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Snyder's effect is felt by many

BACK ON TOP
Bill Snyder: His Wildcats lead the wide-open North with a 3-1 record.
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 10/28/2009  2:21 AM
Last Modified: 10/28/2009  5:54 AM

 NORMAN — The "Bob Stoops Effect" is the phenomenon wherein a coach hired at a traditional powerhouse program isn't afforded the once-traditional five-year building plan to win because, after all, Stoops won a national championship in just his second season at Oklahoma.

But there's another, more widespread version called the "Bill Snyder Effect."

Because of the "Miracle in Manhattan" Snyder pulled off in his first stint as head coach at Kansas State from 1989-2005, losing, it seems, is no longer tolerated anywhere, no matter how remote the outpost, no matter how downtrodden the program.

"I'll tell you what he's done. He made it possible for lesser programs to dream about becoming a national power," Texas coach Mack Brown said in July, "and at the same time he put a tremendous amount of pressure on those programs. Those athletic directors say, 'Look at what Bill Snyder did at Kansas State.' "

K-State was in the midst of an 0-26-1 streak when Snyder arrived. Under Snyder, K-State went 136-68-1 and became just the second program ever to win 11 games six times in a seven-year span. Stoops' experiences as Snyder's co-defensive coordinator still show up in his daily routine at the Switzer Center.

Stoops' relationship with Snyder goes back 30 years, from when Stoops was a hard-hitting safety at Iowa and Snyder was the Hawkeyes' offensive coordinator under Hayden Fry. Stoops spent two seasons as an Iowa graduate assistant and three more as a volunteer assistant. When Snyder was hired to
put life into the long-dead program at Kansas State, he quickly hired Stoops. They worked together for seven seasons at K-State, where the stadium is now named after Snyder.

In a 6 p.m. Big 12 Conference clash Saturday at Memorial Stadium, No. 22 OU (4-3 overall, 2-1 Big 12) meets K-State (5-3, 3-1). Stoops matches wits with his old mentor for the seventh time (Stoops leads 5-1).

Snyder retired at the end of the 2005 season, going 4-7 and 5-6 in his last two years. But following three moribund years under Ron Prince (17-19), K-State hired Snyder back. He didn't sound optimistic in the preseason, but despite a slow start, Kansas State sits atop the Big 12 North standings.

Snyder thinks facing Stoops — and former K-State linebacker-turned-OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables — will be more challenging this time around.

"I think it probably may make it more difficult because they probably have a better understanding of me than I do of them over a period of time," Snyder said. "Having been out of the game for three years, I didn't study what other teams were doing and how consistent Oklahoma was in doing the things that I was more attuned to at that particular point in time.

"What makes it most difficult is just the fact that I know what the quality of coaching that exists there. Bob and his staff have obviously done extremely well... They're probably the best three-loss team in the nation right now."

How much of the 70-year-old Snyder does Stoops see in himself?

"A lot of it," Stoops said.

Still, neither Stoops nor Venables is surprised at the newfound success Snyder has brought the Wildcats, even after a four-point win over I-AA Massachusetts, a two-point loss to Louisiana-Lafayette and a 52-point loss to Texas Tech. Two weeks ago, Kansas State crushed Texas A&M 62-14, and last week they dominated Colorado 20-6 and have won four of their last five.

"He's got the perfect demeanor to keep the ship in the right direction and keep the waters calm and continue to focus on every minute and every detail of every day and just push to get better," Venables said. "He provides that type leadership and fosters that type environment for his team to improve daily and keep the kids keeping their heads down and grinding away and things will inevitably happen. And that's what you're seeing.

"It's not a bunch of schemes and tricks and a magic formula on how you play well. It requires a great deal of investment and belief and work ethic and consistency. And if you do those things you will have a chance to get better and have a chance to win, whether it's at Kansas State or Mississippi Delta or Oklahoma."

When Snyder retired after the 2005 season, 52 of his former assistants or players were still working as college football coaches. Nine had become head coaches along the way, and five — Wisconsin's Bret Bielema (28-11), South Florida's Jim Leavitt (87-52), Kansas' Mark Mangino (45-41), Arizona's Mike Stoops (25-34) and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (109-24) — started the 2009 season with a combined 294 Division I-A victories.

Mike Stoops said he was surprised when Snyder retired because coaching football "is his only real love. He doesn't have a lot of outside interests. . . . He missed it, I think, when he got out."

Like his brother, Mike Stoops picked up characteristics from Snyder that he employs every day in Tucson.

"The attention to detail and preparation . . . and his work ethic," Mike Stoops said. "Those things are really the cornerstones of who he is. . . Being a perfectionist is really important to him. I guess that's one of the strongest characteristics I picked up from him."

Said Venables, "Obviously, all that I am today and the success that I've had, I owe a great deal to coach Snyder and all the coaches, including coach Stoops. Tremendous, tremendous mentors and coaching tree to come from."

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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4 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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TulsaTulsa, Tulsa (10/28/2009 12:54:17 PM)
Snyder sounds like a great guy and coach. I remember some of those Kansas State schedules were jokes, but they played well in some big games and some NFL players.
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TulsaTulsa, Tulsa (10/28/2009 12:54:51 PM)
*turned out some NFL players
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JR, (10/28/2009 6:50:43 PM)
Snyder, Takes average talent and WINS!!
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OU@BVAR, Bella Vista (10/28/2009 9:50:34 PM)
I remember the year K State came to OU to play.
What happened to K-???. They stomped us. I have had friends for years who graduated from
K-State. I always felt sorry for them. I soon learned to stop feeling sorry for then because of Snider and company. That is why I am a Stoops supporter and will continue to be.
 

 
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