MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Something had been missing from the Kansas State defense most of last season.It only took three plays this season to realize it.On the third snap of Friday nights opener against Stanford , defensive back Dante Barnett announced his return with authority. He darted up from his spot in the secondary and met Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey, knocking him back for a 5-yard loss.One of the nations best defensive backs was back.It felt like a welcome-back moment, he said Tuesday, as the Wildcats took an early break in their schedule. They are off this week before playing their home opener against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 17, when they debut the latest round of renovations to Bill Snyder Family Stadium.It will be the first time Barnett has played at home since last years opener, when he hurt his shoulder against South Dakota. His status was in limbo from week to week until he pursued and was granted a medical redshirt, allowing him to return this season.He wound up making four tackles against the Cardinal, two of them for loss.I had missed so many games so being back out there in the first drive, making that tackle, it brought excitement to me, Barnett said. I was happy.So were the Wildcats, who had to press unproven youngsters into duty last season. By the time the Liberty Bowl rolled around, freshman Duke Shelley had locked down one cornerback spot, sophomore Kaleb Prewett had taken over for Barnett, and freshman Kendall Adams was backing him up.Still, while may have been absent from the field, his presence was always felt. He hung around the meeting rooms, was also around the practice field and he was on the sideline during games.It was very tough because Im a competitor, Barnett said. I hate missing games, missing games was tough on me. Im watching my friends play -- which I was proud of -- but wanting to get out there and knowing I couldnt was tough for me.In some ways, the senior had become another assistant coach.You wouldve never known he was out, Adams said. Besides not having him out there physically, he was in all the meetings and practices and talking to us before and during the game.Kansas State coach Bill Snyder welcomed his defensive captains return, knowing that Barnett could help fix a defense that allowed 285.5 yards passing and 25 touchdowns a year ago.The Wildcats only allowed Stanford to throw for 167 yards in their opener.I think it was significant to have him back in the lineup for a lot of different reasons. Snyder said. He played well. He did not really have assignment errors. He played reasonably well against both the run and the pass. I think his leadership, his guidance and his direction of his teammates was beneficial for us in the ball game.All of which was somewhat anticipated. Barnett may have missed last season, but it appears nobody forgot about him: Hes on early watch lists for the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy.Snyder said this week that besides the physical presence of getting Barnett back on the field, the leadership void that opened up last year was filled -- and that may be his biggest value.Especially when the Wildcats begin playing the pass-happy teams of the Big 12.I think he brings a degree of leadership that wasnt very prolific last year, after we lost him Snyder said. I think the players had an expectation of having him back, they see that as a positive. Theyre looking for him to perform well, which he did. Nike Tanjun Cheap . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. Cheap Nike Tanjun Shoes . 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She wants to be in a fight.Harmonize ($9.20) had a perfect run through the stretch. Alvarado guided Harmonize between runners in the final furlong to win the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks by a head over 9-1 Decked Out. Stays In Vegas, who led by 2-1/2 lengths with a furlong to go, finished third, a nose behind Decked Out.The Del Mar Oaks was the first stakes win at the San Diego-area track for Alvarado, a fixture on the New York circuit. Harmonize gave trainer Bill Mott his second Grade 1 win on Saturday. He won the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes on turf at Saratoga earlier in the afternoon with Tourist.Mott said earlier in the week that he shipped Harmonize to California to avoid the star turf filly Catch a Glimpse and to determine whether Harmonize belonged in Grade 1 races.Alvarado is the only jockey to ride Harmonize. He was aboard thhe filly for stakes wins at Saratoga and Keeneland last year and at Belmont Park in June, the Wonder Again Stakes.dddddddddddd Harmonize was fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 9 with a wide trip, a style Alvarado said did not suit the filly.In the Del Mar Oaks, Harmonize was seventh for the first six furlongs. Alvarado said he opted to keep Harmonize between horses and avoid a wide trip, hoping his filly could be effective by staying toward the inside.I had a chance to move outside, but I thought Id stay in and take a chance, Alvarado said. She gave me a nice run at the end.Harmonize ran 1-1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.71. Mokat, the 3-1 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Tin Type Gal, Barleysugar, Mines and Magic, Cheekaboo, Lady Valeur, and Lynnes Legacy.Harmonize, by Scat Daddy, has won 4 of 9 starts and $484,260. Owned by Larkin Armstrong, Harmonize has won two graded stakes. She won the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland last October. 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