KDOT workers say that clearing the highways is rewarding, but the job can be dangerous.

Some crew members spend late nights during a snow storm driving defensively and hoping that nobody is about to pass them as they come up on a big snowdrift. They also must be able use their lights to try to see the edge of the road underneath all the snow. &nbsp;

We &nbsp;spoke to several KDOT workers to get more insight on working a snowstorm at night and even got a few suggestions from them for motorists so everyone can be equipped with the knowledge of how to travel safer this winter, here is a what they have to say:

“You have to work twice as hard at night because you don’t have the sun’s warmth to help thaw out the snow,” said Richard Adams, Equipment Operator in Minneapolis.

“Visibility at night is already low as the snow reflected off plow lights can be blinding, and when vehicles pass us and throw more snow in the air it is even harder to see where we are going,” said Max Bell, Shop Supervisor in Salina. “So we ask that you please avoid passing us and keep a safe distance.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We would like to remind motorists that although it may seem safer for traffic to follow right behind a plow truck, please keep your distance. It can be dangerous when vehicles follow too closely, because if we have to come to a sudden stop or slow down due to snow, they’ll hit us. &nbsp;Not only do we have to pay attention to what we’re doing but also to them,” said David Bergman, Equipment Operator Specialist in Minneapolis.

The subarea crew in Beloit says this puts a damper on them when a truck is down due to being hit, and it take much longer to treat roads with less trucks.

If you’re stranded, stay in your car until help arrives

Brett Kuntz, Equipment Operator Senior in Abilene, would like to remind motorists how critical it is that they stay in their car and turn on their hazards or lights if they are stranded on the side of the road.

“This is important because we can’t see you until we get right up on you. ” said Kuntz.

Dennis Senters, Equipment Operator Senior in Beloit, also said to stay in your car if you are on the side of the road and added that it helps to yell because they try to listen when they come by as they often drive with the windows down in a cold cab to keep the windshield from fogging up and the snow from sticking.

“Wave a flashlight or flash dome light to help flag us down if you are on the side of a road,” says Brett Wildfong, Equipment Operator Specialist in Beloit.

Jason Britt, Equipment Operator Specialist in Junction City would like to urge motorists to slow down and give them room. He says, “Although there’s less traffic at night, it’s also more dangerous as the temperatures drop. It’s scary to see cars spin out right in front of me and unfortunately, I’ve been hit twice in a truck.”

For some, such as Doug Newquist, Highway Supervisor in Beloit, working at night isn’t really a nightmare at all but rather an opportunity to be the community’s unsung hero. He says, “I will never forget when one journalist called us the&nbsp;'knights of the night'&nbsp;which couldn’t be more true because when we are out there we are able to check on motorists who may be stranded and in need of help when no one else is able to get to them, it’s very rewarding.” 

Like Doug, KDOT workers are ready to help you get to your destination safely this winter.

Ashley Perez is the&nbsp;North Central Kansas public affairs manager for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Her above blog post, from Dec. 23, 2019, as well as many others, can be found&nbsp; at <a href="http://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/">kansastransportation.blogspot.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579224341954.jpeg" alt="Images courtesy KDOT" />
 <figcaption>Images courtesy KDOT</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASHLEY PEREZKDOT workers say that clearing the highways is rewarding, but the job can be dangerous.Some crew members spend late nights during a snow storm driving defensively and hoping that nobody is about to pass them as they come up on a big snowdrift. They also must be able use their lights to try to see the edge of the road underneath all the snow. &nbsp;We &nbsp;spoke to several KDOT workers to get more insight on working a snowstorm at night and even got a few suggestions from them for motorists so everyone can be equipped with the knowledge of how to travel safer this winter, here is a what they have to say:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579224426953.jpeg" alt="Our crews not only battle colder temperatures, but also lower visibility at night." />
 <figcaption>Our crews not only battle colder temperatures, but also lower visibility at night.</figcaption>
 </figure>Low visibility“You have to work twice as hard at night because you don’t have the sun’s warmth to help thaw out the snow,” said Richard Adams, Equipment Operator in Minneapolis.“Visibility at night is already low as the snow reflected off plow lights can be blinding, and when vehicles pass us and throw more snow in the air it is even harder to see where we are going,” said Max Bell, Shop Supervisor in Salina. “So we ask that you please avoid passing us and keep a safe distance.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579224514366.jpeg" alt="Damaged plows take important equipment off the roads for a long period of time,&nbsp;please remember to give our crews room and time to work. " />
 <figcaption>Damaged plows take important equipment off the roads for a long period of time,&nbsp;please remember to give our crews room and time to work. </figcaption>
 </figure>Don’t crowd the plow“We would like to remind motorists that although it may seem safer for traffic to follow right behind a plow truck, please keep your distance. It can be dangerous when vehicles follow too closely, because if we have to come to a sudden stop or slow down due to snow, they’ll hit us. &nbsp;Not only do we have to pay attention to what we’re doing but also to them,” said David Bergman, Equipment Operator Specialist in Minneapolis.The subarea crew in Beloit says this puts a damper on them when a truck is down due to being hit, and it take much longer to treat roads with less trucks.If you’re stranded, stay in your car until help arrivesBrett Kuntz, Equipment Operator Senior in Abilene, would like to remind motorists how critical it is that they stay in their car and turn on their hazards or lights if they are stranded on the side of the road.“This is important because we can’t see you until we get right up on you. ” said Kuntz.Dennis Senters, Equipment Operator Senior in Beloit, also said to stay in your car if you are on the side of the road and added that it helps to yell because they try to listen when they come by as they often drive with the windows down in a cold cab to keep the windshield from fogging up and the snow from sticking.“Wave a flashlight or flash dome light to help flag us down if you are on the side of a road,” says Brett Wildfong, Equipment Operator Specialist in Beloit.Slow down, give us roomJason Britt, Equipment Operator Specialist in Junction City would like to urge motorists to slow down and give them room. He says, “Although there’s less traffic at night, it’s also more dangerous as the temperatures drop. It’s scary to see cars spin out right in front of me and unfortunately, I’ve been hit twice in a truck.”For some, such as Doug Newquist, Highway Supervisor in Beloit, working at night isn’t really a nightmare at all but rather an opportunity to be the community’s unsung hero. He says, “I will never forget when one journalist called us the&nbsp;'knights of the night'&nbsp;which couldn’t be more true because when we are out there we are able to check on motorists who may be stranded and in need of help when no one else is able to get to them, it’s very rewarding.” Like Doug, KDOT workers are ready to help you get to your destination safely this winter.Ashley Perez is the&nbsp;North Central Kansas public affairs manager for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Her above blog post, from Dec. 23, 2019, as well as many others, can be found&nbsp; at <a href="http://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/">kansastransportation.blogspot.com</a>.

Knights of Night: How KDOT heroes help clear the roads after dark

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs' coaches and players fielded questions during a Thursday presser. Following are their comments.

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;"Good seeing you again. As far as injuries go, Chris Jones won't practice today. Getting better, but not there yet. LeSean McCoy and Matt Moore both are still sick but getting better. With that, time's yours."

Q:&nbsp;Do you feel any pressure personally to have to win a championship?

REID:&nbsp;"Listen, you've known me for a long time. I think more about the players than I am sitting here thinking about myself and all of that. That's not where I go. I try to get the guys ready. I try to make sure that I'm ready and then go play. I don't look at it that way. I look more at the disappointment for the other teams that I've been able to coach and how those kids felt, because they worked their tails off for that amount of time, and the other coaches."

Q:&nbsp;Are there any changes that you've made in preparation for this game this year, compared to going into last season's AFC Championship Game?

REID:&nbsp;"You try to keep it fresh every year. You learn, every year, a little something here and there. There are subtle little things that you do. Every year, every coach does it, we try to win the whole thing. That's what you strive to do. Every player does that. But there are a few variables that you have to get through to get to this point, and then to continue on. those are things that we look at every year, though."

Q:&nbsp;Can Chris Jones play without practicing this week?

REID:&nbsp;"I'm not saying that he is not going to practice, I'm just saying that he's not doing it today. We'll see. Every situation is a little bit different. I'll just see how it goes and see where he's at. Try not to put him into a position where he gets hurt or hurts the team. You have to take care of both, the players and Chris."

Q:&nbsp;Has the narrative surrounding Eric Bieniemy and play-calling bothered you at all?&nbsp;

REID:&nbsp;"We just jump in and go. I've always been that way with it. I think it's important that everybody is on the same page and involved with it. I don't really care who's calling it or not calling it, I just want to make sure that it gets called and that we have good plays to call from. That's where I put my energy."

Q:&nbsp;Based on what you saw in the Titans earlier this year, are you surprised that they have made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game?

REID:&nbsp;"I saw it at the beginning of the year. They have good talent, they're well-coached and they play hard."

