DEVELOPING: So Much For That Idea... Amaker Stays At Harvard

Which, really, says volumes about the Miami job at the moment...

Reps from Miami went to Boston to talk. Amaker listened, then he declined...


"I am appreciative of and flattered by the interest shown in me by other fine universities, but I am proud and honored to represent Harvard," Amaker said in a statement released by the school. "I look forward to continuing my efforts to teach, lead and serve at this great institution."

Greg Cote's random ramblings of a blog at the Miami Herald are imploring the school to pick up Frank Martin...

The poll Cote has on his page has Martin at 75-percent of the vote in a six-coach poll. Tell you something...???

More when we know more...

The March Through The Madness: Day Three Recap

Just a couple since Butler is taking up most of the space...

BYU gets to the Sweet 16 with a blowout win over Gonzaga. A lot of people, including some of us at the HQ, thought that without an inside presence the Cougs would be in trouble. Now, they're back to the Sweet 16 since Danny Ainge...

Here's a wrap with BYU voice Greg Wrubel
((HT: KSL-TV))

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

It took an extra ten minutes for San Diego State to get rid of Temple...
Billy White had a double-double...
((HT: CBSSports/NCAA/TNT))


And Wisconsin withstood Jacob Pullen's 38 points and move on after a win over Kansas State... and, no, we're not going to show the Jacob Pullen postgame- just because K-State head coach Frank Martin was a bit of a jerk about it...
((HT: CBSSports/NCAA/TNT))

Kansas State's Game Heading Souht...

((HT: ESPN/Youtube))

Number 10 Texas A&M took out 24th-ranked Kansas State Saturday, but the real issue was with the spellchecker on the Wildcats jerseys...

You foul out, it's because they can't stitch correctly...
Evidence below...


At least, here on our computers we're told when things are going wrong...
Not on television, the HQ guesses...

TWTW Bowling: "Excessive Celebration" Gives Syracuse Win

Adrian Hilburn caught a 30-yard touchdown with 1:13 remaining in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. After crossing the goal line, Hilburn saluted the crowd. He was flagged for excessive celebration. The penalty pushed Kansas State's two-point conversion attempt back 15 yards- from the 3 to the 18-yard line.

The attempt failed and the Wildcats lost to Syracuse 36-34.

The Orangemen had 498 yards of total offense- Delone Carter had 202 yards rushing with two scores of that total...

Here's the, um, penalty...
((HT: ESPN/Youtube))


"I didn't see it, I heard he just did a salute, which is kind of bogus," Kansas State quarterback Carson Coffman said. "It's something you can't do, we know that. Adrian is our guy, we're not mad at him for it, but I thought it was a little bit of a bogus call."

Yeah, that's one word to use...

UNLV Upsets K-State, Frank Martin Still Upset

((HT: KSHB-TV/NBCActionNews.com))

With two guards, Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly, suspended for receiving improper benefits from a Manhattan, Kansas clothing store, the Kansas State Wildcats went into their game with UNLV short-handed.

Tre'Von Willis scored 16 points and Oscar Bellfield hit a key 3-pointer with 1:10 left to help UNLV win over the highest-ranked opponent it had faced in the regular season in more than three years.

Frank Martin, on the other hand, would only take questions about the players on the floor and, practically, had a scanners moment in the press room.

Here's KSHB-TV's coverage...
And Martin is awesome...

TWTW: Mizzou Takes One Away From K-State

((HT: NBCActionNews/KSHB-TV))

Missouri's Blaine Gabbert accounted for three scores, and Kansas State turned the ball over four times in a 38-28 loss to Missouri.

The Tigers rushed for 232 yards. Gabbert led the way with 89 yards and a touchdown on the ground while also completing 17-of-25 for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the air.

The Wildcats fall to 6-4 overall, 3-4 in the Big 12/11/10.

Missouri finishes the season 6-0 at home as they beat Kansas State for the fifth straight time, they are 8-2/4-2 in the 12/11/10.

How scary is the Big 12/11/10 compared to the South these days...???

