Proud of the fans, students especially. Great atmosphere for an odd kick-off time. Not a better feeling in college football than walking over to the student section and singing The Eyes of Texas after the game. Thanks to the students, to the fans, for a great atmosphere. They felt and used the energy the fans gave us.
They're moving on. Told the team yesterday, they're not going to spot them 7 points in Manhattan because they beat TCU. Take the lessons they learned from the last two weeks and use it. But what happened against TCU, USC or even Maryland is inconsequential on how KSU will play them.
They've moved on. Trying to win a road game. Haven't won in Manhattan since Caden Sterns was two years old. Only road contest this year, they didn't play well.
DB J. Durst is doubtful. Estell is doubtfull right now. P Hudson is doubtful, goes to the doctor today for a return to play protocol. Everyone else is pretty good. C Anderson and Cosmi didn't practice yesterday due to bumps and bruises but should be ready to go. Shackelford and Overshown will practice tomorrow.
Winning is intoxicating. It feels really, really good. But thinks the key that he's proud of this group of guys is that they understand that you don't beat TCU during the three and a half hours on Saturday. That was the reward for how hard they've prepared and the sacrifices they've made. When you don't get rewarded, it stings because of how hard they work. They're going to celebrate wins because of how hard they work throughout the week.
On Ehlinger's progression ... Progressing well, certainly has a long way to go. They were very critical, Sam of himself and them as coaches, when they watched film. Easier to be critical when they do win. He is progressing, and he's gaining confidence in himself and the guys around him. He is progressing well, but they still have a long way to go.
On Ehlinger as a decision maker ... it's better, certainly. In this sport, everybody wants to blame things on certain people. QB gets blamed for INTs because it says INT on the stat sheet, but doesn't tell if it was a tipped pass or if a defender hit his arm when throwing. He's progressing, still needs to trust his speed when he runs, just go forward. He's learning that. In the dropback pass game, his decision making is certainly improving.
On Manhattan being tough to win at ... it's usually places that have really good teams and really good coaching. Bill Snyder took over a program that was the worst in college football and turned it into a conference and national contender. Great coaches, great continuity. It's difficult to get there in terms of location and travel. The fans there are great. They're going to show up and be loud, try to impact the game. Put it all together, well coached team that plays hard, plays smart, raucous fan base that shows up, it makes for a difficult place to play.
The memory of what it feels like to win, regardless of opponent, is something they want to keep ingrained and they want to feel it again. But again, it doesn't just happen on Saturday. If you want it again, you have to put in the work Sunday through Friday. Thinks the guys get that and understand that. Had a long conversation in the team meeting about whose opinions should matter. When it comes to football, it should be teammates and coaches and that's it.
One of their four items on plans to win, first one is play great defense, second one is to win the turnover margin. They make their defense aware of how important it is to get the ball. If you go on average, your defense starts to take pride in that on average, when they get the ball, that's 4 points gained. They won the turnover battle against TCU by four, won the game by 15. Thinks the guys are fully aware on how powerful it is to take the ball away and win the turnover battle.
On Shackelford being back ... Rodriguez is a captain for good reason. Vahe has played a lot of football, Calvin Anderson has played a lot of football. But there's no doubt about who the leader of that group is and it's Zach Shackelford. Getting him back is always a good thing.
Calvin Anderson and Patrick Vahe would tell you they didn't have their best games against TCU. Played well enough to win, but that was a really good TCU defense they were playing against. Anderson has a bit of a calming presence on that unit with his experience.
On the RBs in the passing game ... when the game plan calls for it, they're getting production. Trey Watson and Keaontay Ingram are in another tier in terms of running routes and ball skills from the other backs, but feels they're where they need to be in that area.
A lot of pride in the way the defense is playing. They understand that to play at a championship level, you're going to have to play great defense. Over the last three games, aside from a couple drives, they've done a good job and it's something they take pride in.
On Collin Johnson ... he's had a good couple weeks. His skill set is he's one of the best one-on-one guys Herman has ever been around, one of the best in the country. But he doesn't get to call the defenses, if they want to devote two people to covering him, that makes getting him the ball more difficult. Ehlinger has done a nice job of getting the ball to him when possible and Johnson has done a nice job of making plays when the ball comes his way.
