Ask the AD: December 20, 2022

Brian Smoller (BS): Welcome to another edition of Ask The AD, along with my twin brother, Gene Taylor. I'm Brian Smoller. Glad you could join us here today on the show. Great minds think alike, right?

Gene Taylor (GT): For once I have a little bit more hair than you do

BS: You do, you do.

GT: Than somebody

BS: Aerodynamic - that's the way it looks, although this time of year it gets a little chilly up top. But anyway, we've got lots of questions to get to today. We're not going to mess around. We're getting right into the questions. Good stuff from all the fans. We can't answer them all. We're going to try to answer the best ones we can. We'll start first with one it's about the Big 12. And I guess kind of starting with the idea of being broad and try and narrow it down. And we start first with the idea of Texas and Oklahoma. This question comes from Twitter from @AllenWalter11: "What's happening with the rumors of Texas and OU leaving the conference early? What can you even say?" And then the second half of this question: "Any development in expanding the conference beyond 12?

GT: Yeah, there's a lot going on out there in terms of the rumor world. We meet a lot with Brett Yormark, our new commissioner, and he keeps us updated. And, you know, it's just something that's out there that I can't really speak a lot about, you know. He fully anticipates them to still stay. But if there's, you know, something that comes up, I, you know, can't say that I'm involved with that. That's something that the commissioner has to deal with with the two schools, but we're moving forward as though they're going to be here through the next two years. And if something changes, it changes. In regards to expansion, I would say right now that Brett has been so focused, the commissioner has been so focused on the TV deal, working through the Texas and Oklahoma both from a scheduling perspective, and then, you know, their exit whenever that exit is. He really hasn't really focused a lot on expansion. Will he get back to that at some point? Who knows? You know, there was some stuff out there about Gonzaga. And I don't know that that's real, real serious at all. But in terms of him being focused on other schools right now, that's not a lot going on right now.

BS: He's got a lot of plates that he's keeping up in the air right now. And obviously, that's a part of it. But it's interesting times for the Big 12 and just kind of along for the ride, right? Just wait and see what happens. Speaking of the Big 12 a new team just went from Facebook and from Larry Friedli, I'm going to guess: "With new teams coming to the Big 12 next year, what are the chances of moving to different bowl games?" He says, "I would like for the Big 12 to try for the Vegas Bowl."

GT: A lot of interest in Vegas right now with our fan base. You know, right now that I think what happens with the Big 12 cycle, and again, something I'm not really detailed about is we have contracts with bowls. And the bowls that we currently go to, I don't know how many years we have with those contracts and those bowls. I think at some point, probably when we expand the College Football Playoff to 12, there may be some movement, whether it affects the Big 12 or not. But over the course of the years, these bowl agreements last for probably three, five, ten years. I'm not really sure how long they last. But there may be some opportunities to get into some different bowl opportunities. But those conversations again happen at the conference level. I'm sure as ADs, we'll get that feedback as to where we want to take our ties to bowls, but I think a lot is going to change generally when we expand the College Football Playoff.

BS: Yeah, a lot will change in the next couple of years in that regard, and certainly have some trickle down effect. All right. From that let's go into some K-State football. From Twitter @Codyykottke, who asks, "During your time as AD, what game was your favorite game to watch? And where do you see K-State football in the next couple of years?" I'm going to take this question to be which K-State football game was your favorite?

GT: I would say football and obviously been here six years now so I've seen a lot of really fun, exciting games and wins. You know, I would like to say that it was clearly the Big 12 championship, but unfortunately, I wasn't there personally. I was actually watching it on TV. And I would say probably one of the bigger ones early on was Chris's first win that he had over Oklahoma. It was one of his first years here. And it was you know, such a monumental win for a new head coach in terms of where they were ranked and the quality of team that they were, that one stands out. But clearly when you win championship, it's still whether you're watching on TV or there in person was it was a huge, huge game for us.

BS: That first win over Oklahoma and just thinking back too, it was almost in a way an affirmation. You know, this was the right guy. This was the right move. We're moving in the right way, as well. Speaking of Coach Klieman, our next question comes from @SixpackTim, which by the way, congrats Tim. It's a heck of an accomplishment.

GT: I don't have one of those.

BS: No.