Lance Veeser knows of what we speak...

TWTW: Kansas State Embarasses Texas In Manhattan

((HT: Kansas State Collegian))

Collin Klein got the start at quarterback in the place of Carson Coffman for Kansas State. The Wildcats stuck with the ground game and wore down Texas 39-14.

Amazingly, Klein only completed 2-of-4 passes on the day for nine yards. Klein rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Daniel Thomas added 106 yards and two scores on 18 carries.

When the Longhorns defense can't stop your running, why pass right...???

The Cats picked off Garrett Gilbert five times in the game. Kansas State led 39-0 before the Horns even scored.

Texas is now 4-5 overall, 2-4 in Big 12/11/10 play.

Kansas State improved to 6-3 overall. They are 3-3 in the conference, and they're now bowl eligible...

Here's some low-angle highlights, thanks to the Collegian...
Call your own play-by-play of Garrett Gilbert making a lot of mistakes...

TWTW: Oke State Plows Past K-State

((HT: newsok.com))

Oklahoma State outgained Kansas State 511-289, and the largeer question was the idea of a Cowboys offense without WR Justin Blackmon. Blackmon was serving a one-game suspension for alleged drinking and driving shenanigans last MOnday.

All Blackmon was was the nation's leader in receiving yards per game, total receiving yards, scoring and touchdown catches

But after a 7-7 halftime score, OSU QB Brandon Weeden, No. 2 in the nation in yards passing per game, would wrap up 22 of 39 for 298 yards and two TD's. One was to Michael Harrison with a 15-yarder in the second quarter and Josh Cooper in the third quarter. Kendall Hunter ran for 143 yards on 28 carries.

Jenni Carlson and Brandon Chatmon discuss...

TWTW: Snyder's Manhattan Project Beats KU By 52

((HT: KWCH-TV Wichita))

The biggest questions here are:
Who in the hell was that team that showed up to play Kansas State last night...?
And, more importantly, did Mark Mangino really leave Turner Gill THIS bad a team...?
Or, has Gill already lost this team...?

Absolutely horrific football display... and Fox got to broadcast it

Bruce Haertl gets to spend a lot of time on the game...
 

Yikes!

Bryce Brown's Dad Planning On Suing Vols And Dooley

((HT: VolunteerTV/WVLT-TV Knoxville))

The father of former Tennessee/wannabe Kansas State running back Bryce Brown is planning to sue Derek Dooley and the University of Tennessee.

Arthur Brown, Sr. said he is filing suit because Dooley refused to grant his son a release from his scholarship. The Brown family wanted Bryce to transfer back to Kansas State because of behavior he was exhibiting that they considered "alarming."

Whatever that means...

"This has nothing to do with football," Brown said on Sports Talk, a show which airs on WNML Radio in Knoxville. "This was a situation to where myself and my wife was concerned about the mental and physical state of my son."

Possible translation: not enough playing time...

Brown said he first told Dooley in March of his desire for Bryce to receive a release. The younger Brown, who is practicing with Kansas State, must pay his own college tuition this season up until the point that Tennessee releases Brown from the scholarship.

"Those kids are not just a tool to be used," Arthur Brown said. "If [Dooley] really cared about...Bryce being successful, then why not take the way [my wife and I] feel into consideration?"

Actually, they always have been tools to be used... that's the system...
And if the Browns don't have the money to pay for Bryce to go to school, there's something called a GSL. The HQ went through a good lot of those in school.

Here's the video version, thanks to WVLT...
Wes Boling takes over from here...

Bryce Brown Takes Cowards Way Out Of Knoxville...

((HT: GoVolsXtra/Adams))
It appears that the highly-sought after Wichita-based running back Bryce Brown has checked out of Knoxville, taking the towels, the robe, and the TV remote with him.

He did so without having a face-to-face discussion of the matter with Vols coach Derek Dooley...

The HQ is not shocked by the lack of maturity and class by an individual who only wished attention on himself from the day of his college declaration.

