FCU: Kansas State: Competing Despite A Disadvantage
- Thread starter Infield Infidel
- Start date
It helped when they brought in Jake Waters - the #1 or #2 JUCO QB at the time after winning the national championship with Iowa Western CC. Took him that first year at KSU to settle in.
"In a landscape dominated by traditional powerhouses like Texas, Oklahoma State and the aforementioned Sooners,"
OK, this is where they lost me. I'm a huge OSU fan, but Kansas State is more of a "traditional powerhouse" than Oklahoma State is.
OK, this is where they lost me. I'm a huge OSU fan, but Kansas State is more of a "traditional powerhouse" than Oklahoma State is.
That's a good comment.
I read somewhere that 12 of Kansas States 22 starters are either JuCo transfers or walk-ons.
I read somewhere that 12 of Kansas States 22 starters are either JuCo transfers or walk-ons.
I don't follow KSU closely, and know this only because my daughter was recruited for their equestrian team and we were "indoctrinated" during an official campus visit 2 years ago: KSU has a fairly successful walk-on program.
And according to this article, 58 players on the current roster are walk-ons.
And according to this article, 58 players on the current roster are walk-ons.
The Purple Wizard has long been admired in Big 12 circles for his ability to do more with less. His teams are always prepared and very sound fundamentally, with no sense of arrogance or entitlement, no matter what their record or ranking say (as opposed to, say, Texas). Even in our peak years under Mack Brown, the K State game always worried me, more so than any other team because it usually came later in the season and we never seemed 100% prepared.
This Saturday will be a hard test for us, as I am sure that Snyder will have his team ready. If Cholly can get us up to beat a team this good, we'll know we're on the way back, but I'm not sure we're ready for prime time yet.
This Saturday will be a hard test for us, as I am sure that Snyder will have his team ready. If Cholly can get us up to beat a team this good, we'll know we're on the way back, but I'm not sure we're ready for prime time yet.
Kremlin Watcher said:
I was in Memorial Stadium last weekend, you guys are not even close to competing with KState right now.
Texas team is gigantic mess right now. They barely survived a very bad Iowa State at home. I don't think Texas is going to be bowl eligible this year.
And you didn't invite me? I'm hurt.TomRicardo said:
For a different thread, but in general I agree. A rebuilding year for us. I've seen every snap this season and have low expectations (which are being met).
It's funny, Snyder was on ESPN CFB podcast today, and talked about how Oklahoma was unlucky against them, and how they were unlucky against Auburn.
That game was the weirdest game ever. One team looked frustrated, the other team imploded 6 times, 4 times in the red zone. It felt like possession changed on a turnover or missed FG 3 times a quarter.
Snyder is great to listen to. He answers every email, even from fans, and eats one meal a day, at midnight, sometimes Taco Bell. Wizard indeed. He's been on two podcasts this year and both have been great.
That game was the weirdest game ever. One team looked frustrated, the other team imploded 6 times, 4 times in the red zone. It felt like possession changed on a turnover or missed FG 3 times a quarter.
Snyder is great to listen to. He answers every email, even from fans, and eats one meal a day, at midnight, sometimes Taco Bell. Wizard indeed. He's been on two podcasts this year and both have been great.
As a K-State alum, I love seeing the recognition Synder is receiving this week after the big win in Norman -- even though the attention is antithetical to everything the man represents.
Just to put Synder's accomplishments in perspective: The program has a .667 winning % in games he coaches; .379 in games he did not. That is a truly staggering contrast. K-State football was a laughingstock before he took over. To think the team has a legitimate chance at its second top-10 finish in the last three years blows my mind.
There isn't a whole lot more to contribute about his preparation, mentorship, and leadership -- it's all been said, and there's no doubt that his players are all bought in. The team is consistently off-the-charts in old school platitudes. However, what I'll remember most about his second run as coach is how inventive he's been as an offensive tactician. Snyder has tailored unique and successful offenses around Carson Coffman (an athletically limited passer), Collin Klein (a 6'5" battering ram, who was coached into one of the greatest rushing QBs in memory), and now Jake Waters (a talented rusher himself - albeit far less imposing than Klein - who excels at throwing underneath). None were particularly heralded prospects, so it's truly been a delight to watch the offensive strategy evolve to accentuate their respective strengths and maximize their potential.
Finally, with Synder-coached teams, the in-game management is always flawless: Judicious with timeouts; aggressive with 4th downs and opportunities to put the game away; always conscious of the clock; scarcely penalized. These are things you take for granted... unless your pro team is the Dolphins.
Bill Synder just turned 75, so who knows how long this can last. All I know is I'll be savoring the rest of this season, and each one thereafter with him on the sidelines.
Just to put Synder's accomplishments in perspective: The program has a .667 winning % in games he coaches; .379 in games he did not. That is a truly staggering contrast. K-State football was a laughingstock before he took over. To think the team has a legitimate chance at its second top-10 finish in the last three years blows my mind.
There isn't a whole lot more to contribute about his preparation, mentorship, and leadership -- it's all been said, and there's no doubt that his players are all bought in. The team is consistently off-the-charts in old school platitudes. However, what I'll remember most about his second run as coach is how inventive he's been as an offensive tactician. Snyder has tailored unique and successful offenses around Carson Coffman (an athletically limited passer), Collin Klein (a 6'5" battering ram, who was coached into one of the greatest rushing QBs in memory), and now Jake Waters (a talented rusher himself - albeit far less imposing than Klein - who excels at throwing underneath). None were particularly heralded prospects, so it's truly been a delight to watch the offensive strategy evolve to accentuate their respective strengths and maximize their potential.
Finally, with Synder-coached teams, the in-game management is always flawless: Judicious with timeouts; aggressive with 4th downs and opportunities to put the game away; always conscious of the clock; scarcely penalized. These are things you take for granted... unless your pro team is the Dolphins.
Bill Synder just turned 75, so who knows how long this can last. All I know is I'll be savoring the rest of this season, and each one thereafter with him on the sidelines.