Dave Riggert – Page 567 – St. Joseph Post Archive

MWSU soccer falls in double overtime at Bemidji State

Posted on September 11, 2015September 12, 2015

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Missouri Western women’s soccer team was ubable to match a program best 3-0 start as they lost to Bemidji State 1-0 in the second overtime. The Griffons are 2-1 now on the season.

Christine Szurek’s goal from the top left corner of the box in the 105th minute gave the Beavers the win and MWSU its first loss of 2015. For the first time this season, Missouri Western was outshot, including zero shots in either of the overtime periods. For the match, Bemidji State had an 11-5 shot advantage and a 5-0 corner kick advantage.

Sarah Lyle had eight saves in goal for the Griffons. Katie Kempf took two of the team’s shots with Bailey Dervin, Sydney Adnrews and Bridget Blessie adding the other three.

Western stays in Minnesota this weekend with a Sunday match at Minnesota-Crookston at noon.

— MWSU Athletics —

Cardinals at Reds game suspended in top of 8th tied 2-2

Posted on September 11, 2015September 12, 2015

CINCINNATI (AP) — John Lackey could win a game Saturday without taking the mound.

The St. Louis starter was still the pitcher of record when heavy rain forced the Cardinals’ game against the Cincinnati Reds to be suspended in the top of the eighth inning tied 2-2 on Friday night. It’ll resume on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. before the regularly scheduled game.

Lackey won’t pitch on Saturday, but he would get the win if the Cardinals score in the eighth and hold on.

“I’m all for it,” said Lackey, who has never pitched in a suspended game. “We’ll see what happens. Maybe that’s what we need to get us going.”

The NL Central leaders have lost six of eight, with their rotation hitting a downturn lately. Lackey held up his end, allowing seven hits and three walks while fanning 10. He repeatedly pitched out of threats to keep it tied.

“He was terrific, absolutely terrific,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He got better as the heat got turned up.”

Rain fell intermittently during the game and intensified as the eighth inning began. Jhonny Peralta led off and hit a pop-up that shortstop Eugenio Suarez dropped for an error. Suarez had trouble looking up into the heavy rain, and the umpires called for the tarp.

The Cardinals will have a runner on first when the game resumes.

“We’ve got the leadoff runner on, and we’ll see where it goes from there,” Matheny said.

The teams waited out the 17th rain delay at Great American Ball Park for an hour and seven minutes before it was suspended. It was Cincinnati’s first suspended home game this season — three have been rained out.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto struck out and walked three times. He received a two-game suspension on Friday for an altercation with umpire Bill Welke on Wednesday, but will keep playing while his appeal is heard.

Cincinnati’s Michael Lorenzen gave up two runs in five innings. His start was the 42nd in a row by a rookie for the Reds, passing the 1902 Cardinals for the major league record. The Reds have gone with an all-rookie rotation since trading Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake in July.

Billy Hamilton opened the Reds’ first with a bunt single, stole second, advanced on catcher Yadier Molina’s wild throw for an error and came home on Brandon Phillips’ infield single. Ramon Cabrera hit his first major league homer in the second.

The Cardinals repeatedly wasted scoring opportunities, stranding runners in scoring position during the first three innings. Also, Jon Jay was thrown out at third base while trying to stretch a double with no outs in the fourth.

Lackey had an RBI groundout in the second, and Greg Garcia homered in the fourth to tie it 2-2.

CAN’T STOP HIM

Hamilton stole two bases, leaving him 10 for 10 in attempts against catcher Yadier Molina over his career. He leads the majors with 56 steals in 63 attempts, matching his stolen base total from last season.

NO MOSS

Cardinals first baseman Brandon Moss stretched into the dugout to catch Phillips’ foul with two runners in scoring position in the fifth, undercutting a rally. He went 0 for 2, extending his slump to 0 for 19.

RAIN GO AWAY

The 17 rain delays at GABP have lasted 24:26, the highest home total since the Reds began tracking weather delays in 1978. They’ve had a rain delay every homestand except one this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Matt Adams felt good a day after his pinch-hit appearance, his first since May 26. He missed 91 games with an injured right calf that needed surgery.

