K-State Holds Weekly Football Press Conference

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder and select players met with members of the media Tuesday at the Vanier Family Football Complex to preview the contest against Baylor this Saturday inside McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. Selected comments from Snyder's press conference (also streamed live and archived here) are posted below, along with a collection of comments from players.

The Wildcats and Bears kick off at 2:30 p.m., in a game televised by FS1. K-State returns home October 13, for the Homecoming game against Oklahoma State, which is slated for an 11 a.m., kickoff and will be televised by ESPNU. A Wildcat 4-Pack of tickets for the game against the Cowboys start at less than $50 per ticket in the lower bowl and approximately $37 per ticket in the view level. Fans can order tickets online at www.k-statesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or at the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.

K-STATE FOOTBALL WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
BILL SNYDER, K-STATE HEAD COACH
On success rushing against Baylor in previous games…
"We were probably just a better team at those particular points in time than we are right now. I don't see a major difference in what we're doing; by and large, it's mostly the same. As it relates to last year, pretty much the same team, same players on the field. We just haven't been as consistent. I don't think we have executed as well as we have, and I just don't think we're playing as well as we have in the past to put it simply."

On ranking low on the passing charts among Big 12 peers...
"Well I think, kind of like anything else in life, you just keep rowing the boat or sawing the wood or just keep on keeping on. You keep trying to get better and work diligently, and hopefully, indeed, that you improve. I know you hear me say it all of the time, you've got 11 guys on the field, if each guy gets a little bit better on the field every day, collectively that's a substantial amount. If we can do that and can do it collectively throughout the course of the season, then you are going to be better, and that's what we strive to be, better. I think we got a little bit better in the second half, but one half doesn't make a ballgame by any stretch of the imagination, so still a ways to go. There's no magic to it, at least in my eyes. It's roll up your sleeves, it's hard work, it's correct the mistakes that you're making and make sure that you're doing the right things and execute what your assigned to do."

On Baylor's passing attack…
"Everybody has basically the same types of things, when they use it and how they use it probably varies from team to team. Baylor, it depends a great deal on personnel, they have two very gifted quarterbacks. One gets a little more notoriety than the other, but both of them have talent and the ability to run. They make you defend the quarterback in terms of both the run and the pass, then they have a plethora of running backs that are all very fine players, good quickness, etc. They add to the balance that they have in their offense. They have a lot of big numbers in the passing game, but it's the balance in their offense that makes them most effective in their passing game."

On the defensive effort against Texas…
"We didn't do anything we haven't done or don't do, just how much sometimes it gives an appearance that it might be something a little different. But it's not schemes that we put on the field or schemes that have been in our program. I think our guys played well, responded well to a variety of situations. We were not as effective in the first half in regards to third-down situations, but it got much better in the second half. We did play well defensively. You can't take anything away, but the offense gave up the safety and then the kicking game gave up the return, so you're right, it's basically 10-0 worst case scenario at halftime, then you come back and score twice and it's a different ballgame. But you don't get those back. I think our guys are playing within the confines of the system quite well. Obviously, we don't want to give up that type of yardage in the passing game but then you go back and you break it down, he (Sam Ehlinger) completed whatever it was, 30 out of 38 or something, very, very high percentage, but then you look at a statistic like yards per catch and it's somewhat limited. So for the most part, it boiled down to third down situations – we weren't very good in the first half, we were much better in the second half until the last drive. Their last drive even, their two last drives even were instrumental. The offense had the opportunity with the ball in their hands to win the game and we didn't do it. Defense had the opportunity to get them stopped to give the offense another chance and gave up two or three third-down conversions, so we didn't do it there either. We didn't finish the second half like we started it. Overall, I think playing well, and playing a little short-handed as well."

On what has been key to Baylor's improvement this season...
"A lot of things. I think a quarterback that has gained more experience and having a very capable backup has been significant, so they have gotten better in that area. I think having those receivers that have good hands and great range. You know, we're talking 6'5", 6'4", 6'6", so they can make plays on some of those throws that others might not. They brought balance into their offense a great deal with the running game and those running backs. Their starter is not as big as most but is just as quick as anybody. The running backs are very effective in the passing game between the one and the two backs, No. 6 and No. 7, I think they have something like 28 catches between the two of them, so they're actively involved in the passing game. Again, it just goes back to having balance and not having to rely on just one aspect of their offense. They can do a lot of things with a lot of people. It makes it harder defensively to go up to the line of scrimmage and say they are going to pass it this time, they're going to run it this time, they're going to do whatever. They're unpredictable in that respect."

