NEW ORLEANS — The identify Collin Klein may appear acquainted to Alabama followers. Again in 2012, he led Kansas State to a No. 1 rating within the BCS ballot because the Wildcats quarterback. That Kansas State was upset by Baylor in late November, opening again up a spot to the BCS championship for Alabama on the way in which to the Crimson Tide’s second straight nationwide championship. 

Now, at 33 years outdated, Klein serves as Kansas State’s offensive coordinator because the No. 9 Wildcats put together to face No. 5 Alabama within the Sugar Bowl Saturday. 

Klein and present Kansas State quarterback Will Howard spoke to the media Thursday morning. Here is all the pieces they needed to say:

Collin Klein Full Transcript- Dec. 29, 2022

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: Initially, simply such an honor to be right here. Thanks a lot to the Sugar Bowl and their employees for making it such an incredible week to this point and actually making all the pieces simply easy and seamless for our and their hospitality has been unimaginable. So thanks.

So excited to see all of our followers and type of see all the trouble persons are placing in to come back down with all the points with the flights and the climate and time of 12 months and all the pieces. So excited and simply so grateful once more for the assist that our gamers and us as a employees have already felt.

It has been really an honor this season to work with our gamers, and our offensive group has been particular. So happy with the work they’ve put in and type of the journey it has been for all of us. It is a tremendous group. There’s plenty of unbelievable inner management and accountability within the group. It has been so enjoyable as a coach since you are available in there each week they usually’re begging for extra and wanting extra and tweaks and changes and issues. So simply how they’ve attacked that course of and attacked and made the trouble to enhance their craft is has been super.

Once more, a tricky and gritty group. We have had some ups and downs via the 12 months as effectively, and the way they’ve responded and simply continued to attempt to enhance has been plenty of enjoyable.

Sort of speaking in regards to the quarterbacks once more with what Will [Howard] has achieved and Adrian [Martinez], what they’ve achieved this 12 months, it has type of galvanized our unit, fairly actually. Each season has these twists and turns that you simply by no means know are coming, and each of them have dealt with either side of it in stride.

And so happy with their management and consistency. There’s by no means been any overexuberance with a number of the highs we have skilled. And there hasn’t been any panic or frustration in any of the hardships or the lows that we have skilled as effectively. And simply their consistency and group mindset and the way aggressive and difficult they’ve been has been completely super and so happy with them.

After which simply the management of Deuce [Vaughn] and Kade [Warner] and Cooper [Beebe] up entrance and simply how they’ve once more attacked the method has been plenty of enjoyable. Extraordinarily excited in regards to the problem to complete this factor off proper. And it has been a pleasure to work with them.

Q. Simply because he’s now wholesome, is there a powerful need to attempt to play Adrian Martinez due to what he has meant to you on this one 12 months in this system?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: I might positively like that. I do know Adrian would love that, and he is excited to do this.

Clearly, Will [Howard] goes to begin us off and he is had an incredible prep within the final month. It is positively one thing we’d like to get him on the sphere.

Q. What sort of issues from a go speeding standpoint does Will Anderson and a few of these different guys current?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: They’re clearly very proficient. They have nice lengths. They play extraordinarily exhausting and effectively coached and work collectively and have plenty of schemes which are clearly difficult. We have performed plenty of good go rushers in our convention as effectively, and it is one thing our guys are excited for.

Q. Collin, are you able to type of put into phrases what Will Howard has delivered to this offense?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: I feel it is simply consistency.

And we at all times speak about from a training standpoint of really mastering your craft and dealing to enhance each day and simply get one inch higher daily. And he is achieved that for the final two years.

I feel simply watching his our group watching him how he is labored himself into the place that he’s, is unimaginable. And so his his capability and the way he is been capable of distribute the ball and let a number of the schemes that we’re working come to life and discover the holes or the no matter learn or key it’s in that play, in that millisecond, to make that call and ship the soccer the way in which it has, has introduced the offense to life.