Reds: Brayan Pena won’t catch for a couple of days because of a slightly strained right hamstring, suffered while running the bases on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Lance Lynn (11-9) is coming off one of his worst starts. He lasted only 2 1/3 innings and gave up six runs — matching his season high — during a 9-0 loss to the Cubs. He’s 7-3 career against the Reds with a 3.51 ERA.

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (8-10) is 2-0 in three career appearances against the Cardinals with a 1.29 ERA, allowing two runs in 14 innings.

— Associated Press —

Northwest soccer rallies to tie Minnesota-Crookston

Posted on September 11, 2015September 11, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State soccer team played to a 1-1 draw against Minnesota-Crookston on Friday afternoon in Crookston, Minn.

The Bearcats are now 1-0-2 on the season, while the Golden Eagles improve to 0-1-1.

Elizabeth Lee scored the game-tying goal early in the second half.

Ashley Malloy, last week’s MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week, made a season-high 10 saves in the contest. This was her third double-digit save performance in her career at Northwest.

Northwest took seven shots in the contest while the Golden Eagles attempted 15.

The Bearcats played Friday’s match without head coach Tracy Hoza, who was not available due to a family emergency. The entire Northwest family wishes to express their deepest condolences to coach Hoza on the loss of her mother.

Northwest Missouri State concludes its northern road trip on Sunday when they play Bemidji State. Kick off is scheduled for noon from Bemidji, Minnesota.

— Northwest Athletics —

Cardinals get crushed in series opener at Cincinnati

Posted on September 10, 2015September 10, 2015

CINCINNATI (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals hoped their come-from behind win on Wednesday over the Chicago Cubs would get them back on track.

Instead, they followed with their most one-sided defeat this season.

Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips both homered and drove in three runs as the last-place Cincinnati Reds beat the NL Central-leading Cardinals 11-0 Thursday night.

St. Louis opened its longest trip this season — 10 games in 11 days — with its fourth loss in five games, including a 9-0 defeat to the Cubs on Monday.

Reds star Joey Votto doubled and singled, driving in a run and scoring one, a day after his tantrum at home plate following an ejection.

Jaime Garcia (8-5) lasted a season-low 4 1/3 innings and gave up six runs. He had been 5-0 in seven starts since losing to the Reds on July 28.

“Definitely not a good one,” Garcia said. “There are no excuses. I’ve got to do a better job the next time.”

John Lamb (1-3), one of three left-handers acquired from Kansas City for Johnny Cueto in late July, shook off control problems for his first major league win. He walked six, struck out six and gave up three hits in five innings.

“It was a crazy game,” Lamb said.

Four relievers combined to complete St. Louis’s 12th shutout loss this year, matching last season’s total.

The Reds scored their first two runs on groundouts. Lamb got his first career RBI in the second and Phillips made it 2-0 in the third.

Cincinnati chased Garcia in a four-run fifth that included RBI doubles by Votto and Frazier. Phillips and Bruce each had a sacrifice fly.

Votto’s double into the left field corner came on a 3-2 pitch after he fell behind 0-2 and was sent sprawling by a high-and-tight fastball.

“He’s locked in right now,” manager Mike Matheny said of Votto. “That kind of changed the game a little bit.”

Phillips hit 12th homer, a leadoff shot in a three-run seventh. Right fielder Jason Heyward almost made a leaping catch, but he couldn’t keep the ball in his glove.

Frazier added his 32nd homer, a two-run line drive in the eighth.

“It’s a great feeling, but you have to stay on an even keel,” Frazier said.

WELCOME BACK

St. Louis 1B Matt Adams made his first appearance after missing 91 games with a quad injury as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and singled. “Everybody was happy to see him back and active,” manager Mike Matheny said. “We were excited to get him in there.”

BIG NAMES

Todd Frazier’s fifth-inning double was his NL-leading 40th this season, making him just the fourth player in Reds history with at least 40 doubles and 30 home runs in the same season. Frank Robinson (1962), Dave Parker (1985) and Jay Bruce (2013) are the other three.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Randal Grichuk took the day off from throwing as he continues to rehab his inflamed right elbow. The Reds have right-handers scheduled to start the final three games of the series, which means the right-handed hitting Grichuk might not start all weekend.