Talk is that Brown wants to transfer to Kansas State to be with his brother to play for Bill Snyder. Snyder will have no problem accepting Brown once the kid has the stones to ask for a release from the University of Tennessee...

Once again... "Once" he asks for the release... it still has to happen...

Our friends at Volunteer TV caught up with Coach Dooley at a local Rotarian gathering... he talks Bryce Brown, the brawl, and other stuff...

Brown, specifically, is referenced at the 24-minute mark...
((HT: WVLT-TV Knoxville))

So What About The Five Left In The 12...???

((HT: WHO-TV Des Moines))

There would be five schools who would be absolutely screwed if 6 schools jumped to what is now-called the Pac-10 and Nebraska bolts to the Ten Friday.

Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, K-State, and Missouri are the soon-to-be homeless, and you see why Mountain West Commish Craig Thompson was more than happy to lay in the weeds when Boise State's name came up...???

Iowa State's Jamie Pollard is really keeping an eye on things...

Elizabeth Kling was in the newsroom with some soundbites...
 

Does anyone really care what Senator Tom Harkin thinks in the first place...?

The University of Missouri Chancellor, Brady Deaton, is concerned, too...
At a Board of Curators meeting Thursday, he was seen telling other board members about the day's events...

Aaron Heintzelman was in Columbia...
((HT: KSHB-TV Kansas City))

Xavier and Kansas State: Gus Being Gus

((HT: CBSSports/NCAA))

The HQ has alluded to the post-season tournament play-by-play greatness that is Gus Johnson. He was front and center last night for the Salt Lake City match-up between Xavier and K-State...

We just have one word for it: Bam!
Enjoy...

Sunday College Carousel: Kent Out, Martin Stays

((HT: KVAL-TV Eugene))

University of Oregon's head basketball coach, Ernie Kent, has been fired before the end of the regular season.

Technically, Kent was fired after meeting with Oregon AD Mike Bellotti back on Monday after home losses to Cal and Stanford. Also coming out of that meeting, Kent's entire staff will be replaced, with the possible exception of assistant Kenny Payne.

Kent is 233-172 in 13 seasons with the Ducks. He has taken Oregon to five NCAA appearances- making it to the Elite Eight twice.

The past two seasons have been classified as "a big disappointment" for the team. Oregon was 8-23 last season, and is 14-15 losses this year.

There should be a press conference on either Sunday or Monday.

New arena= new head coach...
Where has the HQ heard that one before...???

Tom Davis has the scoop, thanks to our friends at KVAL-TV...


Elsewhere, the Octagon of Doom will have its ring leader for a while...

Frank Martin has agreed to and will sign a three-year extension to remain with Kansas State through the 2014-15 season, according to ESPN's Andy Katz.

Martin had two years remaining on his original deal. He'll get a salary increase, retroactive no less, that will move his salary from $760K to $1.2 million a year.

Now, if only Martin could invest in some decaf...

K-State Knocks Off Number One Texas

((HT: KTKA-TV Topeka))

Just when you thought the Big 12 couldn't get any wackier, Kansas State goes and does this...

Jamar Samuels scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half and the Wildcats knocked off previously unbeaten Texas 71-62 in Lawrence at Bramlage Coliseum.

Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente combined for a 4-for-24 from the field as the Longhorns shot only 37-percent from the floor in the game.

Kansas State had a ten point lead at the half, but had to deal with Texas' intensity on the defensive side of the ball as well- only clocking in at 38-percent for the contest.

So much for all the hub-bub after Wildcats coach Frank Martin poked a player a week ago, right...?

Winning distracts from everything, although the HQ saw nothing really wrong with the Martin-Merrieweather incident in the first place...

Nic Hoch has your postgame wrap from the Coliseum...


The KSU kids felt compelled to chant "overrated" as the clock ticked down. Robert Montgomery Knight, who was calling the game with Brent Musburger, thought it would be a great idea to chant "Great effort" instead...

We're not kidding...and the kids didn't follow through on that request...
For some unknown reason...