Q. And this locker room is understood for being a decent knit group. What do your two principal quarterbacks (Will Howard and Adrian Martinez) deliver to that due to the connection they present everybody else within the locker room?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: I feel it spearheads the entire effort. And unselfishness is clearly certainly one of our 4 core values, and that is one thing as a coach and a participant is simple to speak about, Okay, when the chips are down, how are you going to reply and what are you going to do. And watching each of these guys reply, how they deal with this example is it has been it has been off the charts. And it has been the tip of the spear.

Q. Collin, how very important has a veteran offensive line been to your first 12 months transitioning into offensive coordinator?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: They’re such an incredible group. Not solely with the expertise however simply how how tight knit they’re and what Coach [Conor] Riley has achieved with them from a continuity standpoint. The communication has been excellent. Their capability to make changes and tweak issues. And in the course of a recreation, center of a sequence even this has helped us.

Such as you mentioned, it gives that stability as we have type of constructed and labored into creating our identification. It is made that smoother for positive.

Q. How helpful is Cooper Beebe’s consistency to that group?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: He is an anchor, for positive. Clearly a really excessive soccer IQ and capable of make issues proper cerebrally. However then additionally has the flexibility to get motion and make issues occur. So he is off the charts.

Q. Initially, with Deuce [Vaughn], what have you ever achieved this 12 months making an attempt to be taught new methods to make use of him, make the most of him, get him on the sphere however on the similar time, he is a small man so you do not wish to overwork him, I am positive. Do you suppose he is prepared for the NFL? Are you ready to lose him to the NFL?

Secondly, take me again to 2012. Y’all had been #1 within the BCS at one level. You continue to would have wound up within the playoffs. What would which were like in these days for Kansas State? And the way would you evaluate that group to this group?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: Effectively, I will type of begin together with your first one there. Initially, Deuce Vaughn is he is been an absolute pleasure to educate and somebody that I will always remember and has been right here at a time in our program as a part of construct as much as with the ability to be part of this. It has been particular.

And his consistency, his work ethic, I do not I can not bear in mind a day that I can say, Oh, Deuce had a nasty day, and that is from an perspective method standpoint. Additionally, a efficiency on the sphere standpoint. I can not inform you guys or deliver one to reminiscence that he is had a nasty day in any a kind of classes. So his degree of professionalism and consistency, it is particular. It is distinctive.

And he’ll maintain you up at night time making an attempt to he is so versatile, he is so good and gifted, . He makes you continuously consider all of the totally different ways in which you need to use him, and he would not skip a beat. There’s not I do not suppose any certainly one of us have mentioned, Oh, that is an excessive amount of for him to deal with as a result of I do not know if there’s such a factor.

He is off the charts that means. And once more, speaking about his unselfishness for a number of the issues that we had been doing, particularly earlier within the 12 months with somebody at quarterback run recreation stuff, we had been asking him to dam. And so he is needed to be extra he is needed to do extra blocking and a few various things this 12 months within the run recreation and within the safety conditions that plenty of guys would most likely balk at a little bit bit. And he is taken it in stride and strapped beneath his chin.

For his dimension, he does an incredible job. So no matter he chooses to do, clearly we’re behind him 1,000%. I might love to educate him for the subsequent ten years; however sadly, that does not work like that. So no matter he chooses to do, he is made an affect on Okay State. He is made an affect on me, and our group that is second to none.

So far as our group and program being just like the run we had again ten years in the past it is exhausting to consider it was ten years in the past. However I feel it is not stuff like this or particular seasons, they do not simply occur. It is the little issues which are part of that locker room, which are part of your gamers and the way they do all the pieces.

And it is not that, Hey, each years you win a Massive 12 championship. It is like how that occurs is a lot a lot extra vital than what really occurs and the way they’ve attacked the method, how disciplined they’re.

You look, we get on a run within the second half of the 12 months, we’ve I can not even very, little or no guys missed something. And also you speak about lacking meals. You speak about being late to group conferences. You speak about nobody lacking that stuff. Effectively, that is not an accident. It is not accidentally that we’re capable of be disciplined and win some tight ball video games down the stretch as a result of guys had been taking possession of their job, of their position and no matter they had been alleged to do.

