Open Letter from the Man:

[sonofdaxjones]

To All Loyal Wildcat Fans,

I have always been immensely grateful to you for your genuine, caring and loyal support of our university, our athletic program, our coaches and our players. As I now travel around the state (and country) I am becoming even more aware of your graciousness. You have made me even more proud of having been your coach for nearly two decades.

I have stated so very often that I came to Kansas State because of the people and I’ve stayed because of the people. You are truly wonderful.

I am now asking that you please afford that same caring and loyal support to Ron Prince, his staff and players. This is a difficult transition for them, as it would be for anyone, and they are working diligently to give you the very best product possible.

This staff needs (just as we did) and deserves the same unbelievable support that you provided to our program for the past 17 years.

Forever grateful and forever a Wildcat,

Bill Snyder

[michigancat]

*groan*

[FBWillie]

did he email that to you?

[Jeffrey_Martin]

That is not a good sign, folks.

[ksu_FAN]

I'll guarantee the person who likes it the least is Ron Prince.  He doesn't want to see that 2/3 through his first season.

[plaincat]

What is he talking about?  His staff barely got any support last year.

[michigancat]

That is not a good sign, folks.

I don't disagree, but elaborate, please.

I'll guarantee the person who likes it the least is Ron Prince.  He doesn't want to see that 2/3 through his first season.

So true.

Where did this come from, anyway?

[sonofdaxjones]

Yeah ... you know Bill Snyder, he just flies off the handle and does stuff like this ... never was one to check stuff out.

[FBWillie]

how does J-Mart dissapear so fast... It's not like he has to close his browser every time his boss walks by...








Ohh crap... see ya guys.

[sonofdaxjones]

I take it to only mean that Snyder has sensed some frustration with the new staff and is telling people to chill.

Nothing more, nothing less.  

We won't know if this is a "bad sign" until it's too late ... as is the case in every freaking situation like the one KSU is in.  By the time we say "well should've figured this would happen when Snyder wrote that open later" ... it'll be like saying we need air to breathe.  

Until we can say this Prince deal worked out great or like getting donkey punched in the jimmy ... you can't read all that much into it.

[ksu_FAN]

1st sign for K-State fans of the growing pains that go along with replacing a legend?  

For some reason Snyder felt compelled to do it.  It might be for very innocent reasons.  But people all over the place will take it how they want to, and much (if not most) of the time that won't be good.  It will be read into whether that was the intent or not.

Again, I guarantee you no one on Prince's staff is thinking "that's such a nice thought to have from Coach Snyder".  

[sonofdaxjones]

You can't gurantee that at all ...  you don't have a freaking clue.

[ksu_FAN]

I doubt that was Coach's intent at all.  But it will be taken that way.

And you know that a group of coaches (most of whom have egos) would like to be left alone.  Whether meant to be or not, this will be taken wrong by most, if not all the coaches on staff initially.  I'm sure Weiser or even Snyder himself will be able to calm them down, but somewhere inside these guys won't like it.  They want to put there own stamp on the program, and this is just a connection to the past that many fans will take wrong. 

Again, I don't think anything big was likely meant by it and it will likely blow over quickly, but I think the initial responce will be very mixed.

[Jeffrey_Martin]

This isn't like Bill Snyder. And it's definitely not like Ron Prince, who apparently had no idea about this letter. Hmmm...

[The Manhatter]

Rusty,

It probably means there are some fans who have been emailing Weiser that need to chill.

People just need to give the man time.  This is year one w/ an OL that doesn't fit the talent of what he is trying to do, a true freshman QB, etc.

Just back off and be a fan win or lose.

[catzacker]

I think it's a bad sign that Bill felt as though he needed to write that.  Even if there isn't/wasn't a reason to do it, this letter, whether intended to or not, gives the impression that there is a reason that Bill felt compelled to write this.  Essentially, whether intentional or not, this opens the door to many, many more questions about Prince's support for reports/writers to ask about and write about. 

[The Manhatter]

Jeffery,

Do you suppose Snyder was getting emails?  Weiser?

