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Kansas State meets Cal in college opener

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JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The so-called "preseason classics" no longer are part of the college football landscape, but at least one remains.

The 2003 season begins Saturday night with the Black Coaches Association Classic between fifth-ranked Kansas State and California at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Past years have featured numerous preseason "classics," a trend that began with the Kickoff Classic in New Jersey two decades ago. But the NCAA, responding to the bloated schedules caused by the addition of conference title games at the end of the year, decided to eliminate the preseason contests.

The Black Coaches Association Classic, however, was allowed to continue two more years in order to fulfill a pre-existing television contract.

About 43,000 tickets for the game were sold as of last week and those in attendance will see Kansas State seek its 14th straight win in season openers. The streak goes back to 1989, when the Wildcats lost to Arizona State in Bill Snyder's first game as coach.

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