Inside Slant

The Sports Xchange

November 06, 2018 at 10:49 pm.

Bowl berth unlikely for skidding Wildcats

The challenge now is cut and dried for Kansas State. Win out or fail to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2009.

That season happened to be the first for Bill Snyder after coming out of retirement. Since then he has directed the Wildcats to eight consecutive bowl bids, but at 3-6 overall after a 14-13 loss at TCU there is little margin for error.

First up, the Wildcats must attempt to escape the Big 12 cellar, where a 1-5 record leaves them tied with in-state rival Kansas, which visits Kansas State on Saturday.

The pressure that has mounted for the Wildcats seems to also have affected their head coach. Snyder rarely calls out a player exclusively for his particular failings but did so while citing punt returner Isaiah Zuber for a fumble TCU recovered to set up their first touchdown.

“It wasn’t special teams so much as it was an individual,” Snyder said. “You take away the turnover that gave them the winning touchdown and we are talking about a different thing right now.”

Actually, Kansas State recovered to forge a tie but then made additional errors on special teams later in the game. A field goal attempt when awry when holder Colby Moore failed to execute before throwing a desperation interception into the end zone. Later, Moore’s hold on a PAT attempt was poor and a missed kick by Blake Lynch accounted for the 14-13 margin.

Kansas State’s special teams are coached by Snyder’s son, Sean. Snyder first suggested years ago that Kansas State promote Sean to head coach, a move the administration has obviously balked at doing. Now, with the Wildcats skidding, there seems to be no chance for that coaching transition.

The question that continues to build is whether Bill Snyder will bow out and retire again, or if the Kansas State administration is bold enough to replace the 27-year coach whose name is on the stadium.

Special teams have always received heavy emphasis under Snyder and have often been among the Wildcats’ best units. This season, however, they allowed a long punt return for a TD in a 19-14 loss to Texas and also fumbled a return at Baylor, a 37-34 loss that included a late field goal by the Bears.

Other issues exist too, though the Wildcats’ defense stiffened by allowing just 13 first downs and 275 yards to TCU, which was handicapped by injuries and suspensions but still managed a narrow win to escape the Big 12 cellar with its second win in seven games.

While Kansas is a program dominated by Kansas State under Snyder, the Jayhawks (3-6, 1-5) could have some extra motivation after their fourth-year coach, David Beaty, was told after a Nov. 3 loss to Iowa State that he will not be retained. Beaty will coach out the season.

The Jayhawks, frankly, have more explosive playmakers in running back Pooka Williams and wide receiver Steven Sims. Defensively, linebacker Joe Dineen is among the nation’s top tacklers, while tackle Daniel Wise is tough to budge along the interior. A loss for the Wildcats, which is possible, would seemingly be a clear signal that retirement is a permanent option for Snyder.