September 2, 2016
A letter from Coach Snyder
Faculty and staff,
I am sitting on a plane on our way to California finishing this letter as I think about the thousands upon thousands of people who have meant so very much to our football program over the past two-and-a-half decades and what a special role our faculty has played in that support. That reminded me of some comments I made two Sundays ago speaking to several thousand new students to our campus.
I shared with them my congratulations and admiration for selecting Kansas State as their school of choice. I emphasized the caring relationship between our faculty, alumni, community, state, student body and our football program — a truly special relationship. I also shared that there is no better learning environment than Kansas State University and that over the past 20-plus years we have had more Rhodes, Truman, Udall, Marshall and Goldwater scholarship award winners than nearly all public universities in the country. That only happens with a great teaching faculty that truly cares about the student gaining knowledge to win those awards.
And, again this summer as I traveled throughout the state and visited so many gracious alumni and Kansas State friends at a dozen Catbacker functions, I was reassured of the belief that prompted my return to the Kansas State University football program seven years ago.
As I have stated so many times publicly and in my own thoughts, we — my family and I — came to Kansas State because of the people, and returned to Kansas State because of the people. You have been the foundation of the development of our football program and our university. You helped take our game attendance from 13,000 to 53,000. So many like you have proudly followed our program throughout the country providing Kansas State, as I've proclaimed so often, with the three largest crowds in the history of college football to cross a state line to watch their team play, and above all have genuinely cared about your "family football program" for the right reason.
And on game day, when you have exhibited that passion, it has had a dynamic impact on the student-athletes on the field. This group of young men has come to realize and appreciate what you mean to them. I thank you for that and for caring enough to make a difference.
As the 2016 season is about to be underway, I hope you will again join us in supporting your program by filling "your family stadium" with caring passionate K-Staters. I understand that at least 6,000 K-Staters are expected to travel to California for the Stanford game in support of our young people. And thank you for recognizing that this is about far more than winning and losing and that its true meaning is relative to the development of quality young men who establish character and intrinsic values that will guide them to successful and meaningful lives.
Thank you for caring,
Coach Snyder