SE: From the Sidelines to Holiday Bowl MVP

By Brian Kavanagh as told to D. Scott Fritchen

The Holiday Bowl was such a quality bowl game and a great destination. We played incredibly well during the regular season. We had the No. 1 defense in the country, and we had the top scoring offense in school history. Our league was extremely tough during the final year of the Big Eight Conference, but toward the end of the season, we were ranked No. 7 in the country. It was the highest Kansas State had ever been ranked in a poll.

We were good enough to play in the Cotton Bowl, but we lost to Colorado in our final regular season game, which put us in San Diego. The Holiday Bowl was a great bowl. It was a memorable bowl. K-State finished with its first 10-win season since 1910.

For me personally, it was also memorable for another reason.

I remember joking with my parents prior to the game. Jack Murphy Stadium had a big video board that displayed statistics and pictures. I told my parents, "If I get in the game get a picture of me on the video board."

Little did we know what would happen that night.

I took a lot of reps as backup quarterback during my junior season. Matt Miller was our senior starting quarterback, but he got dinged a few times during the season, and I also took meaningful reps in other games as well. I threw for nearly 500 yards and threw five touchdown passes during the regular season. I came in and threw two touchdowns against No. 2 Nebraska. One week later, I threw a touchdown pass in our 41-7 victory over No. 6 Kansas.

Yes, Matt had taken some shots during the season and some of it was just due to the nature by which Matt played, as he was tough, and he liked to run around sometimes. When he'd get dinged, I'd just grab my helmet and go on the field.

This time, early in the second quarter against Colorado State in the Holiday Bowl, Matt got hit and went down. And he didn't get back up. It was definitely hard seeing the stretcher come out for Matt. When Matt gave us a thumbs up while being carted off the field, it was definitely a load off our minds, but this time it was different because this was Matt's final game, and he wasn't going to be coming back that night.

It seemed like I stood on the sideline and warmed up forever. Coach Snyder kept coming over to me with different game-plan reminders, and things like that. When Coach made his third trip over to me on the sideline, I smiled and said, "Coach, I'm all good." At that point, he just looked at me, nodded and walked away.

With all the snaps I'd taken during the season, and all the preparation prior to the bowl game, I knew I was ready.

It's never a bad deal to come into a situation like that and score two touchdowns in the first four plays. That's what we did. Mike Lawrence ran for a touchdown, Dederick Kelly ran for another one, and we led 19-7. To get the lead and to know that we had an amazing defense, it took a huge load off. We just played loose and free. We attacked on defense and on offense. Brian Lojka caught a touchdown and we led 26-7 at halftime.

All I could think about was we had to keep our foot down and keep going.

I'd thrown five touchdowns all season. I threw four in the bowl game, which I didn't know at the time tied for the fourth most touchdown passes in Division I bowl history. Kevin Lockett caught a touchdown and so did Mitch Running. We were thinking, "Let's get another one."

We won 54-21. Everything we did throughout the season really culminated in that night and we saw what we were capable of.

It was just crazy how the night unfolded for me personally. I went from standing on the sideline, not knowing if I'd even get a snap, to earning Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP, and helping our team get a huge win for our program. You just never know. Without a doubt the theme is just to be ready. It sounds like such a cliché that the quarterback is one play away, but the biggest challenge as the backup is just constantly staying ready. Then it's up to you. Will you make the most of your opportunity?

I was fortunate enough that I stayed engaged enough as the backup so when my opportunity came, I was prepared to make the most of my opportunity.

Any postgame celebration is great, especially after bowl wins. They're just more special. The Holiday Bowl was fun, for sure. Coach was Coach after the game. He was excited and he was excited for us. For us to have the bowl win under our belts, was a huge confidence boost. We had just completed arguably the greatest season in school history to that point. What a great way to go into the offseason.

But Coach was always thinking about the next thing, the next step, and that's a part of what made him great.

Walking off the field with Coach after the Holiday Bowl, he congratulated me on my ability to come off the sideline and help our team to a major victory.

"Now," he said, "it's important to use this as a springboard for next season."

Kansas State University Athletics

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