Defending Big 12 champion K-State left to lick wounds after opening loss to North Dakota State
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Kansas State coach Bill Snyder had just emerged from a somber postgame locker room when he stepped to the podium. The first words that he said, entirely unprompted, spoke volumes.
"Now will you believe me when I say we're not very good?" he asked. "Been trying to tell you."
While the defending Big 12 champion Wildcats were licking their wounds deep within the Vanier Football Complex, two-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State was still on the field in the stadium that bears Snyder's name, celebrating the biggest win in school history.
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There was no smoke and mirrors behind the Bison's 24-21 triumph Friday night, either. They outplayed the Wildcats most of the night, and then added injury to insult with a bruising, 18-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up 8½ minutes and ended with the go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown.