Michael Bishop - 1997 & 1998 Kansas State Wildcats; Greatest Arm Ever

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks as always for your interest in this video. All I have to say, is that Michael Bishop was one of the most talented quarterbacks I ever saw: and I'm going to say he had the best arm I ever saw. What are your thoughts about Michael Bishop and who had the best arm you ever saw?

[@Mizzoulord13]

Michael Bishop was an explosive QB with his passing and running capabilities. Snyder had done a remarkable job turning Kansas State around prior to Bishop's arrival. But Bishop elevated Kansas State to the National Championship contender that they became in 1998. From watching past games from that season involving that team, they were so much fun to watch. They were a complete team that year. You did a great job with this video.

[@user-lv1jb3nc8h]

He's the best college quarterback I've ever seen. I read he threw a football 93 yards. Charlie Weis, who was Bishop's coach for the Patriots, once told Bishop he was too talented and they didn't know how to use him. It's a shame he wasn't given the chance in the NFL bc he would have lit it up just like he did in college.

[@scottmiller275]

You are killing it my man. I am a K-State graduate and Bishop is my favorite player of All-Time. So much raw talent. I think he was ahead of his time as the NFL goes. Great video.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thank you so much Scott. I really appreciate it. With your KZbin avatar, it looks like you have a wonderful family. Best regards to everyone and much love to Kansas State.

[@jonpike9991]

Bill Snyder was amazing coach at Kanas State. He made Chuck Long into one the best QBs to play in the BigTen. I'm an Iowa fan. Bishop was fun to watch.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. The Chuck Long days were before my time as I've only heard about them, but I will definitely take your word for it about Snyder's impact on Chuck Long. Hayden Fry had quite the assistant coaches with Snyder, Alvarez, Dan McCarney (I thought he did a good job at Iowa State, a tough place to win at) and Bob Stoops. I miss the days where Hayden Fry had his tight ends stand straight up at the line. Enjoy the Iowa basketball season.

[@lannybackes1053]

At a pregame warmup for the Fiesta bowl, Michael Bishop was standing on the 10 and throwing 90 yards to the end zone. Watched in disbelief with my own eyes!

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. I'm jealous, I wished I could've seen that. I have only heard of the stories of Bishop launching crazy passes and Martin Gramatica kicking crazy long FGs. Thanks again and enjoy the upcoming college football season.

[@charismatic9904]

2 days after this video. Bishop is in the HOF

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks Alex D. I have never cared about the College Football Hall of Fame ( however, I do extremely respect all of those who have made it ), thus, I never knew the induction of names would be that soon after the video. I need to update it somehow. But the point is, Michael Bishop was one of the best players I ever saw and glad he is getting his respect. Thanks again.

[@charismatic9904]

@@90sSportsNostalgia preaching to the choir. I am a huge Kstate fan and LOVE Bishop.

[@roy6821]

Bishop gave my jayhawks and my father's tigers a hard time in the big 12 back in the day. What an arm!

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. I remember those Glen Mason days with June Henley and LT Levine. I really liked that duo. Thanks again.

[@kirkdubois8898]

My Senior year a had a class with Michael in 1997. He was one of the nicest football players that I had known. There was a rumor about his arm strength, regarding him throwing the football almost the entire length of the field. Back then we didn't have Google to verify rumors...today we do! "Like Newton, Michael Bishop never lacked confidence. When he stepped foot on Kansas States Manhattan campus, the media asked him who he would compare himself to. His answer: John Elway and former Nebraska great and All-American Tommie Frazier. Outside of the fact that he could throw a football 93 yards, was known to have broken a teammate’s finger with the extreme velocity of his throw and that once loose in the open field, he maintained the burst and elusiveness of an elite tailback, his best quality was a competitiveness that could not be taught."

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment, I really enjoyed reading it. I heard rumors about Bishop's arm strength like that too. When I would watch K-Sate games in 1998, the announcers would talk about the mutant-esque arm strength of Bishop and the mutant-esque kicking leg of Martin Gramatica. That's cool he was one of the nicest football players you knew. Thanks again for the comment. Enjoy the upcoming college football season.

[@CoreyT127]

He was like a right handed Vick. Before Vick!

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video.

[@arronderian89]

Such a talented guy, it's unreal how fantastic of a player he was and hardly got a shot on Sundays..I wonder if he played cornerback on NCAA if he would have had a better pro career.. Thanks for the video..

