For all the respect Kansas State football received in Big 12 preseason polls going into Tuesday’s media day in Las Vegas, the Wildcats did not get much love individually.
It is hard to fathom, even in an expanded 16-team league, that the Wildcats were picked second behind Utah and yet did not have a single player named to the media’s preseason all-conference team.
That fact was not lost on K-State coach Chris Klieman, though he made it clear during his news conference that he wasn’t losing any sleep over it.
“I don’t pay a lot of attention to it, to be honest with you,” he said. “Everybody sees it, but it’s not something we talk about an awful lot.”
The way free safety Marques Sigle looks at it, the team-wide snub only fuels their fire. There is just one way to change people’s perception.
“It’s motivation,” Sigle told K-State Online. “We’re underdogs, they’re overlooking us, so we’re going to show them when the time comes, when it’s time to put the pads on, on Saturday.”
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Kansas State free safety Marques Sigle (21) hit Houston quarterback Donovan Smith (1) in the backfield during their game last Oct. 28 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The Wildcats have several candidates to merit all-conference consideration, Sigle among them. Last year K-State had a pair of first-team selections in offensive lineman Cooper Beebe and tight end Ben Sinnott, plus quarterback Will Howard, defensive end Khalid Duke and safety Kobe Savage on the second unit.
All of them have moved on, leaving only second-team linebacker Austin Moore. That opens the door for some new players to step forward.
The lack of individual recognition tells Klieman that his program as a…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kansas-state-football-garners-more-131530316.html
Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal
Publish date : 2024-07-11 13:15:30
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