Kansas State coach Bill Snyder gave college football coaches a lesson in public relations as soon as he took the podium Monday at Big 12 media days.
"There’s a lot of things going on in our society today whether it happens to be what you're addressing [the Penn State scandal] or the things that have taken place in Colorado," Snyder said when asked about the penalties levied against Penn State. "That's not why we’re here."
Snyder said he was in Dallas to talk K-State football and he offered some perspective on playing as an underdog, the emergence of quarterback Collin Klein and the stability of the Big 12.
Wildcats don't mind underdog role
The media picked the Wildcats to finish sixth in the preseason poll. Last year, K-State appeared at No. 8 in the Big 12 preseason rankings and finished second.
"I just hope that we can do something similar to that," Snyder said. "For us, I don't think that's really significant."
In a roundabout way, Snyder said he prefers to be an underdog because he is "more concerned when we’re picked as favorites."
Snyder's response to the emergence of Klein
Klein only stood out on the K-State campus before last season because he was a 6-5 redhead. In 2010, Klein backed up Carson Coffman and had a few impressive runs in spot duty.
Last season, Klein emerged as a star, rushing for 1,141 yards and 27 touchdowns to go along with his 13 passing TDs. K-State’s climb up the rankings and Klein’s gaudy statistics were two of the biggest surprises of the season.
His coach's reaction?
"I'm too old to be surprised," Snyder said.
Lockett OK
Snyder said that sophomore receiver/kick returner Tyler Lockett has fully recovered from a lacerated kidney he suffered against Oklahoma State, which forced him to miss the final four games of last season.
Lockett participated in spring practices and then sat out the spring game because of a hamstring injury that Snyder said was not serious.
"The perception was probably that he was still recovering, which was indeed not the case," Snyder said.
Big 12 'stable'
Add Snyder to the list of coaches and administrators who think the Big 12 is just fine in its current state.
"I think it's a stable conference right now if there is such a thing in college football," Snyder said. "It's quite obvious that the universities that make up the Big 12 conference today are heavily committed to the conference.
"We lost two very fine universities and programs, but we gained two extremely talented football programs and quality universities, too."