Cats Have Fun Day but Hope to Be Back
Jul 15, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
The black extended van from the jet center at Arlington Municipal Airport hits the parking lot outside AT&T Stadium at 9:36 a.m. Wednesday. Out pops Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, quarterback Adrian Martinez, then nose guard Eli Huggins, then linebacker Daniel Green, and finally Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn, who carries a brown leather satchel into the Big 12 Conference Football Media Days.
"I am excited," Vaughn says. "I watched these media days growing up."
Before Martinez embarked upon his important day, the wildly athletic Nebraska transfer faced an issue: His socks. Martinez spoke to his father and consulted with his girlfriend on the proper suit to wear for the occasion — a smart Navy Blue suit with a purple tie — but he realized that he didn't have any socks to match his attire. He found a pair of lavender-with-white-stripes socks at the Wal-Mart in Manhattan.
He steps into the stadium with cell phone raised above his head, spinning 360 degrees to take in every moment.
"I've never been to Arlington before," Martinez says.
By 9:47 a.m., the teammates sit in the green room in the innards of the stadium. Green is drinking a small bottle of orange juice, Martinez has mixed fruit, Huggins has decided upon a biscuit and yogurt, and Vaughn has two biscuits and mixed fruit. Deja Blue water bottles litter the circular table with a beige tablecloth. A bull-riding competition plays upon a TV above them. The bull bucks and bucks but simply cannot shake the cowboy.
Ride 'em cowboy.
Ride 'em Wildcats.
There's no telling how this ride will end, but there's no doubting how it begins. It begins with Klieman and his players riding a wave throughout the expansive corridor of this mansion-of-a-stadium to answer questions and shine some light on the team just weeks before the start of fall camp.
K-State is picked by a vote of the league's media to finish fifth in the Big 12 standings, but it is also picked as a "sleeper" in the league, as a dark horse to return to Arlington and win the whole thing, the Big 12 Championship trophy that last found a home in Manhattan in 2012. The K-State football program will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of that Big 12 Championship team this season. However, these Wildcats are in no celebratory mood, not yet, and certainly not standing under the bright lights of the stadium where the league's top two teams decide the matter.
If anything, they are bemused by the preseason poll.
"We love that," Green says. "We love being the underdog. We take pride in coming out every Saturday with a chip on our shoulder to prove everybody wrong. As a defense, we call ourselves the Mob, and we have the mentality that we're going against everybody. We have a chip on our shoulder, and it makes us play harder because we know everybody doubts us."
K-State also has a league-leading six players selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 team — junior Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year), junior offensive lineman Cooper Beebe, senior kickoff returner Malik Knowles, senior cornerback Julius Brents, Green and Vaughn.
"Guys did some really good things last year that garnered that recognition," Klieman says. "To have six guys that are receiving accolades is pretty neat, and I think of the handful that I would've said, 'That one deserved it as well.'"
K-State comes off an 8-5 season capped by a dominant 42-20 win over LSU in the TaxAct Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas — the second-straight eight-win season during a campaign not entirely marred by COVID.
The Wildcats return 16 starters, including six on offense, seven on defense and three specialists. The Wildcats return 47 letterwinners (25 on offense and 18 on defense), which is third most by a K-State squad since 2003. They bring in first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein, whose goal in the bowl game was reportedly to score 50 points, and a defense that enters its first full season utilizing three down linemen.
"I think we're on the right trajectory," Klieman says, "but I know there's more in us."
At 11:56 a.m., Klieman takes the stage for an interview on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Shortly after lunch, players take turns speaking in front of sea of reporters.
"Waiting for the season, you start to get an itchy feeling," Vaughn says. "Three weeks out from camp, you're ready to put the pads back on and get out there with the guys."
The topics throughout the day aren't limited to football.
Huggins is a 6-foot-5, 297-pound native of Cumming, Georgia, who owns a bass boat, plays golf three times a week, has an iffy game off the tee but is solid from 100 yards out, and once played tight end, linebacker, and defensive end in high school. Although he started 13 games last season, he's back for his sixth year because he's still thirsty for the game. He simply likes to hit people.
"I love the physicality of it," he says. "Probably the best part of it is the one-on-one battles, especially at nose guard, where it's me against you. It's a really personal battle and personal position, which I like."