Q:&nbsp;Seeing how the team has transitioned into a routine of lighter practices on Wednesdays, is that something that you've gone to in years past and why did you decide to do that this season?

REID:&nbsp;"Yeah, I've done that in years past. You just get a feel on your team. It depends on when I do it, but I have done it before. We did it last year. It's dependent upon what week and how you feel your team is."

Q:&nbsp;Do you look at the loss to the Titans earlier this season as a turning point?

REID:&nbsp;"You learn from all of them, win or lose. Maybe we didn't play the best. Obviously, we didn't play the best that we could play. And, they played very well. They got after us. They kicked our tail that day. There's a point in every season where you go, 'Hey, listen, we need to pick it up.' It could be early, it could be later, but that was a point where we probably all took it up a notch and needed to."

Q:&nbsp;Do you talk to the team about bulletin-board material?

REID:&nbsp;"No. I don't care about all of that.”

Q:&nbsp;What has impressed you about Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel, particularly with how he made the decision to play QB Ryan Tannehill?

REID:&nbsp;"He's made some tough decisions and has done a good job in a lot of areas. That's one of the toughest ones that you have to make. Both of them are good kids, so you know that it's not because it is disrupting the team in that way. He made a decision where you have to play the best guys at that particular time of the season and that's what he chose to do."

Q:&nbsp;Patrick Mahomes was just featured on a list of the top-10 most well-mannered celebrities. Is that a trait that you've noticed in your interactions with him?

REID:&nbsp;"You heard that he was a great kid and all about football. We look at that. I'm not going to tell you that we don't look at that. Again, you never know until you get him on your team. He has been what people told us he was."

Q:&nbsp;How have the Titans handled facing the higher-seeded opponents thus far in the playoffs?

REID:&nbsp;"They've done a nice job. They've been underdogs in all of those games, and they've played well. They've played good, physical football on the road. We know that. We've looked at all of that. They've done it and have done a very nice job with it."

Q:&nbsp;What qualities or characteristics of this team do you value most?

REID:&nbsp;"I like our teams work ethic. They get themselves ready. They're not afraid to grind. They don't present a lot of issues. I meet with the players committee every week. Sometimes you get things thrown across your desk there. That's not the case with this crew here. They just kind of handle business. They enjoy being around each other."

Q:&nbsp;If someone hasn't seen Mahomes play, how would you describe his arm to them?

REID:&nbsp;"He's got an active arm, but he's got a good touch with it. He knows when to heat it up a little bit and he knows when to put it down and cut down on the velocity. Has a great feel. Can throw from all of the different arm angles."

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB

Q:&nbsp;How would you describe just the emotional swing that you experienced last week?

TOUB:&nbsp;“It went from a nightmare to a great dream, really. The good thing was I was really proud of our guys – the way they bounced (back, the way they stuck together and went about going to the next play, moving onto the next play and making plays. They had one play then they had another play, and we ended up getting five big plays after that. We had two bad ones then five good ones. We were fortunate that it ended up the way it did and I’m just so proud of our guys.”

Q:&nbsp;I was going to get you to speak about Daniel Sorensen’s play on the fake punt.

TOUB:&nbsp;“Dan’s play, that was one of the most unbelievable tackles I’ve ever seen on a special teams play. It was a solo tackle out in space – a hard tackle, an angle tackle – and he has to stop him short for basically a two-yard gain. I thought it was a good call (by the Texans, I really did. But Dan, I think he’s been waiting all year for that play. He zeroes in on that guy and he’s looking for that direct snap, and here it came. He shot out of a cannon and didn’t miss a beat and made a nice tackle in space.”

Q:&nbsp;The kick return obviously got you guys jump started last week. You guys had a lot of chances for returns because their kicker couldn’t kick it through the end zone. What’s the weapon with Harrison Butker’s leg? There were no returns for them. How big is that for you, especially at this time of year when those plays can swing games?

TOUB:&nbsp;“That’s a great point, and it’s a huge factor for us that we’re able to kick touchbacks when we want to kick touchbacks. Here is a prime example: it’s 34-24 in that game and we have the taunting penalty so we have to kick off from the 20. He kicks an 80-yard kick all the way down to the goal line and we tackle him at the 25-yard line. That’s Butker and our coverage units. That was another big play in that game that I thought kind of went unseen, un-talked about really.”

Q:&nbsp;Given how long you have worked with Andy Reid and your friendship over the years, how important would it be to you to get him through the AFC Championship Game and potentially win a Super Bowl?

TOUB:&nbsp;“I’ve thought about this a lot. Nobody deserves it more than Andy. He’s such a great coach. To not have a Super Bowl win under his belt – this would be huge. I don’t know if I’d stop crying with him. I’d probably hug him forever. I’m just so proud of what he’s done and everything he’s done in his career and he needs that. He needs this. He needs that.”

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Good afternoon. How is everybody doing? I am not going to take long. It is great to be here in front of you all this particular week and to still be working into mid-January.”

Q:&nbsp;What is the week of the AFC Championship Game like being one win away from the Super Bowl?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“It is funny, I was just thinking about that and until I looked at one of these [press conference backdrops] that is in the backroom, and it has the back with all of the AFC Championship [logos] and all that. I will be honest with you here and maybe I am different this way, but to me, it is another game. I know that sounds really strange, but you get in the walls of the facility we are in and you kind of get in the grind and get right back in the same routine, which (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid is really good at putting everybody right back in the same routine. I don’t know that I feel it right now. I am not saying I won’t feel it as the week goes on, but trying to make it as much as we can on just another game and another sequence of however many we are going to play here.”

Q:&nbsp;How did you feel about the Chiefs defense’s first game without S Juan Thornhill?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Tried not to think about it very much. I tell you what can happen and even some of the assistant coaches helped me with this, sometimes when that happens and you lose somebody in the back end, you start to change things and you call the game a little bit differently. I think (Defensive Backs Coach) Dave Merritt even said it in the course of the game – Dave is great that way – ‘Don’t let who is in there change what you are calling. Just go with it.’ It is good to have assistants like that who say ‘Have confidence in the guys we are putting out there.’ I think that helped, so I did not feel it. We called it like we normally did. We miss him. I think the surgery went well and he is doing well. I can’t wait to get him back.”

Q:&nbsp;Where are you and S Tyrann Mathieu in the sense of being on the same page at this point of the season? Do you see a correlation between his leadership role on defense and QB Patrick Mahomes’ leadership role on offense?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I don’t know Patrick well enough. From what I see from afar, he looks to me like the ultimate leader and we know what he is like as an athlete and the way he is on game day. I see some of the same qualities obviously in Tyrann. I am sure glad he is here. It makes my job a lot easier when you can rely on somebody like that. There have been a number of times during the year where I have sat in my office and said, ‘I need to convey some message to these guys somehow, someway.’ Ultimately, what I normally do is I go to him and say, ‘Look, can you steer them a little bit this way.’ Usually, it is ‘I got it coach,’ and we roll. It is good to have that.”

Q:&nbsp;During the game, do you feel like you know what Mathieu is thinking and what he will do?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I am not sure I ever know what he is thinking (laughter) because he is out there just balling out. He is great on the sideline. The game is emotional so we can all get a little bit [emotional]. Sometimes he is calming me down. Sometimes I am calming him down. I think the other guys really feed off of him. When you have that in a player and a guy they respect, they know at some point he is going to help make a play to help win the game. I think that bodes well for us.”

Q:&nbsp;Mathieu has talked a lot about having a championship swagger. How would you define that?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I don’t know if I have a definition for that. I don’t even know what a swagger is to be honest with you, but they have it. He has it. Most of them do. To me, it is a confidence thing. You can’t play this game or be successful in this particular game unless you are confident. You have to believe in yourself. You have to be secure in yourself. I don’t know if that is his definition, but that is what I can see.”

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ERIC BIENIEMY

Q:&nbsp;How does it feel to be recognized for the work that you do on offense, given there was a lot of national attention on you calling offensive plays during last week’s game against the Houston Texans?

BIENIEMY:&nbsp;“Listen, we have an operation in how to do things and we have a communication system. (Head) Coach (Andy Reid) is communicating to me and I am communicating to the quarterback. To be honest with you, I think people are making something out of nothing. At the end of the day, the only thing that we want to do is chop wood and continue finding ways to get ourselves to that game that is taking place in Miami. That is what this is all about.”

Q:&nbsp;What changed on the Chiefs sideline after a few dropped passes early in the game?

