IRVING, Texas | Cup of coffee in hand, Bill Snyder moved from one television interview to the next, answering the same questions with a smile and a question of his own. “Couldn’t we do them at once?” he asked.Time-wasting redundancy never suited Snyder well, in his first season at Kansas State in 1989 or in this return after a three-year absence. Mostly, he’s the same guy who arrived from Iowa to salvage a wrecked program. But there are a few a differences, such as:•Physical appearanceThen: Skinny, even for an undersized quarterback. Only traces of gray in the hair.Now: Looks like he hasn’t gained a pound. As for the hair, “Most of you have thinned out like I have hair-wise,” he greeted reporters on Big 12 media day. “I see some gray guys who didn’t used to be gray.”•Social networkingThen: Snyder may have set an NCAA record for writing personal notes. Birthday cards, Christmas cards — if you met Snyder, chances were you would eventually get a note.Now: He continues to write notes, but Snyder has advanced into 21st-century communication as a texting fiend. At basketball games last season, his thumbs would blaze through messages during timeouts.“I get up every morning and you get this BlackBerry thing out and it’s got all the recruiting services,” Snyder said.It’s caused Snyder discomfort in his recruiting timetable. Early in his career, he wanted to see kids play as seniors before offering. He knows that’s impossible now.“Cyberspace has taken command, (and) the speed of the recruiting process has changed rather dramatically,” Snyder said. “We have maybe 100, 130 offers extended now. We have 15 to 17 commitments. I’ve never been in that position in my life. It’s a little frightening.”But he’s not all-in.“What do you call it, ‘Twiddle-dee?’ ” Snyder said of Twitter.•Sean SnyderThen: Bill’s son enrolled at Iowa in 1988, remained in Iowa City through the fall of 1989, then followed his father to Manhattan, where he became indispensable as an All-America punter.Now: Sean Snyder is indispensable as Kansas State’s man of many titles: associate athletics director/associate head coach of football operations and development. His son’s workload might be the biggest difference in Bill Snyder’s tenures.In several media sessions, Snyder would field a question and refer to Sean.“He directs our program,” Bill Snyder said.•StaffThen: Four of Snyder’s original assistant coaches were products of the Iowa coaching tree, including secondary coach Bob Stoops. He filled out the staff from acquaintances and recommendations.Now: Ten of the 13 staff members played or coached for Snyder, including offensive coordinator Del Miller. He was the first coach Snyder hired in 1989, and he’s back on this staff.“We got a lot of people who understand the system and are a great asset to me, so it makes life a little easier, I think,” Snyder said.•Talent inheritedThen: Stoops remembered having to practice his first year with four defensive linemen, two of whom were among the 47 scholarship members. “We would be practicing team sessions, and we would have to stop for a five-minute break to hose them off. The rest of the team would just stand around,” Stoops said.Now: Enough talent returns that the Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the six-team North Division.

Posted on Wed, Jul. 29, 2009 11:15 PM

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He's a little grayer, but K-State's Snyder hasn't changed much

By BLAIR KERKHOFF

The Kansas City Star

Video | K-State coach Bill Snyder speaks at Big 12 Media Days

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IRVING, Texas | Cup of coffee in hand, Bill Snyder moved from one television interview to the next, answering the same questions with a smile and a question of his own.

“Couldn’t we do them at once?” he asked.

Time-wasting redundancy never suited Snyder well, in his first season at Kansas State in 1989 or in this return after a three-year absence. Mostly, he’s the same guy who arrived from Iowa to salvage a wrecked program. But there are a few a differences, such as:

•Physical appearance

Then: Skinny, even for an undersized quarterback. Only traces of gray in the hair.

Now: Looks like he hasn’t gained a pound. As for the hair, “Most of you have thinned out like I have hair-wise,” he greeted reporters on Big 12 media day. “I see some gray guys who didn’t used to be gray.”

•Social networking

Then: Snyder may have set an NCAA record for writing personal notes. Birthday cards, Christmas cards — if you met Snyder, chances were you would eventually get a note.

Now: He continues to write notes, but Snyder has advanced into 21st-century communication as a texting fiend. At basketball games last season, his thumbs would blaze through messages during timeouts.

“I get up every morning and you get this BlackBerry thing out and it’s got all the recruiting services,” Snyder said.

It’s caused Snyder discomfort in his recruiting timetable. Early in his career, he wanted to see kids play as seniors before offering. He knows that’s impossible now.

“Cyberspace has taken command, (and) the speed of the recruiting process has changed rather dramatically,” Snyder said. “We have maybe 100, 130 offers extended now. We have 15 to 17 commitments. I’ve never been in that position in my life. It’s a little frightening.”

But he’s not all-in.

“What do you call it, ‘Twiddle-dee?’ ” Snyder said of Twitter.

•Sean Snyder

Then: Bill’s son enrolled at Iowa in 1988, remained in Iowa City through the fall of 1989, then followed his father to Manhattan, where he became indispensable as an All-America punter.

Now: Sean Snyder is indispensable as Kansas State’s man of many titles: associate athletics director/associate head coach of football operations and development. His son’s workload might be the biggest difference in Bill Snyder’s tenures.

In several media sessions, Snyder would field a question and refer to Sean.

“He directs our program,” Bill Snyder said.

•Staff

Then: Four of Snyder’s original assistant coaches were products of the Iowa coaching tree, including secondary coach Bob Stoops. He filled out the staff from acquaintances and recommendations.

Now: Ten of the 13 staff members played or coached for Snyder, including offensive coordinator Del Miller. He was the first coach Snyder hired in 1989, and he’s back on this staff.

“We got a lot of people who understand the system and are a great asset to me, so it makes life a little easier, I think,” Snyder said.

•Talent inherited

Then: Stoops remembered having to practice his first year with four defensive linemen, two of whom were among the 47 scholarship members. “We would be practicing team sessions, and we would have to stop for a five-minute break to hose them off. The rest of the team would just stand around,” Stoops said.

Now: Enough talent returns that the Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the six-team North Division.

To reach Blair Kerkhoff, college sports reporter for The Star, call 816-234-4730 or send e-mail to bkerkhoff@kcstar.com

Posted on Wed, Jul. 29, 2009 11:15 PM

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