A Special Evening for K-State Legends
Sep 05, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State football officially added six names to its Ring of Honor during a ceremony on Friday as Collin Klein, Larry Brown, Darren Howard, Ell Roberson, Arthur Brown, and Tyler Lockett were celebrated in front of their family, friends, and supporters at the K-State Alumni Center.
K-State began the Ring of Honor in 2002 and the prestigious list has grown to include 20 former players.
"I just hope all of you who are going in understand how special it is," K-State Director of Athletics Gene Taylor said to begin the event. "There's not a lot of names up there and the names up there have had a major impact on our program, and it's a special, special honor.
"The coolest thing about it is our football players on our teams now are going to look up there and be inspired by your names and hopefully someday they can be up there, men of K-State, doing it the K-State way, and being the kind of football players and individuals you are."
"You have done not only wonderful things as participants in the football program at Kansas State, but you have continued to be wonderful people in your lives once you left the university," Snyder said. "All of you are very, very special."
Fourth-year K-State head coach Chris Klieman said that the honorees continue to touch the football program.
"It's an honor to be the head football coach at Kansas State and the honor comes from the legacy and foundation that was established by players like yourself and by Coach Snyder," Klieman said. "We talk about playing for the guy next to you and for the guys that laid the foundation for all of us. We have the best of the best in the Big 12 because of what you guys have done and what Coach has done."
Jordy Nelson, a member of the 2015 Ring of Honor class, spoke on behalf of former Ring of Honor members.
"I get the honor tonight to welcome you guys into a special club," Nelson said. "I want you guys to enjoy the moment."
Klein, the 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist, and first-year offensive coordinator for the Wildcats, kicked off the speeches by the inductees. Klein was a two-time All-American and became the only quarterback in Power 5 conference history to rush for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 10 touchdowns in multiple seasons. Klein left K-State with 21 school records, including 56 career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, which ranks fifth all-time in FBS history.
"My teammates were special people," Klein said. "Coach Snyder is right, and Coach Klieman is right — our culture here and the type of people who've made this place what it is for a very, very long time is not something that's easily quantified. Being in a ballgame and looking at each other knowing they have your back and you have their back is something that there's no other feeling like that.
"Being a part of this class with you guys a part of it is something that I can't even describe."
Larry Brown played at running back at K-State in 1967 and 1968 and was a part of the first two teams under head coach Vince Gibson. Brown rushed for nearly 700 yards despite playing one year with a broken hand. He was selected in eighth round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and was named 1972 NFL Most Valuable Player while leading the Redskins to Super Bowl VII.
"Fellow Wildcats, thanks so much for the honor of inducting me into K-State football's Ring of Honor," Brown said. "I'm especially pleased to join my former quarterback, Lynn Dickey, in being so recognized. What a tremendous honor. I'll always have purple pride.
"I played the first game in what is Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 1968. We whipped Colorado State 21-0 and went into the Associated Press Top 20 for the first time. It's hard to believe it was 54 years ago. My two years in Manhattan were very, very special."
Howard was a 1999 Third Team All-American and still holds the K-State all-time record with 29.5 career sacks. Howard was selected in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and played 10 seasons in the NFL.
"It's titled correctly — the Ring of Honor — because it's truly an honor," Howard said. "Back in those times, we put our heads down and we worked and worked and worked to no end. There was no real goal, we just worked to be as good as we possibly could. Some of my best memories came from being a part of this school and community and going to bowl games and seeing 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 fans in the stadium. You can't replicate that anywhere else in this country. It's a very special place, school, and I had very special teammates.
"I just want my children to know that just like my mom did for me, I'm here, I'm available, anything you guys want to do, think you want to do, I'm here for you, and I love you, and you put your head down and work hard at it, anything is possible."
Roberson was a 2003 Honorable Mention All-American who set 10 school records and became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to reach 5,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in a career. Roberson led K-State to its first-ever Big 12 title in 2003 when the Wildcats defeated No. 1 Oklahoma 35-7 in the Big 12 Championship game.
