Kansas State University Athletics
Ask the AD Transcript - Oct. 11, 2018
Oct 11, 2018 | Athletics
K-State Director of Athletics Gene Taylor (GT) sat down with Brian Smoller (BS) to offer a quick update as the fall slate of K-State activities rolls along, including football feedback, an opportunity to support Cats for Cans at Homecoming this weekend, basketball jersey retirement questions and more updates on the facilities progress at soccer and baseball.Â
BS: You've been to the Big 12 AD Meetings recently, what can you update us on?
GT: Well start with our fall meetings, with our SWAs and faculty athletic reps. We meet separately then come together. Nothing too heavy lifting just a lot of updates on conference rules and regulations that were adjusting, like travel size. One of the thing we talked about, do we adjust our football travel size for away games because of the new redshirt rule? We didn't do anything with it but in those conversations, there's still a lot of conversation about the transfer rules and how their going to affect what we are doing as a conference. Updated a lot of national things, the legal cases that the NCAA is facing right now. Just a lot more updates. We did vote on a few things, but nothing earth shattering.
BS: In the midst of football season, you've heard a lot from K-State fans - it's good that people are passionate about it, the worse thing more than negativity is apathy and there certainly isn't that.
GT: No there's not. I've talked about it before, I love the passion of our fans. They love our program and they care a great deal. When we're not playing well, or playing up to our expectations, I hear about it. Whether it's through Twitter, I do read Twitter, and I follow Twitter and I do get emails. At this time of year when you aren't at those expectations, most of the emails show how much they care about our program, they show their concerns as well. There's nobody who that's more frustrated or concerned or want to get this thing turned around as much as those coaches and players. As much as those fans are, I'm out at practice, I see the hours they put in, nobody wants to do this more than those players and coaches. I understand their frustration, we all are and were going to do everything we can to get it turned around.
BS: Cats for cans is asking everyone to bring a canned or cash donation prior to the game what can you tell us about that?
GT: It's a great cause. It's something our student-athletes have gotten behind, you know help our local community, to give back to those in need. It's a great opportunity to do that. To come back to an earlier point, I'd rather have fans that are passionate and care, than apathy. They come to our game and still support our program.
BS: First fan question, how's the beer garden experiment going?
GT: I think we're pleased with it. There's still a lot of learning, people forget it's there. Some still don't understand that it's open to the general public, it used to be a ticketed event. I know the weather has a lot to do with it. Those really hot games we didn't get many people there. The second game we had a very, very good turn out pretty much the entire game. It's going very well, we just need to remind everyone that it is open for everyone and it is open throughout the quarters so you can actually still see some of the game. We have TV's up there and food. I think the feedback we have gotten from folks is that it is going very well.
BS: When will (Jacob) Pullen and (Michael) Beasley banners be put up in Bramlage Coliseum?
GT: I will tell you that Jacob and Michael both are going to have the opportunity to get their banners put up. I don't think that's a question, it's more about celebrating it in the right way. One of the questions is would it go up this weekend, that would be a great idea but we want them to come to a game we want them to be here with 10-12,000 people in the arena. We've talked to them about that, when they can really come back for a game, whether it's at the end of their career or the time when we know they're going to be able to be here, I think that's when we'll have those conversations but it's about a matter of timing.
BS: K-State's cheerleaders are competing in competition this year, what is the athletic department doing to help them prepare for the big stage?
GT: Our coach Dani (Ruoff) came to us last spring and said that our kids want to compete, they want to have a chance to go to the national competition. We've helped them do that, we've taken their budget from about $80,000 to $150,000 and that's so they can go compete in terms of travel, we've given them the opportunity to hire some outside help in terms of tumbling coaches and other coaches. We've hired an assistant coach to handle, do the more administrative stuff so Dani can focus on the coaching side of things. We've really invested in the program so they can go out and be competitive which adds another level of ability for those kids to show their talents. It's the first year we've done it, we think it'll be successful, but it's really the coach directing that and what her goals are for that team and that program. They bring a lot of energy to our games and our crowds, they do things for us in terms of promotional events and events outside of our athletic program and that's all very important to what they bring to our athletic program.
BS: Friday night at halftime of the Women's Soccer game against Texas will be the groundbreaking for the new stadium, the Buser family will be announced as well as the new name of the stadium, what are your thoughts on that?
GT: It's always exciting to break ground on a new facility, it's a formality now, but in November we'll start the project in it's earnest. The Buser family has stepped up and really brought a nice donation to re-name the soccer facility; it's going to be named the Buser Family Park which was their request. It'll be nice to have them here to celebrate their gift. Just the excitement of a ground breaking is always a lot of fun.
BS: Can you talk about the changes to the baseball facility that we've seen so far?