Reds: C Brayan Pena will be “limited for a couple of days,” manager Bryan Price said. Pena strained his right hamstring legging out a pinch-hit double in the eighth inning of Cincinnati’s 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP John Lackey (11-9, 2.90) scheduled to start Friday, a year and a day after he was ejected in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Reds: RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-8, 5.54) is coming off his first win in his last 10 starts.

— Associated Press —

Kansas head coach Bill Self receives Hall of Fame award

Posted on September 10, 2015September 10, 2015

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self was one of three recipients of the 2015 Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented Thursday evening at the 2015 Family Reunion and Awards Dinner at the Hall.

The Class of 2015 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremonies got underway at the Hall’s “Court of Dreams” on Thursday. The formal evening consisted of returning Hall of Famers with the recognition of the Class of 2015, a brief forum, and the presentation of the Mannie Jackson Human Spirit Awards, the John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award and the Curt Gowdy Media Awards.

Self, along with former Reebok CEO Paul Fireman and 14-year NBA veteran Steve Smith, are the recipients of the 2015 Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award. NBA coach and executive Rod Thorn received the John Bunn Lifetime Award, while legendary broadcaster Woody Durham and famed photographer and KU graduate, Rich Clarkson, received the Curt Gowdy Media Award.

Self, Fireman and Smith were chosen from a large candidate pool that represented every level of basketball and is reviewed annually by a distinguished selection committee appointed by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Mr. Jackson.

Winners of the Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award exhibit qualities such as striving to improve the community, making a commitment to others, hard work and embracing the core values of the game. Beyond the game, award winners must reflect the values of Mannie Jackson’s life-long mission to overcome obstacles and challenge the status quo, while taking responsibility for his or her actions and seeking the highest standard of excellence.

In 2006, Self and his wife, Cindy, established the Assists Foundation to function as a fundraising conduit for organizations that serve a variety of youth initiatives in Lawrence and the surrounding area. Assists has helped fund programs such as Kansas Action for Healthy Kids, Lawrence Public Library, Boys and Girls Clubs of Lawrence, Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Kansas and Head Start of Lawrence, among many others. The Assists Foundation has also helped create a program called ‘Winning Attitudes for Life’ within the Lawrence and Kansas City area school systems for elementary through high school students to promote healthy living, physical fitness, positive well-being and self-respect. The program helps students develop their leadership, team building, decision-making and communication skills.

Eleven basketball greats will be formally enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 11. Included is KU two-time All-American Jo Jo White who played under head coach Ted Owens from 1966-69. White will be the 18th Jayhawk all-time to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Kansas will be well represented at the Hall of Fame ceremonies as Owens will be present to see White get inducted. Former KU assistant men’s basketball coach John Calipari is also an inductee and will be presented by former KU head coach Larry Brown. KU women’s basketball legend Lynette Woodard will be one of the presenters for inductee Lisa Leslie and Brown will also be presenting Lindsay Gaze.

— KU Athletics —

Kansas City loses series finale to Twins in 12 innings

Posted on September 10, 2015September 10, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The longer Miguel Sano stayed in the batter’s box, the more confident Twins manager Paul Molitor felt that his big pinch-hitter would come through in the 12th inning Wednesday night.

Sano delivered with a two-out homer over the bullpen in left field, boosting Minnesota to a 3-2 victory over the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals and a series win in their three-game set.

“Sano had a really good at-bat,” Molitor said. “He did what he can do, put a run up quickly.”

Sano was stuck in an 0-for-14 slump that included 11 strikeouts when he stepped to the plate against Franklin Morales (3-2), the Royals’ sixth reliever of the night. After he appeared to take strike three on a pitch plate umpire Greg Gibson called a ball, the big rookie took a mighty swing and sent his 16th homer of the year over just about everything in left field.

“(The umpire) missed it. The pitch was right there,” Morales said. “I tried to come back with the same pitch again. And I missed for my part and he got a homer.”

Blaine Boyer (3-4) pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief for Minnesota. Kevin Jepsen got three outs for his 12th save while Glen Perkins sat out again with a back injury.

Perkins received a second cortisone shot Wednesday and was still unavailable.

