The reaction isn't a surprise. Weibert, a lifetime K-State fan, grew up in Hillsboro, watching the Wildcats dominate KU year after year. But from 2006-08, the Jayhawks won three in a row.
This was supposed to be no different, it was KU's year. The Jayhawks' slogan going into the 2009 season was "history awaits." A fourth consecutive victory over the Wildcats appeared all but certain.
Not so fast. Saturday's victory over KU put a halt to the streak in an impressive way. The Wildcats and coach Bill Snyder sent a message to KU: This isn't your Wildcats of the last three years.
This is Snyder's K-State team. Not Ron Prince's. This team has an identity. It plays defense and runs the ball. It's man-on-man, helmet-on-a-helmet disciplined football, and it won out on Saturday. With the win, the Wildcats took a big step in restoring the order to the rivalry that wasn't so much of a rivalry from 1993-2003.
With Snyder back at the helm,the power in the state seems destined to shift back to the Wildcats' favor. Saturday was merely a starting point. No, the Wildcats didn't dominate like they used to under Snyder. They didn't abuse the Jayhawks 64-0, and they weren't supposed to. There's a reason KU was favored in this game. The Jayhawks were supposed to have more talent, speed and experience.
That didn't matter. Coaching trumped talent on Saturday (although, it would appear the Wildcats have more talent following recent weeks than they were given credit for prior to the season, myself included).
All week leading up to the game, there was a sense of urgency from the K-State players. They spoke with confidence. They were angered from the Oklahoma loss. They said all the right things, saying they didn't believe in moral victories. That winning was all that mattered.
That's the attitude that was missing the previous three seasons. Snyder has kept this group level-headed. And leading up to the KU game, there was a sense that K-State knew it needed to win. Not for the North Division of the Big 12 Conference, but to take back the state of Kansas. To restore the pride for the K-State fans who have suffered verbal lashings at the hands of the KU faithful for the last three years.
"It feels great," said K-State left tackle Nick Stringer. "I've heard about it for the last three years from a lot of people and I look forward to being on the good side of that this year."
This wasn't about taking a stronghold on the Big 12 North, which the Wildcats did with the victory, ensuring they would finish ahead of KU in the final standings. This was about winning a rivalry game and restoring pride.
Mission accomplished.
"Being able to be a part of something like this, being able to bring the Governor's Cup back to Vanier, that felt extremely good and just to see it come through those doors, that was just amazing," Weibert said. "As a Kansas kid, I feel like this is a football school, I feel fans come here that are very excited to see our football team and the fact that we could bring back that tradition and just keep it going felt extremely good."
The empty spot in the trophy case has been filled once again. Now can the Wildcats keep it there? That's the question for future teams.
"We're pretty excited, got that trophy back on our side and hopefully we can keep it here," said Grant Gregory.
If past history tells us anything, the answer would seem to be a resounding 'yes.'