KSU Coach Apologizes For Player Contact

((HT: WIBW-TV Topeka))

Kansas State Head basketball coach Frank Martin is, shall we say, intense...

So when an old-school coach thinks a player needs motivation or his attention refocused, Martin has his ways of reorienting said attention... especially when you're a top 15 team in the country.

It includes giving a player a quick pop on his person- like he did in the Mizzou game Saturday to Chris Merrieweather.

The HQ doesn't really think what Martin did is a big deal, but in today's hyper-touchy society, we understand what Coach did after the game...

Apologize out of the box...


The HQ's only real issue is in the post-game where a K-State player referred to his coach by his first name... so much for that whole "position of authority" thing...

TWTW: Sherman Gets Burned For A Change, K-State Wins 62-14

((HT: KBTX-TV/Bryan-College Station, Texas))

Daniel Thomas ran for four touchdowns in the first half and Brandon Banks returned the second-half kickoff 97 yards for another score, leading Kansas State to an improbable 62-14 rout over Texas A&M Saturday night.

A week after allowing 66 points and more than 700 yards in a disheartening loss to Texas Tech, Kansas State (4-3, 2-1 Big 12) steamrolled Texas A&M on both sides of the ball for its most lopsided conference win since beating Iowa State 58-7 in 2002.

The Wildcats led 38-0 at halftime after Thomas scored on runs of 7, 3, 9 and 17 yards, then scored 21 points over the first 5:12 of the third quarter before Texas A&M (3-3, 0-2) finally started to put points on the board.

Dwayne Parsons got to deliver the bad news to the home folks from behind a desk... ((HT: KBTX-TV))

Acadiana All The Rage: Cajuns Beat K-State

((HT: KATC-TV/Lafayette))

Tyler Albrecht hit a 48-yard field goal with 32 seconds left to lift Louisiana-Lafayette a 17-15 victory over Kansas State.

It was Albrecht's first collegiate field goal attempt.

The Ragin' Cajuns (2-0) trailed 15-14 before driving from their 33 to the Kansas State 30 to set up the game-winner and give Louisiana its first win over a BCS conference member since 1996. The Cajuns start a season (2-0) for the first time since 1990.

Here's Travis Webb's coverage, thanks to our friends at KATC-TV...
He's always on...

K-State Audit Shows Big Issues

((HT: KCStar/Helling, Kraske, Williams))

A scathing audit of Kansas State University reveals a pattern of undisclosed payments, conflicts of interest, poor accounting and possible tax problems for the school, several of its former employees and its athletic department.

The audit, released by the Kansas Board of Regents on Friday, describes thousands of dollars paid to companies owned by current and former university employees. They include head football coach Bill Snyder; former athletic director Tim Weiser; and Bob Krause, a former vice president for institutional advancement and former athletic director.

Auditors found that some of those payments could result in additional tax liability for the university and may violate Internal Revenue Service regulations. But the report stops short of concluding that any payments or other irregularities were illegal, and notes that virtually all the money came from private donations, not taxpayers.

The new K-State president, Kirk Schulz, said he welcomed the regents’ decision to release the audit, which is dated April 27. The board discussed it in closed session Friday.

“There is nothing we can do about the past,” Schulz said in a news release. “However, steps have been taken to ensure these situations do not happen again.”

K-State officials and regents said the audit, prepared by Grant Thornton LLP, would be the basis for a thorough examination of the university’s financial controls. Schulz is expected to make recommendations to the regents by October.

The 34-page report details a $2.4 million shortfall in the university foundation’s scholarship fund in 2007. It also found questionable spending on fees, travel and fringe benefits, plus a $500,000 loan from the athletic department to Weiser in 2008 that he was not required to “justify or explain.”

Thirteen payments totaling $845,000 to Snyder, Weiser, Krause and others had no supporting documentation, auditors said.

The report was prepared as an “exit analysis” of former K-State president Jon Wefald, who left this year. Similar audits are under way for the University of Kansas and Pittsburg State University, whose presidents also recently departed.

