2011 Kansas State Football Preview Picks and Schedule
Bill Snyder turned Kansas State into a winner his first time around. Can he do it again? Snyder took over as head coach at Kansas State in 1989. At the time, Kansas State had 3 consecutive seasons without a win and only 4 winning seasons out of the previous 44 years. Snyder went 1-10 his first season followed by a 5 win year and then a 7 win season. An immediate impact you might say. But Snyder wasn’t done yet.
Between 1993 and 2003 Snyder won 9, 10 or 11 Games in every year but one, a 6-6 season in 2001. In fact between 1997 and 2003 Snyder won 11 Games 5 out of 6 years. He took Kansas State to 11 straight Bowl Games and earned at least a piece if the Big 12 North Title 4 times. Considering how far Kansas State had come under Bill Snyder, it’s easy to see why they named the stadium after him!
Snyder stepped down after the 2005 season to spend some time with his family but returned in 2009 to go 6-6 followed by last seasons 7-6. He is now 71 years young and 3 years into his current term with the Wildcats. If the commitment is there on his part, there’s no reason not to believe that an 11 win season awaits oNCe again in the future. The man can coach. But that 11 wins won’t happen this year.
Snyder still has his work cut out. He has a young team that’s starting to take shape. Remember, it takes a coach 4 full seasons before a team truly becomes his. His players playing his schemes, etc. The offense produced 34 points per Game last year ranking 22nd in the nation in scoring and the return 6 starters, minus a QB. Defensively they return 7 starters, but that’s 7 starters to a unit that have up 29 points per Game and was 106th in the nation in total defense. Obviously it’s the defensive side of the ball that needs the most work and that’s exactly where recruiting efforts were focused.
Kansas State was competitive last year. The only Game they were outclassed in was against Nebraska, a 48-13 loss and unfortunately, with Nebraska leaving the conference, they won’t get a chance at revenge for that one. They play at Miami Florida and host Oklahoma, but other than those two Games, it’s a manageable Schedule iNCluding two Games to start the year at home against Eastern Kentucky and Kent State which should allow them start 2-0.
It’s looking like at least 6 wins for the Wildcats in 2011, maybe 7. We’ll know more after the Miami Game. Circle November 19th when Kansas State visits Texas. Kansas State beat Texas 39-14 last year and that’s certainly a ScoreMACk Brown wants to settle.
2011 Kansas State Wildcats Football Schedule
9-3-11 NORTHERN IOWA
9-10-11 IOWA
9-16-11 at Connecticut (Thur.)
10-1-11 TEXAS
10-8-11 at Baylor
10-15-11 at Missouri
10-22-11 TEXAS A&M
10-29-11 at Texas Tech
11-5-11 KANSAS
11-18-11 OKLAHOMA STATE (Fri.)
11-26-11 at Oklahoma
12-3-11 at Kansas State