Letter Perfect: A Tribute to Bill Snyder

 

NOTE: This is a repost of a post I wrote in 2015. As Bill Snyder announced his retirement yesterday, I want to join the multitude of K-State fans wishing him well in this second round of retirement. Yesterday on Twitter, Brent posted this photo I took back in 1998. Here's what he had to say:

My wardrobe from 1996-99 pretty much consisted of a rotation of like 20 K-State football t-shirts. Some of the best memories of my childhood were thanks to Bill Snyder and for that I will forever be grateful. #ThanksCoachSnyder

This Mom echoes that thanks, Coach!

I sent K-State football coach Bill Snyder a handwritten note a few weeks ago, congratulating him on his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. My favorite part of the national football championship was watching Coach Snyder walk onto the field during the coin toss.

I made my own notecard, using a photo I'd taken at the K-State-Auburn football this past September. I hand-printed my congratulations because he has done the same for so many people.

I didn't expect to receive a letter back. But I got one anyway.

In it, he apologizes that he didn't hand-print the letter himself. He got so many congratulatory notes that he responded via a typewritten letter. But he says he read each and every one. I believe him. He's that kind of guy.

I was a student at K-State in the late 1970s. Attending football games was a lesson in futility. I always went because I grew up a K-State sports fan. But I sure didn't have to fight for elbow room. Our football program was in the cellar of the college football rankings. 

Week after week, we'd make the trek across campus from the Derby dorm complex and sit in the stands. Despite our chants to "Eat 'em up! Eat 'em up! K-S-U," it was our football team who was getting chewed up and spit out on the field week after week.

Bill Snyder was hired in 1988 and has been called "the architect of the greatest turn around in college football history." The Wildcat program was in the midst of an 0-26-1 run when he was hired and had been to just one bowl game in its first 93 seasons. He took the worst college football program in the nation to a perennial top-25 contender.

He's a five-time national Coach of the Year honoree and a seven-time conference Coach of the Year recipient. He's coached the Wildcats to 19 bowl games and two Big 12 championships. He's compiled a 215–117–1 record in his 27 seasons as K-State head coach (updated to reflect current record).

Impressive? Sure. I love cheering for a winning football team after so many years of drought. But what's most impressive to me is Bill Snyder, the human being.

Every so often, an athlete from a competing school posts a handwritten Coach Snyder note to Facebook or Twitter. Sometimes, it's an athlete hurt in a game vs. K-State. Sometimes, it's a player who has achieved something special on the football field. Every time I see one of those notes, I think about how blessed K-State is to have Coach Snyder at the helm of its football program.

Brent & his friend, Scott, at a 1998 football game, waiting on the team in the north end zone.

Brent was born in 1988 and has been a big, big, big fan of Bill Snyder his whole life. For many of those years, we sat in the north end zone during football season. Coach Snyder and his team would walk right by us on the way to the locker room. It was a thrill for our biggest little K-State fan.

My folks with their seven grandkids - now all K-State graduates!

Snyder posters and quotes dominated the decor in his childhood room. Then, Coach Snyder sent Brent a letter. Brent won a national award while working for K-State Sports Information as a student intern, and Coach Snyder congratulated him. Brent framed the letter, and it has hung on the walls of his home, be it in South Carolina, Kentucky and back to Manhattan. It's one of his prized possessions.

One of Brent's MANY K-State football t-shirts

I didn't think I could like Coach Snyder more than I already did, but when you encourage one of my kids? Yep, I liked him even more. And it made me think about the ways I could and should encourage others who touch my life in a positive way.

A few years ago, Coach Snyder came up with 16 goals for his football team:

• Commitment
• Unselfishness
• Unity
• Improve every day
• Toughness
• Self-discipline
• Great effort
• Enthusiasm 
• Eliminate mistakes
• Never give up
• Don't accept losing
• No self-limitations
• Expect to win
• Consistency
• Leadership
• Responsibility

Snyder believes the 16 goals are not only critical to success on the field, but also in everyday life. Once someone has dedicated themselves to doing things the right way, their chance of success in any field is dramatically increased. - See more at: http://www.kstatesports.com/16goals/#sthash.HUZ7JLbh.dpuf

Snyder believes the 16 goals are not only critical to success on the field, but also in everyday life. (More details about the goals can be found here.)