BIENIEMY:&nbsp;“One thing – I have said this to you guys before – is I am very proud of the way our guys have rallied through adverse situations. I am very proud of how we have handled things through tough times. In life, everything is not perfect. Things happen. The only thing that you are going to be measured on is how you handle it. One thing I kept talking to the guys about is just remain poised. You never want to spot a team 24 points. You never, ever want to do that, but one thing that I commend our guys for is that we did remain poised. One thing that we talked about – I know you heard (QB) Patrick (Mahomes) talk about it – and we talk about this every single day, just play one play at a time. Focus for that one particular play. Why? That play is the by far the most important play. Then when it is all said and done, we will line up and do it again. We are going to put all of our focus, effort and energy into that play. That is what it is about, and those guys played one play at a time. The results end up showing.”

Q:&nbsp;How important is it for the Chiefs to get an early lead in this week’s game, particularly given the Titans’ ability to run the ball and Titans RB Derrick Henry’s production?

BIENIEMY:&nbsp;“It is very important. It is important for us to make sure that we are maximizing the opportunities that are presented to us offensively because yes, Derrick is a force. He is a great kid. He is a great human being. I had an opportunity to spend some time with him at the Combine when he came out, and I was very impressed with the person. Being a former running back and a former running back coach, it goes without saying, I am a fan of the kid. The kid does a hell of a job. Now this weekend, I am not going to be a fan. It is important for us to take care of business on our side of the ball, it is important for us to execute with great attention to details and it is important for us to put points on the board to apply pressure to them.”

Q:&nbsp;Is it unfair that Reid’s coaching career is often criticized for his record in championship games and not having a Super Bowl on his résumé?

BIENIEMY:&nbsp;“I will say this, for Coach (Reid) to be in as many championship games that he has been in – he maybe hasn’t quite gotten over the hurdle yet – I say it is still a huge accomplishment because he is still one of the best in the business. When it is all said and done, when you take each year as they present itself, the only thing we want to make sure that we are doing is that we complete this season the way we want to complete it. For Coach (Reid, he is just excited. He is energized. He just wants to make sure that collectively as a staff and as a team that we maximize the opportunity that is being presented to us. We know how close we came last year, but this time, we want to maximize it and get over that hurdle.”

Q:&nbsp;You and Travis Kelce seem to be on the same wavelength even when things get a little off, is that how you are able to get things done?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think we just stay with the process is the biggest thing. All season long, obviously, we didn’t have the same success we had last year in the red zone as we did this year, but I think when it counts we came up big and made big plays. I think that goes to the play calls. We’ve been having good play calls and getting guys open and whenever stuff is off schedule, guys are continuing to work. They aren’t settling, they’re moving around and staying alive so I can find them in the end zone.”

Q:&nbsp;Dave Toub said he would cry if he was able to get Andy Reid a Super Bowl, what would it mean to you?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It would be amazing obviously. The work that he’s put in every single day at every place he’s been at, he’s had success. Obviously, you want to get him that Super Bowl, but we understand it’s a process. We understand that first off we have to come in and have a great practice today and play great this weekend, then give ourselves a chance to be in that game and give ourselves a chance to get him that trophy.”

Q:&nbsp;Would you be happier for him or for yourself?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Probably be happier for him for sure. I think I’ll be pretty happy too for myself.”

Q:&nbsp;How do you use the benefit of his experience in games like this in your preparation and confidence going into the game this weekend?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think having Coach Reid, he understands there’s going to be un-scouted stuff, there’s going to be different looks that we didn’t prepare for, so being able to make adjustments quickly is something that he preaches. Also, knowing the speed of the game is going to take another step. It’s hard to think about that when you’re in the NFL, but every single round of playoffs seems like it gets a little bit faster. So, we’re just going to lean on that, lean on his experience and trust in his game plan that he is going to put us in a position to win.”

Q:&nbsp;Do you talk to your teammates about bulletin board material so that if something specific happens, they rely on you to put something out there?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“No, not necessarily. I think the best thing about this team is we let our personalities show. We are who we are. We go out there, we play football and we love doing it and we’re going to enjoy playing this game together every single time we get the opportunity to.”

Q:&nbsp;Your hometown of Whitehouse, Texas, is planning to paint the town red, what is your message to them as they continue to support you?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It speaks to the people I have been around growing up. Whitehouse, Tyler (Texas, East Texas, Lubbock (Texas) where I went to college supports me now and Kansas City supports me. I’ve been blessed that way where I’ve had a lot of people in my life that have really steered me in the right direction and I’m thankful for everything they do for me.”

Q:&nbsp;Does the experience of going to the AFC Championship last year help you and does seeing a defense you played earlier in the year help you when you see them again in the playoffs?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, anytime you get to play against a defense once before, you know some of the personnel and some of the things that they try to do and try to take away. Obviously, they’re going to make some adjustments and we’re going to make adjustments and a different game plan, but in the same sense, you understand what their first thought of what they need to do in order to have success. You also know what you were thinking. I think just going back on that, looking at all that stuff and looking at other stuff they’ve done against other teams to form a good game plan so you can be ready for anything.”

Q:&nbsp;Is it helpful knowing the one, two or three things that can get you over the top to win?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think it goes both ways. If you look at last week against the Texans, I didn’t feel like we played as good offensively in the last game we played them. I think it goes both ways. You get to see the defense, you get to see what they’re trying to take away and you try to combat that. It can be stuff you’ve had success with and you go off of that or it can be stuff you didn’t have success with that you want to try to do better. Every game is different. You know they’re going to have a different game plan and you are going to go out there and try to execute as best as possible.”

Q:&nbsp;Tyrann [Mathieu] mentioned having trouble sleeping because of the anticipation of how big this game is. How has your week been in comparison to other weeks?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Obviously you have excitement. You’re ready to play in this game and you want to play a home AFC Championship Game and get a chance to win in front of the fans. I just try to stay with the process. I think that has been one of the biggest things with me all year long, not trying to get too high or too low. I just focus on the process day by day of being great. Hopefully at the end of the year, I can look back and be in the spot that I wanted to be at.”

Q:&nbsp;You guys sat there at 6-4 after that loss to Tennessee in week 10. Everyone kind of looked at each other and said its time to step up. Do you agree with that knowing you were at 6-4 at that point in the season?

MAHOMES: “Yeah, totally. I think at that point in the season, we didn’t have a good run of games and weren’t playing the way we wanted to play. Obviously, we had injuries but at the same time, I feel like we weren’t playing the way that Chiefs football is played. Guys just looked into the mirror and decided that they were going to work every single day. They weren’t going to be satisfied with just going out there and putting up numbers. They were going to find a way to win the football game. That was a big thing that a lot of guys realized then. It doesn’t have to be pretty but if you win, then it’s pretty in the end.”

Q:&nbsp;You were on the list of Top 10 Well-Mannered Celebrities. Does that surprise you and where do your good manners come from?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think it goes back to where I come from. Being in an East Texas small town, everyone is really nice to you and you have to respect your elders, and all of that type of stuff. I’m just who I am. I’ve always felt like if I’m nice to people and I treat people the way that I want them to treat me, then good things happen.”

Q:&nbsp;On the importance of his production in the AFC Championship against the Titans…

WATKINS:&nbsp;“Not really my production, but I think I just need to go out there and play hard, play physical, and play fast like I’ve been doing. I want to go out there and enjoy this moment and do everything in my might to help my team. It’s not really about yards or receptions. If I can go out there and block, do everything to the best of my will, I think we should be fine.”

Q:&nbsp;What differences have you seen in the Titans secondary between Week 10 and now?

WATKINS:&nbsp;“They’re a well-coached team. They play fast, hit hard, play well together. We know it’s going to be a challenge. I think they have a great team in general. We’re going to have to go out there with poise, have fun and play like the team that we’ve always been. Play fast and enjoy this moment.”

Q:&nbsp;A lot of entertainment comes from watching your reaction to what Patrick Mahomes does on the field, specifically with Travis Kelce. What’s it like to be on the field and see something so creative and different happen?

WATKINS:&nbsp;“It’s amazing. I think that we have one of the best teams with some of the best athletes. Sometimes you do kind of sit back and watch what he’s going to do. I think everyone on our team can do some wild and crazy stuff. But our quarterback does the most amazing things, with his eyes, the way he throws the ball, the way he carries himself. I think that if he comes ready like he’s been doing, we should be fine.”

Q:&nbsp;How happy have you been being a part of the Chiefs organization?

WATKINS:&nbsp;“I think that the happiness and the fun really comes from the winning. If you’re winning, then everything is going the right way. We’re one game away from a super bowl. I think that everyone on this team and in this organization should be happy. You’ve got 32 teams in the league and 28 sitting at home. I think that’s one of the best points of my life, to be in this position, again. To have another opportunity to get to a super bowl is one of the most amazing feelings.”

Q:&nbsp;What are you preparing for when you look at Tennessee?

WILLIAMS:&nbsp;“Tennessee has a great defense. They have a great front. I’m kind of upset they didn’t have big 99 [Jurrell Casey] up front just to have their full healthy defense. I’m going to feel excited just to get into this game and play against a healthy Titans defense.”