On Skylar Thompson's spark in the second half…
"The thing in the second half – and Skylar was part of it – the thing that happened in the second half I saw coming out of the locker room – and I think I mentioned this after the ballgame – there was an immense determination from the players and the program. I thought that there was an anger, just from their own performance and the lack of success that they have been having, that I thought carried over into the second half of the ballgame. I thought that was very instrumental in their approach and how they played in the second half."

On the goal of reaching a bowl game...
"I think it's a motivational factor for the young people in the program, but it's not what you're going to achieve, it's how you're going to achieve it. That's where our focus lies right now. What can we do to become a better football team? What can each of us do to become better at what we do? Players, coaches, etc."

On the team's mentality heading into the game at Baylor...
"I think there is that, what I've been looking for, that anger. That's not at anybody other than ourselves, in regards to how we are playing. A determination about what we need to do and the determination to do it the very best we can every single day to get ourselves better. But I see the determination, at least I did see the determination pop up on Saturday and during the course of last week, as I said after the ballgame. We practiced better on Tuesday, we practiced better on Wednesday and we practice well on Monday and Thursday. Everything is not going to turn around in a heartbeat, but that was taking a step forward and a step in the right direction. It doesn't show up in the win/loss column, but there were things that we got better at during the course of the ballgame, and it's a matter of whether we have the perseverance to stick to those concepts and those values and continue to try to do it."

On the tough stretch of road games upcoming and historically unfavorable schedule…
"You have to play the cards you're dealt. They do it all on a computer. I've never found a computer that will listen to anything that I have to say. Just have to go with it. I have never appreciated the fact that we always open on the road. I think that's been nine seasons or so. I would like to have a hand in programming the computer, I wouldn't know how, but nobody's schedule is perfect. As I said, you just line up and play and learn how – that's part of the game itself – everyone has to learn how to keep the game between the white lines, and if indeed you do that, every field looks the same when you get inside the white lines. If that's where your focus is, it shouldn't be any different than being any place else."

ZACH REUTER, SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER
On the team's mindset heading into the third Big 12 game…
"We're in a pretty positive place right now. We continue to see a lot of potential on the field, even though we haven't been coming out with the wins we really want, against some pretty good teams, top-20 teams. We definitely know that the potential is there, and the film continues to show it each week."

On what they took away from film against Texas…
"The fight this team has. We started to have a little attitude in the second half of that game. If we can bottle that up and really start to put that at each opponent each week and be able to do it for the entire game, we can have a lot of success."

On a strong outing by the defense…
"In the position that we were in, that's exactly what we needed. They gave us everything they had and put us in a position where we had the opportunity to come back. I think with about five minutes left we had the opportunity to drive the field, but we didn't come through with it. They definitely put us in the position we needed."

On the coaches' demeanor this week…
"We've only had yesterday with them so far. Coach (Andre) Coleman, especially has been positive. Coach Snyder has just continued to preach the same things. It's the little things, it's the discipline that matters. We're looking forward to having a good week at practice and coming out strong against Baylor."

On what it was at halftime against Texas that fired everybody up…
"I think we just kind of made a decision that we didn't want to be a sluggish offense anymore. We were getting sick of the same old drive, the same old three-and-outs. I think we took it upon ourselves to make a change. A mental mindset change."

On trying to make it to nine-straight bowl games and how that motivates…
"Absolutely. We always keep it 1-0. You want to take each day as it comes. Definitely, a bowl game is motivation and winning each game. We can still have a successful season. We're in a little bit of a hole, but it's not anything we can't climb out of."

DALTON SCHOEN, JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER
On faster tempo during second half against Texas…
"Yeah, I think it definitely helped with the rhythm standpoint. And it helped the momentum build. Someone makes a big play and they get right back up and get going again. It kind of lifts everyone up even a little bit more. Everyone's like, 'Let's keep this rolling and just keep going.'"

