Before reading this, understand that I have been a big fan of Bill Snyder. It cannot be overemphasized that K-State football was historically the worst among Division 1-A schools when he took the reins in 1989. And I’m not sure there was a close 2nd, this side of Vanderbilt.
His petulant remarks after yesterday’s 35-6 trashing at West Virginia were inexcusable. “I can’t coach a team that can’t get 6 inches.” OK, so don’t coach the team going forward. Please! The Wildcats have already been manhandled twice in the first month (Two weeks ago, Mississippi State ran roughshod over K-State).
Traditionally, Kansas State’s recruiting classed have never ranked highly. This is partly due to K-State’s heavy reliance on junior college talent. The conclusion was that Snyder had few peers in coaching ’em up. For most of his career, we would have heartily agreed. However, their talent gap in 2018 seems even more pronounced. Besides All-American right tackle Dalton Risner, can you readily identify another elite player on K-State? I cannot.
Now, in addition to throwing his team under the bus yesterday, there are some disturbing coaching elements that are contributing to the demise of this year’s Wildcats. Snyder’s decisions have given a lot of credence to the adage “If you have 2 quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks.” For the 2nd straight year, the quarterback carousel has not worked in Manhattan. Post-Jesse Ertz, the QB play has been substandard. Yesterday, 3 of West Virginia’s touchdowns were exact carbon copies: a 1-yard TD pass to the tall (6’4″) David Sills. Fine, we understand single coverage on the first of the 3 alley oops — that follows the book. But when West Virginia keeps calling the play over and over, should not K-State modify coverage? Should the coaching staff also be thrown under the bus?
Bill Snyder has been viewed, rightfully, as a savior in Manhattan. He is the only current FBS coach who has a stadium named after him. When you enter the KSU stadium from the west, it looks like an entrance to a medieval castle. Like royalty, the 78-year-old icon wishes to pass the baton to his son, Sean. This passing of the torch smacks more of 16th century France than 21st century America. What has Sean done to deserve this? With the exception of Godfather 2, sequels are generally a big disappointment. The Odyssey thinks that K-State would have been much better served to have kept Jim Leavitt from leaving after his second stint in Manhattan.
Recruiting against the aged Snyder will be easier and easier with each passing year. I can personally attest to the tyranny of time. As a youth, I could catch a pitcher all day and not ache. Yesterday, as a 66-year-old, even squatting for 15 minutes to catch my son proved a difficult effort. In his prime, Willie Mays was one of the best centerfielders. EVER. So, when he wandered around as a 40-year-old New York Met in an epic struggle to catch a routine fly ball, an eternal message was reiterated.
Mr. Snyder, please take a much deserved curtain call and call it an era. If you truly care about K-State football, exit right or exit left. But please exit!