MANHATTAN — When Bill Snyder roams the sideline before a Kansas State football game at the stadium that bears his name, the legendary coach still receives applause from the EMAW faithful and those who appreciate what he has done for the program.
Over two different stints as Kansas State‘s coach from 1989-2005 and 2009-18, the coach helped the Wildcats reach once-unimaginable heights.
In retirement, football remains a major part of his life. On Saturdays, he’ll either drive down the street to watch the Wildcats play or he’ll throw games on his living room TV. If the Wildcats were playing, he was watching. If he had friends who were coaching, he’d try to watch.
He also knows the college athletics landscape is much different from it was when he led the Wildcats as recently as 2018.
“I’m probably just a normal viewer,” Snyder said. “I read the papers.”
Since Snyder retired, college sports, and football in particular, have been turned on their heads. Name, Image and Likeness and revenue sharing have players making millions, while the transfer portal leads to roster overhauls just about every offseason.
Court rulings have allowed drafted players to regain eligibility. Minutes before an exclusive interview with the Capital-Journal from Snyder’s home, a high-profile quarterback received a favorable ruling from a judge that granted him an injunction, allowing him to play despite violating the NCAA’s longstanding gambling rules. Snyder was unaware of who Brendan Sorsby was, but such stories are all too commonplace in this age.
Despite it all, somehow, Snyder could imagine coaching in this era.
“I say that because at the end of the day, coaching is about facing and solving problems; I mean, if there was a definition of coaching to me, that would be it,” Snyder said. “I think that’s what life’s about and that’s kind of the way we approached this. Days aren’t going to go by without problems. We have to understand they’re coming and we have to be prepared for them and have solutions for them.”
What bothers Snyder the most about the current era is how out of control the money has gotten, a topic that makes his eyes roll. He’s not opposed to players receiving compensation, but would love a somewhat level playing field.
Everyone should make something, not just the stars. The young guy who isn’t shining during the game, but is working just as hard off the field, deserves something. Snyder said, “To me, that’s what athletic programs should be about.”
Mixed emotions come with the transfer portal. Snyder believes that once you make a commitment, you’ve made a commitment, but he understands that there are different situations for different athletes. He knows there are times when athletes are told one thing, only to find it’s another once they arrive on campus. At the same time, he believes loyalty should be rewarded.
“You go back years and young people, and coaches as well, had great loyalty to programs, and they did because it was the right thing to do,” Snyder said. “When you see people jump out for a variety of reasons, sometimes there’s a reason where it needs to be done, but more often than not, that’s not the case. I think it sends a bad message and teaches disloyalty. I think a lot of things are maybe on the negative side of the fence.”
Not many can say they are as loyal as Snyder was to Kansas State, having turned down multiple jobs after quickly turning the Wildcats into a winner when they were among the worst programs in the country before his arrival. He coached for 27 years and helped K-State become a national brand on the football field.
Snyder now watches college athletics from afar, noticing that athletes are receiving big paydays and that when they don’t get the playing time they desire, they up and leave. At the same time, he admires those who stick around, like Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson, who give their all to a program and value those around them.
“Relationships are significant, and you want to be in an environment where people care about you,” Snyder said. “That’s one of the things that tends to keep people very loyal in that respect, in my eyes.”
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
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