Chris Klieman, players react to Kansas State’s win over TCU

HEAD COACH CHRIS KLIEMAN: A Rejuvenated Team Dominates TCU

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude towards our incredible fans. Once again, they showed up in full force, creating an electric atmosphere that truly impacted the game. Our players fed off that energy, and we need them back next week at 11 o’clock because their support makes a massive difference for us. I can’t thank our fans enough for continuously selling out this stadium.

I want to give a special shoutout to Coach Joe Klanderman and Coach Colin Klein, who devised exceptional game plans. Our players executed those plans flawlessly throughout the week in practice, leading to a high level of execution in the game. This performance showed me that we are becoming a better team in all aspects, and everything clicked tonight. I’m incredibly excited for our players, coaches, and fans because we faced a strong opponent tonight and emerged victorious.

The Dominant Defense

Our defense truly shined tonight. TCU had a potent offense, averaging around 40 points per game and playing at a lightning-fast tempo. However, our players executed our game plan perfectly. I want to give a special mention to Jake Clifton, who never receives enough credit. Due to an injury, Jake had to switch positions and played as a linebacker the entire game. Playing any of our linebacker roles is incredibly challenging, but Jake has played all three in consecutive weeks. Our dominance up front was evident. Despite TCU’s talented running back, we managed to put pressure on their quarterback and provided excellent coverage throughout the game.

Impressive Performances by Avery Johnson

We knew there would be some mistakes, but also some impressive plays from Avery Johnson. Coach Colin and I had a solid plan, considering the difficulties of rotating quarterbacks mid-game. It’s not an ideal situation for us long-term, but it worked last week and worked exceptionally well tonight. Avery played exceptionally, but I want to emphasize that Will Howard is the unquestionable leader of our team. It was tough on Will, but he is the driving force behind our offense. He’s a captain, a Big 12 Champion, and a fantastic football player. I admire his determination to improve, and he performed admirably tonight. We’ll need both Avery and Will moving forward.

Playing Both Will and Avery

It was a hunch we had, and I don’t want to make it more complicated than it is. We believed that both quarterbacks had strengths that they could utilize effectively. Will ran the ball well in the first few series, and Avery threw two excellent passes to Jayce Brown. They both bring something valuable to the table, and I think people overlook that fact – they’re both outstanding quarterbacks.

QB AVERY JOHNSON: Reflecting on the Game and Looking Ahead

Regarding our game plan to alternate with Will Howard, Coach informed us towards the end of the week that Will would start, and I would come in for the second drive. From there, we adjusted based on the flow of the game. It was enjoyable to get more playing time each week. Nevertheless, I’m thrilled for Will’s dominant performance tonight. Winning a conference game of this magnitude is the ultimate goal, regardless of how we achieve it. Now, we focus on the next week.

As for the first play, we didn’t finalize it until Friday. It was an idea that was brought up, and we went with it during our preparations.

The physicality of the game was definitely intense. I carried the ball numerous times, and there were moments of open space as well as challenges. I credit our offensive linemen for creating holes and allowing me to contribute. However, it wasn’t just me running the ball. Will also had a significant yardage on the ground, and Treshaun Ward and DJ Giddens are hitting their stride. Our offensive line truly dominated.

Jayce Brown is not just a teammate; he’s like a brother to me. We entered the team at the same time, and our chemistry is strong on and off the field. We spend time together after practice, honing our connection and it’s starting to show on game days. Jayce has the ability to stretch the defense, and his confidence makes him unstoppable.

QB WILL HOWARD: Reflecting on Offensive Performance

Personally, I believe we left some opportunities out there despite gaining over 400 yards on offense. One drive, in particular, stalled due to a few plays that went wrong. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a solid performance that we can build upon.

As for the first play, it was a plan we discussed on Friday, and we executed it accordingly.

Regarding the rotation with Avery, it’s not my decision. I focus on controlling what I can and providing support for Avery, just as he supports me. That’s how we move forward as a team.

RB TRESHAUN WARD: Discussing Offensive Success

Our success on offense resulted from our preparation throughout the week. Attention to detail and executing the fundamentals paid off in the game.

As for my comfortability, trust plays a crucial role. I trust my teammates, and they trust me. When the entire team has that belief in one another, great things happen. Both DJ Giddens and I had a stellar game tonight.

Reference