And that was very in keeping with our group in 2012, of fellows having that degree of possession, delight within the particulars and accountability that any a kind of particulars shouldn’t be acceptable, to overlook or to let free. And that is what makes particular groups like this occur.

Q. I used to be going to ask about that subject. You guys have by no means performed Alabama, however you’ve got that connection to that 2012 BCS run. What do you bear in mind in regards to the specifics of that season and the way it all ended up?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: I feel like I mentioned, it was a very long time in the past. (Laughter)

However I feel what I used to be happy with that group, , is you are in a tricky stretch, you play 9 convention video games. You drop one to a very good Baylor group who we knew was actually good earlier than we go down there. Flip the ball over, hand over plenty of large performs, have some penalties. Find yourself shedding the sport. You clearly have a intestine punch and have to come back again on the horse the final week of the 12 months to nonetheless have an opportunity to win the convention and discover a means to do this and clearly get to the Fiesta Bowl.

Once more, it was an element an honor to be part of, plenty of particular people who made that run occur and attainable. And I used to be very, very honored to be part of it and really proud, once more, of those self same threads of the core that I used to be speaking a couple of second in the past was a part of this group and what they’ve achieved this 12 months.

Q. Simply questioning in case you can have had a little bit replace on Malik [Knowles], we noticed him on the market working towards, after which so far as RJ Garcia goes and his improvement, clearly got here within the Massive 12 championship and made just a few large performs, simply type of the place are these guys at at present?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KLEIN: I feel Malik is able to go. I’ve been more than happy with how he is performed this week. that is a kind of twists and turns, proper, that us as a employees obtained to react to and clearly gamers obtained to be able to go. And it is a subsequent man up mindset, and nobody is aware of. I imply, Malik was taking part in unbelievably effectively in that championship recreation, has an enormous catch on the seven route. Big explosive play on the jet sweep. Will get dinged up. RJ steps in, would not miss a beat, and comes up with a monster catch.

So all people must be able to do their half. And RJ I used to be so pleased for him to observe and see his work and preparation be capable to repay on the sphere in an enormous second.

QB Will Howard Transcript

Q. Did you guys see any of that recreation yesterday?

WILL HOWARD: I did. Yeah, I used to be sitting within the lodge watching that recreation yesterday. And that was loopy. I checked out one level and it was like, I feel it was 38 13 or one thing. So credit score to them for coming again and combating. I do know that is their first bowl recreation in a longtime. So , a part of me was like, , a little bit bit pulling for them, only for the Massive 12 and for stuff like that, however, on the similar time, it is type of exhausting for KU. However credit score to them, they put up a very good struggle.

Q. Whenever you have a look at this Alabama group, the final time I noticed you was two weeks in the past. What have you ever guys discovered about them? What do you anticipate to see on Saturday?

WILL HOWARD: Yeah, they seem to be a actually good soccer group. We knew that. Clearly, with the ability to watch a little bit extra movie, we’ve seen a little bit extra of what they wish to do on protection. I have never seen what they do on offense very a lot as a result of I am specializing in the defensive aspect of the ball. They have some actually athletic dudes, actually lengthy dudes. They wish to beat you in a single on ones. I really feel like we’ll have plenty of alternatives in a single on one conditions to try to do our factor. However they’ve a very good group, they usually do plenty of good issues on third down. There is no doubt why they’re top-of-the-line groups yearly. They’re very effectively coached and obtained plenty of good gamers. It will be problem, however I am wanting ahead to it.

Q. Will, how would you summarize your progress and maturity this season?

WILL HOWARD: Yeah. This season’s been a wild journey, simply from not taking part in the primary six video games to now being the beginning quarterback within the Sugar Bowl, it has been a wild journey. But it surely’s been tremendous enjoyable. I really feel like, such as you mentioned, I have been capable of develop and type of come into my very own a little bit bit. It simply takes plenty of expertise. And I really feel like when you’re in there a bunch and after you have these alternatives to indicate what I can do, that was after I type of noticed my confidence develop a bunch. I really feel actually, actually good about the place I am at proper now. And confidence is big, particularly on this place.

So simply with the ability to have that develop and develop, for me, was large time.

