Oct 28, 2014 02:57 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Kansas State University (KSU) athletic department made a generous gift to the school's student body that may prove to be a savvy decision.

According to the Associated Press, KSU head football coach Bill Snyder and athletic director John Currie announced Tuesday they will pay to have the school's dorm buildings open a day early on Thanksgiving break. A day later, the Wildcats are scheduled to play a home game.

With five games to go, Kansas State is hanging onto a one-game lead in the Big 12 and will host in-state rival Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 29. KSU's residence halls were scheduled to re-open that day, until Snyder and Currie stepped in.

"Our student body means so very much to our football program and to assist in a way that will help them is the very least that we can do," Snyder said in a press release. "We have the best student section in the country, one that attends our ballgames each and every week in record fashion, and everyone in our football program appreciates them so very much. We will always do anything we can for them."

Kansas may be in last place in the conference, but KSU's leadership knows it will need a strong showing from its student section in the Wildcats' final home game this season. They are still scheduled to play West Virginia, TCU and Baylor on the road and all three teams trail Kansas State in the standings.

KSU's residence halls will open at 1 p.m., local time, on Friday, Nov. 29, though kickoff time for the Kansas game has not been scheduled yet.

"Although our home finale is a month away, Coach Snyder and I wanted to go ahead and make this commitment now so that our students could start planning their return in time to fill the best student section in the country for the KU game, which will be Senior Day and the final home game for 21 of our players," Currie said in the release. "Week in and week out, our student section plays a major part in the success of our football program and drives a vivid image of the K-State spirit to viewers across America. We really appreciate the leadership SGA President Reagan Kays and Vice President Cody Kennedy have shown in working with Derek Jackson and his fine residence hall staff to help students maximize attendance for the final game of the season."

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