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thank you so much for watching the video. The first name that comes to mind where top programs wanted a player to play DB but the player opted to play the position he desired to play and enroll at a lesser school was Marshall Faulk. But from a selfish standpoint, I'm glad he played QB at K-State and now I hope Michael is doing well in life. I don't really do Twitter (as I think Bishop has an account) but supposedly, Bishop is coaching football. But it's interesting to wonder what if Bishop decided to play DB. Thanks again.

[@blakebrown84]

Michael Bishop was like the right-handed version of Michael Vick. He had the best throwing skills ever. He was very talented and electric quarterback from Kansas State. Bill Synder saw something in him and made him a quarterback.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. I enjoyed reading your comment.

[@blakebrown84]

You welcome! He was the best college football player in his program.

[@user-lv1jb3nc8h]

After Blinn college, he got a lot of attention from division 1 programs but they wanted Bishop to play another position. I'm glad Bishop stuck to his guns and Snyder brought him to K State.

[@chriskim4731]

I was in 5th grade when ksu lost to a&m in the big 12 conference title game. It was so so heart breaking losing this game. Always thought kstate will be back, back to potentially play in the national title game. If you grew up in the heyday of kstate football in the late 90's to eaely 00's, 10 win season was expected and 11 win season was a push depending on Nebraska game out come. Who knew kstate at best was winning a big 12 title was semi expected and not playing in the cotton bowl was a down year. I would literally go back to those times as a kstate fan.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment. I enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed those K-State glory days. I can't imagine how tough it was being a K-State fan before Bill Snyder. Also, I think Kansas State has the best uniforms in college football. Thanks again and enjoy the upcoming college football season.

[@KNR6292]

Same thing happened to Kansas in 07 Texas Tech in 08, undefeated and then lost their last game Of course those weren't championship games but the let down is equal

[@Caleb20824]

Bishop was inducted into this years class of the cfbhof, like 8 days after this was posted.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thank you so much for the comment. Thanks a lot for watching the video until the end as I talked about hoping Bishop gets into the CFBHOF near the end of the video.

[@jaylenbarnes2.079]

Great Video bro keep up the grind 💪 💯

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thank you so much for your comment. It really made my day. I really appreciate it.

[@jaylenbarnes2.079]

@@90sSportsNostalgia no problem man

[@r.williamcomm7693]

Wow grateful for this video. Read Bishop’s wiki & it’s fantastic. Imagine him on the same 2000 Patriots team as Tom Brady. They say Favre was harnessing a wild stallion. Bishop was never harnessed. Just reading his wiki I can picture pro coaches screaming “no! throw it away!” followed by either “Yes!” or “not again.” Love that style of play. There needs to be a league that requires one 50 yard in the attempt per quarter. That arm was amazing. I watched his Hail Mary TD with the 1999 Patriots vs the Colts just before halftime. That ball was as high as an Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary. Love that arm. I would like to think that today some coach would find a way to get him into NFL games. Thanks again for the video.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

r.williamcomm7693, thank you so much for a wonderful comment. Wow, there's a lot to reply back with; so to begin, that might be the most interesting and creative football rule to be thought of - one 50-yard attempt per quarter. Next, that's awesome you were there for that Hail Mary. I remember understanding that yes, Bledsoe had a cannon, but Michael Bishop had even more of a cannon and he needs to be in for that Hail Mary. But watching that highlight from home, I could not see the trajectory so I'm glad you described it. Yes, I wonder in today's game how a creative offensive mind could use him. Lastly, Michael Bishop was one of my favorites as I should probably look deeper and read even more about him. This video was about my experience watching Michael Bishop as I probably should have looked into more about his time in the NFL. But thanks for that info in your first 3-4 sentences. You made me want to look at more information. I enjoyed reading that. Thanks again.

[@r.williamcomm7693]

@@90sSportsNostalgia Thank you. I’m just glad that there’s a video about the “freak athletes” that don’t get honored in a world that looks at stats over a long period time. We used to have room for the guys who made an incredible play. They would get mentioned & remembered. Of course there was more to Bishop than one great play. But as QB becomes a position more about players who decides they wanted to be QBs no matter what & attended all the 7 on 7 camps learning various schemes, we’re getting away from the players chosen by the coach because they were big strapping guys with arms that could launch the ball downfield like a guided missile. The beauty of the position is disappearing in 70% completion rates of bubble screens & checkdowns that never go downfield. Those are glorified handoffs. Jerry Glanville once said he’d rather take a sharp stick in the eye than watch the West Coast offense & in 2023 we saw the epitome of that. Thanks again for a great video.

