given.

His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play that provided the jolt that helped transform the Steelers from also-rans into the NFL's elite and three days before Pittsburgh is scheduled to retire his No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, a dynasty that began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972.

With Pittsburgh trailing 7-6 and facing fourth-and-10 from their own 40 yard line and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Bradshaw drifted back and threw deep to running back French Fuqua. Fuqua and Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum collided, sending the ball careening back toward midfield in the direction of Harris.

While nearly everyone else on the field stopped, Harris kept his legs churning, snatching the ball just inches above the Three Rivers Stadium turf near the Oakland 45 then outracing several stunned Raider defenders to give the Steelers their first playoff victory in the franchise's four-decade history.

“That play really represents our teams of the ’70s,” Harris said after the ”Immaculate Reception" was voted the greatest play in NFL history during the league's 100th anniversary season in 2020.

While the Steelers fell the next week to Miami in the AFC Championship, Pittsburgh was on its way to becoming the dominant team of the 1970s, twice winning back-to-back Super Bowls, first after the 1974 and 1975 seasons and again after the 1978 and 1979 seasons.

Harris, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound workhorse from Penn State, found himself in the center of it all. He churned for a then-record 158 yards rushing and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX on his way to winning the game's Most Valuable Player award. He scored at least once in three of the four Super Bowls he played in, and his 354 career yards rushing on the NFL's biggest stage remains a record nearly four decades after his retirement.

Born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 7, 1950, Harris played collegiately at Penn State, where his primary job was to open holes for backfield mate Lydell Mitchell. The Steelers, in the final stages of a rebuild led by Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll, saw enough in Harris to make him the 13th overall pick in the 1972 draft.

“When (Noll) drafted Franco Harris, he gave the offense heart, he gave it discipline, he gave it desire, he gave it the ability to win a championship in Pittsburgh,” Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann said of his frequent roommate on team road trips.

Harris' impact was immediate. He won the NFL's Rookie to the Year award in 1972 after rushing for a then-team-rookie record 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Steelers reached the postseason for just the second time in franchise history.

The city's large Italian-American population embraced Harris immediately, led by two local businessmen who founded what became known as “Franco's Italian Army,” a nod to Harris' roots as the son of an African-American father and an Italian mother.

The “Immaculate Reception” made Harris a star, though he typically preferred to let his play and not his mouth do the talking. On a team that featured big personalities in Bradshaw, defensive tackle Joe Greene, linebacker Jack Lambert among others, the intensely quiet Harris spent 12 seasons as the engine that helped Pittsburgh's offense go.

Eight times he topped 1,000 yards rushing in a season, including five times while playing a 14-game schedule. He piled up another 1,556 yards rushing and 16 rushing touchdowns in the playoffs, both second all-time behind Smith.

Despite his gaudy numbers, Harris stressed he was just one cog in an extraordinary machine that redefined greatness.

“You see, during that era, each player brought their own little piece with them to make that wonderful decade happen,” Harris said during his Hall of Fame speech in 1990. “Each player had their strengths and weaknesses, each their own thinking, each their own method, just each, each had their own. But then it was amazing, it all came together, and it stayed together to forge the greatest team of all times.”

Harris also made it a habit to stick up for his teammates. When Bradshaw took what Harris felt was an illegal late hit from Dallas linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson in the second half of their meeting in the 1978 Super Bowl, Harris basically demanded Bradshaw give him the ball on the next play. All Harris did was sprint up the middle 22 yards — right by Henderson — for a touchdown that gave the Steelers an 11-point lead they would not relinquish on their way to their third championship in six years.

Despite all of his success, his time in Pittsburgh ended acrimoniously when the Steelers cut him after he held out during training camp before the 1984 season. Noll, who leaned on Harris so heavily for so long, famously answered “Franco who?” when asked about Harris' absence from the team's camp at Saint Vincent College.

Harris signed with Seattle, running for just 170 yards in eight games before being released in midseason. He retired as the NFL's third all-time leading rusher behind Walter Payton and Jim Brown.

"I don’t even think about that (anymore),” Harris said in 2006. “I’m still black and gold.”

Harris remained in Pittsburgh following his retirement, opening a bakery and becoming heavily involved in several charities, including serving as the chairman of “Pittsburgh Promise," which provides college scholarship opportunities for Pittsburgh Public School students.