Auditors made several recommendations to improve oversight of the athletic department at K-State and other entities affiliated with the university to improve “structure, formality and transparency.”

Wefald said Friday that he was most troubled by the lack of documents for the $845,000 in payments.

“I think we should do everything we can to uncover that,” he said.

Wefald added that he gave Krause too much authority, a decision he now regrets.

“He did do a lot of good,” Wefald said. “But Bob had too much to do. I probably delegated too much authority to him. I wouldn’t do that again.”

Krause could not be reached for comment. He recently resigned from his job on the university’s Olathe Innovation Campus following revelations of previously undisclosed contractual obligations of more than $3 million to a company owned by former head football coach Ron Prince. Kansas State is now suing to declare that agreement — which was not mentioned in this audit — void.

Weiser, now deputy commissioner for the Big 12 Conference, declined to comment on the audit until he could read it.


“I was not aware they were going to release that,” he said from the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Snyder was traveling on Friday and said he wanted to thoroughly review the report before commenting.

Here's the financial analysis...
And here's the accompanying press release...

K-State Files Suit Over "Secret" Agreement

((HT: KTKA-TV/Kansas State University))

Kansas State University and its athletic corporation is filing suit today, asking a court to declare invalid a secret agreement signed by Bob Krause ((pictured, thanks KSU SID)), its former athletic director, and by former head football coach Ron Prince for a company called In Pursuit of Perfection, LLC. The secret agreement was signed without the knowledge of anyone else at K-State, according to K-State President Jon Wefald.

If determined to be valid, K-State's athletic corporation would have to make $3.2 million in deferred compensation payments to In Pursuit of Perfection between 2015 and 2020.

In addition to other legal claims, K-State argues that Ron Prince's attorney, Ohio sports agent Neil Cornrich, impermissibly negotiated this secret agreement without involving attorneys for the university. K-State contends that, under attorney ethical rules, Cornrich was required to obtain permission from K-State lawyers before negotiating directly with Krause.

Interim athletic director James Epps issued the following statement:

"On May 11, 2009, I learned of a secret deferred compensation agreement that Bob Krause apparently negotiated with Ron Prince's attorney. This alleged deal was made without the knowledge of anyone else in the athletics department, including its attorney. This deal was apparently constructed as a further supplement to the buyout provision contained in Prince's employment contract. I do not know why any additional supplement was justified, or why Bob Krause concealed this agreement from everyone until it was inadvertently discovered last week.

Krause resigned Wednesday from his job as director of economic development for the school's Olathe Innovation Campus upon Wefald's request.

"I do not believe that this agreement is valid, and the athletics department will vigorously fight any attempt to enforce it."

K-State President Jon Wefald said, "I learned shortly after Jim Epps about the secret deferred compensation agreement between Bob Krause and Ron Prince's attorney. I was shocked and saddened to find out about this agreement. No one in central administration or athletics knew about this agreement. We all thought that the August 2008 press release accurately described Ron Prince's one year contract extension and his salary increase from $750,000 to $1.1 million. We thought that any compensation he was owed was in that contract. We had no knowledge whatsoever of this secret agreement between August 2008 and May 2009, and it was therefore unavailable to the auditors, Grant Thornton, who were retained by the Board of Regents to do an exit analysis.

"After Jim Epps and I learned about the secret agreement, we spent several days explaining to Ron Prince and his agent why they should consider the agreement was null and void. That failed. We believe that this secret agreement made between Bob Krause and Ron Prince's attorney is null and void and we will act accordingly.

"This has happened on my watch. I appointed Bob Krause to be athletic director. He has been a longtime friend. I regret deeply and apologize that this happened while I was president. But we do regard this secret agreement as null and void. Like the Interim AD Jim Epps and his staff, we have been completely caught off guard.

"I have asked for Bob Krause's resignation as director of economic development for the K-State Olathe Innovation Campus."

K-State discovered the secret agreement May 11, 2009, while responding to routine informational requests in a lawsuit involving one of its former assistant football coaches.

Take a look at the filing in black...