On guys whose voice the team listens to as leaders ... Chris Nelson, Hager, Omenihu, Wheeler, Gary Johnson, Boyd, Locke, Brandon Jones, Beck, Rodriguez, Shack, Vahe, Buechele, Ehlinger, Collin Johnson and Jerrod Heard are on the leadership council. Those are the guys they lean on in terms of having a voice in the locker room and conveying their message, but also conveying any message the players have to relay to the coaches.
Pats on the back in their program happen five times a year, after four bowl victories and when you graduate. Other than that, they're going to push players really hard, win or lose. They're confident in the formula and the plan. There's some validity now that the plan doesn't just get them close, but it can put them over the hump. Going to continue to coach them the way they have been.
On Sterns ... hasn't been around a freshman at safety who has impacted things the way Sterns has. It's one thing to be around the ball, it's another to actually make plays. He's always around the ball in run or pass. He'll come downhill and hit you.
After the past couple weeks, how could you walk into the building and not wanting to do it again? Now that players have felt the rewards, doesn't think it will be difficult to motivate the team moving forward.
The offensive identity, to have the balance they had against TCU, to have that type of conversion success on some deep shots, had second-half success on third downs, but from a philosophical standpoint, that overall showing is about where they want to be. Balance is about being able to win the game in whatever way the defense dictates to you. If they crowd the box, can you beat them through the air. If they play off, can you win the battle in the box with the run game?
On Sterns as a recruit ... his maturity stands out. His mother is a phenomenal woman. Having an older brother who played D-I football was something that probably helped. But he was a really mature guy. Something they're really proud of is as highly-regarded as that class was for its play on the field, all those guys are their types of guys in terms of character, how they were raised, family structure. They're all different, but they definitely fit what they want to do because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Breckyn Hager hasn't had a lot of numbers, but feels he's playing well. Feels the plays are coming.
On the fourth-and-one call ... no regrets. When the defensive coordinator is on the headset saying go for it, that's a good sign. They need to be able to convert fourth and one. TCU is a great defense, but you have to be able to make those plays.
On Gary Johnson ... recent success doesn't have anything to do with what happened against Maryland. That's just who he is. He can run, he can hit, he's like the Energizer bunny, just keeps going and going.
On Fernando Lovo's role on game day ... he is Herman's passionate liaison to the officials. He's not sure if Lovo is supposed to hold Herman back, or if Herman is supposed to hold Lovo back. Lovo loves football, likes winning, likes success and takes pride in what he does. The support staff's job has a direct impact on winning and losing just like the coaches, trainers, everyone.
They're moving on. Told the team yesterday, they're not going to spot them 7 points in Manhattan because they beat TCU. Take the lessons they learned from the last two weeks and use it. But what happened against TCU, USC or even Maryland is inconsequential on how KSU will play them.
They've moved on. Trying to win a road game. Haven't won in Manhattan since Caden Sterns was two years old. Only road contest this year, they didn't play well.
DB J. Durst is doubtful. Estell is doubtfull right now. P Hudson is doubtful, goes to the doctor today for a return to play protocol. Everyone else is pretty good. C Anderson and Cosmi didn't practice yesterday due to bumps and bruises but should be ready to go. Shackelford and Overshown will practice tomorrow.
Winning is intoxicating. It feels really, really good. But thinks the key that he's proud of this group of guys is that they understand that you don't beat TCU during the three and a half hours on Saturday. That was the reward for how hard they've prepared and the sacrifices they've made. When you don't get rewarded, it stings because of how hard they work. They're going to celebrate wins because of how hard they work throughout the week.
On Ehlinger's progression ... Progressing well, certainly has a long way to go. They were very critical, Sam of himself and them as coaches, when they watched film. Easier to be critical when they do win. He is progressing, and he's gaining confidence in himself and the guys around him. He is progressing well, but they still have a long way to go.
On Ehlinger as a decision maker ... it's better, certainly. In this sport, everybody wants to blame things on certain people. QB gets blamed for INTs because it says INT on the stat sheet, but doesn't tell if it was a tipped pass or if a defender hit his arm when throwing. He's progressing, still needs to trust his speed when he runs, just go forward. He's learning that. In the dropback pass game, his decision making is certainly improving.
On Manhattan being tough to win at ... it's usually places that have really good teams and really good coaching. Bill Snyder took over a program that was the worst in college football and turned it into a conference and national contender. Great coaches, great continuity. It's difficult to get there in terms of location and travel. The fans there are great. They're going to show up and be loud, try to impact the game. Put it all together, well coached team that plays hard, plays smart, raucous fan base that shows up, it makes for a difficult place to play.