GT: Maybe consumed a few.

BS: It's a pack but it's not as sexy. "Are you worried that Coach Klieman may look for greener pastures?" This question, by the way, kudos to Tim for asking it because I think this would be on the mind. It's that it's a natural fan instinct, right to always be worrying about these things.

GT: Yeah, you know, and I understand that. Obviously, there are schools out there that can pay significant amount of money for their head coach and that do already. And I think really for us and with Chris is our relationship is really strong in terms of our ability to trust one another and, and understand each other and what's important for the overall program. You know, certainly we're going to do everything we can to keep Chris Klieman and I know that he wants to be here. He's building something very special and in terms of the culture of the program, the coaching staff. Are we going to have turnover at some point? Probably within coaches as they get opportunities, but in terms of Coach Klieman, he really wants he likes K-State. He loves being here. I think we're gonna be able to keep him as long as we possibly can.

BS: Which is great news for everybody. All right, speaking of greener pastures, this was an interesting question from Facebook from Jakob Scales who asks: "Thoughts on a natural grass field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in the future?" He goes on to point out "K-State is an ag school. If Iowa State can do it, we can do it. There's a turf grass program here." We went through this with baseball for many years baseball was a grass field. We have the same thing - turf grass students that took care of the field. It always wasn't successful. What's your thought?

GT: Well, I mean, I think you know, there's so many places that have turf. We do plant some grass fields like you mentioned and then we have a grass field to practice on when we go and play those teams that have grass. I think from an overall maintenance and just general cost and operation the non-grass is the way to go. Just because of where we live, you know, the weather is an issue. The freeze and the keeping the green, all those things. I've been in areas that have had natural grass and that they're not in the southern part of the country. It's very difficult to maintain and the cost of that. I think the more these artificial grass fields become so good at what they do, the synthetic fields, I think it really doesn't matter and there's not a lot of difference. And I think our players are used to playing on it and they're playing on high school they're playing on everywhere they go so I think we'll probably stay with what we have.

BS: Kansas State of course getting the new shamrock practice facility up and running and they're in there right now.

GT: Yeah, again it's phenomenal that we have donors that are that willing to help us build this program. A facility like the Shamrock indoor is is going to be phenomenal for us.

BS: Yep. Thanks to the donors who helped support the Building Champions campaign initiative. Over $100 million dollars to help build that building and obviously a record-breaking year for the Ahearn Fund as well. Speaking of Ahearn, from Twitter from @PowercatEng: "Mr. Taylor, what's the plan for Ahearn Fieldhouse?" And also sub-question: "Do you have any Dr. Linton stories yet?"

GT: Well, I don't have many Dr. Linton stories, although there was a video that I got when we won the championship that was kind of kind of fun to see. His wife send it to me. Ahearn is really not our decision, it's a university decision. As you know, they are going to be taken down some areas around Ahearn, in terms of the ability to maintain that. The actual facility itself, the playing center/arena portion is going to stay. What's gonna happen with that is really nothing that we control - it's the university decision. But the actual playing part of Ahearn is going to stay. Some of the outside of pieces will be torn down here the next few months.

BS: Yeah, so it's really this is a question for Dr. Linton.

GT: Great question for Dr. Linton

BS: We're going to pass the buck off. As we wrap this up, obviously, the holidays are upon us. The question here from Jeremy R Snapp from Facebook who asked: "Brian and Gene, what's your New Year's resolution for 2023?"

GT: Minus to get us this six-pack. And you guys can determine what that really means.

BS: Mine is not other than more success for the Wildcats. K-State, by the way, right now as we get into the holiday break is the winningest Power Five school in the country combined football and men's and women's basketball records.

GT: It's been a really great fall and early into the winter season. And you know, I think certainly just wish more success on all of our teams and our programs and you know, some new coaches. So we wish everybody a Happy Holiday and a wonderful new year in 2023 and let's keep it rolling.

BS: Absolutely! Everybody be safe. Get to Bramlage Coliseum and watch these Wildcats, both men and women. They deserve your support both having great, great seasons to this point, Gene. Appreciate it. Merry Christmas.

GT: Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Thanks everybody!

BS: We'll see everybody next time on Ask the AD.

Kansas State University Athletics

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