Kansas City had a chance to win in the 10th when pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson stole second and third, and Lorenzo Cain chopped a grounder back to the pitcher. Brian Duensing alertly threw home and the throw carried Kurt Suzuki into Dyson, who claimed the catcher was blocking the plate.

Royals manager Ned Yost also argued, and Gibson and crew chief Jim Joyce went to the headset for a review. The call was confirmed and Dyson was out.

Meanwhile, Suzuki was shaken up in the collision. He left with a bruised left knee.

“The doctor’s report is fairly optimistic,” Molitor said. “We’re hoping the initial diagnosis is accurate and there’s no ligament damage in there.”

Suzuki homered earlier in the game and Joe Mauer also drove in a run for the Twins, who had dropped four of six after a hot streak vaulted them into wild-card contention.

Ben Zobrist homered for the Royals. Cain drove in their other run with a sacrifice fly.

The late-inning theatrics transpired after Twins starter Mike Pelfrey and Royals counterpart Kris Medlen waged an entertaining pitchers’ duel through the first five innings.

Medlen retired the first 11 batters he faced and did not allow a hit until Suzuki went deep leading off the sixth. Medlen wound up allowing two more hits in the inning, including an RBI single by Mauer, and exited with the Royals in a 2-0 hole.

It was still a solid outing by Medlen, battered by the White Sox in his previous start.

“I thought he threw the ball great,” Yost said. “He was very efficient with all his stuff.”

Pelfrey got a double play in the second and another with Cain on third to end the fourth. The right-hander didn’t allow a run until the sixth, when Zobrist went deep with one out, and then was pulled after allowing a single to Alex Gordon and hitting Cain in the back with a pitch.

Neal Cotts got Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales to fly out, ending the threat in a game that was only just beginning.

“We went 12 innings for it,” Pelfrey said. “Our bullpen came in and did a great job, and we scored enough at the end.”

RECORD ATTENDANCE

The Royals set a franchise record for single-season attendance with 2,506,913 fans, and they still have six home dates to go. The previous record of 2,477,700 was set in 1989.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: RHP Phil Hughes (back inflammation) threw 45 pitches during a simulated game, then fielded bunts and did pitcher’s fielding practice. “He came out of it fine,” Molitor said. “Now it’s just a matter of seeing what the next step will be.”

Royals: Gordon has been swinging a hot bat since his return from the DL following a groin injury, though Yost said he will continue to replace Gordon on defense late in games.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Ervin Santana pitches against the White Sox in Chicago on Friday night.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy opens a series in Baltimore on Friday night.

— Associated Press —

MWSU women’s golf team finishes 6th at Central Region Fall Preview

Posted on September 9, 2015

OLATHE, Kan. – The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished sixth place out of 19 teams at the Central Region Fall Preview. MWSU finished the tournament with a team score of 638 over the two days. The Griffons started the day in fourth place but fell below Henderson St. and Arkansas Tech in the standings after day two.

Shi Quing Ong was the Griffons top golfer in her first collegiate golf competition, finishing with a total score of 154. She finished 10-over par and placed tied for 13th in the tournament. Celine Lim finished second on the team with a score of 158 which tied her for 23rd individually. Madison Romjue and Jenna Kosmatka tallied a 161 and 166 respectively for the tournament.

Augustana College held the lead throughout the tournament and finished with a team score of 599. Northeastern St. earned a second place finish with a 605 team score and Arkansas Tech jumped four spots in the second day, finishing third with a 617.

Central Oklahoma’s Marla Souvannasing and Augustana’s Emily Israelson finished tied for the individual lead with a 144 score.

Missouri Western will travel to compete in the 17th Annual NSU Women’s Golf Classic at the Cherokee Springs Golf Course on Monday, September 14 and 15.

— MWSU Athletics —

Former KU standout Aaron Miles joins Jayhawk men’s basketball staff

Posted on September 9, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Former Kansas standout guard Aaron Miles has returned to his alma mater and will be the assistant director of student-athlete development, KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self announced Wednesday.

“Aaron’s basketball career may not be over, but he is certainly going to be forced to miss this year because of a torn labrum that required surgery,” Self said. “I’ve always told Aaron I wanted him to work for me someday. This is an opportunity for him to get a jump start toward the coaching profession, see how he enjoys it and if he would want to make a career of it after his playing days are over.”