The memory of what it feels like to win, regardless of opponent, is something they want to keep ingrained and they want to feel it again. But again, it doesn't just happen on Saturday. If you want it again, you have to put in the work Sunday through Friday. Thinks the guys get that and understand that. Had a long conversation in the team meeting about whose opinions should matter. When it comes to football, it should be teammates and coaches and that's it.
One of their four items on plans to win, first one is play great defense, second one is to win the turnover margin. They make their defense aware of how important it is to get the ball. If you go on average, your defense starts to take pride in that on average, when they get the ball, that's 4 points gained. They won the turnover battle against TCU by four, won the game by 15. Thinks the guys are fully aware on how powerful it is to take the ball away and win the turnover battle.
On Shackelford being back ... Rodriguez is a captain for good reason. Vahe has played a lot of football, Calvin Anderson has played a lot of football. But there's no doubt about who the leader of that group is and it's Zach Shackelford. Getting him back is always a good thing.
Calvin Anderson and Patrick Vahe would tell you they didn't have their best games against TCU. Played well enough to win, but that was a really good TCU defense they were playing against. Anderson has a bit of a calming presence on that unit with his experience.
On the RBs in the passing game ... when the game plan calls for it, they're getting production. Trey Watson and Keaontay Ingram are in another tier in terms of running routes and ball skills from the other backs, but feels they're where they need to be in that area.
A lot of pride in the way the defense is playing. They understand that to play at a championship level, you're going to have to play great defense. Over the last three games, aside from a couple drives, they've done a good job and it's something they take pride in.
On Collin Johnson ... he's had a good couple weeks. His skill set is he's one of the best one-on-one guys Herman has ever been around, one of the best in the country. But he doesn't get to call the defenses, if they want to devote two people to covering him, that makes getting him the ball more difficult. Ehlinger has done a nice job of getting the ball to him when possible and Johnson has done a nice job of making plays when the ball comes his way.
On guys whose voice the team listens to as leaders ... Chris Nelson, Hager, Omenihu, Wheeler, Gary Johnson, Boyd, Locke, Brandon Jones, Beck, Rodriguez, Shack, Vahe, Buechele, Ehlinger, Collin Johnson and Jerrod Heard are on the leadership council. Those are the guys they lean on in terms of having a voice in the locker room and conveying their message, but also conveying any message the players have to relay to the coaches.
Pats on the back in their program happen five times a year, after four bowl victories and when you graduate. Other than that, they're going to push players really hard, win or lose. They're confident in the formula and the plan. There's some validity now that the plan doesn't just get them close, but it can put them over the hump. Going to continue to coach them the way they have been.
On Sterns ... hasn't been around a freshman at safety who has impacted things the way Sterns has. It's one thing to be around the ball, it's another to actually make plays. He's always around the ball in run or pass. He'll come downhill and hit you.
After the past couple weeks, how could you walk into the building and not wanting to do it again? Now that players have felt the rewards, doesn't think it will be difficult to motivate the team moving forward.
The offensive identity, to have the balance they had against TCU, to have that type of conversion success on some deep shots, had second-half success on third downs, but from a philosophical standpoint, that overall showing is about where they want to be. Balance is about being able to win the game in whatever way the defense dictates to you. If they crowd the box, can you beat them through the air. If they play off, can you win the battle in the box with the run game?
On Sterns as a recruit ... his maturity stands out. His mother is a phenomenal woman. Having an older brother who played D-I football was something that probably helped. But he was a really mature guy. Something they're really proud of is as highly-regarded as that class was for its play on the field, all those guys are their types of guys in terms of character, how they were raised, family structure. They're all different, but they definitely fit what they want to do because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Breckyn Hager hasn't had a lot of numbers, but feels he's playing well. Feels the plays are coming.
On the fourth-and-one call ... no regrets. When the defensive coordinator is on the headset saying go for it, that's a good sign. They need to be able to convert fourth and one. TCU is a great defense, but you have to be able to make those plays.
On Gary Johnson ... recent success doesn't have anything to do with what happened against Maryland. That's just who he is. He can run, he can hit, he's like the Energizer bunny, just keeps going and going.
On Fernando Lovo's role on game day ... he is Herman's passionate liaison to the officials. He's not sure if Lovo is supposed to hold Herman back, or if Herman is supposed to hold Lovo back. Lovo loves football, likes winning, likes success and takes pride in what he does. The support staff's job has a direct impact on winning and losing just like the coaches, trainers, everyone.
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