KSU's Howard honored

BIG 12 FOOTBALL

By KEVIN HASKIN

The Capital-Journal

Before chalking up the interception Darren Howard returned last Saturday for his first collegiate touchdown as a rare fluke by a defensive end, think again.

Kansas State auditioned the 6-foot-4, 270-pound senior at tight end last spring and even inserted him there during the spring game.

"Darren is a very fine athlete and has some excellent hands," K- State coach Bill Snyder said. "Dumb coach, myself, I put him on the field in the spring game as a tight end and he got hurt on a running play, but he can catch the ball. That wasn't any accident where it just stuck in his hands; he can catch the ball well."

Howard did practically everything well in the Wildcats' 40-0 shutout over Temple. In addition to the interception, the 1998 consensus All-Big 12 pick caused two fumbles, including one off a 12- yard sack. For the effort, he was named Big 12 defensive player of the week on Monday.

Temple's scheme dictated that the K-State defensive linemen be alert for passes delivered off the three-step drop. They were instructed all week to keep their hands up to try to bat passes down, but Howard went one better with his pick.

It didn't come as a complete surprise after about 10 percent of his work last spring came at tight end.

"If we're looking at anybody at a different position, it's serious," Snyder said. "And he is very capable of playing the position and being very, very good at it. Obviously, he's not going to be a full-time player on both sides of the ball, and I would never exclude him from playing on the defensive side. That is the mainstay of our defense and it will always be that way, but he's got the skills to play tight end."

Others named as Big 12 players of the week on Monday were Colorado quarterback Mike Moschetti (offense), who hit 78.1 percent of his passes for 499 yards, and Oklahoma State kicker Tim Sydnes (special teams), who hit three field goals and five extra points.

Changes along O-line

The latest K-State depth chart lists senior Damion McIntosh as a starter at left tackle. McIntosh, who started the past two seasons on defense before moving to offense to bolster depth, did not enter until 19 minutes into the Temple game after John Robertson started at one of the tackle spots.

Robertson is listed as the second-team right tackle behind Thomas Barnett. Newcomers listed among second-team offensive linemen on the new depth chart include junior guard Grant Reves and sophomore center Dan Divilbiss, who replaced Chris Bailes and Milford Stephenson.

"There's probably some concern, and when I say concern it's just a matter of evaluating the personnel you have on the field," Snyder said. "If there's someone playing better than someone else, we're certainly going to give them an opportunity to move up the depth chart."

Juco transfer Joe Hall also is listed as the first-team fullback, a move made after starter Johnno Lazetich suffered a concussion against Temple. Lazetich is expected to miss the 6:10 p.m. home game Saturday against Texas-El Paso. Also, juniors Brice Libel and Ivan Hinson have been moved into the two-deep as second-team receivers behind Aaron Lockett and Quincy Morgan.

KSU-ISU on television

Kansas State's Big 12 opener at Iowa State on Sept. 25 has been moved to 11:30 a.m. to accommodate the Fox regional syndication, which is carried locally by WIBW-TV (13). It will be K-State's first TV appearance in football since the Alamo Bowl, which was carried by ESPN.

Those who contend the Big 12 was created to bail out the Texas schools have a new point to raise. Texas A&M's non-conference game with Southern Mississippi was chosen as ABC's regional telecast on Sept. 25, while Nebraska-Missouri will be televised that night on Fox Sports Net.

--- Chris Ochsner/The Capital-Journal

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