{"id":6726,"date":"2019-07-23T17:32:31","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T22:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=6726"},"modified":"2019-07-23T17:32:31","modified_gmt":"2019-07-23T22:32:31","slug":"long-season-for-k-state-klieman-era-begins-in-the-little-apple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=6726","title":{"rendered":"Long Season for K-State? Klieman era begins in the LIttle Apple….."},"content":{"rendered":"

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Head Coach:\u00a0 Chris Klieman (First year at Kansas;\u00a0 72-13 as head coach in six seasons<\/span><\/h4>\n

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Last Year:\u00a0 5-7; 3-6 in the Big Twelve<\/span><\/h4>\n

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One team will finish in the basement when the Big Twelve season comes to a close in December.\u00a0 That will be Kansas as the Jayhawks will sit pretty in that dark place.\u00a0 There will be two teams that will make the championship game in Jerry’s World and I suspect that of those two, another Red River game is a bettors choice. Oklahoma and Texas look like the class of the league right now, but I will say, with all sincerity, that the other seven teams I will review could contend for a spot in that game.\u00a0 With that, I have to assign teams from 9th through first, and except for the two favorites, the rest is just a crap shoot.\u00a0 So if you are a fan of any of the others, do not fret.\u00a0 These teams are contenders.\u00a0 Today, with that said, my choice to sit next to KU starts in Manhattan with the Kansas State Wildcats.\u00a0 KSU has some strong points and that tells me that I could be totally wrong with this choice.<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Chris Klieman comes to KSU from North Dakota State where he was an ultra-successful head coach, winning the past four National Titles at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).\u00a0 A defensive coach by trade, Klieman is a good choice for the Wildcats and will be a similar type coach as was the great Bill Snyder.\u00a0 To get the Cats into the upper echelon\u00a0 of the conference, as of the program, he will need to recruit significantly better than Snyder had accomplished in his second stint with KSU.\u00a0 Can he compete with OU or Texas in the future is questionable.\u00a0 KSU has to show it can be an offensive power and stop with the old school quarterback run game.\u00a0 It will not be easy.<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Offense: Returning quarterback Skyler Thompson is a middle of the road dual threat.\u00a0 James Gilbert, transfer from Kent State, will play out his final season with KSU and will be the feature back.\u00a0 He is a good one but will depend upon an average offensive line.\u00a0 KSU is average at best at most offensive positions but with an overall change it is hoped that the offense does more than run the quarterback when in trouble.\u00a0 Offense Grade: C<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n
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Ball State transfer James Gilbert will supply the rushing for KSU this season. Photo: the STARPRESS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Defense:\u00a0 The line should be the strong part of this group.\u00a0 Reggie Walker is the best player at the end position. Two freshmen should start in a rebuilt secondary and that tells you enough about that.\u00a0 The Big Twelve will chew up KSU in the air.\u00a0 Grade: C-<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Special Teams:\u00a0 Both the punter and kicker return.\u00a0 Nothing really special.<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 18: Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Skylar Thompson (10) during the Big 12 college football game between the Kansas State Wildcats and the Oklahoma State Cowboys on November 18, 2017 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by William Purnell\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Game Outlook:<\/strong> <\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Games that KSU will win:\u00a0 Nichols (H); Bowling Green (H) Kansas (A)\u00a0 West Virginia (H)<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Games that KSU will lose:\u00a0 Oklahoma (H); Texas (A)<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Games that KSU could win but it will be hard:\u00a0 the other opponents on the schedule<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Season Prediction:\u00a0 4-8 and 2-7 in conference\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Bill Snyder Family Stadium is a stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. . It is named after the family of head coach Bill Snyder. Photo by moblesportsreport.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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KANSAS STATE WILDCATS   Head Coach:\u00a0 Chris Klieman (First year at Kansas;\u00a0 72-13 as head…<\/p>\n

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