[@incarnateflame3462]

this dude was a beast and i think k-state could have won a championship if bishop and darren sproles ended up on the same team somehow. sproles is probably my favorite NCAA athlete ever and one of my favorites in the league, too, cuz im a saints fan.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. Sproles was one of my favorites. He was unbelievable in that Big 12 Championship game vs. Oklahoma. Hope the Saints bring you joy in 2023. Thanks again.

[@Tyler-xd9rb]

If not the greatest arm, surely one of them. And some, when they're running, you can see the power in their speed. Michael was one of those. Another K-Stater, David Allen, was also. Check out the vid, Special Teams U, on this site.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. Yeah, David Allen was an awesome returner but later I think he suffered an Achilles injury (I forgot when) and wasn't the same. I will check out that special Teams U. Thanks again.

[@camronshay7014]

Bishop is my fav player of all time. Loss to texas anm was devastating. They should have been national champions that year. Also, he should have had a pro career. Couldnt believe bilichek cut him

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thank you so much for watching the video. Sorry for the late reply. Bishop was also one of my favorites of all time. I too was also devastated with that A&M loss. I wish Kansas State were the champs that year. Thanks again.

[@lonnellwashere]

Never heard of him. I was just reading a comment thread about Will Levis and someone mentioned his name. I had to youtube him

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thank you so much Lonnell E. for being a subscriber. That is an interesting comparison - Will Levis and Michael Bishop. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@trevorthiessen6317]

Bishop was truly electric while at Kstate. That 98 team is still my favorite team thats played in Manhattan. I also remember all the rumors about Bishop throwing the ball 95 yds theough the air, i heard that was legit.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. Yes, I remember those rumors and Martin Gramatica having some crazy rumors about his leg strength. That '98 team was fun. I wanted them to win the title so much.

[@oneloveoneheart3563]

That has to be one of the biggest robberies of all-time! Smacked Ricky team 48-7 wtf

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Glad you thought Michael Bishop should have won the Heisman. That 48-7 game was something. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video.

[@alexkain8564]

Ricky Williams should just give his Heisman Trophy to Bishop. He knows Bishop smashed his Longhorns when they met head to head. Also Williams was held to under 50 yards rushing against that great K-State defense

[@NewEarthSon]

If This is not a example of a guy playing in the wrong era/Born in the wrong time, I do not know what is! He should have been a top 10 pick in 1999 and if he was born 20 years later would have for sure been a top 5 pick in 2019.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for being a subscriber I really appreciate it. Yeah, I wonder what if Bishop played in today's game. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video.

[@davebo9615]

Michael Bishop would be the number 1 draft pick if he were coming out of college today. Back then the NFL didn't work themselves up trying to justify picking a QB from ND State.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

It would be interesting to see Bishop in today's football landscape. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. Enjoy the upcoming NCAA Football season.

[@brandonhill1673]

He was M.Vick before VICk I think Vick had a lil better arm because his release was quicker

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for watching the video and thanks for the comment. I agree with you about Vick having a quicker release. That "Vick Flick" was extremely nice. Thanks again. Enjoy the rest of the College Football season.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

It’s a shame Michael Bishop never got to play in a single BCS bowl

[@TheKStateFan]

He won the 1997 fiesta bowl vs Donovan McNabb before the BCS was a thing

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

I wish he was in that 1998 Fiesta Bowl vs Tenn (National Champ Game). That UT - FSU game kind of bored me for some reason. Thanks again for your comment.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

The K-State Fan, much love to the Wildcats. I loved that 2003 Big12 Championship Game. That was great to watch. Sproles was awesome. I hope K-State has a great 2023 season. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video.

[@juddvance7721]

@@TheKStateFan Exactly! It was called the Bowl Alliance. It was the same thing. Trying to split hairs over a technicality is like saying it was a shame that Tommy Frazier never got to play in a BCS bowl. Poor guy had to settle for two national championships in the Orange Bowl.

[@Hangryoldman]

Bro couldn't even make it in The arena league with the Grand Rapids Rampage 😂😂

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

I haven't heard that team name in a long time - Grand Rapids Rampage. I wish Bishop had more success. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video.