GT: I walked in there a couple weeks ago and it's really striking how much those changes have made the improvement of the look and feel of the infield and outfield, almost like a professional facility, not that it wasn't before. Then when we add the new renovations it's really going to help baseball a great deal as is the soccer facility. The bullpens are awesome, if you're a pitcher and you're going to sit in the bullpens, it's a great opportunity for them.
BS: You've been to the Big 12 AD Meetings recently, what can you update us on?
GT: Well start with our fall meetings, with our SWAs and faculty athletic reps. We meet separately then come together. Nothing too heavy lifting just a lot of updates on conference rules and regulations that were adjusting, like travel size. One of the thing we talked about, do we adjust our football travel size for away games because of the new redshirt rule? We didn't do anything with it but in those conversations, there's still a lot of conversation about the transfer rules and how their going to affect what we are doing as a conference. Updated a lot of national things, the legal cases that the NCAA is facing right now. Just a lot more updates. We did vote on a few things, but nothing earth shattering.
BS: In the midst of football season, you've heard a lot from K-State fans - it's good that people are passionate about it, the worse thing more than negativity is apathy and there certainly isn't that.
GT: No there's not. I've talked about it before, I love the passion of our fans. They love our program and they care a great deal. When we're not playing well, or playing up to our expectations, I hear about it. Whether it's through Twitter, I do read Twitter, and I follow Twitter and I do get emails. At this time of year when you aren't at those expectations, most of the emails show how much they care about our program, they show their concerns as well. There's nobody who that's more frustrated or concerned or want to get this thing turned around as much as those coaches and players. As much as those fans are, I'm out at practice, I see the hours they put in, nobody wants to do this more than those players and coaches. I understand their frustration, we all are and were going to do everything we can to get it turned around.
BS: Cats for cans is asking everyone to bring a canned or cash donation prior to the game what can you tell us about that?
GT: It's a great cause. It's something our student-athletes have gotten behind, you know help our local community, to give back to those in need. It's a great opportunity to do that. To come back to an earlier point, I'd rather have fans that are passionate and care, than apathy. They come to our game and still support our program.
BS: First fan question, how's the beer garden experiment going?
GT: I think we're pleased with it. There's still a lot of learning, people forget it's there. Some still don't understand that it's open to the general public, it used to be a ticketed event. I know the weather has a lot to do with it. Those really hot games we didn't get many people there. The second game we had a very, very good turn out pretty much the entire game. It's going very well, we just need to remind everyone that it is open for everyone and it is open throughout the quarters so you can actually still see some of the game. We have TV's up there and food. I think the feedback we have gotten from folks is that it is going very well.
BS: When will (Jacob) Pullen and (Michael) Beasley banners be put up in Bramlage Coliseum?
GT: I will tell you that Jacob and Michael both are going to have the opportunity to get their banners put up. I don't think that's a question, it's more about celebrating it in the right way. One of the questions is would it go up this weekend, that would be a great idea but we want them to come to a game we want them to be here with 10-12,000 people in the arena. We've talked to them about that, when they can really come back for a game, whether it's at the end of their career or the time when we know they're going to be able to be here, I think that's when we'll have those conversations but it's about a matter of timing.
BS: K-State's cheerleaders are competing in competition this year, what is the athletic department doing to help them prepare for the big stage?
GT: Our coach Dani (Ruoff) came to us last spring and said that our kids want to compete, they want to have a chance to go to the national competition. We've helped them do that, we've taken their budget from about $80,000 to $150,000 and that's so they can go compete in terms of travel, we've given them the opportunity to hire some outside help in terms of tumbling coaches and other coaches. We've hired an assistant coach to handle, do the more administrative stuff so Dani can focus on the coaching side of things. We've really invested in the program so they can go out and be competitive which adds another level of ability for those kids to show their talents. It's the first year we've done it, we think it'll be successful, but it's really the coach directing that and what her goals are for that team and that program. They bring a lot of energy to our games and our crowds, they do things for us in terms of promotional events and events outside of our athletic program and that's all very important to what they bring to our athletic program.
BS: Friday night at halftime of the Women's Soccer game against Texas will be the groundbreaking for the new stadium, the Buser family will be announced as well as the new name of the stadium, what are your thoughts on that?
GT: It's always exciting to break ground on a new facility, it's a formality now, but in November we'll start the project in it's earnest. The Buser family has stepped up and really brought a nice donation to re-name the soccer facility; it's going to be named the Buser Family Park which was their request. It'll be nice to have them here to celebrate their gift. Just the excitement of a ground breaking is always a lot of fun.
BS: Can you talk about the changes to the baseball facility that we've seen so far?
GT: I walked in there a couple weeks ago and it's really striking how much those changes have made the improvement of the look and feel of the infield and outfield, almost like a professional facility, not that it wasn't before. Then when we add the new renovations it's really going to help baseball a great deal as is the soccer facility. The bullpens are awesome, if you're a pitcher and you're going to sit in the bullpens, it's a great opportunity for them.
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