Q:&nbsp;How much of that excitement is because of how Week 10 went?

WILLIAMS:&nbsp;“My type of personality, I can’t have somebody beat up on me and then come to my house and think they’re going to beat up on me again. It’s going to be one of those games where people are looking at them as the underdogs, but I feel like we’re the underdogs right now. They already have one up on us. I feel like it’s going to be an exciting, physical game.”

Q:&nbsp;What was going through your head in that moment? Was it all about the fumble?

WILLIAMS:&nbsp;“At the end of the day you think about that fumble because they took that to the crib. I’m a pride type of person, so I take that as that’s on me. I could’ve done better, I should’ve done better. But at the end of the day, you can’t harp on it too much. You can look at the situation, know what type of defense they are. They like to punch at the ball, they like to grab at the ball. So, knowing that when you’re running between the tackles you have two hands on it. But at the end of the day that’s not going to stop me from feeling comfortable and running hard.”

Q:&nbsp;Are you feeling, right now, as healthy as you have been all season?

WILLIAMS:&nbsp;“I feel great. At the end of the day, you don’t want to have that time off because you don’t want to miss those games. You want to stay in a rhythm. At the end of the day, people don’t really look at what you’re doing off the field and behind the cameras. How hard I’m really working and what I’m doing to get back on the field. And being mentally tough and strong to stay into it and keep up on the plays so when I do come back, I can still stay in rhythm with the offensive line and everything just flows.”

Chiefs players, coaches field questions at presser

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. House voted Wednesday to send two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate and approve House prosecutors for only the third presidential impeachment trial in American history.

The nearly party-line vote moved Trump's impeachment from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Democratic-run House to the Republican-majority Senate, where Trump expects acquittal, even as new evidence is raising fresh questions about his Ukraine dealings.

The vote was 228-193, coming at the start of a presidential election year and one month after the House impeached Trump. The president is charged with abuse of power over his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden, using military aid to the country as leverage. Trump was also charged with obstructing Congress’ ensuing probe..

“We are here today to cross a very important threshold in American history,” Pelosi said, addressing the House before the vote. Earlier, she declared: "Th is is what an impeachment is about. The president violated his oath of office, undermined our national security, jeopardized the integrity of our elections."

Trump, during an event at the White House, rejected the charges as a “hoax.”

The seven-member prosecution team will be led by the chairmen of the House impeachment proceedings, Reps. Adam Schiff of the Intelligence Committee and Jerry Nadler of the Judiciary Committee, two of Pelosi’s top lieutenants for only the third presidential impeachment in the nation’s history.

Ahead of Wednesday's session, Schiff released new records from Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, about the Ukraine strategy. including an exchange with another man about surveilling later-fired Ambassador Maria Yovanovitch.

Schiff said the new evidence should bring more pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is reluctant to allow witnesses to testify.

"If McConnell makes this the first trial in history without witnesses, it will be exposed for what it is and that is an effort to cover up for the president,” Schiff said.

Later Wednesday, the House managers are to walk the articles across the Capitol to the Senate in a dramatic procession. The Senate trial is set to start Thursday.

McConnell opened the Senate dismissing what he called a rushed impeachment that is more about the politics of Democrats who don't like Trump than the charges against him.

“This isn’t really about Ukraine policy or military money,” McConnell said. “This has been naked partisanship all along.”

During Pelosi's press conference announcing managers, Trump tweeted that impeachment was “another Con Job by the Do Nothing Democrats. All of this work was supposed to be done by the House, not the Senate!”

Trump's trial will be only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, and it comes against the backdrop of a politically divided nation in an election year.

The Senate is expected to transform into an impeachment court as early as Thursday, although significant proceedings wouldn't begin until next Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The Constitution calls for the chief justice to preside over senators, who serve as jurors and swear an oath to deliver "impartial justice.''

The managers are a diverse group with legal, law enforcement and military courtroom experience, including Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Val Demings of Florida, Jason Crow of Colorado and Zoe Lofgren of California.

McConnell, who is negotiating rules for the trial proceedings, is under competing pressure from his party for more witnesses, from centrists who are siding with Democrats on the need to hear full testimony and conservatives mounting Trump's defense.

Senate Republicans signaled they would reject the idea of simply voting to dismiss the articles of impeachment against Trump, as Trump himself has suggested. McConnell agreed he does not have the votes to do that.

McConnell said Tuesday. ‘’Our members feel we have an obligation to listen to the arguments."

A mounting number of senators say they want to ensure the ground rules include the possibility of calling new witnesses.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is leading an effort among some Republicans, including Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for votes on witnesses.

Romney said he wants to hear from John Bolton, the former national security adviser at the White House, who others have said raised alarms about the alternative foreign policy toward Ukraine being run by Giuliani.

Democrats have been pushing Republicans to consider new testimony, arguing that fresh information has emerged during Pelosi's monthlong delay in transmitting the charges.

Republicans control the chamber, 53-47, and are all but certain to acquit Trump. But it takes just 51 votes during the trial to approve rules or call witnesses. Just four GOP senators could form a majority with Democrats to insist on new testimony. It also would take only 51 senators to vote to dismiss the charges against Trump.

At Tuesday's private GOP lunch, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky warned that if witnesses are allowed, defense witnesses could also be called. He and other Republicans want to subpoena Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine, Burisma, while his father was vice president.

McConnell prefers to model Trump's trial partly on the process used for President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial in 1999. It, too, contained motions for dismissal or calling new witnesses.

McConnell is hesitant to call new witnesses who would prolong the trial and put vulnerable senators who are up for reelection in 2020 in a bind with tough choices. At the same time, he wants to give those same senators ample room to show voters they are listening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114370359.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during Wednesday's announcement of the impeachment prosecution team -image courtesy House Speaker's office" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during Wednesday's announcement of the impeachment prosecution team -image courtesy House Speaker's office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. House voted Wednesday to send two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate and approve House prosecutors for only the third presidential impeachment trial in American history.The nearly party-line vote moved Trump's impeachment from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Democratic-run House to the Republican-majority Senate, where Trump expects acquittal, even as new evidence is raising fresh questions about his Ukraine dealings.The vote was 228-193, coming at the start of a presidential election year and one month after the House impeached Trump. The president is charged with abuse of power over his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden, using military aid to the country as leverage. Trump was also charged with obstructing Congress’ ensuing probe..“We are here today to cross a very important threshold in American history,” Pelosi said, addressing the House before the vote. Earlier, she declared: "Th is is what an impeachment is about. The president violated his oath of office, undermined our national security, jeopardized the integrity of our elections."Trump, during an event at the White House, rejected the charges as a “hoax.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114514917.png" alt="Members of the prosecution team -Courtesy House Speaker's office" />
 <figcaption>Members of the prosecution team -Courtesy House Speaker's office</figcaption>
 </figure>The seven-member prosecution team will be led by the chairmen of the House impeachment proceedings, Reps. Adam Schiff of the Intelligence Committee and Jerry Nadler of the Judiciary Committee, two of Pelosi’s top lieutenants for only the third presidential impeachment in the nation’s history.Ahead of Wednesday's session, Schiff released new records from Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, about the Ukraine strategy. including an exchange with another man about surveilling later-fired Ambassador Maria Yovanovitch.Schiff said the new evidence should bring more pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is reluctant to allow witnesses to testify."If McConnell makes this the first trial in history without witnesses, it will be exposed for what it is and that is an effort to cover up for the president,” Schiff said.Later Wednesday, the House managers are to walk the articles across the Capitol to the Senate in a dramatic procession. The Senate trial is set to start Thursday.McConnell opened the Senate dismissing what he called a rushed impeachment that is more about the politics of Democrats who don't like Trump than the charges against him.“This isn’t really about Ukraine policy or military money,” McConnell said. “This has been naked partisanship all along.”During Pelosi's press conference announcing managers, Trump tweeted that impeachment was “another Con Job by the Do Nothing Democrats. All of this work was supposed to be done by the House, not the Senate!”Trump's trial will be only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, and it comes against the backdrop of a politically divided nation in an election year.The Senate is expected to transform into an impeachment court as early as Thursday, although significant proceedings wouldn't begin until next Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The Constitution calls for the chief justice to preside over senators, who serve as jurors and swear an oath to deliver "impartial justice.''The managers are a diverse group with legal, law enforcement and military courtroom experience, including Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Val Demings of Florida, Jason Crow of Colorado and Zoe Lofgren of California.McConnell, who is negotiating rules for the trial proceedings, is under competing pressure from his party for more witnesses, from centrists who are siding with Democrats on the need to hear full testimony and conservatives mounting Trump's defense.Senate Republicans signaled they would reject the idea of simply voting to dismiss the articles of impeachment against Trump, as Trump himself has suggested. McConnell agreed he does not have the votes to do that.McConnell said Tuesday. ‘’Our members feel we have an obligation to listen to the arguments."A mounting number of senators say they want to ensure the ground rules include the possibility of calling new witnesses.Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is leading an effort among some Republicans, including Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for votes on witnesses.Romney said he wants to hear from John Bolton, the former national security adviser at the White House, who others have said raised alarms about the alternative foreign policy toward Ukraine being run by Giuliani.Democrats have been pushing Republicans to consider new testimony, arguing that fresh information has emerged during Pelosi's monthlong delay in transmitting the charges.Republicans control the chamber, 53-47, and are all but certain to acquit Trump. But it takes just 51 votes during the trial to approve rules or call witnesses. Just four GOP senators could form a majority with Democrats to insist on new testimony. It also would take only 51 senators to vote to dismiss the charges against Trump.At Tuesday's private GOP lunch, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky warned that if witnesses are allowed, defense witnesses could also be called. He and other Republicans want to subpoena Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine, Burisma, while his father was vice president.McConnell prefers to model Trump's trial partly on the process used for President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial in 1999. It, too, contained motions for dismissal or calling new witnesses.McConnell is hesitant to call new witnesses who would prolong the trial and put vulnerable senators who are up for reelection in 2020 in a bind with tough choices. At the same time, he wants to give those same senators ample room to show voters they are listening.—-

