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Kansas State Football: Is the Bill Snyder era finally coming to an end?

By Justin Dottavio

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 07: Head coach Bill Snyder of the Kansas State Wildcats greets Tyler Burns #33 before the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 07: Head coach Bill Snyder of the Kansas State Wildcats greets Tyler Burns #33 before the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Kansas State football faces a treacherous schedule in 2018. Can the ever-steady Bill Snyder pull off yet another eight-win season?

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Kansas State football has been defying odds since Bill Snyder took over the program in the late 1980’s. The Wildcats had enjoyed only one winning season from 1971-1990, the 1982 season where Jim Dickey led KSU to a 6-5-1 record. When Snyder took over the reigns in 1989 the program was coming off of consecutive win-less seasons under Stan Parrish.

Coach Snyder’s formula for success was to take advantage of the JUCO ranks for players and scheduling lightly for his out of conference slate. For years K-State played a fairly easy schedule but did manage to play in eleven straight bowl games bringing pride to Manhattan, KS.

When Bill Snyder retired after the 2005 season, where the Wildcats finished 5-6, he was replaced by Ron Prince. Prince’s tenure was mediocre and short-lived winning only 17 games in three seasons. Coach Snyder un-retired and after a 6-6 2009 season pushed the Wildcats into a streak of eight straight bowl appearances and counting heading into 2018.

Snyder has been oft-rumored to retire and put his son, Sean Snyder, in charge of the program. The K-State officials have been attempting to set up Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt for the position since late 2017 but that backfired and Leavitt stayed with the Ducks.

Kansas State enters the 2018 season coming off of an 8-5 season, Cactus Bowl victory, and 64th overall ranking per the S&P+. Bill Snyder has been able to string together nine double-digit win seasons in Manhattan, a place that was lucky to see a winning record before his arrival.

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