[@juddvance7721]

Nebraska fans cried about that facemask like it snatched defeat from the hands of victory. They were behind 4 points and it was 4th down on their own 32 with 2:32 left in the game! They were not in control and they weren't built for passing. What their fans conveniently forget is that they got 7 points off a fumble return on a Frank Murphy fumble that was caused by the ground. They should have been down by 11. They lost to the better team. End of story.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks Judd for watching the video and thanks for the comment. I enjoyed reading your comment. I don't have a response, but I do understand why NEB fans might thought the refs cost them that game, but you made excellent points. I loved KSU back then so I will agree and say NEB lost to the better team. Thanks again. If you are a K-State fan, I hope you are enjoying this college basketball season.

[@CoreyT127]

You never know. Kstate was over rated in 98. The 97 team was better IMO. Its just in 97 they played Nebraska's 2nd best team of the 90s. While in 98 they played Nebraska's worse team of the 90s ! And when you haven't beat a team in decades? Doubt creeps in. At the end if the day it ended up not mattering either way. But honesty as a FSU fan. I would have rather seen Tenn play Kstate with Bishop. The my Noles with bum ass Outzen.

[@jab1289]

@@CoreyT127 1998 wasn't the worst NU team of the 90's. 1990 was. On another video, someone said that Osborne almost quit after that loss to Ga. Tech in the Citrus Bowl (that gave the Techers the split NC). You see, after their loss to Miami in the 1983 NC game, Husker football wasn't quite at that NC level for a while. They went to New Year's Day bowls for the rest of the decade, but they really weren't an NC contender. After their 90 loss to Tech, though, Osborne decided to re-commit, and they brought in faster players and better athletes. By the mid-90's, the results began to show.

[@alexkain8564]

@@CoreyT127Your Florida State Seminoles would have gotten smashed by K-State in 1998 if they had played each other head to head. The Florida St offensive line would have given up at least 6-7 sacks plus Outzen would have been held to under 50 yards passing in the game against that badass K-State defense. FSU was lucky to even be in the championship game after being dominated by NC State earlier in the year. K-State would have beaten FSU by at least 21 points on a neutral field

[@sam4soph1]

Dude had a cannon for an arm/

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Glad I wasn't a wide receiver for Michael Bishop. I've had sprained fingers from playing basketball, I don't think my fingers would be able to hold up with those Bishop passes. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video.

[@marqueswilliams345]

Hey Willie Bemon aka Jaime Fox cousin

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment. Is that real? I saw that on Wikipedia, but I know not everything is correct on Wikipedia, but what the heck, I will take your word for it Marques. Willie B., I have to see that movie again, it's been a while. Thanks for watching the video.

[@scottdevaney3928]

Dude what do you mean may have been a face mask penalty they made him look like Linda Blair from The Omen next to the paternal last Drive in 82 this is one of the most infamous blown calls that makes you wonder what who got paid his performance in the Big 12 championship game he was the cause of the laws

[@tiger1494]

Indiana State, Northern Illinois, Louisiana-Monroe….what a joke.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video. Bill Snyder and KSU really had some soft schedules back then before conference play started. But I just want to mention, one of the harder non - conference games that was scheduled one time, was against California and that was the first time I saw Aaron Rodgers play (it was his first action as a college QB). Thanks again.

[@alexkain8564]

They had to play against small time teams because tons of teams would duck K-State in the non-conference portion of their schedule. KSU would reach out to teams and they would decline to play K-State because they knew how great KSU was during the 90’s and early 2000’s

[@DireHammer]

You're insane if you think Bishop's arm was in the same category as Favre, Marino, George, Bradshaw, etc. There are literally dozens of qbs with better arms.

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

Thanks for the comment. I really do appreciate it. Maybe there is something wrong with me. I do understand where you are coming from. Thanks again for the comment and thanks for watching the video.

[@alexkain8564]

Nope. Bishop’s arm was the elite of the elite. His arm strength compared with anyone that has ever played the game

[@Hangryoldman]

​@@alexkain8564 He wasn't anything special. I've seen highschool Qb's with better arms.

[@gbrew839]

He was better than Vick

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

I think there may be more fans than what people realize who think similarly to you. Thanks for checking out this video and thanks for the comment.

[@ryanfriesen4366]

Bishop was overrated in the CFL

[@90sSportsNostalgia]

I will take your word for it. I never got a chance to see Bishop in the CFL, but he was one of my favorites ever in college football. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching the video.