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Former Bison standout taking football tour of Big Apple
NEW YORK CITY -- A former McCook High School standout athlete is enjoying the time of his life in the Big Apple.
But Josh Cherry's trip to New York City isn't all fun and games. The former Bison three-sport star is a senior at Kansas State University and the starting place kicker for the KSU football team. Cherry and his Kansas State teammates are scheduled to face Syracuse University in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl at Yankees Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CST Thursday, Dec. 30. The Kansas State-Syracuse Pinstripe Bowl battle will be broadcast live on ESPN.
In a telephone interview Sunday night, Cherry was enjoying his first night in New York City with KSU teammates wandering around Times Square in downtown Manhattan. Josh said he had never visited the Big Apple before.
"I told myself, 'this is going to be really fun'" he said. "My jaw's been on the floor since I've gotten here. You just don't realize how big this place is. The buildings -- I'm going to have a kink in my neck when I leave, looking up so much at the buildings."
Scary landing
The K-State charter flight, which originated from Topeka, Kansas, early Sunday morning, landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City before winter storms shut down many airports in the northeast U.S. later Sunday. Cherry said the landing at JFK was a little frightening, as the plane flew through heavy snow with poor visibility.
Josh said he was looking out the window, and water appeared below the plane -- Josh said he thought the plane was only 50 feet off the water's surface. He had visions of the plane hitting the water. But the pilots got the plane on the ground safely.
Cherry said the KSU team is staying at the Sheraton Motel in Manhattan. The Wildcats had a practice scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Columbia University's outdoor facilities, but the heavy snow helped KSU coaches cancel those plans. Instead, Cherry said the team had an informal walk-through in the spacious Sheraton ballroom.
According to the KSU athletic website, the team had a workout at the NFL New York Jets indoor facility Monday.
Cherry said the team was scheduled to visit several historic sites in New York City, including the Empire State Building and Ground Zero, site of the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center disaster. Josh said the Wildcats may also have a chance to visit the New York Stock Exchange.
Cold weather expected Thursday
The Cats and Syracuse will face some obstacles playing the Pinstripe Bowl Thursday in the Yankees' baseball stadium. The weather is supposed to be cold. Cherry said KSU is used to playing in cold weather, but his preparation for Thursday's game will be a bit different with the thoughts of kicking a cold, hard football in probable heavy wind conditions.
"There's othing that sucks more for kickers than kicking a cold hard ball," he said. "It doesn't have the distance it normally has, and frankly, it hurts."
Cherry said he will put the weather conditions aside and go out and enjoy Thursday's contest.
"Either way it's going to be an experience, and you've got to prepare yourself and stay positive about the whole thing," he said.
Possibly Cherry's last game
Cherry, a 2007 McCook High School graduate, would probably welcome a chance to try and kick in the professional football ranks in the future. But he knows Thursday may be his final organized football game.
"It's actually been on my mind the whole last week," he said. "It's surreal, just the thought. I know it hasn't sank in fully yet. Right now I'm with all my buddies on the team, I know once that clock turns to zero...
"I think it's going to be a pretty weird feeling. I was definitely teary-eyed when we played our last game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan (a 39-14 win over Texas Nov. 6). Even before the game was over I was kind of tearing up, and after the game. This one (bowl game), once I realize I might not ever play again, it will hit me pretty hard.
"I hope we can come out with a victory at least, and I can be happy, keep things positive."
This year is the first time Kansas State has made a bowl game in Cherry's four years in Manhattan, Kansas. He will cherish the experience of a week in New York City, and he has many additional fond memories of his KSU football career.
"It's pretty surreal, the adventures I've gone through at Kansas State, where it's taken me the last four years," he said. "It's so cool, the places I've seen. Playing at the Chiefs' stadium (Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City), I thought that was pretty cool. But I think this experience tops everything hands down. It's pretty unreal. I'm just sitting here in New York right now, trying to let everything sink in, just enjoying every minute of it I can."