Roberson shared a humorous story about when Snyder phoned him to inform him of his selection into the Ring of Honor.
"When Coach Snyder called me, he called me twice," Roberson said. "Coach Snyder never calls me twice. I was in a meeting. I was like, 'What's going on?' Nobody gets two calls from Coach Snyder. He told me and said that we're going to put you into the Ring of Honor. It really touched me to the point that I just wanted to be a part of this family for the rest of my life.
"When I go into a stadium, I look at the names in the stadium, to let me know a school had some athletes. Now for my name to be up there and for my kids to see it, I want to thank K-State and Coach Snyder for giving me my roses while I'm still alive. Sometimes, once a person is gone, that's when they get the praise. Thank you for giving me my roses while I'm alive and allowing me to enjoy all the things that I've done here and for my family to see it."
Arthur Brown was an All-American during each of his two seasons at K-State and was named 2011 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Blessed with elite athleticism, one of the finest linebackers in K-State history chased down Robert Griffin III in a 36-35 win over No. 15 Baylor in 2011 and became the first player to intercept Geno Smith in a 55-14 win at No. 4 West Virginia in 2012.
"I want to thank K-State and Bill Snyder for the program and the system that he put into place that allowed so many of us to achieve such great careers," Brown said. "Thank you, Coach."
He continued.
"To my K-State family, there are so many of you who had an impact and influence on my life and my career. There are two guys who've joined me today — Tyler Lockett and Collin Klein. We had many great moments building a legacy and adding and investing into the rich history we have here at Kansas State. Those guys really allowed me to grow and exemplify what it meant to be a Wildcat. I want to thank them.
"It's truly an honor to be in the company of so many great men. It's something I'll cherish and honor the rest of my life. I share this with my future children and hopefully one day they can follow in the footsteps of so many who came before them."
Lockett enters his eighth season with the Seattle Seahawks and needs just 44 catches and 500 receiving yards to move to No. 3 all-time in both receiving categories in Seahawks history. A 2014 Consensus All-American, Lockett left K-State with 16 school records, and ranks No. 1 all-time in school history with 249 catches, 3,710 receiving yards, and 29 touchdown catches.
Tyler Lockett was the third member of his family to star at K-State. His father, Kevin, was a 1996 Third Team All-American, and his uncle, Aaron, was a 2000 Second Team All-American.
Lockett shared with the crowd at the induction ceremony that there was pressure to continue the proud Lockett legacy at K-State and that he struggled during his first two games as a Wildcat.
As a freshman, a walk to the Vanier Family Football Complex shaped the course of his career.
"I remember I walked from Haymaker all the way to the football facility, and I just prayed one day," Lockett said. "I said, 'God, why is this happening?' I remember the story about the disciples walking and they say a man who was blind, and they asked, 'Why was this man born blind? Did he sin or did his parents sin?' Jesus said, 'This was done so that the glory of God may be revealed.' I was like wow. What came to me when I was walking was everybody got to see my first two games and they talked about my dad and my uncle and put me in the middle, so everybody expected me to be this type of player. Those first two games were meant to show that I was nothing like them. Those first two games happened because everything that was going to happen after that was going to be shown the glory of God over my life.
"Coming here when your dad was a phenomenal receiver and then my uncle came here and did amazing stuff, there was a lot of pressure. I think my faith helped me learn not to worry about that, and I had the opportunity to create my own path."
Lockett closed the induction ceremony with touching words for the crowd.
"On the other side of fear, on the other side of anxiety, on the other side of not knowing what to expect, you never know what's on the other side waiting for you," he said. "I stand here today not even thinking I'd be in the Ring of Honor. All I did was prepare myself for the next opponent."
Kansas State football officially added six names to its Ring of Honor during a ceremony on Friday as Collin Klein, Larry Brown, Darren Howard, Ell Roberson, Arthur Brown, and Tyler Lockett were celebrated in front of their family, friends, and supporters at the K-State Alumni Center.
