SE: Klieman Cherishing Opportunity to Send NDSU Seniors Out on Top, End Bison Tenure with Another National Championship
Jan 04, 2019 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Chris Klieman has worn two hats the last few weeks, as the head coach of both North Dakota State and K-State's football teams.
He's been embraced since his introduction as the Wildcats' head coach and celebrated in his final weeks at NDSU; his players gave him a standing ovation when he told them the news. He's also signed his first batch of recruits to come play in Manhattan, while preparing his Bison squad for the program's seventh FCS Championship game in eight years.
The fact that Klieman wore a checked dress shirt with a hint of light purple in front of a green-and-gold, North Dakota State backdrop in his last press conference in Fargo earlier this week seemed somewhat fitting.
It fit what this year's FCS title game is for Klieman. In a word, unique.
It's special for some of the same reasons as past trips — the seniors, the fans, the championship itself — yet obviously different. Klieman's answer at this week's press conference, when asked to pick his favorite NDSU game in Frisco during his tenure, embodied this fact.
"(2011), '12, '13, '14, '15, '17 we're all pretty cool moments," he said, listing out North Dakota State's recent run of FCS championships on a recent teleconference to preview Saturday's FCS Championship game against Eastern Washington on Saturday at 11 a.m., on ESPN2. "I don't know if I could pick one moment out."
He continued his answer with how special the first one was in 2011. It was his first year on staff, and the Bison knocked off an undefeated Sam Houston State squad. One turned into five-straight titles for NDSU, an unprecedented championship run at the FCS level. The Bison could make it seven in eight years on Saturday.
"Just to continue the success we've had, never taking it for granted… everybody in that locker room and associated with the program, from Matt (Entz) to all the administration," Klieman continued, naming the current Bison defensive coordinator who will take over his head coaching duties next season, "they realize how hard it is to do this on a yearly basis. I know that we've spoiled an awful lot of fans around here but, in the same respect, enjoy it. This is a blast."
This whole process, Klieman said, has been equally enjoyable for him, thanks in large part to the support he received from both NDSU and K-State. He always wanted to finish out this season, in which the Bison are currently a perfect 14-0, with a group of seniors that he described as "special" for reasons that go beyond their 53-5 record since 2015.
Neither K-State or NDSU hesitated in letting him to do so.
"I've been so excited because we've had great administrative support from Matt Larsen at North Dakota State, and great administrative support from Gene Taylor at Kansas State," Klieman said. "On a personal side, I want to make sure that we do this right for the seniors and give them the opportunity to end up on top. I know it's my last game, but it's a bunch of seniors and some other folks' (last game), too. I don't see it as personal, but I don't ever think that way."
To be clear, the meaning of this game, that it's not only his seniors' last game at NDSU but his as well, has not been lost on Klieman. Or, for that matter, on the four Bison assistants — Courtney Messingham, Conor Riley, Joe Klanderman and Jason Ray — coming with him to K-State. Klieman said they have remained focused on the sending their seniors out with another title.
"I'm going to enjoy the journey with those guys and have some fun, as well. All of us coaches, we know this is our last swan song with this group of seniors," he said. "When you get to this time, and we've been here pretty frequently, you always just cherish that time with your seniors because they're such a special group of guys, and each year it's been like that. That's what I think you do as a coach, in general, no matter what anybody's circumstance is beyond the game, just making sure you enjoy the time with your seniors."
These seniors, behind Klieman's leadership, built a powerhouse into something even greater.
The Bison, with a win on Saturday, would own the record for most FCS titles in NCAA history, with eight. They would also become the fifth FCS team ever to go unbeaten, without a tie, en route to a championship. NDSU was the most recent team to do so, in 2013, also the last time it was in the midst of a coaching change. The Bison have even spoiled two undefeated seasons in the FCS title game as well, in 2011 and last season.
Not to mention, a win on Saturday would also tie Klieman with Jim Tressel for the most FCS championships by a head coach.
The blueprint behind all of this success is what Klieman looks to bring to K-State.
"It starts with really good football players and those guys buying into the routine and the plan that the coaches lay out, holding each other to a high standard and being accountable to make sure that each guy is preparing himself to be successful on a daily basis," he said. "We don't probably listen to a lot of the outside noise, knowing there are high expectations. Our kids embrace that. We talk about embracing the target on our back on a weekly basis.
"It still comes down to just preparing. If you prepare Monday through Friday, it gives you a great chance to be successful."
So, as Klieman prepares for his last game on the sidelines for the green-and-gold, don't expect a lot of nostalgic reflection beforehand. It's business as usual. In terms of getting ready for this type of game, it's all he knows.
But he's also not pretending the underlying finality of it all doesn't exist, either.
