Rebuilding K-State --- twice

[VULB#62]

The following link describes Bill Snyder's 16 goals for success.  He built Kansas State into a football national contender from rubble in his first stint as head coach, retired, and when K-State slid back to mediocrity came back at the age of 69 in 2008 and has them in national title contention again.  It's a long read but worthwhile and ties into Valpo football so I posted it here rather than in Off-Topic.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/40063294

Some relevant excerpts:

In his first year, Kansas State won one game. Improvement. The Wildcats had a winning record in his third year -- just their second winning season in more than 20 years. Kansas State won its first ever bowl game in his fifth year. Kansas State was ranked in the Top 10 two years after that (first time), played on New Year's Day a year after that (first time), and was a fumble away from the national championship game two years after that (obviously, first time).

Perhaps the greatest mystery about this year's Kansas State team -- and Snyder's success as a whole -- is how a hodgepodge of junior college players, transfers and overlooked prospects from 20 different states could come together in Manhattan and become one of America's best teams.

Kansas State doesn't play cutting-edge football. The quarterback draw has been Snyder's favorite play since he had a Heisman finalist named Michael Bishop at quarterback. It's his favorite play now too. Kansas State's defense doesn't trick the game up with a lot of blitzes and different formations. Snyder has watched more film than any coach east of Belichick the last 20 years, but watching all that film has convinced him that it isn't the scheme, it's how well you play the game.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Snyder has watched more film than any coach east of Belichick

probably because most of them are west of him, anyway. 
(there's that east coast bias valpotx is always pointing out, btw : )
Snyder also sleeps like 2 hours a night, though, no joke.

[covufan]

Snyder has watched more film than any coach east of Belichick

probably because most of them are west of him, anyway. 
(there's that east coast bias valpotx is always pointing out, btw : )
Snyder also sleeps like 2 hours a night, though, no joke.

Yeah, except for UMass moving to FBS, I don't think there are any FBS teams east of Foxboro Stadium, nor any NFL teams!

[covufan]

The following link describes Bill Snyder's 16 goals for success.  He built Kansas State into a football national contender from rubble in his first stint as head coach, retired, and when K-State slid back to mediocrity came back at the age of 69 in 2008 and has them in national title contention again.  It's a long read but worthwhile and ties into Valpo football so I posted it here rather than in Off-Topic.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/40063294

Some relevant excerpts:

In his first year, Kansas State won one game. Improvement. The Wildcats had a winning record in his third year -- just their second winning season in more than 20 years. Kansas State won its first ever bowl game in his fifth year. Kansas State was ranked in the Top 10 two years after that (first time), played on New Year's Day a year after that (first time), and was a fumble away from the national championship game two years after that (obviously, first time).

Perhaps the greatest mystery about this year's Kansas State team -- and Snyder's success as a whole -- is how a hodgepodge of junior college players, transfers and overlooked prospects from 20 different states could come together in Manhattan and become one of America's best teams.

Kansas State doesn't play cutting-edge football. The quarterback draw has been Snyder's favorite play since he had a Heisman finalist named Michael Bishop at quarterback. It's his favorite play now too. Kansas State's defense doesn't trick the game up with a lot of blitzes and different formations. Snyder has watched more film than any coach east of Belichick the last 20 years, but watching all that film has convinced him that it isn't the scheme, it's how well you play the game.

Snyder has done a great job there, and should get the recognition he deserves.  I hope that K-State and Snyder allow for a smooth transition when he retires, as they will need to have someone that knows the K-State way that Snyder has built.

[valpotx]

Snyder has watched more film than any coach east of Belichick

probably because most of them are west of him, anyway. 
(there's that east coast bias valpotx is always pointing out, btw : )
Snyder also sleeps like 2 hours a night, though, no joke.

Damn east coast bias...