Bill Snyder says he didn’t intend to single out K-State’s Isaiah Zuber after TCU loss
Two days after blasting Isaiah Zuber for losing a costly fumble against TCU, Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder now says he didn’t intend to blame one player for the team’s most recent defeat.
“Nobody makes mistakes on purpose, that is not the intent of anybody,” Snyder said Monday during his time on the Big 12 teleconference. “If I were going to single someone out I would start with myself. There are a number of situations that took place in the ballgame that could have dramatically changed the ballgame. As I said with our players before the game, and certainly after it, we are all in it together.”
“It’s not about one individual, it’s about all of us collectively. We win games collectively and we lose them collectively. No, I’m not trying to single any individual out.”
That’s not how it sounded following a 14-13 loss against TCU on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The Wildcats could have done more in myriad areas to win the game, but most pinned the loss on special teams miscues. Zuber, a junior K-State receiver, lost a costly fumble while trying to return a punt in the first quarter, which led to a TCU touchdown. Blake Lynch also missed an extra point in the fourth quarter. And K-State had to abort a short field-goal attempt because of a poor snap and hold in the second quarter.
There were issues across the board on special teams, but Snyder didn’t see it that way. One mistake loomed large in his mind.
“It wasn’t special teams so much as it was an individual,” Snyder said. “You take away the turnover that gave them the winning touchdown and we are talking about a different thing right now.”
Snyder was obviously irritated with Zuber throughout the TCU loss. After Zuber lost an early fumble, his third of the season as a return man, he was nowhere to be seen on most of K-State’s offensive plays.
He leads the Wildats in catches (41), receiving yards (496) and receiving touchdowns (3), but Zuber was effectively benched for much of the game. But he did remain on the field to handle kick and punt returns.
Snyder said he has not spoken with Zuber since the TCU game.
His harsh comments about Zuber created a stir on social media over the weekend, but he downplayed them on Monday as the Wildcats began to prepare for their next game, an 11 a.m. Saturday kickoff against Kansas at Snyder Family Stadium.
This story was originally published November 5, 2018 at 12:47 PM with the headline "Bill Snyder says he didn’t intend to single out K-State’s Isaiah Zuber after TCU loss."