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

Page 15 text:

Wide receiver Kevin Lockett is hit by a Texas Tech opponent. The Wildcats ' defense proved to be the key to its 21-14 victory at the inaugural Big 12 Conference game. Besides being the first Big 12 game, it was also the first game since Mitch Holthaus stepped down as the Voice of the Wildcats. The new play-by-play announcer was Greg Sharpe. (Photo by Darren Whitley) big 12 CONFERENCE 11

Page 14 text:

CONFERENCE KICK-OFF A Wildcat victory marked the birth of the Big 12 Conference. KSU Stadium hosted the inaugural conference game against Texas Tech Aug. 31. The Wildcats beat the Red Raiders 21-14 in front of the sixth-largest crowd in school history. Of course, Kansas State was very honored, privileged and deserving to be host for the first athletic competition for the Big 12 Conference, Max Urick, athletic director, said. It ' s positive all the way around due to the prestige and exposure involved with the conference, he said. Planning for the pre-game ceremony began in spring 1995. It was the luck of the draw that K-State was selected for the inaugural game, Cindy Fox, assistant athletic director, said. It was tough to have the first game be a conference game, but it paid off in the end. Fox coordinated meetings between the athletic department and the Big 12 office to explore possible events for the inaugural ceremony. Events included a presentation of plaques commemorating the inaugural game to Urick and Gerald Myers, interim Texas Tech athletic director. Keith Jackson, ABC sports broadcaster, narrated a video on Big 12 schools ' football histories, which was shown on the stadium ' s new Sony JumboTron. As the last scenes from the JumboTron ended, attention turned to the field as four KSU Parachute Club members parachuted to the center of the field. The first carried a Big 12 flag, and the second carried a K-State flag. A Texas Tech flag was booed by fans, but the last flag read Beat Tech. I thought that it was really weird that they did that with all the Tech stuff, Casey Noble, senior in pre-denistry, said. Considering it was the first game though, it was kind of neat that they had a ceremony like that to see. The day ' s festivities continued with the release of about 5,000 balloons in Texas Tech and K-State colors, followed by a fireworks display. It was neat they had the fireworks, even though they were kind of hard to see in the daylight, Alisa Landwehr, junior in elementary education, said. It really added to the importance of the first game. Chris Thiesen, Big 12 assistant service bureau director, said the Big 12 office was impressed with the pre-game festivities. It was a great way to kick off the Big 12 and a great game to boot, he said. BY SUN DEE MILLS Paul Taylor, junior in arts and sciences and trombone player for the K-State Marching Band, yawns between songs at the game against Texas Tech. Besides band performances, events at the inaugural game included a fireworks display and an exhibition by the KSU Parachuting Club. (Photo by Cary Conover) Wildcat fans Pat Beedles, junior in architecture, and Bret Nickell, junior in science, cheer on the football team. As members of ICAT, a student organization that supported K-State athletics, they were guaranteed seats. (Photo by Cary Conover) 10 big CONFERENCE

Page 16 text:

Whoa Jack, a pure-bred receives a health check from Dr. Julia Flaminio, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sept. 18 at Rock Springs 4-H Camp. Whoa Jack was the U.S. team ' s entry in the 1996 FEI World Championship Equine Race. Preliminary check-ups were required for horses that were going to participate in the endurance race. Riders from 16 countries qualified for the race. (Photo by Darren Whitley) Judy Etheridge, Santa Clara, Calif., feeds KJ Destination a veterinary check Sept. 21. This vet check was the second of six checks located along the 100-mile course that wound through 35 landowners ' in Geary County. Between 300-350 volunteers worked 112 gates to ensure livestock did not escape. (Photo by Cary Conover) 12 equestrian ENDURANCE