Kansas State University Athletics
SE: K-State Football Notebook – Baylor Week
Nov 25, 2020 | Football, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
The word that stuck out was resolve.
For Chris Klieman, it's essential as the Wildcats look to bounce back from a humbling loss to Iowa State and as the unique challenges of the 2020 season continue to unfold.
"We're in a global pandemic. There's nothing that's normal, nothing that's easy," Klieman said. "We told the guys from the start of this thing, 'Guys, this is going to be a tough year. But life is tough, and life is going to throw you curveballs over the next 20, 30, 50 years of your life. You have to be able to fight through the adversity.'"
K-State prepares to hit the road this weekend for their final road game of the season against Baylor looking to end a three-game losing streak in the process.
As they have all season, the Wildcats will lean on guys who made an impact in Manhattan for the first time this season.
Christian Duffie played a reserve role in 2019, seeing his most extensive action in non-conference blowouts. Kiondre Thomas spent last season patrolling the secondary in Minnesota. Briley Moore was playing at the FCS level for Northern Iowa.
With two games left in the 2020 season, it's not a group that will struggle to find motivation down the stretch.
"It's easy to let yourself get in those emotional swings, but you can't let that happen," Duffie said. "You've got to attack each day and each week with a full head of steam."
Getting Moore Involved
If there's one player who could ignite a turnaround for the Wildcats in their final two games of 2020, it's tight end Briley Moore.
Moore shares the team lead in receptions through eight games, despite getting knocked out of the West Virginia game, missing the Oklahoma State game and leaving Ames on Saturday without a catch.
"You would like to not look at [Iowa State] but you have to. We watched it as a full offense, together," Moore said. "I think it was really productive and led to one of the best Monday practices that we've had."
During K-State's four game-winning streak earlier this season, Moore's numbers were sharp:
11 receptions, 180 yards, 2 touchdowns
A clean bill of health should help Moore return to form against Baylor but getting him more involved in the offense has been a tried-and-true formula for the Wildcats this season.
"Coach gives us the reigns of the team to take control of the accountability in the program," Moore said. "He always says, this isn't his team, it's our team…Whether it's a fifth-year senior like me, or a freshman like Deuce Vaughn, we've got to continue to hold everyone accountable."
Thanksgiving with the 'Cats
The adjustments in a COVID-19 season haven't stopped at the sidelines for K-State Football, as a weekend road trip has Klieman thinking about Thanksgiving dinner plans.
"We'll have a Thanksgiving meal for the entire team in our Stadium Club. But everybody has to test on Friday morning and because of Big 12 rules, they can't go home," Klieman said. "We're trying to take as many kids as we can to Baylor, because I don't want some kid from out of region to have to sit in his dorm room on Thanksgiving. That's not fair."
Klieman said even if he can't dress the whole roster against Baylor, he plans to have as many players on the sideline as possible.
"It's been a hard enough semester. If we can't dress them all, we can't dress them all," Klieman said. "I'll have them be a part of it."
Bouncing Back on Defense
"That wasn't us."
Like everyone on the Wildcats, Kiondre Thomas has thought about the Iowa State game, but one of the leaders of the K-State secondary isn't overthinking it.
"We know that we have to put that behind us," Thomas said. "Playing football, you reach the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but you just have to get through it."
He said the defense went over the tape from the loss to the Cyclones, a setback for a player like Thomas who missed time early in the season before working himself into a prominent role.
The Minnesota transfer has started the last two games for the Wildcats, looking to embody the next-man-up mentality that's been so important during a COVID-19 season.
"We've got to build on these last two games," he said. "I've got a lot of meat left on the bone."
The word that stuck out was resolve.
For Chris Klieman, it's essential as the Wildcats look to bounce back from a humbling loss to Iowa State and as the unique challenges of the 2020 season continue to unfold.
"We're in a global pandemic. There's nothing that's normal, nothing that's easy," Klieman said. "We told the guys from the start of this thing, 'Guys, this is going to be a tough year. But life is tough, and life is going to throw you curveballs over the next 20, 30, 50 years of your life. You have to be able to fight through the adversity.'"
K-State prepares to hit the road this weekend for their final road game of the season against Baylor looking to end a three-game losing streak in the process.
As they have all season, the Wildcats will lean on guys who made an impact in Manhattan for the first time this season.
Christian Duffie played a reserve role in 2019, seeing his most extensive action in non-conference blowouts. Kiondre Thomas spent last season patrolling the secondary in Minnesota. Briley Moore was playing at the FCS level for Northern Iowa.
With two games left in the 2020 season, it's not a group that will struggle to find motivation down the stretch.
"It's easy to let yourself get in those emotional swings, but you can't let that happen," Duffie said. "You've got to attack each day and each week with a full head of steam."
Getting Moore Involved
If there's one player who could ignite a turnaround for the Wildcats in their final two games of 2020, it's tight end Briley Moore.
Moore shares the team lead in receptions through eight games, despite getting knocked out of the West Virginia game, missing the Oklahoma State game and leaving Ames on Saturday without a catch.
"You would like to not look at [Iowa State] but you have to. We watched it as a full offense, together," Moore said. "I think it was really productive and led to one of the best Monday practices that we've had."
During K-State's four game-winning streak earlier this season, Moore's numbers were sharp:
11 receptions, 180 yards, 2 touchdowns
A clean bill of health should help Moore return to form against Baylor but getting him more involved in the offense has been a tried-and-true formula for the Wildcats this season.
"Coach gives us the reigns of the team to take control of the accountability in the program," Moore said. "He always says, this isn't his team, it's our team…Whether it's a fifth-year senior like me, or a freshman like Deuce Vaughn, we've got to continue to hold everyone accountable."
Thanksgiving with the 'Cats
The adjustments in a COVID-19 season haven't stopped at the sidelines for K-State Football, as a weekend road trip has Klieman thinking about Thanksgiving dinner plans.
"We'll have a Thanksgiving meal for the entire team in our Stadium Club. But everybody has to test on Friday morning and because of Big 12 rules, they can't go home," Klieman said. "We're trying to take as many kids as we can to Baylor, because I don't want some kid from out of region to have to sit in his dorm room on Thanksgiving. That's not fair."
Klieman said even if he can't dress the whole roster against Baylor, he plans to have as many players on the sideline as possible.
"It's been a hard enough semester. If we can't dress them all, we can't dress them all," Klieman said. "I'll have them be a part of it."
Bouncing Back on Defense
"That wasn't us."
Like everyone on the Wildcats, Kiondre Thomas has thought about the Iowa State game, but one of the leaders of the K-State secondary isn't overthinking it.
"We know that we have to put that behind us," Thomas said. "Playing football, you reach the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but you just have to get through it."
He said the defense went over the tape from the loss to the Cyclones, a setback for a player like Thomas who missed time early in the season before working himself into a prominent role.
The Minnesota transfer has started the last two games for the Wildcats, looking to embody the next-man-up mentality that's been so important during a COVID-19 season.
"We've got to build on these last two games," he said. "I've got a lot of meat left on the bone."
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballK-State Soccer Postgame Highlights vs Portland State
Friday, September 12
K-State Soccer | Postgame Highlights vs Oral Roberts
Friday, September 12
K-State Soccer | Postgame Highlights vs Colorado College
Friday, September 12
K-State Football | Pregame Hype vs Arizona
Friday, September 12