Harris is survived by his wife Dana Dokmanovich and his son, Dok.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671623958912.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PITTSBURGH (AP) — Franco Harris, the Hall of Fame running back whose heads-up thinking authored “The Immaculate Reception,” considered the most iconic play in NFL history, has died. He was 72.Harris' son Dok told The Associated Press his father passed away overnight. No cause of death was given.His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play that provided the jolt that helped transform the Steelers from also-rans into the NFL's elite and three days before Pittsburgh is scheduled to retire his No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders.Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, a dynasty that began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972.With Pittsburgh trailing 7-6 and facing fourth-and-10 from their own 40 yard line and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Bradshaw drifted back and threw deep to running back French Fuqua. Fuqua and Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum collided, sending the ball careening back toward midfield in the direction of Harris.While nearly everyone else on the field stopped, Harris kept his legs churning, snatching the ball just inches above the Three Rivers Stadium turf near the Oakland 45 then outracing several stunned Raider defenders to give the Steelers their first playoff victory in the franchise's four-decade history.“That play really represents our teams of the ’70s,” Harris said after the ”Immaculate Reception" was voted the greatest play in NFL history during the league's 100th anniversary season in 2020.While the Steelers fell the next week to Miami in the AFC Championship, Pittsburgh was on its way to becoming the dominant team of the 1970s, twice winning back-to-back Super Bowls, first after the 1974 and 1975 seasons and again after the 1978 and 1979 seasons.Harris, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound workhorse from Penn State, found himself in the center of it all. He churned for a then-record 158 yards rushing and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX on his way to winning the game's Most Valuable Player award. He scored at least once in three of the four Super Bowls he played in, and his 354 career yards rushing on the NFL's biggest stage remains a record nearly four decades after his retirement.Born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 7, 1950, Harris played collegiately at Penn State, where his primary job was to open holes for backfield mate Lydell Mitchell. The Steelers, in the final stages of a rebuild led by Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll, saw enough in Harris to make him the 13th overall pick in the 1972 draft.“When (Noll) drafted Franco Harris, he gave the offense heart, he gave it discipline, he gave it desire, he gave it the ability to win a championship in Pittsburgh,” Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann said of his frequent roommate on team road trips.Harris' impact was immediate. He won the NFL's Rookie to the Year award in 1972 after rushing for a then-team-rookie record 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Steelers reached the postseason for just the second time in franchise history.The city's large Italian-American population embraced Harris immediately, led by two local businessmen who founded what became known as “Franco's Italian Army,” a nod to Harris' roots as the son of an African-American father and an Italian mother.The “Immaculate Reception” made Harris a star, though he typically preferred to let his play and not his mouth do the talking. On a team that featured big personalities in Bradshaw, defensive tackle Joe Greene, linebacker Jack Lambert among others, the intensely quiet Harris spent 12 seasons as the engine that helped Pittsburgh's offense go.Eight times he topped 1,000 yards rushing in a season, including five times while playing a 14-game schedule. He piled up another 1,556 yards rushing and 16 rushing touchdowns in the playoffs, both second all-time behind Smith.Despite his gaudy numbers, Harris stressed he was just one cog in an extraordinary machine that redefined greatness.“You see, during that era, each player brought their own little piece with them to make that wonderful decade happen,” Harris said during his Hall of Fame speech in 1990. “Each player had their strengths and weaknesses, each their own thinking, each their own method, just each, each had their own. But then it was amazing, it all came together, and it stayed together to forge the greatest team of all times.”Harris also made it a habit to stick up for his teammates. When Bradshaw took what Harris felt was an illegal late hit from Dallas linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson in the second half of their meeting in the 1978 Super Bowl, Harris basically demanded Bradshaw give him the ball on the next play. All Harris did was sprint up the middle 22 yards — right by Henderson — for a touchdown that gave the Steelers an 11-point lead they would not relinquish on their way to their third championship in six years.Despite all of his success, his time in Pittsburgh ended acrimoniously when the Steelers cut him after he held out during training camp before the 1984 season. Noll, who leaned on Harris so heavily for so long, famously answered “Franco who?” when asked about Harris' absence from the team's camp at Saint Vincent College.Harris signed with Seattle, running for just 170 yards in eight games before being released in midseason. He retired as the NFL's third all-time leading rusher behind Walter Payton and Jim Brown."I don’t even think about that (anymore),” Harris said in 2006. “I’m still black and gold.”Harris remained in Pittsburgh following his retirement, opening a bakery and becoming heavily involved in several charities, including serving as the chairman of “Pittsburgh Promise," which provides college scholarship opportunities for Pittsburgh Public School students.Harris is survived by his wife Dana Dokmanovich and his son, Dok.