Originally from Portland, Oregon, during his professional career, mainly overseas, Miles has made Lawrence his second home since 2008.

“I love helping people. I love basketball and I love the University of Kansas,” Miles said. “This is an ideal situation for me to be able to do all three of those things. I am thankful to Coach Self for this golden opportunity to work under him and learn from his staff. Everybody in this office is special and I can learn from them all.”

A four-year starter at Kansas from 2002-05, Miles set the KU and Big 12 Conference all-time assists record with 954 assists, which ranks ninth in the NCAA Division I career record book. A 2005 KU graduate who was also a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection, Miles ended his college career with 1,183 points (36th on the KU career list), 264 steals (third) and 105 three-pointers (tied for 21st). His 137 career starts are second on the KU all-time list, while his 16 NCAA Tournament games played are tied for first in school history.

As a Jayhawk, Miles competed in two Final Fours, in 2002 in Atlanta and in 2003 in New Orleans. In his junior season KU advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional final in St. Louis. Miles won three Big 12 regular-season championships, his third coming in his senior year in 2004-05, the first of the current 11-straight titles held by KU. In 2002, Miles was the starting point guard on the only team in Big 12 Conference history to go undefeated (16-0) in league play. Additionally, he appeared on the coaches’ All-Big 12 teams his sophomore (honorable mention), junior (third team) and senior (second team) seasons.

Following his KU career, Miles competed for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA and the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League during the 2005-06 season. He then played in the Euroleague, where he played for several teams from 2006 to 2010. He competed for Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez, which won the French Cup in 2007. The following season he participated with the Spanish ACB team Cajasol Sevilla. Miles played two seasons in Greece – with Panionios in 2008-09 and Aric BC in 2009-10. While with Panionios, he was selected to the HEBA Greek All-Star Game in 2009 and 2010.

Miles played the 2010-11 season for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League and then returned to Europe, winning the Russian Cup in 2012 and 2013 while playing for BC Krasnye Krylya. In 2013 he was the Most Valuable Player of the Russian Cup and his Russian team also won the 2013 EuroChallenge. Last season he competed for Lokomotive Kuban, which is also located in Russia.

— KU Athletics —

Carpenter, Piscotty lead Cardinals past Cubs 4-3

Posted on September 9, 2015

ST. LOUIS — Cardinals rookie Stephen Piscotty continues to show a penchant for making quick adjustments.

After going hitless in his first three at-bats, Piscotty lined a two-run double off the centerfield wall to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning that sent St. Louis over the Chicago Cubs 4-3 Wednesday.

Matt Carpenter tripled and scored twice as the Cardinals ended their three-game losing streak. The NL Central leaders avoided their first sweep at home this season and their first against the Cubs since September 2010.

“It’s definitely good to get that one,” Piscotty said. “You don’t want to get swept by the Cubs. We’re fine. There’s no panic. We did a good job of fighting back.”

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Piscotty is a good self-evaluator.

“This is what he did: ‘He got me last time, this is what I probably need to do.’ And not many guys can make those adjustments as far as approach,” Matheny said. “He’s able to think ahead and then make those physical adjustments as well.”

Cubs lefty Jon Lester exited after seven dominant innings. He gave up two hits, retired 20 of his final 21 hitters and left with a 3-1 lead.

“I felt good, cutter was better today,” Lester said. “I got away with a couple of pitches because of what we established early.”

Jonathan Broxton (2-4) got the win and Trevor Rosenthal picked up his 43rd save. Clayton Richard (3-1) took the loss.

Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez needed 99 pitches to get through five innings. The Cubs stranded at least one runner in each of his innings, and Martinez was able to limit the damage with eight strikeouts.

“All in all, I think he did a nice job of keeping it together all the way around,” Matheny said. “His mind was right. He kept coming out and grinding and that’s a great sign of what could come.”

The Cardinals’ bullpen retired 12 of the 13 batters they faced.

“Carlos gave us five,” Broxton said. “He struggled early, but once the bullpen opened up we just tried to hold them there and give our offense a chance.”

Chris Coghlan took advantage of Randal Grichuk’s compromised throwing arm to score the Cubs’ first run on Anthony Rizzo’s double.