House votes to send Trump impeachment to Senate for trial

The Southeast of Saline Trojans travel to Russell tonight. If you can't make it to the games, you can listen on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM).

The KINA Pregame Show starts at 5:45 p.m.

The girls play at 6 p.m., with the boys' game following.

The Southeast of Saline Trojans travel to Russell tonight. If you can't make it to the games, you can listen on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM).The KINA Pregame Show starts at 5:45 p.m.The girls play at 6 p.m., with the boys' game following.

SES basketball at Russell tonight

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State men's basketball begins a two-game homestand tonight when they take on 23/23 Texas Tech.

The game is scheduled to begin 7:02 p.m. Tuesday in Bramlage Coliseum. You can catch the game on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, listen to it online via TuneIn.com [free], www.kstatesports.com/watch [free], and on satellite radio at  XM 386 or Internet 976.

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)

Last Meeting: W, 58-45 [1/22/19 in Manhattan]

Weber vs. Beard: Beard leads 4-2 [1-2 on the road]

Kansas State (7-8, 0-3 Big 12) embarks on one of its most challenging stretches of the season on Tuesday night, as the Wildcats welcome fellow reigning Big 12 co-champion and No. 23/23 Texas Tech (10-5, 1-2 Big 12) to Bramlage Coliseum. The Red Raiders are the first of 3 consecutive Top 25 teams for K-State, which includes a home game with No. 12/13 West Virginia (13-2, 2-1 Big 12) on Saturday and a trip to No. 6/7 Kansas (12-3, 2-1 Big 12) on Jan. 21. Tuesday’s game will tip at 7 p.m., CT on Big 12 Now with Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Lance Blanks (analyst) on the call.

K-State has performed well against Top 25 opponents at Bramlage Coliseum since its opening in 1988, posting a 38-60 (.388) record against ranked foes, including a 35-57 (.380) mark against ranked Big 12 teams. Those numbers are even better under head coach Bruce Weber, where the Wildcats have tallied a 16-14 (.533) record vs. Top 25 teams. Among those 16 victories are 11 over Top 15 opponents, including No. 1 Oklahoma in 2016 and No. 14 Texas Tech and No. 13 Kansas last season.

K-State saw its struggles continue on Saturday night, as Texas opened the second half on a 12-0 run, part of a 20-2 run that was sandwiched between the two halves, to help them snap a 3-game losing streak to the Wildcats at home in a 64-50 victory at the Frank Erwin Center. With K-State leading 25-23 after a layup by junior Cartier Diarra with 2:48 before halftime, Texas scored 20 of the next 22 points, flipping a 2-point deficit into a 43-27 lead with 13:11 to play. The 50 points marked a season-low, as the Wildcats connected on 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field, including 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from 3-point range. The loss punctuated a frustrating day for K-State, which saw the team not arrive in Austin until 2:30 p.m., CT due to inclement weather and mechanical issues with the team’s charter flight.

Texas Tech enters Tuesday’s game on the heels of back-to-back losses to current No. 2/2 Baylor (52-57) at home and at 12/13 West Virginia (54-66) last week. The Red Raiders had won 5 consecutive games before their recent skid with their other 3 losses coming in overtime to both Creighton (76-83) and DePaul (60-65) and to current nationally ranked Iowa (61-72). The reigning national runner ups are led by one of the nation’s top freshmen in Jahmi’us Ramsey (16.8 ppg., who has averaged 16.2 points in the last 5 games, while 3 other players (Davide Moretti, Terrence Shannon, Jr., and Kyler Edwards) also average double figures.

This will be the 41st meeting between K-State and Texas Tech with the Wildcats holding a 24-16 advantage, including a 16-3 mark at home. The Red Raiders had won 6 of the previous 8 meetings (3 in a row, before the Wildcats earned a 58-45 win in the last meeting at Bramlage Coliseum on Jan. 22, 2019.

With the offense continuing to develop, K-State has had to rely on its defensive foundation. The Wildcats are allowing just 60.8 points on 40.5 percent shooting, including 32.3 percent from 3-point range, while averaging 16.9 turnovers forced and a Big 12-best 8.8 steals per game. K-State ranks 27th in scoring defense, 31st in steals and 34th in turnovers forced. The team is allowing just 54.4 points on 37.3 percent shooting, including 27.1 percent from 3-point range, in their 7 wins compared to 66.4 points on 43.3 percent shooting, including 36.8 percent from long range, in their 8 losses.

No. 23/23 Texas Tech (10-5, 1-2 Big 12) has dropped consecutive games in Big 12 play to current No. 2/2 Baylor (52-57) and at No. 12/13 West Virginia (54-66) after winning 5 in a row from Dec. 10 to Jan. 4. Two of the Red Raiders’ 3 other losses have come in overtime to Creighton (76-83) and at DePaul (60-65) and to ranked Iowa team (61-72) at a neutral site. In the 66-54 loss to West Virginia on Saturday, Texas Tech connected on just 28.4 percent from the field, including 21.4 percent from 3-point range.

Texas Tech is averaging 73.7 points on 43.6 percent shooting, including 32.4 percent from 3-point range, to go with 37.3 rebounds, 16.9 assists, 7.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game, while allowing 62.1 points on 39.6 percent shooting, including 32.8 percent from 3-point range. The team is averaging 63.7 points in Big 12 play on 38.8 percent shooting, including 29.3 percent from 3-point range, while allowing 57.7 points on 37.7 percent shooting.

The Red Raiders return several key components from last season’s run to the NCAA Championship game, including Davide Moretti (13.0 ppg.) and Kyler Edwards (10.5 ppg., but have added several important pieces in freshmen Jahmi’us Ramsey, who leads the team in scoring at 16.8 points on 46.5 percent shooting, including 46.8 percent from 3-point range to go with 5.3 rebounds and a team-best 1.7 steals per game in 11 games. Fellow freshman Terrence Shannon, Jr., averages 11.6 points, while transfers T.J. Holyfield (9.1 ppg., 4.8 rpg.) and Chris Clarke (6.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg., 5.9 apg.) have brought experience to a team that lost 11 lettermen. Clarke paces the team in both rebounding and assists in starting just 5 games.  

Texas Tech is led by reigning National Coach of the Year candidate head coach Chris Beard, who has posted an 86-36 (.705) record in his fourth season. He has a 257-86 (.749) overall record in his 11th season as a head coach, which includes head-coaching stints at McMurry (2012-13, Angelo State (2013-15) and Little Rock (2015-16).

K-State and Texas Tech will meet for the 41st time in their histories with the Wildcats holding a 24-16 advantage in the series, including a 16-3 mark at home. The Wildcats own a slight 17-15 edge since the start of Big 12 play.

Texas Tech has won 6 of the last 9 meetings, including a 4-2 mark under head coach Chris Beard. Last season, the teams split their 2 meetings with the Red Raiders winning 63-57 at home on Jan. 5, while the Wildcats snapped a 3-game skid in the series with a 58-45 win at home on Jan. 22, 2019.

Head coach Bruce Weber is 9-6 all-time against Texas Tech, including a 6-1 mark at home, while Weber is 2-4 against head coach Chris Beard.

Junior Cartier Diarra has had the most success against Texas Tech in his career, averaging 8.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 4 career games with 2 starts, while senior Xavier Sneed has averaged just 4.7 points in 6 career games.

LAST TIME OUT: TEXAS 64, K-STATE 50

Texas opened the second half on a 12-0 run, part of a 20-2 run that was sandwiched between the two halves, as the Longhorns earned their first Big 12 win of the season and kept Kansas State winless in league play with a 64-50 win on Saturday night before 8,496 fans at the Frank Erwin Center.  