Yes, it's great to win football games. It's even better to have a coach who teaches these principles the football players will carry long after they quit tossing around the pigskin. The rest of us should pay attention, too. 

I'm proud to be part of the K-State family.

Thanks, Coach!

As it turned out, Randy & I made it to the end of Coach Snyder's final appearance as head coach. It was darn cold, but I'm glad I stuck it out to the very end.

November 17, 2018 - Bill Snyder Family Stadium vs. Texas Tech (a win)!

Family vs. Fireworks

I knew there were going to be fireworks after K-State's season opener. I just didn't expect the explosions to involve the Pride of Wildcat Land Marching Band.

Band Director Dr. Frank Tracz's motives were called into question with a formation during Saturday's halftime show that some believed was vulgar in nature. For the record, nobody was discussing this at all during the halftime show or during the second half, at least in the south end zone where I was sitting. (Granted: Cell phone reception is not the best in the stadium. I wasn't checking my phone every minute, and my son, who was sitting by me, wasn't going to bring up this topic willingly to his mother. But I didn't hear it from anyone else either.)

Honestly, I was very impressed with the halftime show. The band is always good. But they did multiple formations and were moving all over the field in intricate, ever-shifting patterns. I don't ever recall a show that had more moving parts. I thought it was an apt reflection of the Wildcat band's recognition with the Sudler Trophy, an award given every two years to the top college band in the nation.

After the internet hubbub, I wrote to President Kirk Schulz and Athletic Director John Currie, expressing my support and asking them to stand behind our band and its director. And I also wrote to Dr. Tracz with an apology. It said:

"I am writing with a confession of sorts. I probably would not have written this email if the controversy about the band's halftime performance wouldn't have happened. And that's the sad part to me: I sat in the south end zone of the football stadium on Saturday and was amazed at the intricate formations the band was performing. In all the years we've been season ticket holders for football, I don't recall a halftime show with more moving pieces. So I should have been thinking - then and there - "I should write an email to Dr. Tracz and the band and tell them how much I appreciated all their time and effort in creating and carrying out the halftime show!"

But, in reality, I probably wouldn't have done so. That's sad, and I'm sorry about that - for all the times I should have said thank you and congratulations for your wonderful achievements - but I didn't. Every time I hear the patriotic fanfare at the beginning of the game, I tear up. I also appreciate the band's enthusiasm and leadership with the Wabash Cannonball, the alma mater and so much more.

Congratulations on your national honor! I am proud to have you and the band represent me and my alma mater!

I am not a band alumni, but I have known a few throughout the years. I know that your performances represent HOURS of practicing. As I told someone else, you guys probably spent more time outside practicing in the heat and humidity than the football team did because you don't have a brand new indoor practice facility. So, for all the blood, sweat and tears, thank you!

 I have emailed people in leadership at both K-State and KU, voicing my support for you and the band. So ...

Fight you K-State Wildcats

for Alma Mater fight!

Glory into combat for the Purple and the White

Faithful to our colors

We will ever be

Fighting, ever fighting, for a Wildcat Victory!

Go State!

 

I don't agree with the University's self-imposed sanctions. I think Schulz and university administration should have stood behind its band family. "Family" is the flag we wave before the game.

It's the sign our football team carries at the forefront as it runs onto the field before the game.

Family is what built the new Vanier football complex and West Stadium ...

... and the amazing digital scoreboard. (The image above taken from across the football field, zooming in on the new scoreboard. It was a wonderful addition for we south end zone occupants!)

There were plenty of positive things to focus on at Saturday's game. Game goers helped "Stripe Out" the stadium, wearing either white or purple shirts in assigned sections. It looked awesome!

The National Football Foundation saluted Coach Snyder on his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Four great Wildcats became the newest Ring of Honor recipients - Michael Bishop, Jordy Nelson, Clarence Scott and Darren Sproles. There were raucous standing ovations for each one of them.

My sister called from Chicago on Monday and asked about the controversy. I offered my take. I told her that it was too bad that the good things were overshadowed. She also had no idea that our starting quarterback Jesse Ertz had a season-ending injury during the first drive or that senior safety Dante Barnett had an arm injury.

Life isn't fair. My parents have been telling me that my whole life, so you'd think I would have learned that lesson by now. So I hope the band members and Dr. Tracz rally and come back next home game better than ever.

