Weekend Warriors

Mother Nature decorated for the "family reunion" in Manhattan last weekend. A field of Kansas sunflowers bloomed just north of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium, just in time for the home opener for the K-State Wildcat football team.

I made Randy take a brief time out as we were walking to a Kansas Agriculture in the Classroom gathering before the game. It's a photo shot I've always wanted to try. And though it doesn't qualify as one of my best photos of all time, it does combine two of my favorite Kansas things - sunflowers and K-State football.

It was the first time that we'd seen the latest changes to the north end of the stadium.

The band has its own space in the northeast corner, so we south end zone people were better able to keep time to the Wabash Cannonball, since the sound was pointed towards us.

There was a flyover before the game. But there's a different kind of "flyover" happening nearer to home. I missed the Monarch Mania event at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday since we were in Manhattan. But when I saw that a record number of Monarch butterflies had been tagged on Saturday, we decided to drive up to Quivira Sunday evening. 

At first, all we could find were hundreds of the Clouded Sulphur butterflies. Most didn't linger long enough for a close-up, but I finally captured one on a wild sunflower.

As we drove toward the Little Salt Marsh, I kept my eyes scanning the skies for Monarchs. I was disappointed not to see any fluttering along the ditches. But, we got out at the marsh to listen to the water and watch the sunlight across the surface. But across the road, I found what I was looking for. With the Kansas winds blowing, some Monarchs were sheltering down in a hollow, drinking nectar from the goldenrod.

How many butterflies can you find in the photo above? I didn't see them all at first. In fact, I labeled it "5 Monarchs" when I did some photo editing. But then I looked again. (You'll have to click on the photo to make it bigger to see all of them!)

Just like my sunflower photo at the football stadium, it wasn't easy to get the shot as the goldenrod swayed in the wind and as the butterflies played hopscotch as they danced from one bloom to the next. 

Even though temperatures this week in Kansas won't seem much like fall, the Monarchs' migration does signal a move toward autumn. The Monarchs begin the journey in their summer home in Canada and the northern regions of the U.S. They are headed for a mountain range 70 miles west of Mexico City in central Mexico, where they find the perfect habitat to survive November through March in the Oyamel forests. As many as 300 million spend the winter there. Wouldn't that be a sight to see?

It's not like ducks and geese which migrate year after year. The butterflies will only make this journey one time. So how do they know where to go? It is just another miracle of God's creation. Researchers say that it appears to be a combination of directional aids such as the magnetic pull of the earth, the position of the sun and the availability of milkweed, where the butterflies lay their eggs. No matter the reason, they are a beautiful signal of fall.

We started our weekend with "weekend warriors" on the gridiron.  (Our Wildcats beat Florida Atlantic University with a score of 63-7.)

 

 We ended it with the Monarchs, who are warriors in their own rite as they make their long, arduous journey.

Family vs. Fireworks

I knew there were going to be fireworks after K-State's season opener. I just didn't expect the explosions to involve the Pride of Wildcat Land Marching Band.

Band Director Dr. Frank Tracz's motives were called into question with a formation during Saturday's halftime show that some believed was vulgar in nature. For the record, nobody was discussing this at all during the halftime show or during the second half, at least in the south end zone where I was sitting. (Granted: Cell phone reception is not the best in the stadium. I wasn't checking my phone every minute, and my son, who was sitting by me, wasn't going to bring up this topic willingly to his mother. But I didn't hear it from anyone else either.)

Honestly, I was very impressed with the halftime show. The band is always good. But they did multiple formations and were moving all over the field in intricate, ever-shifting patterns. I don't ever recall a show that had more moving parts. I thought it was an apt reflection of the Wildcat band's recognition with the Sudler Trophy, an award given every two years to the top college band in the nation.

After the internet hubbub, I wrote to President Kirk Schulz and Athletic Director John Currie, expressing my support and asking them to stand behind our band and its director. And I also wrote to Dr. Tracz with an apology. It said:

"I am writing with a confession of sorts. I probably would not have written this email if the controversy about the band's halftime performance wouldn't have happened. And that's the sad part to me: I sat in the south end zone of the football stadium on Saturday and was amazed at the intricate formations the band was performing. In all the years we've been season ticket holders for football, I don't recall a halftime show with more moving pieces. So I should have been thinking - then and there - "I should write an email to Dr. Tracz and the band and tell them how much I appreciated all their time and effort in creating and carrying out the halftime show!"

But, in reality, I probably wouldn't have done so. That's sad, and I'm sorry about that - for all the times I should have said thank you and congratulations for your wonderful achievements - but I didn't. Every time I hear the patriotic fanfare at the beginning of the game, I tear up. I also appreciate the band's enthusiasm and leadership with the Wabash Cannonball, the alma mater and so much more.

Congratulations on your national honor! I am proud to have you and the band represent me and my alma mater!

I am not a band alumni, but I have known a few throughout the years. I know that your performances represent HOURS of practicing. As I told someone else, you guys probably spent more time outside practicing in the heat and humidity than the football team did because you don't have a brand new indoor practice facility. So, for all the blood, sweat and tears, thank you!

 I have emailed people in leadership at both K-State and KU, voicing my support for you and the band. So ...

Fight you K-State Wildcats

for Alma Mater fight!

Glory into combat for the Purple and the White

Faithful to our colors

We will ever be

Fighting, ever fighting, for a Wildcat Victory!

Go State!

 

I don't agree with the University's self-imposed sanctions. I think Schulz and university administration should have stood behind its band family. "Family" is the flag we wave before the game.

It's the sign our football team carries at the forefront as it runs onto the field before the game.

Family is what built the new Vanier football complex and West Stadium ...

... and the amazing digital scoreboard. (The image above taken from across the football field, zooming in on the new scoreboard. It was a wonderful addition for we south end zone occupants!)

There were plenty of positive things to focus on at Saturday's game. Game goers helped "Stripe Out" the stadium, wearing either white or purple shirts in assigned sections. It looked awesome!

The National Football Foundation saluted Coach Snyder on his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Four great Wildcats became the newest Ring of Honor recipients - Michael Bishop, Jordy Nelson, Clarence Scott and Darren Sproles. There were raucous standing ovations for each one of them.

My sister called from Chicago on Monday and asked about the controversy. I offered my take. I told her that it was too bad that the good things were overshadowed. She also had no idea that our starting quarterback Jesse Ertz had a season-ending injury during the first drive or that senior safety Dante Barnett had an arm injury.

Life isn't fair. My parents have been telling me that my whole life, so you'd think I would have learned that lesson by now. So I hope the band members and Dr. Tracz rally and come back next home game better than ever.

And I hope the fireworks we'll be talking about at Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be simply that - fireworks ... or another explosive 100-yard kickoff return from Morgan Burns or one of his special teams pals!