Green is a 6-foot-3, 243-pound native of Portland, Oregon, who plays a lot of Call of Duty during his free time this summer. He was arguably the top inside linebacker on the west coast in the 2017 recruiting class, signed his letter-of-intent with K-State over Oregon State, Utah, Southern California, and Arizona, and he was the sixth-rated player out of the state of Oregon.
However, dreams of making an immediate impact stalled due to the NCAA Clearinghouse. Green did a lot of thinking during his time away from football. He discovered an emptiness. The experience tested his limits and changed his perspective on the game as well. Through the years, he's gradually become better.
Today, he sits front and center representing K-State at Big 12 Media Days as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection.
"You know how we say, 'Pound the Stone,' that's literally my journey," he says. "I've been pounding away for a while and finally got my chance to start last year for the first time, and I feel like I'm still pounding. That's why I came back because I wanted to improve even more. I'm excited to do that."
Martinez is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound native of Fresno, California, who spent four years tearing up the record books at Nebraska with more than 10,000 total yards. Today, he lives on a par-3 golf course in Manhattan, and he just wrapped up watching Stranger Things. His girlfriend and him also watch Survivor.
"Pound the Stone represents our culture," he says. "That's something I picked up pretty quickly coming to K-State. It's on the walls, it's something we say to break it down, and it's powerful. Yes, it can mean, 'Let's get tough and let's get this third-and-short,' or it could mean, 'We're in the weight room today and have to keep chipping away to get better.' It's something I've definitely adopted in how I attack the day."
The day, of course, belongs to Vaughn's mahogany satchel, which he wears over his right shoulder. It is the topic of conversation at several media stops.
"I joined Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and it was a gift from my uncle," he says. "I ordered my shoes and noticed my shoes are the same color as my satchel, so I knew I had to wear it. It has all my essentials in it – wallet, keys, gum, and stuff like that. I thought it would be a nice fashion sense."
Vaughn is a 5-foot-6, 176-pound native of Round Rock, Texas, located about 30 minutes from Austin. Today, he is garnering mention for major college football awards. Vaughn is clear that he maintains a chip on his shoulder over the schools who overlooked him due to his size, and today is the arguably most popular man inside AT&T Stadium.
"My motto has been to be a great player, a great teammate, and a great leader, and everything else will take care of itself," he says.
Count Green among those eager to see what Martinez and Vaughn can do together this season.
"When Adrian Martinez and Deuce are back there together, it's like, 'Sheesh, good luck to these defenses when the fall comes,'" Green says. "I'm excited to see them play. We go against them all the time, but we're just excited to see them play when we're on the sideline. We'll be rooting for them just like fans. I'm really excited to see what they bring this fall."
They are expected to bring plenty of excitement to K-State fans this season, which begins when the Wildcats face South Dakota on September 3 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
K-State players take turns trying to describe K-State fans to FOX National and ESPN.
"Our fans are unbelievable," Vaughn says. "Every time you come out of the tunnel, they're screaming their heads off. They bleed purple. They show up every weekend. Whenever it gets to the third or fourth quarter in the game, we know they're on our side and it's a big-time advantage."
Adds Green: "September 3 is going to be amazing. That's what we do this for, you know? When we grind all year around and the winter and then the summer when it's hot, just to go out in the Bill and hear the fans, that's what we do it for. That's what we say when the young guys get here — this is what we do this for. It's always exciting."
And players believe it'll be fun to be the underdog again.
"The preseason polls, they can say what they want, but we have to go do it," Vaughn says.
At 4:10 p.m., Klieman stands between Martinez, Huggins, Vaughn and Green for a photo near the 50-yard line at AT&T Stadium.
Then Vaughn smiles really big and flashes the Wildcat symbol for the camera.
Vaughn departs the stadium carrying his now-famous satchel.
If the Wildcats return to Arlington in December, they might need to bring a bigger bag.
The black extended van from the jet center at Arlington Municipal Airport hits the parking lot outside AT&T Stadium at 9:36 a.m. Wednesday. Out pops Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, quarterback Adrian Martinez, then nose guard Eli Huggins, then linebacker Daniel Green, and finally Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn, who carries a brown leather satchel into the Big 12 Conference Football Media Days.
"I am excited," Vaughn says. "I watched these media days growing up."