The loss punctuated a frustrating day for K-State, which saw the team not arrive in Austin until 2:30 p.m., on Saturday due to weather delays and mechanical issues with the team’s charter flight.

With K-State leading 25-23 after a layup by junior Cartier Diarra with 2:48 before halftime, Texas scored 20 of the game’s next 22 points, flipping a two-point deficit into a 43-27 lead with 13:11 to play. The Wildcats missed their first 12 field goals of the second half before the Longhorns were called for a goaltend on a Diarra layup at the 12:00 mark. The team shot just 30 percent (9-of-30) after halftime with 10 turnovers.

In contrast, the Texas offense was firing on all cylinders for much of the game, as the Longhorns connected on 49 percent (24-of-49) from the field, including 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from 3-point range, in leading for nearly 34 minutes. They became the second consecutive team to knock down 10 3-pointers against K-State after TCU had 10 on Jan. 7.

Diarra was the only Wildcat to score in double figures with a game-tying 14 points on 6-of-16 field goals to go with 5 assists, while freshman DaJuan Gordon added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals off the bench.

Junior Matt Coleman III paced 3 Longhorns in double figures with a game-tying 14 points on 4-of-12 field goals, while sophomore Courtney Ramey and junior Jase Febres added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Jericho Sims chipped in 8 points, a game-high 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The 50 points marked a season-low for K-State, as the team connected on 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field, including 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from 3-point range, made just 5 of 9 free throws. The Wildcats did take advantage of some Longhorn turnovers, scoring 23 points off 20 miscues.

It marked just the second double-digit loss for the Wildcats (and largest of the season) after losing 6 by single digits.

--<a href="http://k-statesports.com">k-statesports.com</a>--

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579034994760.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy <a href="http://kstatesports.com">kstatesports.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy <a href="http://kstatesports.com">kstatesports.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN -- Kansas State men's basketball begins a two-game homestand tonight when they take on 23/23 Texas Tech.The game is scheduled to begin 7:02 p.m. Tuesday in Bramlage Coliseum. You can catch the game on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, listen to it online via TuneIn.com [free], www.kstatesports.com/watch [free], and on satellite radio at XM 386 or Internet 976.COACHESKansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)Overall: 470-252/22nd seasonAt K-State: 157-97/8th seasonvs. Texas Tech: 8-6 (6-1 at home)Texas Tech: Chris Beard (Texas ‘95)Overall: 257-86/11th seasonAt Texas Tech: 86-36/4th seasonvs. Kansas State: 4-2 (1-2 on the road)PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPKansas State (7-8)G: #00 Mike McGuirlG: #2 Cartier DiarraG/F: #20 Xavier SneedF: #23 Montavious MurphyF: #14 Makol MawienTexas Tech (10-5)G: #0 Kyler EdwardsG: #3 Jahmi’us RamseyG: #25 Davide MorettiF: #22 T.J. HolyfieldF: #44 Chris ClarkeSERIES HISTORYOverall: K-State leads 24-16Current Streak: K-State, 1In Manhattan: K-State leads 16-3At Bramlage Coliseum: K-State leads 12-3Last Meeting: W, 58-45 [1/22/19 in Manhattan]Weber vs. Beard: Beard leads 4-2 [1-2 on the road]OPENING TIPKansas State (7-8, 0-3 Big 12) embarks on one of its most challenging stretches of the season on Tuesday night, as the Wildcats welcome fellow reigning Big 12 co-champion and No. 23/23 Texas Tech (10-5, 1-2 Big 12) to Bramlage Coliseum. The Red Raiders are the first of 3 consecutive Top 25 teams for K-State, which includes a home game with No. 12/13 West Virginia (13-2, 2-1 Big 12) on Saturday and a trip to No. 6/7 Kansas (12-3, 2-1 Big 12) on Jan. 21. Tuesday’s game will tip at 7 p.m., CT on Big 12 Now with Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Lance Blanks (analyst) on the call.K-State has performed well against Top 25 opponents at Bramlage Coliseum since its opening in 1988, posting a 38-60 (.388) record against ranked foes, including a 35-57 (.380) mark against ranked Big 12 teams. Those numbers are even better under head coach Bruce Weber, where the Wildcats have tallied a 16-14 (.533) record vs. Top 25 teams. Among those 16 victories are 11 over Top 15 opponents, including No. 1 Oklahoma in 2016 and No. 14 Texas Tech and No. 13 Kansas last season.K-State saw its struggles continue on Saturday night, as Texas opened the second half on a 12-0 run, part of a 20-2 run that was sandwiched between the two halves, to help them snap a 3-game losing streak to the Wildcats at home in a 64-50 victory at the Frank Erwin Center. With K-State leading 25-23 after a layup by junior Cartier Diarra with 2:48 before halftime, Texas scored 20 of the next 22 points, flipping a 2-point deficit into a 43-27 lead with 13:11 to play. The 50 points marked a season-low, as the Wildcats connected on 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field, including 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from 3-point range. The loss punctuated a frustrating day for K-State, which saw the team not arrive in Austin until 2:30 p.m., CT due to inclement weather and mechanical issues with the team’s charter flight.Texas Tech enters Tuesday’s game on the heels of back-to-back losses to current No. 2/2 Baylor (52-57) at home and at 12/13 West Virginia (54-66) last week. The Red Raiders had won 5 consecutive games before their recent skid with their other 3 losses coming in overtime to both Creighton (76-83) and DePaul (60-65) and to current nationally ranked Iowa (61-72). The reigning national runner ups are led by one of the nation’s top freshmen in Jahmi’us Ramsey (16.8 ppg., who has averaged 16.2 points in the last 5 games, while 3 other players (Davide Moretti, Terrence Shannon, Jr., and Kyler Edwards) also average double figures.This will be the 41st meeting between K-State and Texas Tech with the Wildcats holding a 24-16 advantage, including a 16-3 mark at home. The Red Raiders had won 6 of the previous 8 meetings (3 in a row, before the Wildcats earned a 58-45 win in the last meeting at Bramlage Coliseum on Jan. 22, 2019.With the offense continuing to develop, K-State has had to rely on its defensive foundation. The Wildcats are allowing just 60.8 points on 40.5 percent shooting, including 32.3 percent from 3-point range, while averaging 16.9 turnovers forced and a Big 12-best 8.8 steals per game. K-State ranks 27th in scoring defense, 31st in steals and 34th in turnovers forced. The team is allowing just 54.4 points on 37.3 percent shooting, including 27.1 percent from 3-point range, in their 7 wins compared to 66.4 points on 43.3 percent shooting, including 36.8 percent from long range, in their 8 losses.NOTES ON 23/23 TEXAS TECHNo. 23/23 Texas Tech (10-5, 1-2 Big 12) has dropped consecutive games in Big 12 play to current No. 2/2 Baylor (52-57) and at No. 12/13 West Virginia (54-66) after winning 5 in a row from Dec. 10 to Jan. 4. Two of the Red Raiders’ 3 other losses have come in overtime to Creighton (76-83) and at DePaul (60-65) and to ranked Iowa team (61-72) at a neutral site. In the 66-54 loss to West Virginia on Saturday, Texas Tech connected on just 28.4 percent from the field, including 21.4 percent from 3-point range.Texas Tech is averaging 73.7 points on 43.6 percent shooting, including 32.4 percent from 3-point range, to go with 37.3 rebounds, 16.9 assists, 7.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game, while allowing 62.1 points on 39.6 percent shooting, including 32.8 percent from 3-point range. The team is averaging 63.7 points in Big 12 play on 38.8 percent shooting, including 29.3 percent from 3-point range, while allowing 57.7 points on 37.7 percent shooting.The Red Raiders return several key components from last season’s run to the NCAA Championship game, including Davide Moretti (13.0 ppg.) and Kyler Edwards (10.5 ppg., but have added several important pieces in freshmen Jahmi’us Ramsey, who leads the team in scoring at 16.8 points on 46.5 percent shooting, including 46.8 percent from 3-point range to go with 5.3 rebounds and a team-best 1.7 steals per game in 11 games. Fellow freshman Terrence Shannon, Jr., averages 11.6 points, while transfers T.J. Holyfield (9.1 ppg., 4.8 rpg.) and Chris Clarke (6.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg., 5.9 apg.) have brought experience to a team that lost 11 lettermen. Clarke paces the team in both rebounding and assists in starting just 5 games. Texas Tech is led by reigning National Coach of the Year candidate head coach Chris Beard, who has posted an 86-36 (.705) record in his fourth season. He has a 257-86 (.749) overall record in his 11th season as a head coach, which includes head-coaching stints at McMurry (2012-13, Angelo State (2013-15) and Little Rock (2015-16).SERIES HISTORYK-State and Texas Tech will meet for the 41st time in their histories with the Wildcats holding a 24-16 advantage in the series, including a 16-3 mark at home. The Wildcats own a slight 17-15 edge since the start of Big 12 play.Texas Tech has won 6 of the last 9 meetings, including a 4-2 mark under head coach Chris Beard. Last season, the teams split their 2 meetings with the Red Raiders winning 63-57 at home on Jan. 5, while the Wildcats snapped a 3-game skid in the series with a 58-45 win at home on Jan. 22, 2019.Head coach Bruce Weber is 9-6 all-time against Texas Tech, including a 6-1 mark at home, while Weber is 2-4 against head coach Chris Beard.Junior Cartier Diarra has had the most success against Texas Tech in his career, averaging 8.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 4 career games with 2 starts, while senior Xavier Sneed has averaged just 4.7 points in 6 career games.LAST TIME OUT: TEXAS 64, K-STATE 50Texas opened the second half on a 12-0 run, part of a 20-2 run that was sandwiched between the two halves, as the Longhorns earned their first Big 12 win of the season and kept Kansas State winless in league play with a 64-50 win on Saturday night before 8,496 fans at the Frank Erwin Center. The loss punctuated a frustrating day for K-State, which saw the team not arrive in Austin until 2:30 p.m., on Saturday due to weather delays and mechanical issues with the team’s charter flight.With K-State leading 25-23 after a layup by junior Cartier Diarra with 2:48 before halftime, Texas scored 20 of the game’s next 22 points, flipping a two-point deficit into a 43-27 lead with 13:11 to play. The Wildcats missed their first 12 field goals of the second half before the Longhorns were called for a goaltend on a Diarra layup at the 12:00 mark. The team shot just 30 percent (9-of-30) after halftime with 10 turnovers.In contrast, the Texas offense was firing on all cylinders for much of the game, as the Longhorns connected on 49 percent (24-of-49) from the field, including 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from 3-point range, in leading for nearly 34 minutes. They became the second consecutive team to knock down 10 3-pointers against K-State after TCU had 10 on Jan. 7.Diarra was the only Wildcat to score in double figures with a game-tying 14 points on 6-of-16 field goals to go with 5 assists, while freshman DaJuan Gordon added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals off the bench.Junior Matt Coleman III paced 3 Longhorns in double figures with a game-tying 14 points on 4-of-12 field goals, while sophomore Courtney Ramey and junior Jase Febres added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Jericho Sims chipped in 8 points, a game-high 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.The 50 points marked a season-low for K-State, as the team connected on 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field, including 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from 3-point range, made just 5 of 9 free throws. The Wildcats did take advantage of some Longhorn turnovers, scoring 23 points off 20 miscues.It marked just the second double-digit loss for the Wildcats (and largest of the season) after losing 6 by single digits.--<a href="http://k-statesports.com">k-statesports.com</a>--

