In preparation for their opener against Iowa State, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman sees potential roadblocks. With the first game seemingly around the corner for most FBS teams, coaches scramble to prepare for whatever contingencies they have.
With only 12 regular-season games, college coaches attempt to ensure that no hiccups cost them a game. However, when one arises, not all handle the matter similarly.
Kansas State HC Chris Klieman Prepares for Potential Stumbling Blocks Against Iowa State
In winning 63.2% of his games during his first six seasons in Manhattan, Klieman earned a reputation as a meticulous planner, able to see potential problems on the horizon and dispatch them before any chance for a snowball effect. In their first game, the Wildcats travel to Dublin to face the Iowa State Cyclones in K-State’s season opener. The head coach spoke to the press regarding potential speed bumps.
“I just think the consistency of what they do, being in that system and program for as long as they have. They don’t beat themselves, and if you’d look over the last couple years, we’ve done things that have beaten ourselves, and they’ve capitalized on those, whether it’s turnovers and explosive plays, whatever you want to say.
“We’ve got to do a really good job of protecting the football and eliminating the explosive play. They’re really well coached and have really good talent. They’ve got as much talent coming back as any team in our league.”
Last season, KSU fumbled twice, including on the first play from scrimmage. That led to two ISU touchdowns. Additionally, with 13:22 left in the game, officials flagged quarterback Avery Johnson for intentional grounding in the end zone, which gave Iowa State two points. In all, mistakes directly led to 16 of ISU’s 29 points.
Considering that the game ended 29-21, you can assume the turnovers and poor plays are what Klieman refers to. In like manner, in the third quarter, the Wildcats drove the ball 80 yards to the Cyclones’ 3-yard line, but ISU blocked the field goal attempt.
After last year’s game, Klieman appears to have plenty to worry about. While it’s not the transatlantic flight, the jet lag, the unfamiliar stadium or playing surface, curbing his team’s errors appears to be at the forefront of his mind. With the memory of last year still relatively fresh in his mind, can Klieman’s team learn from their mishaps and play a cleaner brand of football against their Big 12 rival?
