What other reporters were saying ...
From staff and wire reports
January 3, 2001
A sampling of what other writers had to say about the Cotton Bowl:
It wasn't a good sign for Tennessee in Monday's 65th annual Cotton Bowl when Vols' freshman quarterback Casey Clausen spent most his time in three places.
No. 1 was on his back, throwing under the pressure of a mere four-man Kansas State pass rush that often hammered him as he released passes.
No. 2 was on the sideline phone to the press box, talking to offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, figuring out how to avoid the worst day of his young college career.
No. 3 was next to the sideline heater, trying to put some feeling into hands chilled by 29-degree temperature and a slightly snowy field.
Ron Higgins
The Memphis Commercial Appeal
* * *
Tennessee's future will have to wait. The old men of the Kansas State Wildcats had some unfinished business in Monday's Cotton Bowl Classic.
No. 11 Kansas State (11-3) played like a veteran team, while Tennessee's youth was all-too apparent in a 35-21 Wildcats victory before 63,465 frost-bitten fans. An overnight snowstorm blanketed much of the field in white but did nothing to dampen Kansas State's enthusiasm for finishing with 11 wins for the fourth consecutive season.
After halftime, most of the snow had evaporated along with Tennessee's chances of winning.
Keith Whitmire
The Dallas Morning News
* * *
In his 25th and final start as the Kansas State quarterback, Jonathan Beasley gave Wildcats fans reason to remember him as more than the player who replaced Michael Bishop.
Jaime Aron
The Associated Press
* * *
For the first time this season, freshman quarterback Casey Clausen couldn't help the Tennessee Volunteers out of a jam.
Clausen learned about losing in Kansas State's 35-21 victory in the Cotton Bowl on Monday, his seventh game as a starter.
Elizabeth Davis
The Associated Press
* * *
All sorts of buildings at the Texas State Fairgrounds house exhibits, but Kansas State managed to rename the featured facility.
"They did a great job taking us out behind the woodshed and spanking us," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said.
The woodshed happened to be the Cotton Bowl, the venerable stadium that bears the same name as the New Year's Day football game K-State dominated during its 65th rendition Monday.
Kevin Haskin
The Topeka Capital-Journal
* * *
It's going to take the Tennessee Volunteers a while to get the taste of the 65th Cotton Bowl out of their collective mouths.
That's to be expected after the Wildcats shoved the ball down their collective throats all day long en route to a 35-21 victory Monday.
Bob Davidson
The Salina (Kan.) Journal
* * *
Snow covered the field early in Monday's Cotton Bowl, but it melted away as the day wore on.
The same could be said for Tennessee's vaunted run defense.
Behind efficient quarterback Jonathan Beasley, No. 11 Kansas State (11-3) plowed through the Tennessee defense for a Cotton Bowl-record 297 rushing yards to post a 35-21 victory that wasn't nearly as close as the score.
Olin Buchanan
Austin American-Statesman
* * *
Kansas State football players wanted to prove themselves to the nation with a victory over Tennessee in Monday's Cotton Bowl - and they had to do it in lousy weather.
The No. 11 Wildcats warmed up a frozen field with more than 500 yards of offense to defeat the No. 21 Volunteers 35-21 on national television and in front of a crowd of 63,465.
Fred Mann
Wichita Eagle
* * *
Tennessee's Vols arrived here intent on using the Cotton Bowl as a springboard to a national championship run in '01.
But this launching pad was more like a gallows. Kansas State should have had the decency to offer the Vols a blindfold and a last meal before the public execution.
Having been strung up 35-21 in a game that was nowhere as close as the score might indicate, UT began the new year by revisiting some old problems. The Vols didn't defend the option and couldn't stop the pass while K-State also exposed Casey Clausen for exactly what he is - a freshman quarterback.
David Climer
The Tennessean
* * *
When the University of Tennessee football program gets around to making a few slightly tardy New Year's resolutions this week, it might want to place the following one at the top of its list: No more bowl matchups against the Big 12 Conference.
We ask that this be considered as both an opportunity to sell future bowl tickets and as a way to ensure that the Pale Orange Nation never again be subjected to the kind of whipping it endured in Monday's 35-21 Cotton Bowl loss to Kansas State.
Mark Wiedmer
Chattanooga Times and Free Press
* * *
Be careful what you ask for. You might get it.
No. 21 Tennessee got its wish for a New Year's Day bowl game, but little did the Vols expect to be playing in the ice and snow in 30-degree temperatures - or to be dominated the way they were by a fired-up No. 9-ranked Kansas State team.
Ron Bliss
Kingsport Time News
***
They suck. Man they suck. They were the suckiest bunch of sucks who ever sucked.
Homer Simpson
***
My Vols Itch. They are the sweat of my Vols. Look at Phil's play calling. The man has no Vols.
Judd Vance
***
This is the team that Conn and Lynn hyped up as the best program in the nation?
Me