Q. How a lot will it assist you to, that have, taking part in within the championship recreation? There have been a pair bowl groups which have had dangerous begins. I didn’t seen Kansas. It appeared just like the stage, they had been extra prepared for it. How will that assist you to, having performed in a nationally televised recreation in a venue such as you did in Arlington (AT&T Stadium)?

WILL HOWARD: Little question, yeah, that was an enormous, big recreation. There was lots on the road, just like at present. We will say that we have been there, and that may positively assist. As a result of there is no stage that is too large for us. We really feel like we’re top-of-the-line groups within the nation, and we should be right here. There is no doubt about that in my thoughts. So we’re excited to exit. It is a cool alternative. We’re nonetheless making an attempt to soak all of it in, although we consider we ought to be right here. It is cool. It is all the pieces you dream of, as I child, when you consider taking part in school soccer. It is a cool alternative. And I am actually blessed to have the ability to be right here.

Q. How has the dynamic been with Adrian now again at apply? Initially, what’s that like for you? How cool is it seeing him again wholesome and, by all means, possibly even have an effect on the sport?

WILL HOWARD: Yeah, it is actually cool. We’re rooming collectively down right here. We spend a ton of time collectively. I am actually pleased to see him again shifting round and again out on the sphere once more. It is good for the group as a result of he is an enormous time chief on this group. He is a captain, and he deserves all the pieces. So I hope he is wholesome sufficient to have the ability to do some issues for us on Saturday. That may be big for us. As a result of he is a very good participant. It might deliver a component to our offense that might be actually, actually cool.

Q. How a lot have you ever discovered, from a studying standpoint, from Skylar Thompson, Adrian Martinez?

WILL HOWARD: A ton. Being a younger man, being round Skylar was big for me as a result of he had been there for 5, six years, within the time that I used to be there. The expertise is one thing you could’t actually take as a right. When you’re there for some time, you type of study it. You type of be taught some issues that you do not know as a younger man. He was capable of educate me a few of these issues. And with Adrian, it was actually cool for me as a result of he got here from a distinct system and a distinct means of issues. You come to a spot, and also you type of see issues a method. You are taught to do issues this fashion, and you do not actually take into consideration how different persons are seeing issues. Adrian is available in with a distinct perspective. I am saying, like, Versus this protection, we like this. And he goes, Effectively, what about this type of twist? Simply issues like that. That is only one instance of type of how he type of helped me, , develop my perspective a little bit bit. And that helped me develop and type of understand that you do not have to see issues a method. You’ll be able to see issues in actually other ways. They each have helped me a ton, and each are actually good buddies of mine. I am fortunate we are able to name one another buddies for a longtime.

Q. A 12 months in the past, you actually did not know Adrian Martinez. And now you guys are actually shut. What’s that bond meant to this soccer group?

WILL HOWARD: It is meant lots. I feel when the blokes round us can see that there is no dangerous blood, there is no although there was a quarterback competitors and controversy early on, there was by no means any pressure. It was at all times factor. It was at all times we’re making an attempt to assist one another. We’re making an attempt to make this group the most effective we are able to make it. I feel that is been big for the group and for us, as rivals, as effectively. As a result of he is a very good competitor. And I take into account myself an enormous competitor too.

All I wish to do is assist this group win. And I do know he is the identical means. And I am hoping he is wholesome sufficient to come back give us some assist this Saturday. And he is appeared good at apply. So will probably be thrilling. I might like to be on the market with him.

Q. Whenever you have a look at the Alabama group protection, what’s the very first thing you consider?

WILL HOWARD: They’re very athletic. Very lengthy. They obtained some actually good go rushers. I really feel like they cowl fairly effectively too. However I obtained belief in our receivers and in our guys. We’ll must win the battle up entrance. We’ll have to come back out and be extra bodily than them. We all know that. And it may be a problem as a result of they’re large, sturdy, athletic dudes. And it is to not be a simple feat. So we’re wanting ahead to it. They have a very good scheme. And so they do plenty of various things. However I be ok with the place our recreation plan is. We have had plenty of time to scout them. However we all know they’ve had plenty of time too. I am positive they’ll come out and do some new issues. And we all know we’ll be performing some new issues too. So I am wanting ahead to the problem. That is the chess recreation of it. It is plenty of backwards and forwards with it. It will likely be enjoyable to get on the market and see what their technique is for us and type of have our technique prepared for them too.

