K-State got a sideline warning against UCF. It made the Wildcats’ coach happy
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas State emphasized sideline energy to reverse a 1-3 season start.
- Coach Klieman encouraged celebratory behavior to boost team morale.
- Wildcats' enthusiasm fueled a 34-20 victory and reset team momentum.
It was easy for Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman to identify his favorite moment from a 34-20 victory over UCF on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
But it probably doesn’t match up with yours, mine or anyone else’s.
A 75-yard touchdown run by Dylan Edwards? Nope. A jaw-dropping interception by Qua Moss? Nope. A short touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to Garrett Oakley and the entertaining touchdown dance that followed? Wrong again.
Klieman was most proud of his team for earning a sideline warning for celebrating too long and too enthusiastically on the field after a string of big plays by the Wildcats.
“Our guys played with a ton of emotion and energy today,” Klieman said. “I hope people watched and noticed that. One thing that’s non-negotiable for me is that you’re going to celebrate good plays and you’re going to celebrate K-State football. Our guys did that today. We got a sideline warning and I didn’t care. It’s fun to celebrate this game.”
That type of enthusiasm was sorely lacking in K-State’s first four games of the season. As the Wildcats slumped to a 1-3 start, their energy levels crashed and team leaders openly admitted that the roster wasn’t playing with enough passion to consistently win.
Boosting energy levels was Klieman’s primary concern over the past two weeks, especially with some prognosticators speaking as if the season was already in the dumpster.
Urging his team to get hyped after big plays was his solution.
“I think we got 30 sideline warnings during practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday,” Klieman said. “Because that was what we emphasized. Celebrate with your teammates.”
The Wildcats followed instructions.
The K-State sideline exploded after every touchdown and turnover on Saturday. Reserves were eager to celebrate everything from good blocks to hard runs and even punts as starters came to the sideline.
“It really felt good to win today and to have that energy on the sidelines,” K-State quarterback Avery Johnson said. “I feel like we played really well as a team today. Everyone stepped up and made plays. It was a really good feeling in the locker room after a game like that.”
At one point, energy levels were so high on the K-State sideline that Klieman got in on the act.
He nearly injured himself trying to jump high into the air so he could bump chests with tight end Will Swanson.
“He was mid air when I ran by him,” Swanson said afterward. “I high-fived him but I think he ended up stepping on me. That was pretty funny. I don’t know if he fell or not, but he was very excited.”
The more K-State players celebrated, the more they forgot about their disappointing start to the season.
Before they knew it, one touchdown became two and then three. Just like that, the Wildcats had their biggest lead of the season at 31-10 and good vibes returned to EMAW nation.
For the first time all year, they could truly celebrate a win because they celebrated the small things first.
Maybe this is something they can build on.
“It just felt like we got a lot of weight off our back,” K-State defensive back Zashon Rich said. “We came out there and played free and finally won a game. We need to remember this and keep it going forward.”
This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 6:13 PM with the headline "K-State got a sideline warning against UCF. It made the Wildcats’ coach happy."