Wildcats open two-game homestand vs. 23/23 Texas Tech tonight

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid spoke Monday about the team's win Sunday and upcoming AFC Championship game this week. Following are his comments.

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“I don't have any injuries for you. We came out, I think, fairly healthy. That's a plus. I want to thank our fans. We appreciate them hanging in the cold there and cheering us on. They make a difference. Glad we have another home game here. No fans deserve it more than ours, so we appreciate them. I thought it was a great team win. I love the mindset of the team. Have another big challenge this week with Tennessee where mindset will be very important in how you go about this week's practice. We started off a little slow, obviously. Shot ourselves in the foot. But nobody flinched. Everybody hung in there. Got the problems answered and solved and turned things around, which was important. There was no panic. When you get two good teams against each other, not everything is going to go right. You have to make sure that you have a good locker room and coaches that can withstand that and continue to teach. There were some real good individual performances. Frank Clark, with the three sacks, I thought that was unbelievable – especially the one where he chased (Watson) around, missed him twice, then came back and got him. That was pretty amazing. (Travis) Kelce, Pat (Mahomes) and Tyrann (Mathieu, they all played good football. Pat's energy and leadership really showed in that game. Then, he played lights out. There were a number of people – the offensive and defensive line – I thought played well. I thought the back end had good communication. When I mention Tyrann, I mention that. He had another chance for another interception there, but I mean he was right in position. Most of those he is going to haul in there. The fact that he was there and made some big plays down the stretch, I thought that was big. With that, time's yours."

Q:&nbsp;What chance does Chris Jones have for playing this Sunday?

REID:&nbsp;"I don't know that right now. We'll just have to see how he does. This is a day-to-day thing. It was that way after it happened the other day. We'll see how he does."

Q:&nbsp;When Jones was testing the calf injury in pregame, it didn't look like he was anywhere close, did it?

REID:&nbsp;"Yeah, he was struggling."

Q:&nbsp;Was it a difficult decision to sit him down, in that regard?

REID:&nbsp;"Well no. He couldn't push off and go. Pretty easy decision right there."

Q:&nbsp;With a player like Jones, how do you get him to see the bigger picture of the injury? How also do you get him mentally ready for Sunday, whether he plays or needs to be another assistant coach for you?

REID:&nbsp;"I don't know about the last part. Just to be honest, that's the main thing. He has done that. As long as he is honest with it. That's what most of our guys do. They shoot us straight. The doctors do a nice job. (Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance) Rick (Burkholder) does a nice job."

Q:&nbsp;We talked in the first half of the season about playing against man-to-man defense. What has it taken out of the coaches and players to get the play of the team to materialize the way it did yesterday?

REID:&nbsp;"They played quite a bit of man, almost every snap. Our guys have battled through it. I think we've gotten better at releases. We've gotten better at working off of each other and working with each other in certain situations, which ends up being important in that. I think we've done a better job coaching it. I'll take responsibility for that. We've spent a lot of time at that. The faults were my problem. It really wasn't necessarily the players' problem or the coaches' problem. Changed some things up and got it straightened out. This team is similar. They mix it. (Titans Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Dean) Pees will throw a few different looks at you, so you have to be ready to go."

Q:&nbsp;How well are the Titans playing right now?

REID:&nbsp;"They're playing real good football right now. They're strong. They're well-coached. (Titans Head Coach) Mike (Vrabel) does a nice job with them. That running back (Derrick Henry) isn't a bad player. He brings it every snap. He's a big fella that can really move. Did it in college. Does it now. Has a good offensive line and good receivers. Quarterback is playing well. You always like those stories when a guy didn't have as much success as he probably would have liked at one place, but then he comes here and has the guys in the championship game. Their defense is playing good football and flying around. Their special teams are good. All the way around, it's a well-deserved team to be in this position. We have to make sure that we have a good week of practice."

Q:&nbsp;Do you remember a game where your team's stadium has run out of fireworks?

REID:&nbsp;"I didn't know that until this morning. As a matter of fact, (Chiefs Vice President of Communications) Ted (Crews) just told me about it. I guess that's a good thing, one way or another."

Q:&nbsp;What did you learn about Frank Clark as he was battling through injuries in the first half of this season?

REID:&nbsp;"He's relentless. That one sack kind of tells you the whole story. He was running around chasing him, missed him twice, got back up and sacked him. That's how he is wired. Then, he works at it. Every day in practice he is that way."

Q:&nbsp;It seemed like at one point in the second half, Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy was calling the plays. Am I right about that?

REID:&nbsp;"Eric and I talk through all of the plays. He is the one that gives them to the quarterback through the headset. But we go through every series and talk through it and make sure that we are on the same page, which ends up being very important."

Q:&nbsp;How do you feel like the experience from last year's AFC Championship Game will help the players this year?