🏈 Steelers Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris dies at 72

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Led by 18 individuals nominated with a perfect 4.0 GPA, Kansas State fall student-athletes in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, football, soccer and volleyball combined for 72 Academic All-Big 12 honors, as the conference office announced its fall accolades on Tuesday.

The 72 student-athletes honored were tied for the third most in the league. The Wildcats had 64 student-athletes named to the first team and an additional eight on the second team.

Those that were nominated with a perfect 4.0 GPA include men’s cross country runners&nbsp;Kerby Depenbusch,&nbsp;Matthew Hauser&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mike Rohlinger; women’s cross country runners&nbsp;Sydney Burton&nbsp;and&nbsp;Helen Giefer; football players&nbsp;Cooper Beebe,&nbsp;Robert Hentz II,&nbsp;Will Howard,&nbsp;Austin Moore&nbsp;and&nbsp;Chris Tennant; soccer players&nbsp;Adah Anderson,&nbsp;Shannon Dukes,&nbsp;Caylee Thornhill,&nbsp;Maddie Weichel&nbsp;and&nbsp;Alaina Werremeyer; and volleyball players&nbsp;Kadye Fernholz,&nbsp;Loren Hinkle&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mackenzie Morris.

K-State led the conference in the number of cross country athletes nominated with a 4.00 GPA with five.

In football, the Wildcats ranked third in the league overall and tied for first with 29 first-team honorees. Since 2014, the Wildcats have totaled a league-leading 270 Academic All-Big 12 performers, 32 more than the next closest team.

Among the soccer programs on the 2022 Academic All-Big 12 awards, K-State had the second-most honorees with 16. In its seven seasons of action, Kansas State has now received 85 Academic All-Big 12 citations including 76 first team honors.

K-State volleyball’s three student-athletes that were nominated with 4.0 GPAs tied for the most in the league. Since 2015, 67 Wildcats have received Academic All-Big 12 accolades with 60 being named to the first team.

First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second-team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671569112882.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Led by 18 individuals nominated with a perfect 4.0 GPA, Kansas State fall student-athletes in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, football, soccer and volleyball combined for 72 Academic All-Big 12 honors, as the conference office announced its fall accolades on Tuesday.The 72 student-athletes honored were tied for the third most in the league. The Wildcats had 64 student-athletes named to the first team and an additional eight on the second team.Those that were nominated with a perfect 4.0 GPA include men’s cross country runners&nbsp;Kerby Depenbusch,&nbsp;Matthew Hauser&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mike Rohlinger; women’s cross country runners&nbsp;Sydney Burton&nbsp;and&nbsp;Helen Giefer; football players&nbsp;Cooper Beebe,&nbsp;Robert Hentz II,&nbsp;Will Howard,&nbsp;Austin Moore&nbsp;and&nbsp;Chris Tennant; soccer players&nbsp;Adah Anderson,&nbsp;Shannon Dukes,&nbsp;Caylee Thornhill,&nbsp;Maddie Weichel&nbsp;and&nbsp;Alaina Werremeyer; and volleyball players&nbsp;Kadye Fernholz,&nbsp;Loren Hinkle&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mackenzie Morris.K-State led the conference in the number of cross country athletes nominated with a 4.00 GPA with five.In football, the Wildcats ranked third in the league overall and tied for first with 29 first-team honorees. Since 2014, the Wildcats have totaled a league-leading 270 Academic All-Big 12 performers, 32 more than the next closest team.Among the soccer programs on the 2022 Academic All-Big 12 awards, K-State had the second-most honorees with 16. In its seven seasons of action, Kansas State has now received 85 Academic All-Big 12 citations including 76 first team honors.K-State volleyball’s three student-athletes that were nominated with 4.0 GPAs tied for the most in the league. Since 2015, 67 Wildcats have received Academic All-Big 12 accolades with 60 being named to the first team.First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second-team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.– k-statesports.com –RYAN LACKEYAssociate Athletics Director for Communications