Before Martinez embarked upon his important day, the wildly athletic Nebraska transfer faced an issue: His socks. Martinez spoke to his father and consulted with his girlfriend on the proper suit to wear for the occasion — a smart Navy Blue suit with a purple tie — but he realized that he didn't have any socks to match his attire. He found a pair of lavender-with-white-stripes socks at the Wal-Mart in Manhattan.
He steps into the stadium with cell phone raised above his head, spinning 360 degrees to take in every moment.
"I've never been to Arlington before," Martinez says.
By 9:47 a.m., the teammates sit in the green room in the innards of the stadium. Green is drinking a small bottle of orange juice, Martinez has mixed fruit, Huggins has decided upon a biscuit and yogurt, and Vaughn has two biscuits and mixed fruit. Deja Blue water bottles litter the circular table with a beige tablecloth. A bull-riding competition plays upon a TV above them. The bull bucks and bucks but simply cannot shake the cowboy.
Ride 'em cowboy.
Ride 'em Wildcats.
There's no telling how this ride will end, but there's no doubting how it begins. It begins with Klieman and his players riding a wave throughout the expansive corridor of this mansion-of-a-stadium to answer questions and shine some light on the team just weeks before the start of fall camp.
K-State is picked by a vote of the league's media to finish fifth in the Big 12 standings, but it is also picked as a "sleeper" in the league, as a dark horse to return to Arlington and win the whole thing, the Big 12 Championship trophy that last found a home in Manhattan in 2012. The K-State football program will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of that Big 12 Championship team this season. However, these Wildcats are in no celebratory mood, not yet, and certainly not standing under the bright lights of the stadium where the league's top two teams decide the matter.
If anything, they are bemused by the preseason poll.
"We love that," Green says. "We love being the underdog. We take pride in coming out every Saturday with a chip on our shoulder to prove everybody wrong. As a defense, we call ourselves the Mob, and we have the mentality that we're going against everybody. We have a chip on our shoulder, and it makes us play harder because we know everybody doubts us."
K-State also has a league-leading six players selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 team — junior Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year), junior offensive lineman Cooper Beebe, senior kickoff returner Malik Knowles, senior cornerback Julius Brents, Green and Vaughn.
"Guys did some really good things last year that garnered that recognition," Klieman says. "To have six guys that are receiving accolades is pretty neat, and I think of the handful that I would've said, 'That one deserved it as well.'"
K-State comes off an 8-5 season capped by a dominant 42-20 win over LSU in the TaxAct Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas — the second-straight eight-win season during a campaign not entirely marred by COVID.
The Wildcats return 16 starters, including six on offense, seven on defense and three specialists. The Wildcats return 47 letterwinners (25 on offense and 18 on defense), which is third most by a K-State squad since 2003. They bring in first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein, whose goal in the bowl game was reportedly to score 50 points, and a defense that enters its first full season utilizing three down linemen.
"I think we're on the right trajectory," Klieman says, "but I know there's more in us."
The media day starts shortly after 10:00 a.m. inside the FOX National room and the parade continues through various other interview rooms. At 11:22 a.m., an Austin-based television station interviews Vaughn near the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. At 11:32 a.m., Vaughn and Martinez pull up chairs to be interviewed on SiriusXM while nearby Green playfully interviews Huggins for a television station.See you Sept. 3#KStateFB ⚒️ #Big12FB pic.twitter.com/VGl9rBmdQ9
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) July 14, 2022
At 11:56 a.m., Klieman takes the stage for an interview on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Shortly after lunch, players take turns speaking in front of sea of reporters.
"Waiting for the season, you start to get an itchy feeling," Vaughn says. "Three weeks out from camp, you're ready to put the pads back on and get out there with the guys."
The topics throughout the day aren't limited to football.
Huggins is a 6-foot-5, 297-pound native of Cumming, Georgia, who owns a bass boat, plays golf three times a week, has an iffy game off the tee but is solid from 100 yards out, and once played tight end, linebacker, and defensive end in high school. Although he started 13 games last season, he's back for his sixth year because he's still thirsty for the game. He simply likes to hit people.
"I love the physicality of it," he says. "Probably the best part of it is the one-on-one battles, especially at nose guard, where it's me against you. It's a really personal battle and personal position, which I like."