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573518063480.png" alt="Andy Reid. Photo courtesy Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Andy Reid. Photo courtesy Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid spoke Monday about the team's win Sunday and upcoming AFC Championship game this week. Following are his comments.OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“I don't have any injuries for you. We came out, I think, fairly healthy. That's a plus. I want to thank our fans. We appreciate them hanging in the cold there and cheering us on. They make a difference. Glad we have another home game here. No fans deserve it more than ours, so we appreciate them. I thought it was a great team win. I love the mindset of the team. Have another big challenge this week with Tennessee where mindset will be very important in how you go about this week's practice. We started off a little slow, obviously. Shot ourselves in the foot. But nobody flinched. Everybody hung in there. Got the problems answered and solved and turned things around, which was important. There was no panic. When you get two good teams against each other, not everything is going to go right. You have to make sure that you have a good locker room and coaches that can withstand that and continue to teach. There were some real good individual performances. Frank Clark, with the three sacks, I thought that was unbelievable – especially the one where he chased (Watson) around, missed him twice, then came back and got him. That was pretty amazing. (Travis) Kelce, Pat (Mahomes) and Tyrann (Mathieu, they all played good football. Pat's energy and leadership really showed in that game. Then, he played lights out. There were a number of people – the offensive and defensive line – I thought played well. I thought the back end had good communication. When I mention Tyrann, I mention that. He had another chance for another interception there, but I mean he was right in position. Most of those he is going to haul in there. The fact that he was there and made some big plays down the stretch, I thought that was big. With that, time's yours."Q:&nbsp;What chance does Chris Jones have for playing this Sunday?REID:&nbsp;"I don't know that right now. We'll just have to see how he does. This is a day-to-day thing. It was that way after it happened the other day. We'll see how he does."Q:&nbsp;When Jones was testing the calf injury in pregame, it didn't look like he was anywhere close, did it?REID:&nbsp;"Yeah, he was struggling."Q:&nbsp;Was it a difficult decision to sit him down, in that regard?REID:&nbsp;"Well no. He couldn't push off and go. Pretty easy decision right there."Q:&nbsp;With a player like Jones, how do you get him to see the bigger picture of the injury? How also do you get him mentally ready for Sunday, whether he plays or needs to be another assistant coach for you?REID:&nbsp;"I don't know about the last part. Just to be honest, that's the main thing. He has done that. As long as he is honest with it. That's what most of our guys do. They shoot us straight. The doctors do a nice job. (Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance) Rick (Burkholder) does a nice job."Q:&nbsp;We talked in the first half of the season about playing against man-to-man defense. What has it taken out of the coaches and players to get the play of the team to materialize the way it did yesterday?REID:&nbsp;"They played quite a bit of man, almost every snap. Our guys have battled through it. I think we've gotten better at releases. We've gotten better at working off of each other and working with each other in certain situations, which ends up being important in that. I think we've done a better job coaching it. I'll take responsibility for that. We've spent a lot of time at that. The faults were my problem. It really wasn't necessarily the players' problem or the coaches' problem. Changed some things up and got it straightened out. This team is similar. They mix it. (Titans Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Dean) Pees will throw a few different looks at you, so you have to be ready to go."Q:&nbsp;How well are the Titans playing right now?REID:&nbsp;"They're playing real good football right now. They're strong. They're well-coached. (Titans Head Coach) Mike (Vrabel) does a nice job with them. That running back (Derrick Henry) isn't a bad player. He brings it every snap. He's a big fella that can really move. Did it in college. Does it now. Has a good offensive line and good receivers. Quarterback is playing well. You always like those stories when a guy didn't have as much success as he probably would have liked at one place, but then he comes here and has the guys in the championship game. Their defense is playing good football and flying around. Their special teams are good. All the way around, it's a well-deserved team to be in this position. We have to make sure that we have a good week of practice."Q:&nbsp;Do you remember a game where your team's stadium has run out of fireworks?REID:&nbsp;"I didn't know that until this morning. As a matter of fact, (Chiefs Vice President of Communications) Ted (Crews) just told me about it. I guess that's a good thing, one way or another."Q:&nbsp;What did you learn about Frank Clark as he was battling through injuries in the first half of this season?REID:&nbsp;"He's relentless. That one sack kind of tells you the whole story. He was running around chasing him, missed him twice, got back up and sacked him. That's how he is wired. Then, he works at it. Every day in practice he is that way."Q:&nbsp;It seemed like at one point in the second half, Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy was calling the plays. Am I right about that?REID:&nbsp;"Eric and I talk through all of the plays. He is the one that gives them to the quarterback through the headset. But we go through every series and talk through it and make sure that we are on the same page, which ends up being very important."Q:&nbsp;How do you feel like the experience from last year's AFC Championship Game will help the players this year?REID:&nbsp;"For the guys that were here, I think that they understand that it's different at every level that you go up in the playoffs. There's a certain preparation that you need. They were happy about the result of the game, but not to the point to where they didn't realize that there is another week coming up here against a real good football team. Nobody was in there doing backflips over this last game. They understand what they have ahead of them."Q:&nbsp;After being passed over for a head coaching position on other teams, what was your advice to Bieniemy?REID:&nbsp;"Really, keep being you. We all know what he is all about and how good he is. I'm saying that just as much as the coaches were disappointed for him, the players were, too. I think that probably says everything. The players, they know. They're around him every day and know what he is all about. They have that kind of respect for him."Q:&nbsp;Since you've been here, it seems like the question is always about who is calling plays. At some point, does it all seem a little goofy to you?REID:&nbsp;"Everybody has an opportunity for input that is in that position. That's how we roll. We all check our egos at the door. If you have a good idea, we're rolling with it. That's helped with our success here. Whether it was (former Chiefs Offensive Coordinator and Eagles Head Coach) Doug (Pederson) or (former Chiefs Offensive Coordinator and Bears Head Coach) Matt (Nagy) or any of the other guys that have been here, they have all had input and have been able to put their name on a play. E.B. has done that just like the other guys have done it. I can use myself as an example. I never called a play until I got to here (head coaching position). But, (former Packers Head) Coach (Mike) Holmgren would leave it open and ask you for an idea. You're talking about a future Hall of Fame coach here. I know (Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach) Bill Walsh did it the same way, likewise. That part hasn't changed here."Q:&nbsp;Is Damien Williams' production just a sign of being healthy, or is there something else going on there that has allowed him to be more productive?REID:&nbsp;"It was just a health thing. He was banged up and now he is healthy and ready to go."Q:&nbsp;Was suffering the injury and having the time off maybe a blessing in disguise for Williams?REID:&nbsp;"I don't know about that. He’s a strong kid. He would've been OK either way."Q:&nbsp;Now being in the week of the AFC Championship, what's the key to keeping the team grounded?REID:&nbsp;"You understand that there is going to be more of this (media). We all know that. Then, you just stay focused. You eliminate distractions and stay focused on the job at hand. You know that you're playing a good football team. We try to keep the schedules the same at times. When they have media obligations, they do it, but get back and get on to the football part of it."Q:&nbsp;When you face a team in the playoffs that you have lost to in the regular season, do you want your players to use that as motivation or just have them focus on the game that day?REID:&nbsp;“I want them to be real about what happened. I mean we lost the game. And then why? Let’s figure that part out and work to fix that problem. We do that every week. It’s no different than when we played Tennessee before. They beat us. They beat us in three different phases. They’re a good football team and we have to do a better job than that.”Q:&nbsp;When you mention Patrick Mahomes’ leadership, did you see that before you drafted him?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, I mean I know his head coach (former Texas Tech Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury, so I was able to talk to him and I had (former assistant defensive line coach) Mike Smith on the staff, who was their defensive coordinator, so I talked to him. Brett Veach started watching him from his first play on and when you to the games, you would see during warm ups how he handled the guys and during the game how he handled the guys. You have a pretty good idea that he’s a good leader. Those are the things he showed in college. You’re hoping it carries over and you could kind of see that in his rookie year, the way he worked with Alex (Smith). Easily, here’s our first-round draft pick and he could have tried to get in there and grind on it and ‘I’m better than he is,’ but he never did that. As a matter of fact, he took the things and took the backseat and learned from Alex. That doesn’t always happen. There’s some leadership that’s involved in being able to do that and being confident in yourself. The players saw that.”Q:&nbsp;What made Daniel Sorensen’s play so great?REID:&nbsp;“Dave (Toub) does a heck of a job coaching. You just saw two of the best special teams’ coaches in however many years, going against each other. That was a unique situation there. I thought Dave did a nice job of coaching them. It’s different when your juices are going, you’re on the field and now you have to pull back and make that play, and you’re the only one. When it’s man-on-man right there, it’s a little different deal, in space. That’s why I complimented him for it. Listen, I see why Bill (O’Brien) did what he did. I said that too, yesterday. They stay aggressive. That’s one of their things and they have so much success with it. That play was about that far from being a big hitter and it was all on Dan. He made a nice play.”Q:&nbsp;Now that Patrick has been going for a while, whenever you’re in a game like last night, do you ever take a step back and think that you have something really special with Patrick?REID:&nbsp;“I’m just looking for the next thing that will let him be pretty good. I’m trying to find what’s on the game plan. I don’t have enough time to think about that, but I do afterwards. Afterwards, I say ‘you did a heck of a job.’ He’s a special guy. We’re all lucky to have him. Kansas City is lucky to have him.”Q:&nbsp;Over the last month, Daniel Sorensen’s snap count increased, how much of that was opponent driven and how important is it to have a guy like that who can be a hybrid linebacker but maintain his responsibilities as a defensive back?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think that’s big. It gives Spags (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) some flexibility working his scheme. He’s got confidence in Dan, I think all the guys do. He’s a tough kid and there’s nothing real flashy. He’s solid. I think it gives Spags flexibility and he is inside the majority of the time in the linebacker spot. It’s a tough position to be in and he does it well.”--<a href="http://chiefs.com">CHIEFS</a>--