Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

Page 13 text:

With purple and white rustling in the air, James Nagel, junior in marketing, swings a pompon while wearing another on his head during the Wildcats ' home-opening victory against New Mexico State University. Nagel was in the section with friends and stood behind the Marching Band. (Photo by Brian W Kratzer) Barnum, junior in journalism and mass communications, Alex Shultz, senior in electrical engineering, Christina Walker, junior in elementary education, and Lisa Torres, junior in secondary education, carry water toward the K-State Marching Band. The four were Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma members. (Photo by Brian W Kratzer) Wildcat wide receiver Mitch Running falls onto New Mexico State University defensive back Andre Crathers after successfully catching a pass in mid-air. The Cats won the season-opening game 34-10. (Photo by Cary Conover)

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Favrow photographs his fiancee ' s 12-year-old son, Shawn Peel, with cheerleader Theresa Russell, junior in secondary education. Favrow ' s father coached the Cats in the late 1960s and early 1970s. (Photo by Brian W. Kratzer) The wind blew gently out of the north as the sun shined on the faces of football fans. The sky was clear for the first football game of the season, and the path was clear for the team to make history. With the beginning of school came the start of football season. A team that four years ago had trouble drawing fans now had more than 25,000 people attending the season opener against the New Mexico State Aggies. I ' ve waited all summer for this, said Kevin Wiltse, junior in agronomy. It ' s finally here. Opening day also kicked off tailgate season. Cars poured into Manhattan and crowded into the KSU Stadium parking lot two hours game time. The fans began unloading grills and putting up purple decor. My brothers and sisters went to K-State, so they came up for the game, said Rebecca Iseman, fresh man in human development and family studies. My sister and her husband have started an annual pig roast before the first game of the season. One Manhattan resident couldn ' t believe how many people traveled to attend the game. The traffic today is horrible, Diane Cox said. I didn ' t know there were that many cars in Kansas. Footballs spiraled through the air as the fans ' excitement grew. Wabash Cannonball, a Wildcat spirit song, echoed through the lot as fans prepared for the game. Various Catbacker groups competed against each other to see who had the most Wildcat spirit. ranging from Best Menu to Best Turnout to Most Spirit filled the supporters ' day. I was here (at a game) before, but not when the stands were packed, said Suzie Orebaugh, (Continued on page 11) FIRST GAME DAY fans showed support from the parking lot to the football stadium by Jenni Stiverson

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Beninga, senior in life sciences, and Jamie Broadhurst, senior in shake a Jonnie on the Job which holds Darron Enochs, senior in and mass communications. The three were returning to the game from the parking lot during the fourth when Enochs needed to make a stop. Beninga and Broadhurst decided not to give him any privacy. (Photo by Brian W Kratzer) At the end of the game in which defeated New Mexico State, the Wildcat hands the Aggie mascot a bottle of Gatorade on the walk back to the locker rooms. Willie provided for the crowd by doing 34 push-ups, the same number of points the Wildcats scored during the game. (Photo by Brian W Kratzer) Fans raise their hands anticipating the second half kick-off. Only one lucky fan caught a purple and white football thrown by Willie the Wildcat during the first half. (Photo by Brian W Kratzer) Wildcat defensive line coach Nelson Barnes communicates with a player who stepped out of action as the K-State offense took the field. (Photo by Brian W Kratzer)