K-State began the Ring of Honor in 2002 and the prestigious list has grown to include 20 former players.
"I just hope all of you who are going in understand how special it is," K-State Director of Athletics Gene Taylor said to begin the event. "There's not a lot of names up there and the names up there have had a major impact on our program, and it's a special, special honor.
"The coolest thing about it is our football players on our teams now are going to look up there and be inspired by your names and hopefully someday they can be up there, men of K-State, doing it the K-State way, and being the kind of football players and individuals you are."
Hall of Fame head coach Bill Snyder coached five of the honorees — Arthur Brown (2011-12), Howard (1996-99), Klein (2009-12), Lockett (2011-14), and Roberson (2000-03). Larry Brown played at K-State from 1967 to 1968.Truly inspiring #KStateFB x Ring of Honor pic.twitter.com/Wp2tn6sUlV
— K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) September 5, 2022
"You have done not only wonderful things as participants in the football program at Kansas State, but you have continued to be wonderful people in your lives once you left the university," Snyder said. "All of you are very, very special."
Fourth-year K-State head coach Chris Klieman said that the honorees continue to touch the football program.
"It's an honor to be the head football coach at Kansas State and the honor comes from the legacy and foundation that was established by players like yourself and by Coach Snyder," Klieman said. "We talk about playing for the guy next to you and for the guys that laid the foundation for all of us. We have the best of the best in the Big 12 because of what you guys have done and what Coach has done."
Jordy Nelson, a member of the 2015 Ring of Honor class, spoke on behalf of former Ring of Honor members.
"I get the honor tonight to welcome you guys into a special club," Nelson said. "I want you guys to enjoy the moment."
Klein, the 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist, and first-year offensive coordinator for the Wildcats, kicked off the speeches by the inductees. Klein was a two-time All-American and became the only quarterback in Power 5 conference history to rush for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 10 touchdowns in multiple seasons. Klein left K-State with 21 school records, including 56 career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, which ranks fifth all-time in FBS history.
"My teammates were special people," Klein said. "Coach Snyder is right, and Coach Klieman is right — our culture here and the type of people who've made this place what it is for a very, very long time is not something that's easily quantified. Being in a ballgame and looking at each other knowing they have your back and you have their back is something that there's no other feeling like that.
"Being a part of this class with you guys a part of it is something that I can't even describe."
Larry Brown played at running back at K-State in 1967 and 1968 and was a part of the first two teams under head coach Vince Gibson. Brown rushed for nearly 700 yards despite playing one year with a broken hand. He was selected in eighth round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and was named 1972 NFL Most Valuable Player while leading the Redskins to Super Bowl VII.
"Fellow Wildcats, thanks so much for the honor of inducting me into K-State football's Ring of Honor," Brown said. "I'm especially pleased to join my former quarterback, Lynn Dickey, in being so recognized. What a tremendous honor. I'll always have purple pride.
"I played the first game in what is Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 1968. We whipped Colorado State 21-0 and went into the Associated Press Top 20 for the first time. It's hard to believe it was 54 years ago. My two years in Manhattan were very, very special."
Howard was a 1999 Third Team All-American and still holds the K-State all-time record with 29.5 career sacks. Howard was selected in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and played 10 seasons in the NFL.
"It's titled correctly — the Ring of Honor — because it's truly an honor," Howard said. "Back in those times, we put our heads down and we worked and worked and worked to no end. There was no real goal, we just worked to be as good as we possibly could. Some of my best memories came from being a part of this school and community and going to bowl games and seeing 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 fans in the stadium. You can't replicate that anywhere else in this country. It's a very special place, school, and I had very special teammates.
"I just want my children to know that just like my mom did for me, I'm here, I'm available, anything you guys want to do, think you want to do, I'm here for you, and I love you, and you put your head down and work hard at it, anything is possible."