I don't understand why Snyder would do it unless there were people calling the athletic offices complaining or something.  You would have an idea more than any of us.

[sonofdaxjones]

Well J-Mart ... plenty of opportunity to garner a better understanding of all this for us KSU fans ... chop, chop.

[plaincat]

Is it real? 

If Snyder really wanted to deflect criticism for the new staff, he should point out that most of this is his fault for his incredibly horrible recruiting over the last few years and for creating absolutely no plan for any coach to succeed him.

"The cupboard is not bare"

[michigancat]

1)  Why does an "open" letter to KSU fans pop up only on a website KSU homers pay money to view?

2)  Honestly, could simple emails whining about QB sneaks and shotgun snaps really prompt something like this?  I would think it would take $$$$$$$$$ talking for Snyder to feel the need to speak up.

[Buddha_Cat]

This isn't like Bill Snyder. And it's definitely not like Ron Prince, who apparently had no idea about this letter. Hmmm...

So if it doesn't look like a duck or talk like a duck, must not be a duck.

[catzacker]

1)  Why does an "open" letter to KSU fans pop up only on a website KSU homers pay money to view?

2)  Honestly, could simple emails whining about QB sneaks and shotgun snaps really prompt something like this?  I would think it would take $$$$$$$$$ talking for Snyder to feel the need to speak up.

How many open letters has Bill sent? Other than the obligatory "thanks for supporting KSU football".  I remember a letter after the Fiesta Bowl in '03 and then one at his retirement.  To me, it just seems weird that Bill would do that.  I can't imagine people with $$$ being that pissed.  

[Dan Rydell]

Let me add that I don't really understand the timing of this letter.  Granted, a lot of people made bad assumptions about Nebraska and Mizzou and our chances of beating them, but it really does appear that the most difficult part of our schedule is now over.  Losing to two Top 25 teams in back-to-back weeks should not necessitate an anti-panic letter.

If we lose to what appears to be a mediocre-at-best Iowa State team at home this week, then, if you must release such a letter, perhaps release it then.  I just don't see a reason to release it right after what should have been an expected loss.  For all we know now, this team wins 3 more games and has a pretty good season, all things considered.  A loss to Iowa State at home in what's arguably your most winnable game remaining, then maybe release the letter.  But not now.

[PCR]

I'm a little surprised that everyone is reading so much into this.  It's obvious that there was mass panic on the message boards after the last game, so one can assume there was a lot of feedback to the athletic department as well.  He must have been tired of the chatter and wanted people to chill out.

[PCR]

If he had released this letter after a loss to ISU, it would look really bad.  Maybe he's foreshadowing, but either way I don't have a big problem with it.

[WildCatzPhreak]

I like breeds analysis of it.

"Dear Dumbasses,

Shut the &@#% up.

Sincerely,
Someone who knows more about football than you."

[PoetWarrior]

Don't read into it.


good grief...

 

[cireksu]

^^^

That is exactly right, and if the "big money" is upset at the results then talk about, yes I'll say, it fair weather.  One of the biggest complaints or whinning that I have heard is that "but he kept talking about championships".  Sorry but you dont' go from back to back last place finishes to winning a championship in year one with a brand new staff, doesn't happen. (except when Gruden bitch slapped cally in the sb).  So the big money and a large part of our message board fanbase are 1 retarded for buying into that.  2 retarded for expecting that and being up in arms about it.  Ron Prince is the reason that 30 thousand people were at the spring game and we were all over the media in April.  This program needed a shot in the ass and we got one, now the unreasonable people out there are coming down from their 8-9 win predictions and look really stupid to all the mu, ku, nu fans at their offices so they are pissed.

[sonofdaxjones]

DASOD would like to make it clear that he hasn't sent a single email since last January.

Thank You.

[PCR]

If Prince wasn't talking constantly about "Championships" people like Bill Snyder wouldn't have to work a PR campaign for him.  Everyone at KSU knows we compete for Championships.  He doesn't need to keep saying it.  That's what he got hired to do.  Anyways I'm still behind Prince all the way, even if he needs a lesson on dealing with the fanbase/media.