On the defensive effort against Texas…
"I was really proud of the way our defense played. It's unfortunate from an offensive perspective that we kind of let them down. They played well enough for us to get the win. Offensively and special teams-wise, we did not. It definitely hurts for us to know we didn't hold up our end of the bargain offensively, but it's encouraging to see our defense play like that and know that they're going to keep us in ballgames like that."

On the mood of the team…
"I think where we're at at this point in the season is kind of like where we felt like we were at halftime against Texas. You know, we were down 19-0 and it was kind of do or die, and we had to go do something. I thought we carried out that energy good in the second half. Now we're 2-3, 0-2 in the Big 12 and it's kind of the same situation. It's do or die. We have to come out of the jump with that energy. I think that's what we're doing. I'm excited to see what we can do if we play a whole game like that."

ADAM HOLTORF, JUNIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
On the team's mindset…
"Taking every opportunity to get better every way we can. I think we made some strides, especially in the second half on Saturday, but just continuing to push forward and get better every day and in everything we do."

On running the ball…
"I think that the diligence and preparation has been something that has led to success within the running game, regardless to the opponent in the past. We're working hard to try and get the running game going. So far this year, it's just been a lack in consistency in the run game, in terms of everyone getting their blocks. I think that has been hurting the run game so far. That's really something we are trying to work on because we want to get that run game going. We want to consistently rush for 200 yards. That's the part that's been missing. I think we're getting that mended. I think we're improving, but there is still room to improve."

On team concerns…
"I wouldn't say I'm concerned. I've got faith in everybody and what we're doing as a team. I think we're working to get better and we are getting better. We are making strides in the right direction. It's just that, it puts a little more emphasis on needing to get it done now (that we're half way through the season). It's a greater sense of urgency in what we are doing."

JUSTIN HUGHES, JUNIOR LINEBACKER
On Saturday's defensive effort…
"I think the defense played well. I don't know what happened, but we missed a couple tackles that would've had a better impact on the game if we would've made them. That was a big emphasis yesterday at practice. I know me and Da'Quan Patton personally took it upon ourselves a challenge to get the defense right. The defense did play well. The offense played well in the second half. I guess they just have to pick it up in the first half, as well as the defense too, we have to pick it up in the first half too because we gave away 10 points. We can go out there and get a shutout, so that's what our mentality is, to go out there and shut them out completely. We have to do our part and offense has to do theirs."

On stopping drives…
"Our third down is our 'money down' as me and (Reggie Walker) say. We always yell at each other and look at each other and just yell 'money down.' We just get excited about third down, but we have to be better on first and second down in order to be better on third down. We have to get them stopped on first, second down, where we want them in order to not have and easy third-and-one or third-and-two. We have to be better on those downs to be better on 'money downs.'"

WYATT HUBERT, REDSHIRT FRESHMAN DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
On the team's feelings about the season thus far…
"We just can't get too uptight about it right now. We're 2-3 and have a lot of season ahead of us right now. We all realize that we're super close, we're super close right now to snapping and becoming who we want to be. It's almost there, we just have to be patient and keep working towards our goal every single day."

On defensive fire in the second half…
"Obviously we were playing Texas so we always have a chip on our shoulders because of that. We are almost there. I think we improved on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. It is tough because that fire that sparked inside of us is what got us motivated in the second half and we are tired of losing. Hopefully we can get a win against Baylor this week."

ALEX BARNES, JUNIOR RUNNING BACK
On continuing strong rushing performances against Baylor…
"We always have a pretty good game plan drawn up for Baylor and a good understanding of what they are going to try and do to us. We just need to go out on the field and do what we need to do to put us in a position to succeed."

On the team's current mindset…
"We know that it is time to bounce back. After that second half last week, we have shown some potential. It is about being able to find the mindset and going through four quarters with that same mindset."

On continuing the bowl streak…
"We are not even worried about a bowl right now; we are just trying to get that next win. It has been awhile since we won a good game where we played well in all four quarters, so that is what we are trying to do."

Kansas State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Da'Quan Patton

Skylar Thompson

Reggie Walker

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