And I hope the fireworks we'll be talking about at Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be simply that - fireworks ... or another explosive 100-yard kickoff return from Morgan Burns or one of his special teams pals!

Letter Perfect: Bill Snyder

I sent K-State football coach Bill Snyder a handwritten note a few weeks ago, congratulating him on his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. My favorite part of the national football championship was watching Coach Snyder walk onto the field during the coin toss.

I made my own notecard, using a photo I'd taken at the K-State-Auburn football this past September. I hand-printed my congratulations because he has done the same for so many people.

I didn't expect to receive a letter back. But I got one anyway.

In it, he apologizes that he didn't hand-print the letter himself. He got so many congratulatory notes that he responded via a typewritten letter. But he says he read each and every one. I believe him. He's that kind of guy.

I was a student at K-State in the late 1970s. Attending football games was a lesson in futility. I always went because I grew up a K-State sports fan. But I sure didn't have to fight for elbow room. Our football program was in the cellar of the college football rankings. 

Week after week, we'd make the trek across campus from the Derby dorm complex and sit in the stands. Despite our chants to "Eat 'em up! Eat 'em up! K-S-U," it was our football team who was getting chewed up and spit out on the field week after week.

Bill Snyder was hired in 1989 and has been called "the architect of the greatest turn around in college football history." The Wildcat program was in the midst of an 0-26-1 run when he was hired and had been to just one bowl game in its first 93 seasons. He took the worst college football program in the nation to a perennial top-25 contender.

He's a five-time national Coach of the Year honoree and a seven-time conference Coach of the Year recipient. He's coached the Wildcats to 16 bowl games and two Big 12 championships. He's compiled a 187-94-1 record in his 23 seasons as head coach. 

Impressive? Sure. I love cheering for a winning football team after so many years of drought. But what's most impressive to me is Bill Snyder, the human being.

Every so often, an athlete from a competing school posts a handwritten Coach Snyder note to Facebook or Twitter. Sometimes, it's an athlete hurt in a game vs. K-State. Sometimes, it's a player who has achieved something special on the football field. Every time I see one of those notes, I think about how blessed K-State is to have Coach Snyder at the helm of its football program.

Brent was born in 1988 and has been a big, big, big fan of Bill Snyder his whole life. For many of those years, we sat in the north end zone during football season. Coach Snyder and his team would walk right by us on the way to the locker room. It was a thrill for our biggest little K-State fan.

Snyder posters and quotes dominated the decor in his childhood room. Then, Coach Snyder sent Brent a letter. Brent won a national award while working for K-State Sports Information as a student intern, and Coach Snyder congratulated him. Brent framed the letter, and it has hung on the walls of his home, be it in South Carolina, Kentucky and back to Manhattan. It's one of his prized possessions.

I didn't think I could like Coach Snyder more than I already did, but when you encourage one of my kids? Yep, I liked him even more. And it made me think about the ways I could and should encourage others who touch my life in a positive way.

A few years ago, Coach Snyder came up with 16 goals for his football team:

• Commitment
• Unselfishness
• Unity
• Improve every day
• Toughness
• Self-discipline
• Great effort
• Enthusiasm 
• Eliminate mistakes
• Never give up
• Don't accept losing
• No self-limitations
• Expect to win
• Consistency
• Leadership
• Responsibility

Snyder believes the 16 goals are not only critical to success on the field, but also in everyday life. Once someone has dedicated themselves to doing things the right way, their chance of success in any field is dramatically increased. - See more at: http://www.kstatesports.com/16goals/#sthash.HUZ7JLbh.dpuf

Snyder believes the 16 goals are not only critical to success on the field, but also in everyday life. (More details about the goals can be found here.)

Yes, it's great to win football games. It's even better to have a coach who teaches these principles the football players will carry long after they quit tossing around the pigskin. The rest of us should pay attention, too. 

I'm proud to be part of the K-State family.

Thanks, Coach!

(Yes, I'm celebrating K-State football and Coach Snyder in the midst of basketball season. But, after last night's loss at Texas Tech and the suspension of two players, I guess I'd rather think positive thoughts about some aspect of the K-State sports program. Maybe a few people on the basketball team should review those 16 goals for success, too.)