By Ben Brake

Sports Editor

’99: 8-4, 5-3 Big 12

’00: 5-2, 3-1 Big 12

Coach : R.C. Slocum (12th season, 107-34-2)

Kansas State will travel to College Station for the game this weekend. The Aggies are hoping to upset the
Wildcats during their visit to Texas. Kansas State is in a little bit of a slump after losing to Oklahoma two weeks
ago and having a poor showing in Manhattan against Texas Tech last Saturday. K-State will need to play with
their head in the game this weekend or Texas A&M will be glad to hand the Wildcats their second defeat.

The Aggies are led by Quarterback Mark Farris that has brought them to a 5-2 mark for the season thus far.
Farris already has 1,641 passing yards and a completion percentage of 61%. Running backs Joe Weber and
Richard Whitaker who have a combined total of 665 yards rushing are a threat on the ground. Texas A&M offers
a balanced attack between rushing and passing; K-States secondary better be prepared or Farris will make them
pay.

A&M’s Wrecking Crew defense has only allowed an average of 13.1 points a game. They are looking to keep
QB Jonathan Beasley contained with nowhere to throw the ball.

K-State needs to keep in mind that Kyle Field is a very difficult place for an opponent to play. They are expecting
a sellout crowd of around 80,000 noisy spectators, also known as the "Twelfth Man".

The two teams have met 8 times in the past splitting the wins at 4 apiece. A&M won the last meeting in the 1998
Big Twelve Championship game in double overtime 33-36.

Predicting the score of this game will be very difficult because of the level K-State has been playing at for the last
two weeks. Which Wildcat team is going to show up?

Prediction: K-STATE 35 Texas A&M 24

Chris Taylor, WR, Sr.

Clutch team-lading receiver (33 catches, 591 yards, 4 TDs) who is fearless on passes thrown over the middle.

Seth McKinney, C, Jr.

Anchor of the Aggies’ offensive line will be among the best centers in the Big 12.

Key defensive players

Rocky Bernard, DE, Sr.

Top producer among the Aggies’ solid defensive front. Jason Glenn, LB, Sr. Fast, aggressive defender who
teams with Roylin Bradley to give the Aggies the best pair of outside linebackers in the Big 12.

Michael Jameson, FS, Sr. Lone returning starter in A&M’s inexperienced but athletic secondary.

Key newcomer

Richard Whitaker, TB, RFr.

Favorably compared to former A&M All-American Leeland McElroy after winning starting job at tailback during
the spring.

Throwback player

MLB Brian Gamble is a solid inside run-stuffer who plays with the subtlety of a bulldozer.

21st century player

WR Bethel Johnson has the speed to develop into the Peter Warrick-type receiving threat the Ags have always
lacked.

Fast fact

Sophomore QB Mark Farris spent four years in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system before beginning his college
football career last spring.

Outlook

Expectations are lower than they’ve been in years around College Station. The Aggies open the season with huge
question marks at quarterback (Farris, redshirt freshman Colby Freeman and redshirt freshman Vance Smith are
all in the mix) and in the secondary, and must settle on a kicker and punter. If those potential problems are
settled, the Aggies could be the surprise team in the South Division. A&M has strong running backs, steady
receivers and the fastest and most athletic front-seven defenders in their division. Those positives might be
enough to boost them into a divisional title showdown with Texas in the season finale if they can avoid injuries.

— Tim Griffin