Green is a 6-foot-3, 243-pound native of Portland, Oregon, who plays a lot of Call of Duty during his free time this summer. He was arguably the top inside linebacker on the west coast in the 2017 recruiting class, signed his letter-of-intent with K-State over Oregon State, Utah, Southern California, and Arizona, and he was the sixth-rated player out of the state of Oregon.
However, dreams of making an immediate impact stalled due to the NCAA Clearinghouse. Green did a lot of thinking during his time away from football. He discovered an emptiness. The experience tested his limits and changed his perspective on the game as well. Through the years, he's gradually become better.
Today, he sits front and center representing K-State at Big 12 Media Days as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection.
"You know how we say, 'Pound the Stone,' that's literally my journey," he says. "I've been pounding away for a while and finally got my chance to start last year for the first time, and I feel like I'm still pounding. That's why I came back because I wanted to improve even more. I'm excited to do that."
Martinez is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound native of Fresno, California, who spent four years tearing up the record books at Nebraska with more than 10,000 total yards. Today, he lives on a par-3 golf course in Manhattan, and he just wrapped up watching Stranger Things. His girlfriend and him also watch Survivor.
"Pound the Stone represents our culture," he says. "That's something I picked up pretty quickly coming to K-State. It's on the walls, it's something we say to break it down, and it's powerful. Yes, it can mean, 'Let's get tough and let's get this third-and-short,' or it could mean, 'We're in the weight room today and have to keep chipping away to get better.' It's something I've definitely adopted in how I attack the day."
The day, of course, belongs to Vaughn's mahogany satchel, which he wears over his right shoulder. It is the topic of conversation at several media stops.
"I joined Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and it was a gift from my uncle," he says. "I ordered my shoes and noticed my shoes are the same color as my satchel, so I knew I had to wear it. It has all my essentials in it – wallet, keys, gum, and stuff like that. I thought it would be a nice fashion sense."
Vaughn is a 5-foot-6, 176-pound native of Round Rock, Texas, located about 30 minutes from Austin. Today, he is garnering mention for major college football awards. Vaughn is clear that he maintains a chip on his shoulder over the schools who overlooked him due to his size, and today is the arguably most popular man inside AT&T Stadium.
"My motto has been to be a great player, a great teammate, and a great leader, and everything else will take care of itself," he says.
Count Green among those eager to see what Martinez and Vaughn can do together this season.
"When Adrian Martinez and Deuce are back there together, it's like, 'Sheesh, good luck to these defenses when the fall comes,'" Green says. "I'm excited to see them play. We go against them all the time, but we're just excited to see them play when we're on the sideline. We'll be rooting for them just like fans. I'm really excited to see what they bring this fall."
They are expected to bring plenty of excitement to K-State fans this season, which begins when the Wildcats face South Dakota on September 3 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
K-State players take turns trying to describe K-State fans to FOX National and ESPN.
"Our fans are unbelievable," Vaughn says. "Every time you come out of the tunnel, they're screaming their heads off. They bleed purple. They show up every weekend. Whenever it gets to the third or fourth quarter in the game, we know they're on our side and it's a big-time advantage."
Adds Green: "September 3 is going to be amazing. That's what we do this for, you know? When we grind all year around and the winter and then the summer when it's hot, just to go out in the Bill and hear the fans, that's what we do it for. That's what we say when the young guys get here — this is what we do this for. It's always exciting."
And players believe it'll be fun to be the underdog again.
"The preseason polls, they can say what they want, but we have to go do it," Vaughn says.
At 4:10 p.m., Klieman stands between Martinez, Huggins, Vaughn and Green for a photo near the 50-yard line at AT&T Stadium.
Then Vaughn smiles really big and flashes the Wildcat symbol for the camera.
Vaughn departs the stadium carrying his now-famous satchel.
If the Wildcats return to Arlington in December, they might need to bring a bigger bag.
Players Mentioned
DE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballK-State Track and Field | Sights & Sounds Steve Miller Invitational
Monday, February 23
K-State Baseball | Highlights vs Michigan - Feb. 22, 2026
Monday, February 23
K-State Men's Basketball | Postgame Press Conference at Texas Tech
Sunday, February 22
K-State Women's Basketball | Tess Heal Senior Video
Sunday, February 22
