MANHATTAN, Kan. – With the landscape of college athletics changing at a rapid pace, which includes evolving calendar and recruiting demands for both coaches and student-athletes, K-State Athletics and the K-State Alumni Association have adjusted the long-time Catbacker Club program following discussions with club leadership.
While there will no longer be a formal two-week tour, the clubs across the state and region will continue to provide support and outreach for the University. The department will work closely with each club moving forward to facilitate the financial support to the Ahearn Fund as well as the K-State Alumni Association’s funding and awarding of local scholarships.
“The history of our Catbacker Clubs and the support they provide is very unique to college athletics and a benefit that we do not take for granted,” Athletics Director Gene Taylor said. “Talking internally and with our Catbacker Club leaders, we looked at factors such as the recruiting calendars, transfer portal dates, finals calendar for our student-athletes, and the recent overall attendance trends at some of our summer stops, and determined that adjustments are best as we move forward. But, I do want to be clear that the Catbacker Clubs are not going away, and their support and interaction with our coaches and student-athletes will remain. It will just be done more on a case-by-case basis with each club.”
The annual tour has been unlike any other across the country for decades as golf tournaments, social gatherings, dinner, live auctions and a program that features Wildcat coaches and athletics staff highlighted each stop. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the department announced some adjustments that included a shorter summer schedule for the events throughout the state.