9/1/2007

WILDCAT GAME DAY

At look at today's Kansas State game

KANSAS STATE (0-0) AT AUBURN (0-0)

WHERE -- Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451), Auburn, Ala.

SERIES RECORD -- Auburn leads, 2-0.

LAST MEETING -- Auburn won, 26-18, in 1979 at Auburn.

NATIONAL RANKINGS -- Auburn No. 18 in AP, No. 14 USA Today.

COACHES -- Kansas State's Ron Prince (2nd season, 7-6); Auburn's Tommy Tuberville (9th season, 71-29).

LAST GAME -- Kansas State lost 37-10 to Rutgers in Texas Bowl; Auburn beat Nebraska, 17-14, in Cotton Bowl.

K-STATE AT A GLANCE -- K-State is opening the season against a ranked opponent for the first time since a 21-10 loss to No. 14 Florida in 1973 ... K-State's depth chart features six first-time starters on offense and defense - OT Alesana Alesana, WR Deon Murphy, DE Mike Abana, LB Justin Roland, SS Gary Chandler and CB Ray Cheatham - along with kicker Brooks Rossman and long snapper Corey Adams ... K-State returns 70 percent of its passing offense, 75 percent of its rushing yards and 66 percent of receiving yards from last year.

AUBURN AT A GLANCE -- Auburn's 33-5 record over the past three seasons is tied for third in Division I-A behind USC (36-3) and Texas (34-4) ... The Tigers return five starters on offense and seven on defense ... RB Ron Lester's status is uncertain because of academic concerns that forced him to miss the Cotton Bowl ... The Tigers lost four starters from their offensive line and start two freshmen (G Mike Berry, T Lee Ziemba) on the right side ... Auburn is 11-1 in home night games since 2000.

K-STATE PLAYERS TO WATCH -- QB Josh Freeman (6-6, 250, so.) started last eight games as a true freshman and broke school freshman record with 1,780 passing yards ... WR Jordy Nelson (6-3, 217, so.) battled injuries most of last season but led Wildcats in receiving for second straight year with 39 catches for 547 yards ... OLB Ian Campbell (6-4, 249, jr.) moves from DE after leading Big 12 in tackles for loss and tying school single-season sack record with 11.5 ... FS Marcus Watts (6-1, 189, sr.) slowed by injuries last year but preseason all-Big 12 pick along with Campbell.

AUBURN PLAYERS TO WATCH -- QB Brandon Cox (6-2, 207, sr.) is 19-5 as a two-year starter and completed 60 percent of passes for 2,198 yards and 14 TDS last year... TB Brad Lester (5-11, 194, jr.) is team's top returning rusher with 510 yards and team-high 9 TDs last year ... DE Quentin Groves (6-3, 254, sr.) preseason all-SEC pick and All-America candidate had 9.5 sacks last year ... FS Aairon Savage (5-11, 188, so.) top returning tackler with.

K-STATE KEYS -- Suspect offensive line must contain Groves and give Freeman time to throw ... solid performance in kicking game from Rossman and veteran punter Tim Reyer ... make something happen in return game ... Exploit inexperienced Auburn OL and pressure Cox.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Tonight's sellout crowd of 87,451 will be the largest ever to see K-State play ...K-State has won 17 straight season openers, starting with a 27-6 victory over Western Illinois to start 1990. The last loss was a 31-0 setback at Arizona State in 1989.

-- Compiled by ARNE GREEN

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