"This is going to be the most special one for me because of this group," he said, "and, obviously, because it's my last one."
Chris Klieman has worn two hats the last few weeks, as the head coach of both North Dakota State and K-State's football teams.
He's been embraced since his introduction as the Wildcats' head coach and celebrated in his final weeks at NDSU; his players gave him a standing ovation when he told them the news. He's also signed his first batch of recruits to come play in Manhattan, while preparing his Bison squad for the program's seventh FCS Championship game in eight years.
The fact that Klieman wore a checked dress shirt with a hint of light purple in front of a green-and-gold, North Dakota State backdrop in his last press conference in Fargo earlier this week seemed somewhat fitting.
It fit what this year's FCS title game is for Klieman. In a word, unique.
It's special for some of the same reasons as past trips — the seniors, the fans, the championship itself — yet obviously different. Klieman's answer at this week's press conference, when asked to pick his favorite NDSU game in Frisco during his tenure, embodied this fact.
"(2011), '12, '13, '14, '15, '17 we're all pretty cool moments," he said, listing out North Dakota State's recent run of FCS championships on a recent teleconference to preview Saturday's FCS Championship game against Eastern Washington on Saturday at 11 a.m., on ESPN2. "I don't know if I could pick one moment out."
He continued his answer with how special the first one was in 2011. It was his first year on staff, and the Bison knocked off an undefeated Sam Houston State squad. One turned into five-straight titles for NDSU, an unprecedented championship run at the FCS level. The Bison could make it seven in eight years on Saturday.
"Just to continue the success we've had, never taking it for granted… everybody in that locker room and associated with the program, from Matt (Entz) to all the administration," Klieman continued, naming the current Bison defensive coordinator who will take over his head coaching duties next season, "they realize how hard it is to do this on a yearly basis. I know that we've spoiled an awful lot of fans around here but, in the same respect, enjoy it. This is a blast."
This whole process, Klieman said, has been equally enjoyable for him, thanks in large part to the support he received from both NDSU and K-State. He always wanted to finish out this season, in which the Bison are currently a perfect 14-0, with a group of seniors that he described as "special" for reasons that go beyond their 53-5 record since 2015.
Neither K-State or NDSU hesitated in letting him to do so.
"I've been so excited because we've had great administrative support from Matt Larsen at North Dakota State, and great administrative support from Gene Taylor at Kansas State," Klieman said. "On a personal side, I want to make sure that we do this right for the seniors and give them the opportunity to end up on top. I know it's my last game, but it's a bunch of seniors and some other folks' (last game), too. I don't see it as personal, but I don't ever think that way."
To be clear, the meaning of this game, that it's not only his seniors' last game at NDSU but his as well, has not been lost on Klieman. Or, for that matter, on the four Bison assistants — Courtney Messingham, Conor Riley, Joe Klanderman and Jason Ray — coming with him to K-State. Klieman said they have remained focused on the sending their seniors out with another title.
"I'm going to enjoy the journey with those guys and have some fun, as well. All of us coaches, we know this is our last swan song with this group of seniors," he said. "When you get to this time, and we've been here pretty frequently, you always just cherish that time with your seniors because they're such a special group of guys, and each year it's been like that. That's what I think you do as a coach, in general, no matter what anybody's circumstance is beyond the game, just making sure you enjoy the time with your seniors."
These seniors, behind Klieman's leadership, built a powerhouse into something even greater.
The Bison, with a win on Saturday, would own the record for most FCS titles in NCAA history, with eight. They would also become the fifth FCS team ever to go unbeaten, without a tie, en route to a championship. NDSU was the most recent team to do so, in 2013, also the last time it was in the midst of a coaching change. The Bison have even spoiled two undefeated seasons in the FCS title game as well, in 2011 and last season.
Not to mention, a win on Saturday would also tie Klieman with Jim Tressel for the most FCS championships by a head coach.
The blueprint behind all of this success is what Klieman looks to bring to K-State.
"It starts with really good football players and those guys buying into the routine and the plan that the coaches lay out, holding each other to a high standard and being accountable to make sure that each guy is preparing himself to be successful on a daily basis," he said. "We don't probably listen to a lot of the outside noise, knowing there are high expectations. Our kids embrace that. We talk about embracing the target on our back on a weekly basis.
"It still comes down to just preparing. If you prepare Monday through Friday, it gives you a great chance to be successful."
So, as Klieman prepares for his last game on the sidelines for the green-and-gold, don't expect a lot of nostalgic reflection beforehand. It's business as usual. In terms of getting ready for this type of game, it's all he knows.
But he's also not pretending the underlying finality of it all doesn't exist, either.
"This is going to be the most special one for me because of this group," he said, "and, obviously, because it's my last one."
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