Grichuk, starting for the first time since straining his elbow Aug. 16, had to flip the ball to right fielder Jason Heyward, who threw it in allowing Coghlan to score from first.

Rizzo appeared to be caught in a run-down following his double, but Martinez failed to cover third, allowing Rizzo to take an extra base. Tommy La Stella followed with a two-out double to give the Cubs an extra run.

Lester got his second career hit, both against St. Louis. The Cardinals have given up hits to opposing pitchers in four consecutive games and each have led to runs.

WEB GEM

Coghlan made a tough catch on a tailing flyball off the bat of Tommy Pham in the fifth. Coghlan made the grab in foul territory, and his momentum flipped him over the wall and into the crowd.

WELCOME BACK

The Cardinals activated 1B Matt Adams from the 60-day disabled list. Adams was hitting .243 in 144 at-bats with four home runs and 20 RBIs before missing 91 games. Lefty Nick Greenwood was designated for assignment to make room.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Matt Belisle (right elbow inflammation) threw a simulated game, but no definite return date has been set for the right-hander. He has missed 65 games.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (18-6, 2.03 ERA) takes the mound to kick off a four-game series Thursday at Philadelphia. Arrieta has a 17-inning scoreless streak and was the NL Pitcher of the Month for August.

Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (8-4, 1.89 ERA) starts a 10-game road trip Thursday at Cincinnati. He is 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA since Aug. 1.

— Associated Press —

K-State announces campaign to “Complete the Bowl” at Bill Snyder Family Stadium

Posted on September 9, 2015

MANHATTAN, Kan. – On the heels of this past weekend’s dedication and grand opening of the $68 million Vanier Family Football Complex, Kansas State Athletics today officially launched the public campaign for the next step in the transformation of Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

When completed, the $15 million Phase IIIB will complete the northeast corner of the stadium as envisioned in the 2010 Master Plan and for the first time ever provide K-State fans with a complete stadium bowl as well as other spectator and operational enhancements, Athletics Director John Currie announced today.

“Although we had anticipated needing a few more years before we could complete the north end zone, the leadership commitment made in July by the Carl and Mary Ice family, followed by wonderful gifts from Jordy and Emily Nelson and many others, puts us in position to aggressively pursue this project now,” said Currie. “Coach Snyder emphasizes the goal of getting better each day, and thanks to our incredible fans and donors nationwide we have made tremendous incremental progress over the last six years in terms of our facility enhancements. With the completion of the West Stadium Center and Vanier Family Football Complex, along with other projects, we have now invested $195 million in facility improvements consistent with our goals of a World-Class Student-Athlete Experience and The Best Fan Experience in the Big 12. Phase IIIB is the next step as we work to ‘complete the bowl’ and fully enclose the stadium.”

Continuing K-State Athletics’ commitment to fiscal responsibility, the department will once again depend on individual donors throughout Wildcat Nation to build on the $9 million already pledged to reach the total estimate of $15 million and enable construction to begin in December after the conclusion of the 2015 football season with desired completion in time for the 2016 season. The entire project will be funded without incurring any long term debt and without any state tax or university funds.

The project, led by the world-renowned sports design firm Populous in conjunction with the construction management team of Mortenson and GE Johnson Construction, will connect the east side of the stadium to the new north side to create a 360-degree concourse and fully enclose Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The department will also take another step toward its goal of providing The Best Fan Experience in the Big 12 with a new videoboard on the northeast corner that will mirror the new system recently erected on the northwest corner of the stadium.

It will also include permanent new visiting team locker, training and officials areas, which will move from their current temporary location inside the Vanier Family Football Complex, and open up the mezzanine above the Strength and Performance area providing more usable space for K-State student-athletes. In addition, the Section 1 seating area will also be re-constructed to connect to the new north end zone concourse and Wabash Landing area, adding additional seating to the section.

“I am so very proud of and grateful for the amazing support base that we have to provide the resources to complete this new addition to the Vanier Family Football Complex,” said head coach Bill Snyder. “As I have felt and stated we (Kansas State University) are about people who care about people. And, a special thank you to the athletics department staff for their hard work in raising the funds to make it happen.”

— KSU Athletics —