Roberson was a 2003 Honorable Mention All-American who set 10 school records and became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to reach 5,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in a career. Roberson led K-State to its first-ever Big 12 title in 2003 when the Wildcats defeated No. 1 Oklahoma 35-7 in the Big 12 Championship game.
Roberson shared a humorous story about when Snyder phoned him to inform him of his selection into the Ring of Honor.
"When Coach Snyder called me, he called me twice," Roberson said. "Coach Snyder never calls me twice. I was in a meeting. I was like, 'What's going on?' Nobody gets two calls from Coach Snyder. He told me and said that we're going to put you into the Ring of Honor. It really touched me to the point that I just wanted to be a part of this family for the rest of my life.
"When I go into a stadium, I look at the names in the stadium, to let me know a school had some athletes. Now for my name to be up there and for my kids to see it, I want to thank K-State and Coach Snyder for giving me my roses while I'm still alive. Sometimes, once a person is gone, that's when they get the praise. Thank you for giving me my roses while I'm alive and allowing me to enjoy all the things that I've done here and for my family to see it."
Arthur Brown was an All-American during each of his two seasons at K-State and was named 2011 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Blessed with elite athleticism, one of the finest linebackers in K-State history chased down Robert Griffin III in a 36-35 win over No. 15 Baylor in 2011 and became the first player to intercept Geno Smith in a 55-14 win at No. 4 West Virginia in 2012.
"I want to thank K-State and Bill Snyder for the program and the system that he put into place that allowed so many of us to achieve such great careers," Brown said. "Thank you, Coach."
He continued.
"To my K-State family, there are so many of you who had an impact and influence on my life and my career. There are two guys who've joined me today — Tyler Lockett and Collin Klein. We had many great moments building a legacy and adding and investing into the rich history we have here at Kansas State. Those guys really allowed me to grow and exemplify what it meant to be a Wildcat. I want to thank them.
"It's truly an honor to be in the company of so many great men. It's something I'll cherish and honor the rest of my life. I share this with my future children and hopefully one day they can follow in the footsteps of so many who came before them."
Lockett enters his eighth season with the Seattle Seahawks and needs just 44 catches and 500 receiving yards to move to No. 3 all-time in both receiving categories in Seahawks history. A 2014 Consensus All-American, Lockett left K-State with 16 school records, and ranks No. 1 all-time in school history with 249 catches, 3,710 receiving yards, and 29 touchdown catches.
Tyler Lockett was the third member of his family to star at K-State. His father, Kevin, was a 1996 Third Team All-American, and his uncle, Aaron, was a 2000 Second Team All-American.
Lockett shared with the crowd at the induction ceremony that there was pressure to continue the proud Lockett legacy at K-State and that he struggled during his first two games as a Wildcat.
As a freshman, a walk to the Vanier Family Football Complex shaped the course of his career.
"I remember I walked from Haymaker all the way to the football facility, and I just prayed one day," Lockett said. "I said, 'God, why is this happening?' I remember the story about the disciples walking and they say a man who was blind, and they asked, 'Why was this man born blind? Did he sin or did his parents sin?' Jesus said, 'This was done so that the glory of God may be revealed.' I was like wow. What came to me when I was walking was everybody got to see my first two games and they talked about my dad and my uncle and put me in the middle, so everybody expected me to be this type of player. Those first two games were meant to show that I was nothing like them. Those first two games happened because everything that was going to happen after that was going to be shown the glory of God over my life.
"Coming here when your dad was a phenomenal receiver and then my uncle came here and did amazing stuff, there was a lot of pressure. I think my faith helped me learn not to worry about that, and I had the opportunity to create my own path."
Lockett closed the induction ceremony with touching words for the crowd.
"On the other side of fear, on the other side of anxiety, on the other side of not knowing what to expect, you never know what's on the other side waiting for you," he said. "I stand here today not even thinking I'd be in the Ring of Honor. All I did was prepare myself for the next opponent."
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