Q. Will, speaking to a few of your teammates yesterday, I do know this group is prepared for this take a look at to play the No. 5 group within the nation like Alabama. What does the chance imply to you? And to see these guys get this opportunity?

WILL HOWARD: Means the world. This simply one thing I am making an attempt to soak up. Like I simply mentioned, it is the place we expect we ought to be. We consider we’re top-of-the-line groups within the nation. And we consider we belong on this stage. However on the similar time, it is one thing I am making an attempt to soak in. That is simply such a cool alternative, such a blessing to be right here in New Orleans on the Sugar Bowl. And to even be here’s a large alternative and so, so cool. And we’re simply making an attempt to get pleasure from it as a lot as we are able to. As a result of we all know that that is type of a as soon as in a lifetime alternative. Hopefully not as soon as in a lifetime. Hopefully we make this an yearly factor.

However we’re making an attempt to take it in as a lot as we are able to and luxuriate in it together with making an attempt to we did not simply come right here for a participation trophy. We did not simply come right here as a result of, Oh, it is cool, we’re taking part in Alabama. We got here right here to win. It is a enterprise journey. And we’re wanting ahead to the sport. It is a actually good problem and a very good take a look at for us. We put ourselves up towards the most effective.

Q. Simply the truth that each groups haven’t any decide outs; that is now turning into a factor in school soccer and bowl video games that are not within the School Soccer Playoff. What does that say about each groups having finest on finest?

WILL HOWARD: I feel it is big. I feel it is big for school soccer seeing what we’re doing and seeing how a lot the gamers on each side care about this recreation and our groups. As a result of I heard a few of them Alabama guys saying that I do know our guys by no means even considered it. And it was in case you’re sitting at house watching, how would that make you are feeling? There’s rivals on each side. And all people simply desires to assist out our group. And we care about our universities an excessive amount of to not play on this recreation.

So I feel it is actually cool. And it may be enjoyable to have the ability to have each groups at full power and never must make any excuses for both aspect. I am wanting ahead to the problem for positive.

Q. Everybody talks about how this can be a particular group. Issues like that. Looks like this group, it is subsequent degree. And it is greater than a cliche factor. Are you able to speak about how tight this group is and the way it obtained up to now?

WILL HOWARD: Yeah, I really feel like all people type of says household and tradition and the way vital that’s. Each group within the nation is saying that.

However I really feel prefer it’s totally different right here. I’ve seen it myself. Even in groups right here. However the group the tradition, and the brotherhood that we’ve is totally different. It really is. And simply the flexibility that we’ve to only hang around. And off the sphere stuff. There’s relationships happening that go means past soccer. And I feel that is what actually makes it particular. We really care about one another means past soccer. And when you’ve got that and when you’ve got guys that really care about and love one another, you wish to play for that man subsequent to you. And also you wish to lay all of it out on the road for them.

Q. Take into consideration the final three years. You undergo a pandemic. Skylar [Thompson] will get right here. You are available in. A lot that is gone on, how surreal is it to be sitting right here, hours away from taking part in the Sugar Bowl?

WILL HOWARD: It is very surreal. Very cool although. Individuals had been telling me, via all these exhausting occasions, , good goes to come back out of this. And it is exhausting to see it within the second. And I am sitting there, and I am like, Man, that is robust. When you’re going via it. Whenever you’re a younger child, you do not actually perceive that. You do not actually see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. Now, with the ability to look again at it and see all of the issues that I went via, popping out on the opposite aspect a little bit bit, it is actually cool for me to type of look again and recognize these experiences greater than type of wanting again and dreading them. Within the second, you do not actually perceive, however now I am like, Man, that was what I wanted. And it is actually cool to make it out on the opposite aspect and show lots of people fallacious and show myself proper. As a result of I might have left and gone and tried to get one other alternative. However I type of tried to wager on myself. I am actually glad that I did. I am glad that I stayed.

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